A round-up of other world news in brief
Toddler killing sparks inquiry into care
LONDON - Schools secretary Ed Balls has ordered an independent inquiry into the care of children in the London borough of Haringey, where a toddler died a horrific death despite being on the authority's "at risk" register.
He said a report commissioned by the council had found a number of failings of practice and management over the case of the 17-month-old boy who suffered a broken back and more than 40 injuries before his death in August last year.
It was the second serious child welfare tragedy in the borough in recent years following the murder of eight- year-old Victoria Climbie by her guardians in 2000. - (Reuters)
Two US soldiers shot dead in Iraq
BAGHDAD - An Iraqi soldier shot dead two US soldiers and wounded six on a rampage at a joint security station in northern Iraq yesterday, the US military said.
Iraqi police said the soldier opened fire on the Americans at the station - one of many in which Iraqi and US troops operate side by side - in Zenjili, on the western outskirts of the city of Mosul. - (Reuters)
British navy kills Somali pirates
LONDON - The British navy killed two Somali pirates after the attempted hijacking of a Danish cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden, one of the world's busiest shipping routes, the defence ministry in London said yesterday.
The men were killed when a Royal Navy crew returned fire as they intercepted a boat about 100km south of Yemen on Tuesday. - (Reuters)
Zimbabwe deal falling apart
HARARE - Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF has asked President Robert Mugabe yesterday to form a new government with immediate effect, a fresh sign that a power-sharing agreement with political rivals is collapsing.
Zimbabweans, faced with the world's worst inflation and acute food shortages, hoped that a September 15th deal would end the southern African country's ruinous political and economic crisis. - (Reuters)
Algeria clears way for president
ALGIERS - Algerian lawmakers have scrapped a rule limiting presidents to two terms, clearing the way for a likely bid by head of state Abdelaziz Bouteflika to extend his near decade-long rule until 2014.
The 71-year-old veteran of the independence war against France has yet to say whether he wants to run again, but reports suggest he will contest a presidential election in April. - (Reuters)
'New York Times' hoax 'ends war'
NEW YORK - A group of pranksters handed out more than 1.2 million fake New York Times newspapers mainly in New York City and Los Angeles yesterday with a front-page story declaring "Iraq War Ends".
The elaborate 14-page edition, dated July 4th, 2009, is said to be the work of a group called the Yes Men. - (Reuters)
North Korea backs down on deal
SEOUL - North Korea has indicated that it will not let international nuclear inspectors remove nuclear samples from its plant that makes arms-grade plutonium, a move which could hamper international disarmament efforts.
North Korea agreed last month to resume disabling its Soviet-era Yongbyon nuclear plant, which makes plutonium, and allow in inspectors to verify claims it made about its atomic arms programme after the US removed it from a terrorism blacklist and rolled back some trade sanctions. - (Reuters)