Updated: 8am GMT -- 2005/04/15
Foreign
Toilet upgrade for Thailand
BANGKOK — Thailand plans to upgrade hygiene in its public toilets to meet international standards as it prepares to host the World Toilet Summit next year, a health official said this week. “Toilets are very important for the country’s image in the...
Mother claims she feared for her loved ones
SANTA MARIA — The mother of Michael Jackson’s child sex accuser claimed yesterday she agreed to allow the star’s aides to whisk her family to Brazil for fear her loved ones would be killed if she refused. The woman, who gave a tearful but disjoint...
Zim court frees two British journalists
NORTON — A Zimbabwean court yesterday acquitted two British journalists from the Sunday Telegraph newspaper accused of illegally covering last month’s parliamentary elections. “I find both of them not guilty and I will acquit them,” said magistrat...
Cardinals draw lots for comfortable hotel rooms
VATICAN CITY — Cardinals drew lots yesterday for rooms at the Vatican hotel where they’ll be staying during the conclave and heard a speech on the problems of the church and who might be best to lead it as they continued preparations for Monda...
Cigarette lighters banned on US planes
WASHINGTON — Starting yesterday, air travellers will have to leave their cigarette lighters at home. Unlike guns, knives and other dangerous items that a passenger cannot carry aboard but may stow in checked bags, lighters are banned everywhere...
Danish queen warns against extreme Islam
COPENHAGEN — Danish Queen Margrethe II warned against the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in Denmark and the world in a new book out yesterday, saying people must on occasion “show their opposition to Islam”. “It is a challenge we have to take...
Israel accused of violating truce accord
NABLUS, West Bank — Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas accused Israel of violating a ceasefire agreement after undercover troops yesterday shot dead a militant during an arrest operation in the northern West Bank. As the death of the Al-Aqsa Br...
Monaco bids farewell to Prince Rainier today
MONACO — Monaco’s long-time ruler Prince Rainier will be laid to rest next to his beloved wife Grace after a solemn funeral today attended by European royalty and political figures. French President Jacques Chirac and Britain’s Prince Andrew are a...
N Korea vows to continue building nuclear defence
SEOUL — North Korea’s No 2 leader said yesterday that the communist nation will increase its nuclear deterrent to defend against the alleged threat of a US invasion, and ordered citizens to defend the regime “at the cost of their lives”. “We ...
World in Brief
Chirac pushes for EU ‘yes’ PARIS — President Jacques Chirac came off the sidelines and waded into France’s referendum showdown yesterday, hoping to stop opponents from killing Europe’s first constitution with a “No” vote. Chirac chose a tele...
