The ex-top media adviser to British Prime Minister David Cameron has been arrested on suspicion of perjury. Andy Coulson, a former editor of the News of The World tabloid, was detained at his home in London, British police said on Wednesday. He is accused of committing perjury at a case at the High Court in Glasgow, AP reports. Coulson quit as Cameron's communications director in 2011 amid revelations over phone hacking at the now-defunct newspaper.
Former Liberian President Taylor sentenced to 50 years
The International War Crimes court has sentenced former Liberian President Charles Taylor to 50 years for Sierra Leone atrocities. The Special Court for Sierra Leone found Taylor guilty last month on 11 charges. They include aiding and abetting the rebels during the decade-long war that ended in 2002 with more than 50,000 dead. The crimes Taylor was convicted of were of the “utmost gravity in terms of scale and brutality,” presiding Judge Richard Lussick said, as cited by AP. Taylor, 64, is the first former head of state convicted by the International War Crimes court since World War II.
Ten Yemen militants killed in air strike, shelling
Yemen military’s air and artillery strikes have killed 10 Al-Qaeda-linked militants in the south, the country’s Defense Ministry has said. The air strike targeted a militant communication station near the southern coastal town of Shaqra early Wednesday, AP reports. The station was used to direct operations via the internet, wireless communications and a satellite telephone. Seven fighters were killed and 12 injured over the past 24 hours during the army’s shelling of the town of Jaar. The town was seized by Al-Qaeda-linked militants over a year ago.
UN Human Rights Council to discuss Houla killings
The UN Human Rights Council will hold a special session on the massacre in the Syrian town of Houla, Reuters said. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 108 people. The session will be held on Friday. The UN earlier said the Syrian forces were responsible for the shelling of civilian areas.
China denies its diplomat spied on Japan
China has denied spying allegations against one of its diplomats who left Japan this month. Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said on Wednesday it was baseless to call Li Chunguang a spy, AP reports. The diplomat had reportedly refused a police request to appear for questioning. Japanese police suspect Li was collecting intelligence on Japanese politicians and businessmen. The diplomat was also accused of opening bank accounts using fraudulent documents.
Japan orders Syrian ambassador to leave country
Japan has ordered the Syrian ambassador in Tokyo to leave the country over concerns about violence in that country against civilians. The order was made on Wednesday, Japan’s Foreign Minister Koichiro Genba said as cited by AP. Tokyo will continue to have diplomatic ties with Syria despite the envoy’s expulsion.
Russia to veto military intervention initiative in UNSC
Moscow will veto initiatives on foreign military interference in the Syrian situation at the UN Security Council, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov has said. He added that Russia was opposing the convention of a new UN Security Council meeting on Syria in the near future. The UN Security Council president's statement concerning the tragic events in Houla, “is a strong enough signal to the Syrian parties and is a sufficient reaction of the Security Council,” the diplomat told Interfax. Any new measures to affect the situation “would be premature for the Security Council,” he stressed.
Nepal opposition parties to team up to topple PM Bhattarai
Nepal's opposition parties on Wednesday accused Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai of having no moral or legal grounds to stay in power ahead of new elections. The parties’ leaders warned they would team up to topple the government, AP reports. Opponents say Bhattarai lost his legitimacy on Sunday when the term of the Constituent Assembly expired without agreement on a new constitution. The PM insists he will head a caretaker government until another assembly is picked in polls he called for November.
Thai webmaster gets suspended sentence for ‘insulting royalty’
A court in Thailand has sentenced a local webmaster to an eight-month suspended sentence in a free speech case. Chiranuch Premchaiporn faced up to 20 years in prison for 10 comments posted on her Prachatai website. Judge Kampol Rungrat said the verdict was based on one particular post that was left on the site for 20 days, AP reports. She “did not perform her duty” to remove the comment, the judge said. The case was seen as a test of freedom of expression as Chiranuch was the first webmaster prosecuted under tough cyber laws adopted after a 2006 coup.
Romney wins Texas primary
In the US, presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has clinched the Republican Party's nomination for the Oval Office. He secured enough delegates after winning the primary in Texas, with a projected 70 per cent of the votes. The former Massachusetts governor will be challenging Barack Obama in November. However, he will not become the official nominee until the end of August, when the Republicans hold their convention in Florida.
Sudan pulls troops from disputed region
Sudan withdrew its troops from the disputed oil-rich Abyei region and handed it over to UN forces on Tuesday. The SudanMediaCenter quoted Al-Khair al-Faheem Mekki, co-chairman of the committee that oversaw the handover, as saying Ethiopian troops would fill the vacuum and maintain security. The region, which contains rich oil fields, is contested by neighboring South Sudan. Following numerous cross-border clashes, Sudanese officials are meeting with their South Sudanese counterparts on Tuesday in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
Breivik’s ex-friends: he was depressed, possibly gay
Friends of the self-confessed Norwegian mass killer Anders Breivik testified Tuesday at his trial on the assurance their identities will remain anonymous. The court heard Breivik described as a depressed person, obsessed with his looks, who even had a nose job. Most of his acquaintances thought he was homosexual. The 33-year-old massacred 69 people last July at an island youth camp, and planted a bomb that claimed eight lives in Norway's capital Oslo.
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