A round-up of stories from around the world.
43 women detained at Mugabe party
HARARE - Zimbabwe police yesterday detained 43 women activists as they tried to march on President Robert Mugabe's birthday celebrations to press for a new constitution in place of one seen as entrenching his rule, an official said.
Mr Mugabe turned 82 yesterday in the shadow of a deepening political and economic crisis his opponents blame on his mismanagement.
Police swooped on some 250 members of lobby group National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) as they walked towards parliament in what has become a regular protest attempt in recent years, said NCA chairman Lovemore Madhuku. - (Reuters)
Officers rescued at safety meeting
Twenty-one health and safety officers had to be rescued by firemen yesterday after an office floor collapsed during a safety meeting in Manchester.
One officer broke her ankle in the incident and was taken to hospital along with three others suffering bumps and bruises at the Hyde Buildings in Hyde, Greater Manchester. - (PA)
Prince Charles sues newspaper
LONDON - Prince Charles took legal action yesterday against a newspaper which had printed diaries in which the heir to the British throne described Chinese diplomats as "appalling old waxworks".
The diaries, containing Charles's views on the 1997 handover of Hong Kong to China, were copied by a former member of his staff and circulated to newspapers.
They were published by the Mail on Sunday in November 2005. - (Reuters)