A round-up of today's other stories in brief:
5 Americans killed in Afghan crash
KABUL - A US military helicopter crashed during an anti-militant operation in Afghanistan yesterday killing all five American crew members, just days after President Hamid Karzai questioned the need for military operations.
The crash of the CH-47 Chinook in the province of Zabul came after a series of clashes between US-led forces and Taliban insurgents following legislative elections on September 18th. - (Reuters)
Swiss open labour market to EU
ZURICH - Switzerland cemented relations with its European neighbours by voting yesterday to open its job market to workers from the new EU member states.
Despite right-wing warnings of floods of cheap labour, 56 per cent of the Swiss electorate endorsed government plans to extend an agreement with Brussels on the free movement of people. - (Reuters)
Lebanese journalist maimed
BEIRUT - A Lebanese journalist was seriously injured last night after a bomb exploded in her car in the latest attack apparently targeting critics of Syria.
May Chidiac, an anchor woman with the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation, received serious wounds to her arms and legs and is likely to have at least one of her limbs amputated.
The attack on Ms Chidiac, a Christian, is the latest in a series of explosions in recent months that have targeted politicians and journalists who have criticised the Syrian regime. - (Guardian service)
Food poisoning in south Wales
LONDON - The number of people affected by an outbreak of potentially fatal E.coli food poisoning in Wales reached 115 yesterday, including 25 requiring hospital treatment.
The outbreak was first detected on September 16th, with cases since then reported in 32 schools in south Wales. - (Reuters)
Woman held over leaked documents
LONDON - A 43-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with the leaking of documents from the investigation into the fatal shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes.
Leicestershire Police are investigating the leak after ITV News ran details of the Independent Police Complaints Commission inquiry into the Brazilian's death at Stockwell Tube station in south London on July 22nd, when he was mistaken for a suspected suicide bomber. - (PA)
Indian virus death toll reaches 900
LUCKNOW - The death toll in India's worst encephalitis outbreak in nearly 30 years has reached 900 but the number of new infections has fallen. More than 4,200 people have been ill with the virus in the densely populated northern state of Uttar Pradesh since late July and close to 90 per cent of fatalities have been children. - (Reuters)
Indian man slits family's throats
DUBAI - An Indian man slit the throats of his wife and four children, the youngest an eight-month-old baby, before killing himself in the Gulf emirate of Sharjah, a newspaper has reported.
Gulf News said the 38-year-old engineer had recently called his family to say he did not want to live in the United Arab Emirates any more. - (Reuters)
Surfer fights off shark attack
SYDNEY - An Australian surfer fought off a shark with his hands yesterday.
Josh Berris (26) was surfing off a on Kangaroo Island in South Australia when he was attacked by a great white shark measuring up to 5 metres (16 feet). He pushed the shark away before his friends dragged him on to rocks. He was taken to hospital with cuts to both legs. - (Reuters)