A round-up of today's other world news stories in brief
North Korea warns on UN ship action
UNITED NATIONS – North Korea’s UN envoy has said that any UN Security Council action over the sinking of a South Korean naval ship would have a military “follow-up”.
Seoul, which has accused North Korea of torpedoing the corvette Cheonan on March 26th, killing 46 sailors, brought the dispute to the security council earlier this month, asking it to take action to deter “further provocation”.
“If the Security Council release any documents against us condemning or questioning us in any document . . . the follow-up measures will be carried out by our military forces, North Koreas UN Ambassador Sin Son-ho told a rare news conference.
He reiterated Pyongyangs position that the South’s allegations were a “complete fabrication” and demanded that the North be allowed to send its own investigation crew to the site of the incident. – (Reuters)
German student makes a dog's dinner of escape after insult to Hell's Angels gang
BERLIN – A German student created a major traffic jam in Bavaria after making a rude gesture at a group of Hell’s Angels motorcycle gang members, hurling a puppy at them and then escaping on a stolen bulldozer.
German police said on Monday that after making his getaway from the Hell’s Angels club, the 26-year-old student dumped the bulldozer, causing a 5km traffic jam near the southern town of Allershausen, local police said.
He then fled to his home nearby where he was apprehended by the police there.
“What motivated him to throw a puppy at the Hell’s Angels is currently unclear,” said a spokesman for local police, adding that the student had lately been suffering from depression.
The puppy was now in safe hands, the spokesman added. – (Reuters)
Spanish justice minister favours ban on burkas
MADRID – Spain’s justice minister says that the government favours banning women from wearing burkas in government buildings.
Francisco Caamano said yesterday that the face-covering Islamic garments are degrading to women and the restriction will be included in an upcoming bill.
The Religious Freedom Bill would also prohibit religious symbols like crucifixes in state-owned buildings like schools and hospitals.
Spain would join other European countries in restricting burkas. Spain has about a million Muslims but burkas are rarely seen.
Barcelona, the country’s second-largest city, has said it will ban burkas and face-covering niqab veils in municipal buildings, joining a handful of Catalan towns that have taken the step. – (AP)