A round-up of other world news in brief
MEP Zelezny to campaign for Libertas
BRUSSELS – Libertas has launched its campaign for the European Parliament elections in the Czech Republic with controversial MEP Vladimir Zelezny named second on its list of candidates, writes Jamie Smyth.
Mr Zelezny, who is currently being investigated by the Czech authorities for fraud and tax abuse, was co-founder of the country’s first commercial TV station.
He has been embroiled in multiple legal actions for 11 years. He told The Irish Times yesterday that, if convicted, “I will immediately withdraw my name from the list of candidates”.
In January Libertas said it had not asked Mr Zelezny to stand in the elections. In Prague yesterday, Libertas UK leader Robin Matthews said the inquiries into Mr Zelezny’s tax affairs were a “matter for Mr Zelezny”.
Nationwide strike in Greece
ATHENS – Hundreds of thousands of Greeks joined a nationwide strike yesterday to protest against low salaries and job cuts, disrupting transport and shutting down services.
Flights were expected to be suspended, and banks and schools shut down during the 24-hour strike, called by public and private unions representing about half of the country’s five million workforce. – (Reuters)
Afghan detainees can sue in US court
WASHINGTON – A federal judge ruled yesterday that some detainees at a US military base in Afghanistan could sue for their release in civilian courts, dealing a blow to the government’s position.
The Obama administration, following the Bush administration, has argued that the detainees at Bagram base have no right to have cases heard in federal courts. – (Reuters)
Palestinian kills Israeli with axe
HEBRON – A Palestinian wielding an axe killed an Israeli youth and wounded a seven-year-old boy in an attack yesterday in a Jewish settlement in the West Bank.
The incident took place in the Jewish settlement of Bat Ayin, near Hebron. – (Reuters)
Husband who cleaned too much
BERLIN – A German woman has divorced her husband because she was fed up with him cleaning all the time. German media reported the wife got through 15 years of marriage putting up with his penchant for household chores, tidying up and rearranging the furniture.
But she ran out of patience when he knocked down and rebuilt a wall at their home when it got dirty, the judge in the town of Sondershausen said. – (Reuters)