A round-up of other world news in brief
Government in Norway set to retain power
OSLO – Norway’s centre- left government seems set to retain power after an election, according to an official projection based on 24 per cent of votes counted.
The forecast, by the ministry of local and regional government, indicated that the three-party coalition of Labour, the Socialist Left and the Centre Party would get 86 seats out of 169 in parliament. Opposition centrist and right-wing parties would win 83.
In the last election in 2005, the coalition won 87 seats and the opposition 82.
No government has been re-elected since Norway set up an offshore fund to invest the country’s oil-based wealth in 1996. – (Reuters)
Release of show thrower ordered
BAGHDAD – An Iraqi court has ordered the release from jail of a reporter who attained worldwide fame when he hurled his shoes at then US president George W Bush last December, his lawyer said.
Once an obscure TV reporter, Muntazer al-Zaidi had been expected to walk free yesterday, but a judge asked for additional documents before ordering his release.
Under Iraqi penal procedures, freed prisoners can only leave prison a day after a court ruling, so Zaidi will go home today.
– (Reuters)
Priates release ship for $2m sum
MOGADISHU – Somali pirates freed a Greek ship yesterday after they received a $2 million ransom for the vessel and its 21 Filipino crew, one of the pirates said.
The Irene EM bulk carrier was seized on April 13th in the Gulf of Aden, where armed gangs from Somalia have targeted vessels using shipping lanes that link Europe to Asia.
“We released the Greek ship after taking a $2 million ransom,” a pirate said from the coastal pirate stronghold of Eyl. – (Reuters)
New York terror inquiry under way
NEW YORK – New York City police were conducting an investigation into suspected terrorism in the borough of Queens, a spokesman said last night.
“There was activity in Queens last night by the NYPD and the FBI that was part of an ongoing joint terrorism taskforce investigation,” deputy commissioner Paul Browne said.
The FBI conducted searches early on Monday morning but would not say it they were terrorism related, NY1 television reported, citing the Federal Bureau of Investigation. – (Reuters)