A round-up of other world stories in brief...
60 Kurdish supporters held in Turkey
ANKARA – Turkish police have detained about 60 people, including members of a Kurdish political party, for alleged ties to separatist rebels as authorities seek to isolate the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
The detentions followed a police round-up on Tuesday of about 50 Kurdish politicians and activists, most of whom belonged to the Democratic Society Party, Turkey’s only legal Kurdish party. – (Reuters)
Bangladesh hit by Cyclone Bijli
DHAKA – A cyclone has battered the Bangladesh coast with heavy rain and winds of up to 100 km/h (62mph), forcing the storm-prone country to evacuate thousands of people.
Thousands of mud-walled and bamboo-constructed houses, vast areas of crops, trees, electricity and phone poles were damaged by Cyclone Bijli yesterday.
Officials said they had no immediate word on casualties. – (Reuters)
Flight passenger jumps to his death
TORONTO – A passenger on a charter flight in northern Canada forced open the aircraft’s door and leapt to his death, making the freezing cabin depressurise at 7,000m (23,000ft).
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said the incident happened during a flight to Cambridge Bay, a community in western Nunavut. The aircraft was about 177km (110 miles) from the Cambridge Bay airport when the man jumped.
Staff Sgt Harold Trupish said the pilots had reported that the 20-year-old passenger had become unruly and they were unable to prevent him from jumping. – (PA)