Other world news in brief
Iranian filmmaker Panahi freed on bail
TEHRAN – Renowned Iranian filmmaker and opposition supporter Jafar Panahi was freed on bail yesterday as authorities warned they would crack down on illegal protests on the anniversary of last year’s disputed election. He was released a week after starting a hunger strike. – (Reuters)
14 killed in raid on Baghdad goldsmiths
BAGHDAD – Gunmen swooped on a row of Baghdad goldsmiths yesterday, killing 14 people and making off with gold and cash in a brazen daylight robbery, an interior ministry source said.
Police said at least 10 gunmen armed with pistols, bombs and Kalashnikov assault rifles attacked five goldsmiths and a money exchange on a bustling shopping street in the Bayaa district of southwest Baghdad.
Maj-Gen Qassim al-Moussawi blamed Sunni insurgents linked to al-Qaeda. – (Reuters)
Abortions in England, Wales down 3.2%
LONDON – The number of abortions in England and Wales fell by 3.2 per cent in 2009, with a lower rate of abortions recorded across all age groups, the department of health said yesterday.
It follows the first screening on British TV of a Marie Stopes International advert offering abortion advisory services, which provoked opposition from anti-abortionists.
The total of abortions fell to 189,100 last year, down from 195,296 in 2008, the department said. The abortion rate was highest for women aged 19 to 21, at 33 per 1,000 women. – (Reuters)
Hunt for Air France black boxes halted
PARIS – Search teams looking for missing black box recorders from the Air France jet which crashed in the Atlantic on June 1st last killing 228 people have called off operations after failing to locate the devices.
The suspension underlined the huge difficulty of finding the black boxes. –(Reuters)