A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Thieves may have sparked explosion
MEXICO CITY – Fuel thieves tampering with an oil pipeline could have sparked an explosion in central Mexico that flooded streets with fire and left at least 23 people dead. The accident occurred just before 6am yesterday in San Martin Texmelucan, about 50 miles east of the capital. – (Reuters)
UN meets over growing crisis in Korea
UNITED NATIONS – The UN Security Council met in emergency session yesterday to try to cool tensions on the Korean peninsula, but the five big powers were split on whether to publicly blame North Korea for the crisis.
Pyongyang raised an alert for artillery units along its west coast in what appeared to be its latest move in a growing crisis between the two Koreas, Yonhap news agency said. – (Reuters)
Political journalist Howard dies
LONDON – Political journalist and commentator Anthony Howard died yesterday after a short illness, his family said.
The 76-year-old former editor of the New Statesman also worked for a range of Fleet Street titles. Labour MP John McDonnell lamented the loss of a “vastly knowledgeable, gifted journalist”. – (PA)
MP hopes coming out will help others
LONDON – Tory MP Nigel Evans said yesterday he hoped his decision to publicly admit he is gay would help others be open after claiming that a Labour MP had threatened to “out” him. Mr Evans, a deputy speaker in the Commons, declared his homosexuality on the eve of the launch of a new help group for politicians. – (PA)