A roundup of today's other world stories in brief:
Freight craft heads for space station
FRENCH GUIANA- A space freighter loaded with crucial supplies and an ageing copy of a Jules Verne novel thundered into orbit in the early hours of yesterday on its maiden voyage to the International Space Station.
Officials celebrated what they described as a flawless launch of the 20-tonne Automated Transfer Vehicle near Kourou in French Guiana. The spacecraft, named Jules Verne after the 19th century visionary writer, gives the European Space Agency its first dedicated supply ship, and completes contractual agreements that make it a full co-owner of the orbiting space station.
- (Guardian service)
Mugabe backs local control
HARARE- Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe has signed into law a Bill empowering local owners to take majority control of foreign companies, including mines and banks, a government newspaper reported yesterday.
The Sunday Mailsaid Mugabe, who is seeking re-election in a poll on March 29th, had approved the Bill in a seal of assent in a weekend government gazette of legal notices.
- (Reuters)
New rules for seal hunters
OTTAWA- Canada's government, heavily criticized for allowing hunters to shoot and club to death hundreds of thousands of seals each year, says it is imposing new rules to ensure the animals are killed more humanely.
Hunters are usually permitted to kill around 325,000 harp seals in March and April. From now on, hunters will have to follow a three-step process recommended by an independent panel of veterinarians.
- (Reuters)
Drink-driver in death crash
LONDON- The driver of a car involved in a crash which left seven people dead and two children fighting for their lives was a convicted drink-driver. Jason Brain (35) was killed along with his three passengers as he attempted to overtake another car in the Cotswolds.
- (PA)