Other world stories in brief
Artist Robert Rauschenberg dies aged 82
MIAMI -Acclaimed American artist Robert Rauschenberg has died at his home on Captiva Island in Florida at the age of 82, it was announced yesterday.
Rauschenberg had been ill for some time and died on Monday night, Jennifer Joy of the Pace Wildenstein gallery in New York said.
Rauschenberg was born in Port Arthur, Texas, in 1925. In the 1950s, he spearheaded a style he came to call "combines", which incorporated aspects of painting and sculpture.
Rauschenberg became one of the most influential artists reacting against abstract expressionism. "His genius could be compared to that of Picasso, who found inspiration in the common objects of everyday life," said art expert Catherine Saunders-Watson. - (Reuters)
Merkel's remarks anger Venezuela
CARACAS -Germany's criticism of Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez threatens bilateral relations, Venezuela said yesterday, after the left-wing president called German chancellor Angela Merkel a political descendant of Adolf Hitler.
Venezuela's foreign ministry struck out at comments made by Dr Merkel last week in which she said Mr Chávez, an outspoken critic of capitalism, did not speak for Latin America.
"Her statements do not only disturb bilateral relations, but also cast doubts on the intention of the German government to strengthen friendly ties with all Latin America and Caribbean countries," the ministry said in a statement. - (Reuters)
Berlusconi may testify in CIA case
MILAN -An Italian judge could decide today to make Silvio Berlusconi the first head of a government to testify in criminal proceedings over secret CIA transfers of terrorism suspects.
Judge Oscar Magi is expected to announce his decision on whether to call Mr Berlusconi and other politicians when he resumes a trial against 26 Americans and seven Italians accused of carrying out a transfer or "rendition" in 2003.
Prosecutors say a CIA-led team kidnapped a Muslim cleric off the streets of Milan and secretly flew him to Egypt. - (Reuters)
Militia leaders extradited to US
BOGOTA -Colombia yesterday extradited more than a dozen former paramilitary leaders to face US justice in the toughest measure against the warlords, who are accused of drug trafficking and massacres, a government official said.
The move came as President Álvaro Uribe, a key Washington ally, faced growing pressure over a scandal tying some of his parliamentary allies to the militias and as US Democrats resist a Colombian trade deal because of human rights concerns. - (Reuters)
Eight years in jail for female rapper
NEW YORK- Grammy-nominated rapper Remy Ma was sentenced to eight years in prison yesterday for shooting and wounding an acquaintance after discovering money was missing from her purse after a night out in Manhattan.
In sentencing the rapper, judge Rena Uviller said Remy Ma, whose real name is Remy Smith, was "an extremely angry young woman whose anger is completely out of control". - (Reuters)
Kohl marries his partner
BERLIN- Former German chancellor Helmut Kohl has married his partner Maike Richter, an economist who is almost 35 years his junior.
Mr Kohl's office said yesterday they had married last week at a Heidelberg clinic where Mr Kohl (78) is recuperating from a head injury. - (Reuters)