Today's other stories in brief
Bomber kills 30 at funeral in Baghdad
BAGHDAD - A suicide bomber killed 30 people and wounded 38 at a funeral in eastern Baghdad yesterday, shattering a New Year's Day that had begun with hopeful celebrations of a kind unseen in years.
Two police sources confirmed the death toll, which would make it the worst bombing in the Iraqi capital since September and one of the deadliest anywhere in Iraq for months. - (Reuters)
Suspected rebels kill 18 in Nigeria
PORT HARCOURT - Suspected militants attacked two police stations, a luxury hotel and a nightclub in Nigeria's oil city Port Harcourt yesterday leaving 18 people dead, police said.
The assault came after troops bombed suspected rebel hideouts near the city last weekend and after the collapse of peace talks between militants and the government of Africa's top oil producer. - (Reuters)
Anglicans plan breakaway event
LONDON - Conservative Anglican leaders have revealed plans for a breakaway summit for the hundreds of bishops who are expected to defy the Archbishop of Canterbury by boycotting the Lambeth Conference.
Up to a third of the Anglican church's 900 bishops could boycott the conference in protest at the perceived fudging by the archbishop, Rowan Williams, over the US Episcopal church's attitude to gay clergy. Organisers of the Global Anglican Future Conference say their meeting, to be held in Jerusalem, will "provide opportunities for fellowship and care for those who have decided not to attend Lambeth". - (Guardian service)
Aircraft crash numbers decline
GENEVA - Last year was one of the safest in more than four decades to fly, with just 136 serious accidents occurring around the world, the Aircraft Crashes Record Office said yesterday.
The private group, which documents air disasters worldwide, said that 965 people died in 2007 in accidents involving aircraft big enough to carry at least six passengers plus crew. That was 25 per cent fewer than in 2006, and the lowest rate since 2004. - (Reuters)
Pope criticises anti-family policies
VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict ushered in the new year by criticising policies that undermine the traditional family, saying they eroded one of the most important foundations for peace in the world.
The pope, delivering a traditional new year prayer for peace, appeared to take a swipe at efforts in several countries to grant legal recognition to gay and unwed couples - although he did not single out any policies by name.
He said the traditional family led by a husband and wife instilled values that promote peace, adding it was an "irreplaceable" institution. - (Reuters)
Boy (16) found dead on street
LONDON - A 16-year-old boy was found dead on a Leicester street following a report of an assault, police said yesterday.
Officers were called shortly after 5am to Fosse Road South, where the teenager was pronounced dead. Police said they were treating his death as murder and had arrested four people, a 14-year-old boy, a 15-year-old girl, a 31-year-old woman and a 34-year-old man, all from Leicester. (Reuters)
Prison deaths increase 40%
LONDON - The British government came under fire yesterday after official figures revealed that the number of prisoners killing themselves soared by nearly 40 per cent in 2007. There were 92 "self-inflicted" deaths last year, with one victim as young as 15. - (PA)