AFP, The Hague
UN war crimes judges Thursday acquitted radical Serb leader Vojislav Seselj on all nine charges of committing atrocities in the 1990s Balkans wars, in a surprise judgement which was swiftly denounced by Croatia.
“The chamber by majority holds that the prosecution has not provided sufficient evidence to establish that the crimes were committed” by Seselj, Judge Jean-Claude Antonetti said at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).
Tornado lashes Oklahoma,7 hurt
AP ,Tulsa
At least seven people were injured and authorities were evaluating damage that included a destroyed home after severe storms spawned multiple tornado touchdowns in northeastern Oklahoma on Wednesday night, authorities said.
National Weather Service meteorologist Amy Jankowski said a tornado touched down and lifted up numerous times as it swept through the northern Tulsa and Owasso areas.
Thousands of Palestinian mark ‘Land Day’
AFP, Arraba
Thousands of Palestinians and Arab Israelis gathered on Wednesday to commemorate the 40th anniversary of “Land Day” marking the killing of six Arab Israelis protesting plans to confiscate Arab land.
In the northern Israeli town of Arraba, they waved Palestinian flags and banners that read, “The earth is the homeland” before observing a minute’s silence in memory of the “martyrs” of 1976.
McDonald opens 1,500 new restaurants
AP, Beijing
McDonald’s Corp. said yesterday it plans to open 1,500 new restaurants in China, South Korea and Hong Kong as it looks to faster-growing markets to help drive a global turnaround.
McDonald’s said it is looking for partners to help finance that expansion. The company said it also will give local managers more decision-making power to respond to Asian customers.
US, HK bust huge smuggling operation
AFP, Los Angeles
United States and Hong Kong authorities have smashed a massive operation smuggling Chinese-made clothing, believed to be the largest such find ever uncovered on the US West Coast.
The elaborate scheme involved more than $600 million worth of Chinese-made apparel being illegally imported into the United States under the guise that the merchandise was destined to companies in Mexico, when in fact it was delivered to buyers throughout the United States.
General strike in France to reject labour reform
AP, Paries
Some French train drivers, teachers and others are on strike to reject a government reform relaxing the 35-hour workweek and other labor rules.
The strike is not affecting Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport, but 20 percent of flights at Paris’ Orly airport have been canceled. The strike also affects schools, public hospitals and state-owned broadcasters.
