Bomber kills Iraqi police chief

BAGHDAD – A suicide bomber killed an Iraqi police chief and two other officers as they fled an ambush at the site of the wreckage of another blast a day earlier that killed at least 18 civilians and wounded nearly 150.

Case of judge’s death opens * THE HAGUE – France began presenting its case to the World Court in a dispute with Djibouti over which country should investigate the mysterious death of a French judge in Djibouti. Indonesia military reforms * JAKARTA – Indonesia’s new military commander vowed yesterday to push ahead with reforms of the armed forces, turning it into a law-abiding, professional body.Iran bars candidates * TEHRAN – Iran’s conservative vetting body has banned nearly one in every three potential candidates from standing in March 14 parliamentary elections, the interior ministry said yesterday.France discovers N$50 b fraud * PARIS – French bank Societe Generale says it has uncovered a (US$7.14 billion) (about N$50 million) fraud – one of history’s biggest – by a single futures trader who fooled investors and overstepped his authority.Bird flu virus claims 98 * JAKARTA – A 30-year-old Indonesian man who had tested positive for bird flu died yesterday, the health ministry said, taking the country’s death toll from the virus to 98.Sarkozy wants ad ban * PARIS – President Nicolas Sarkozy’s proposal to scrap advertising on French public television channels could generate over 300 million euros ($438.5 million) in additional revenue for private channels.Clash in Turkey leaves 5 dead * ANKARA – Police raided two suspected safe houses of alleged al-Qaida militants overnight in southern Turkey, triggering a gunbattle that killed one policeman and four gunmen, a provincial governor said yesterday.Indonesia military reforms * JAKARTA – Indonesia’s new military commander vowed yesterday to push ahead with reforms of the armed forces, turning it into a law-abiding, professional body. Iran bars candidates * TEHRAN – Iran’s conservative vetting body has banned nearly one in every three potential candidates from standing in March 14 parliamentary elections, the interior ministry said yesterday.France discovers N$50 b fraud * PARIS – French bank Societe Generale says it has uncovered a (US$7.14 billion) (about N$50 million) fraud – one of history’s biggest – by a single futures trader who fooled investors and overstepped his authority. Bird flu virus claims 98 * JAKARTA – A 30-year-old Indonesian man who had tested positive for bird flu died yesterday, the health ministry said, taking the country’s death toll from the virus to 98.Sarkozy wants ad ban * PARIS – President Nicolas Sarkozy’s proposal to scrap advertising on French public television channels could generate over 300 million euros ($438.5 million) in additional revenue for private channels.Clash in Turkey leaves 5 dead * ANKARA – Police raided two suspected safe houses of alleged al-Qaida militants overnight in southern Turkey, triggering a gunbattle that killed one policeman and four gunmen, a provincial governor said yesterday.