In Brief

Religion should build peace, fight racism*VITERBO – Pope Benedict XVI marked the 70th anniversary of the start of World War II yesterday by saying religion should promote peace and fight racism and totalitarianism.

Religion should build peace, fight racism*VITERBO – Pope Benedict XVI marked the 70th anniversary of the start of World War II yesterday by saying religion should promote peace and fight racism and totalitarianism.US military deaths in Iraq war at 4 339WASHINGTON – As of Friday, September 4, 2009, at least 4 339 members of the US military had died in the Iraq war since it began in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.Bulgaria mourns Macedonia boat victims*SOFIA – Bulgaria yesterday mourned its 15 citizens who drowned when their pleasure boat sank on Macedonia’s popular Lake Ohrid, gathering at churches around the country and cancelling a national holiday.Obama ‘green jobs’ adviser quits*WASHINGTON -
White House environmental adviser Van Jones, embroiled in a controversy over past inflammatory statements, resigned after what he called a ‘vicious smear campaign against me.Iraq presses UN envoy on bombings tribunalBAGHDAD – Iraq’s prime minister pressed the UN envoy yesterday for action on his request for an international tribunal to try suspects in last month’s suicide truck bombings at government targets.Ex-Australian PM Howard hospitalised*SYDNEY – Former Australian prime minister John Howard was hospitalised over the weekend after a severe allergic reaction to an anaesthetic, it was reported yesterday.Thousands flee battles in NW Pakistan*PESHAWAR – Thousands of civilians are fleeing the latest military operation against insurgents in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber tribal region, a government official said yesterday.Big chunk of space junk misses space station*CAPE CANAVERAL – A big piece of space junk safely sped by the international space station and shuttle Discovery on Friday, missing by less than a mile.
Six civilians killed in Mogadishu clashes*MOGADISHU – At least six civilians were killed and 18 others wounded in clashes that erupted when insurgents attacked government and African Union forces in Mogadishu, witnesses and medics said yesterday.
Zim constitution committee goes on strike*HARARE – Zimbabwe’s parliamentary committee for drafting a new constitution, meant to pave the way to fresh elections, has gone on strike after government failed to pay their allowances, reports said yesterday.AI urges charges withdrawn in ‘trouser trial’*KHARTOUM – Amnesty International on Friday called on the Sudanese government to withdraw the charges against a woman journalist who risks 40 lashes for wearing trousers. 4th acid attack in busy Hong Kong area*HONG KONG – An attacker hurled acid at pedestrians in a crowded Hong Kong shopping district yesterday, injuring 11 people in the neighbourhood’s fourth acid attack in a year.Despite Lockerbie , Libya open for business*CAIRO – The indignation and outrage in the US and Britain over Libya’s warm welcome home for the Lockerbie bomber may just be a speed bump in the North African nation’s drive for political and business rapprochement with the West.Crews working to contain wildfire’s edge*LOS ANGELES – The massive wildfire burning north of Los Angeles is more than half contained. US Forest Service spokeswoman Jennifer Sanchez said hand crews were working yesterday to construct fire lines to keep the blaze’s eastern flank from crossing a highway in the San Gabriel Wilderness. The western, southern and northern edges of the fire are controlled.