Judge to rule on Zuma trial
Pietermaritzburg A South African judge will decide this month whether to proceed with the trial of the former Deputy President Jacob Zuma on bribery and fraud charges. Prosecutors asked the judge to delay the trial for months to give them time to study documents. Lawyers for Mr Zuma, 64, who want the case dismissed, oppose any further delay. He is a contender to become the next leader of the ruling African National Congress. (Reuters)
Party admits theft
Brussels A right-wing party has admitted a week before the Swedish elections that it stole its rival’s campaign plans. The Folk Liberal Party said that one of its staff used a stolen password to access computers of the ruling Social Democrats on 78 occasions.
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Rebels ‘defeated’
Kantale The Sri Lankan Army has helped thousands of people to return to their homes in the northeast after claiming that it has defeated Tamil Tiger rebels. Hundreds have been killed and 220,000 displaced by fighting in the region since April. (AP)
Iran reveals arms
Tehran Iran announced that it has developed a warplane similar to the American F5 fighter jet. The completion of Azarakhsh (Lightning) follows successful testing of a 2,000lb (900kg) guided bomb and the development of a warplane similar to the F18 fighter. (AFP)
Live fast, die young
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Sydney An Australian fish has been recognised as having the briefest lifespan of any vertebrate. The coral reef pygmy goby lives an average of 59 days and is an adult for three weeks, researchers at James Cook University in Queensland said. (AFP)
Officers held in ‘bomb plot’
Bangkok An army general and two officers were arrested on charges of plotting to kill Thaksin Shinawatra, the Thai Prime Minister, officials said.
The arrests bring to five the number of military officers being held in custody over the alleged plot to assassinate Mr Thaksin on August 25.
The media have suggested that the thwarted bomb attack might be an attempt by an embattled government to elicit sympathy and divert attention from other issues. (AP)
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Scientist ill
Karachi Abdul Qadeer Khan, Pakistan’s former top nuclear scientist, has had prostate cancer surgery, officials said. Mr Khan, 70, has been under virtual house arrest after admitting in 2004 that he leaked nuclear weapons technology abroad. (AP)
No hiding place
San Salvador Four prisoners in a jail in El Salvador used mobile phones that they had hidden in their rectums to organise robberies, blackmail and murders outside. They also hid a phone charger and spare chips. X-rays revealed the hiding places. (Reuters)
Bomb man jailed
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Denpasar An Islamist bomb- maker was sentenced to 18 years in prison for his role in the triple suicide attacks on the island of Bali last year in which 20 bystanders were killed. Muhammad Cholily, 28, smiled and gave the thumbs-up as he was sentenced. (AFP)
Game on
Seoul South Koreans can now enjoy one of their favourite games on computer using a program written in communist North Korea. Silver Star 2006 is a North Korean-made program of the game called Baduk in South Korea and more widely known as Go. (AP)