News In Brief

Boston blasts suspect pleads not guilty
Afp, Boston

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the teenager accused of carrying out the Boston bombings, on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to all charges in US federal court, nearly three months after the deadly April attacks.
The attacks, which left three people dead and more than 260 wounded, stunned America with scenes of carnage and chaos at one of the country's premier sporting events.

Canada rail disaster kills 50
Afp, Lac-megantic

A Canadian rail disaster that "probably" killed as many as 50 people was likely the result of an engineer's failure to set the brakes on an unmanned train owned by a US railway company, officials said Wednesday.
Twenty people have been confirmed dead and 30 remain unaccounted for with little hope of being found alive following the explosive train crash, Quebec provincial police inspector Michel Forget told reporters.

Luxembourg's PM  resigns
Afp, Luxembourg

Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, Europe's longest-serving leader, tenders his resignation yesterday in a scandal involving the tiny nation's secret services, alleged to have indulged in misconduct on his watch. Though aged only 58, Juncker has been in office for 18 years and in government for 30. He is best known in Europe for his recent tumultuous eight-year stint as head of the eurozone finance ministers group, which ended in January.

Greek public TV resumes broadcasts
Afp, Athens

Greek public television went back on air late Wednesday screening a movie, one month after the government abruptly pulled the plug on state broadcaster ERT causing national and international uproar.
On June 11, the government suddenly pulled the plug on state broadcaster ERT, making nearly 2,600 employees redundant.

N Korea shelves talks on family reunions
Afp, Seoul

North Korea has retracted its proposal to hold talks with South Korea on restarting a family reunion programme, a Seoul official said yesterday.
The North's sudden move came a day after the two Koreas agreed in principle to hold a Red Cross meeting on family reunions.

Child abuse: Vatican widens probe
Afp, Vatican City

Pope Francis yesterday bolstered criminal legislation against child abuse in the Vatican and increased criminal liability for employees of the tiny city state in a legislative overhaul.
The Vatican said in a statement that the pope's decree included "a broader definition of the category of crimes against minors" including child prostitution, sexual acts with children and child pornography. The laws will come into force on September 1.