News in Brief

EU announces €30m to help Italy refugees
Ap, Lampedusa

The head of the European Commission has announced during a visit to the Sicilian island of Lampedusa that Italy will receive an additional €30 million in EU funds to help settle refugees, after the sinking of a migrant boat killed at least 275 people.
Jose Manuel Barroso also pledged to work “tirelessly” for an EU-wide asylum policy and to beef up the Frontex border patrol agency to prevent similar tragedies.

Turkey coup sentences upheld
Afp, Ankara

Turkey's appeals court yesterday upheld the convictions of scores of top retired military officers over a 2003 coup plot but overturned jail sentences handed to dozens of lower-ranking defendants.
The court in Ankara confirmed an earlier judgement that found the former commanders of the army, navy and air force guilty of plotting to oust Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Islamic-rooted government and sentenced them to 20 years behind bars.

China court to hear Bo Xilai appeal
Afp, Beijing

A Chinese court yesterday said it would hear an appeal by fallen Communist Party star Bo Xilai, who was convicted of bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power last month and jailed for life.
Appeals in such high-profile cases are rare in China's tightly controlled courts.

J&K assembly to summon Gen Singh
The Hindu Online

Jammu and Kashmir assembly Speaker Mubarak Gul said Wednesday he would summon former Indian Army chief Gen VK Singh to explain allegations that the army's secret fund are being used to pay state ministers since 1947.
The speaker, facing angry demands from lawmakers, said he would give the former army chief a month's time to appear before the assembly.

Suu Kyi to claim Sakharov prize
Afp, Strasbourg

Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is to finally receive the EU Sakharov human rights prize she won in 1990 at the height of the Myanmar military crackdown, the European Parliament revealed yesterday.
Suu Kyi is due to address MEPs on October 22.