Retired cyclist Lance Armstrong says he will not challenge doping charges levelled by the Unites States anti-doping agency. Team mates have given evidence that he used drugs during his career. He will be stripped of his seven Tour de France titles.
Giants penalised
Counter accusations of smart phone patent infringement have seen the world’s two biggest technology companies fined. Apple was ordered to pay $35,400 in damages. Samsung has been banned from selling its models and will pay a $22,000 penalty.
Wild Harry
British tabloid The Sun has defied requests of the Royal family, to publish images of Prince Harry naked, while partying in Las Vegas. Originally, UK media refrained from using them, but publishers ran them citing freedom of the press.
Balloon crash
Four people have been killed and almost 30 injured when a hot air balloon caught fire and crashed near the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana. There was a storm at the time of the accident and strong winds interfered with the craft while trying to land.
Market arrest
Vietnam’s financial markets have been rattled by the arrest of one of the country’s most high-profile bankers. Ly Xuan Hai is accused of “deliberate wrongdoing causing serious consequences”. Depositors have withdrawn about $200 million.
Trial date set
The son of deposed Libyan dictator Moamar Gaddafi will face trial next month. After 18 months of investigations, authorities said Seif al-Islam will face unknown charges in the town on Zintan. Legal analysts fear he will not have a fair trial.
Unis closed
A dispute over tertiary education funding policy has seen the Sri Lankan government shut 13 of the county’s 15 universities. Academics went on strike citing politician’s meddling and plans to change university funding arrangements.
Inquiry launched
South African president Jacob Zuma has announced a judicial inquiry into the gunning down of miners by police during a union fight. The announcement came as family and friends of 34 workers killed in the dispute gathered for memorials.
Fishy seizure
Police in Peru have seized 16,000 dried seahorses destined for Asia. The animals are widely used in traditional medicines as an aphrodisiac. Weighing almost 27 kgs, they were found in the street in Lima. Seahorse fishing is illegal in Peru.
“Dr Death” retrial
A doctor convicted of manslaughter over the death of three patients in rural Australia has won a rare High Court appeal. Indian-born Jayant Patel was jailed for seven years in 2010. The court ordered a re-trial, due to prosecution irregularities.
Violence spreads
The Lebanese port city of Tripoli has again been drawn into unrest in neighbouring Syria. A dispute among religious groups aligned to parties in the Syrian war saw 12 killed last week. But an agreed truce was broken when a man was killed Thursday.
Volcano threat
Concerns are mounting an Ecuadorian volcano, spilling smoke and ash, is set for a major eruption. Communities near the Tungurahua, near Quito, have been evacuated and authorities have lifted the threat from moderate to high.
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