Nine US states declared a state of emergency on Tuesday as Hurricane Sandy hit the country’s north-east. Large parts of New York were closed before being flooded and left without power. The storm earlier killed 66 in the Caribbean.
Deadly blast
At least eight people were killed and more than 100 wounded when a suicide bomber targeted a Catholic church in Nigeria. It occurred in a city separating the country’s Christian south and Muslim north. No group has claimed responsibility.
Market riot
Two retailers were killed by police after vendors in a market in the Peruvian capital went on a riot, demonstrating against a plan to move the market. Projectiles were thrown, injuring 100. Thousands of riot police were deployed to quell the violence.
Terror arrests
Indonesian police and anti-terrorism authorities have arrested 11 people accused of planning attacks targeting the US and Australian embassies. Police said the plots were “well prepared” and bombs and ammunitions were also seized in East Java.
Action call
The United Nations has demanded Burma’s government take “urgent action” to address ethnic violence in the country’s west. A dispute between Buddhist and Muslim communities left 88 dead and a Muslim community completely destroyed.
Coup arrest
Guinea-Bissau’s military has arrested leaders of an attempted coup last week which left at least seven dead. Pansao Ntchama, believed to be part of group which assassinated the president in 2009, was arrested after returning from Portugal.
Ceasefire destroyed
US-Arab League envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi has expressed regret that a planned ceasefire in the war-torn country last weekend failed. Fighting in Damascus and Aleppo killed at least 100. However Brahimi said it would not deter peace efforts.
Refugees ‘threat’
Israeli authorities have defended their decision not to accept dozens of north African refugees who crossed the border from Egypt. They were mostly Eritrean migrants. Interior minister Eli Yishai said “infiltration” of Israel was a threat.
Ukraine poll
Jailed former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko has started a hunger strike to protest electoral irregularities in last weekend’s general election. Observers criticised the freedom of the poll. President Viktor Yanukovych was tipped to win.
Editor arrested
Police have arrested the editor of a Greek magazine which published more than 2000 wealthy people who have money in Swiss bank accounts. The names were compiled by French investigators in 2010 during a probe into tax evasion.
Radio star burned
Four masked men stormed a Bolivian radio station and set the presenter, journalist Fernando Vidal, on fire. Vidal and another staff member are being treated for burns to the face, chest and arms. Three suspected assailants have been arrested.
Bomb threat
Sendai Airport in northern Japan was closed after an unexploded World War II bomb was found near a runway. It was discovered Tuesday amid reconstruction work after last year’s tsunami damage. The 250kg bomb was one made in the US.
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