News in Brief

Top Indian editor charged with rape

Afp, Panaji
Indian police yesterday formally charged Tarun Tejpal, 50, the founder of top investigative magazine Tehelka, raping a female colleague in the holiday state of Goa, in a case that has dominated local media headlines.
Investigating officer Sunita Sawant filed a 2,684-page charge sheet before a court in the state capital Panaji, laying down charges including sexual harassment, outraging modesty and rape of Tejpal's colleague.

Japan snowstorm leaves 19 dead

Afp, Tokyo
A severe snowstorm sweeping across Japan has killed 19 people and left more than 1,600 injured, media and officials said yesterday, as the extreme weather sparked widespread transport chaos.

Italian navy saves over 1,000 migrants

Afp, Rome
Italy's navy said yesterday it had saved over 1,000 migrants taking the perilous journey by boat across the Mediterranean this weekend, including 64 minors and a newborn baby.
Several boats carrying a total of 1,079 people were spotted and assisted since Friday, and the majority of them were being transported to the port of Augusta in Sicily on an Italian warship, the navy said in a statement.

Free Syrian Army sacks chief

Afp, Damascus
The Free Syrian Army has sacked its military chief after the Western-backed rebels suffered battlefield setbacks, amid signs the warring parties are escalating the fighting that has already killed more than 140,000 people.
Activists warned yesterday that regime troops are preparing a ground offensive against the town of Yabrud, the last rebel stronghold in the strategic Qalamoun region near Lebanon's border, after days of aerial bombardments.

Egypt bus blast 'shocks' S korea

Afp, Cairo
South Korea voiced shock and outrage yesterday at the bombing of a tourist bus in Egypt that killed three of its nationals as well as the Egyptian driver.
The bomb tore through the bus carrying 31 South Korean tourists and their guide near an Egyptian border crossing with Israel in South Sinai on Sunday.