BRUSSELS: The European Union plans a gamut of ‘tough’ sanctions against North Korea, ranging from financial measures to travel bans and asset freezes against individuals, EU diplomats said yesterday. “There will be wide sanctions”, announced at talks between the bloc’s 27 foreign ministers Monday, said an EU diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity. These would include the implementation of individual sanctions approved at UN level as well as EU restrictions on financial dealings and trade sanctions on items potentially linked to Pyonyang’s ballistic and nuclear programmes, the source said.
Nigerian state okays death for kidnappers
YENAGOA: Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan’s home state of Bayelsa signed a law approving the death penalty for convicted kidnappers, in a region were abductions by criminal gangs are common. Kidnapping for ransom in the southern Niger Delta and offshore of the oil region is a multi-million dollar business. The vast majority of people taken are Nigerians, although foreigners are also regularly targeted. The finance minister’s 82-year-old mother was abducted in December but released five days later.
German airports hit by strikes for second day
FRANKFURT: A strike by security staff over pay paralysed two key regional airports in Germany for the second day in a row yesterday, with more than half of flights scrapped. At 10:30 am local time, two thirds out of a planned 179 take-offs had been cancelled from Hamburg airport in the north of Germany, an airport spokeswoman said. Just two security gates out of a total 20 were in operation, she said. “The terminals are very full. Queues are very long,” the spokeswoman added.
Kosovo marks fifth anniversary tomorrow
PRISTINA: As it prepares to mark five years of independence on Sunday, Kosovo is closer than ever to normalising ties with long-time foe Serbia, but for many in the impoverished territory there is little to cheer. Almost 100 countries have recognised Kosovo since ethnic Albanians proclaimed independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008, although Belgrade itself still considers the breakaway region its southern province.Agencies
