Briefs from around the world
United States - Democrats won a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time in 12 years. The liberal-leaning party also took the Senate by one seat, which was decided by Virginia Democrat James Webb, who received only 7,000 more votes than opponent and Republication George Allen. Shortly after the loss, President George W. Bush and Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld announced the resignation of Rumsfeld, who will be replaced by former CIA chief Robert Gates. The vote was largely seen as a referendum on how Bush and his administration were handling the Iraq war.
Nicaragua - Former revolutionary leader Daniel Ortega has won Nicaragua's presidential election, according to nearly complete results released Tuesday. Ortega, who was ousted 16 years ago in a U.S.-backed rebellion, won with 38 per cent of the vote, the country's top electoral officer reported.
Iraq - Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death by hanging on Sunday, for “willfully killing”, part of his allegation for crimes against humanity, for his role in ordering the death of 148 Shias in Dujail. His half brother, Barzan Al-Tikriti was also sentenced to death, as well as Awad Ahmed Al-Bandar, who was chairman of the “revolutionary court” that ordered Shias' execution.
Britain - A cave believed to be the deepest in Britain has been discovered in Derbyshire, in the country's central region. While the final measurements haven't been completed, it's believed Titan is about 60 metres deeper than the previous record holder, Gaping Ghyll in the Yorkshire Dales in northern England. Stretching about 140 metres deep, Titan was created by millions of years of water flowing through limestone under a farmer's field near Castleton, in the Peak District.
Nigeria - Two foreign oil workers seized last week from a ship off the coast of Nigeria were The two men, a Briton and an American, were taken to Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa state, after they were freed, said Ekiyor Welson, spokesman for the local state government. The men were kidnapped last Thursday during a raid on a Norwegian oil services ship off Nigeria's southern coast. The ship was owned by Oslo, Norway-based Petroleum Geo-Services.
Afghanistan - An ambush on a NATO patrol vehicle left one soldier dead and two others injured in southern Afghanistan, NATO said in a statement on Tuesday. The attack occurred Monday when suspected insurgents detonated an explosive device in the Panjwaii district in Kandahar province. NATO officials have not disclosed the nationality of the soldiers involved.
Nicaragua - Former revolutionary leader Daniel Ortega has won Nicaragua's presidential election, according to nearly complete results released Tuesday. Ortega, who was ousted 16 years ago in a U.S.-backed rebellion, won with 38 per cent of the vote, the country's top electoral officer reported.
Iraq - Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death by hanging on Sunday, for “willfully killing”, part of his allegation for crimes against humanity, for his role in ordering the death of 148 Shias in Dujail. His half brother, Barzan Al-Tikriti was also sentenced to death, as well as Awad Ahmed Al-Bandar, who was chairman of the “revolutionary court” that ordered Shias' execution.
Britain - A cave believed to be the deepest in Britain has been discovered in Derbyshire, in the country's central region. While the final measurements haven't been completed, it's believed Titan is about 60 metres deeper than the previous record holder, Gaping Ghyll in the Yorkshire Dales in northern England. Stretching about 140 metres deep, Titan was created by millions of years of water flowing through limestone under a farmer's field near Castleton, in the Peak District.
Nigeria - Two foreign oil workers seized last week from a ship off the coast of Nigeria were The two men, a Briton and an American, were taken to Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa state, after they were freed, said Ekiyor Welson, spokesman for the local state government. The men were kidnapped last Thursday during a raid on a Norwegian oil services ship off Nigeria's southern coast. The ship was owned by Oslo, Norway-based Petroleum Geo-Services.
Afghanistan - An ambush on a NATO patrol vehicle left one soldier dead and two others injured in southern Afghanistan, NATO said in a statement on Tuesday. The attack occurred Monday when suspected insurgents detonated an explosive device in the Panjwaii district in Kandahar province. NATO officials have not disclosed the nationality of the soldiers involved.
