Kidnapped newsmen freed in Russia: Seven journalists kidnapped in southern Russia last week were freed unharmed on Wednesday. Russian news agencies reported. AP says from Moscow.
Sources in the Dagestan Interior Ministry said the journalists were released without any conditions, Russia’s ITAR-Tass and Interfax news agencies reported. The journalists, all based in Chechnya, were seized after they crossed into neighboring Dagestan on Dec. 24 to cover a raid by Chechen guerillas and Dagestani Muslim fundamentalists on Russian military outposts. Despite the end of Chechnya's two-year independence war with Russia, the region remains plagued by kidnappings and general lawlessness. Most cases involve Chechens kidnapping ethnic Russians or foreigners and seeking ransoms.
10 killed in Thai road mishap: At least 10 people were killed and 32 others injured when a public bus careered across a road divider and collided with four pickup trucks yesterday morning Thai police said. Reuter reports from Bangkok.
Police in Muaklaek district of Saraburi Province, about 120 km north of Bangkok, said the Bangkok-bound bus was travelling at a high speed when it lost control on a sharp curve and flew over the road divider, smashing into the oncoming traffic. The accident killed all the drivers and passengers of the trucks — 10 in all— whom were heading home to the provinces for new year celebrations.
Journalist arrested in Seoul: a Korean newspaper that had a Korean American broadcast journalist, arrested in Seoul said that the action was done in defence of its reputation and credibility. AP says from Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, supporters of Richard Choi said they were waiting to hear from President Bill Clinton, who they called on to pressure the South Korean government for his release. Choi, a news anchor and talk show host for KBLA-AM. was arrested Dec 19 for malicious slander for a story he broadcast from South Korea to Southern California. In his Dec 15 broadcast. Choi reported on a rumoured merger between the Korean Times, which publishes a Los Angeles edition, and the Hyundai Group, adding that South Korean media companies appear to have been hurt by the country's economic downturn.
Strong quake hits Myanmar: An intense earthquake occurred 410 kilometres north of Mandalayin Myanmar late Tuesday, the Hong Kong observatory said. AFP reports from Hong Kong.
The earthquake, estimated to be 5.8 on the Richter Scale, was recorded at 9:47 pm (11.47 GMT), it said. There was no immediate report of damage or casualties.
Ross to travel to ME next week: US envoy Dennis Ross will travel to the Middle East next week to push Israel and the Palestinians to make progress ahead of talks in Washington, the State Department confirmed Tuesday, AFP reports from Washington.
Ross was to arrive in the Middle East around January 5, according to State Department Spokesman James Foley, the visit was to set the stage for talks here with President Bill Clinton. Clinton was to meet separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian authority President Yasser Arafat in a bid to revive the peace process that has been stalled since March.
4 cops gunned down in Pakistan: A man wanteci in connection with more than 50 murders and theft shot and killed four policemen in eastern Pakistan following a high-speed chase, police said Tuesday. AP reports from Lahore.
The policemen gave chase to Yazman Bhlndar in Bhawalpur. some 300 kilometres (180 miles) south of the provincial capital Lahore, on Monday.