Photo of victims breaks taboo

Beijing

The Beijing News is being investigated by Chinese officials after publishing a photograph of casualties from the protests at Tiananmen Square in 1989. The tabloid newspaper carried a photograph of victims being carried away on bicycles alongside an interview with the photographer Liu Xiangcheng. Chinese media are ordered to avoid references to the protests. (Reuters)

Contraception call by Catholics

Rome More than 50 Roman Catholic groups urged Pope Benedict XVI to lift the “catastrophic” ban by the Church on contraception. The Vatican dismissed their letter, in the Corriere della Sera newspaper, as “paid propaganda”. (Reuters)

Jazz sax player Griffin dies

Paris Johnny Griffin, the jazz saxophonist who recorded the Blue Note album A Blowin’ Session with John Coltrane in 1957, died at his home in Mauprevoir, central France, aged 80. He had intended to perform last night. (AFP)

Two killed as bomb blasts hit IT capital

Bangalore At two people were killed and a dozen were injured in a series of bombings in Bangalore, the Indian IT capital.

Two explosions occurred close to police stations and another bomb went off in the business district, police said. Another bomb exploded in Koramangla district, where there are several computer software firms. Officials said that there were nine explosions in all.

None of India’s Islamic or Maoist rebel groups claimed responsibility. “Such incidents will not deter the Government from pursuing its policy of dealing with antinational elements in a resolute manner,” Shivraj Patil, the Indian Home Minister, said. (AFP)

Lottery scam arrests

Madrid Police arrested 28 people accused of lottery scams in AlmerÍa, southern Spain. The suspects are alleged to have sent e-mails telling recipients that they had won the Spanish lottery and asking for money to transfer the winnings. (AFP)

Cover girl charged

Lima A dancer who posed naked on a horse using the Peruvian flag as a saddle has been charged with offending patriotic symbols. Leysi Suárez, who appeared on the cover of the magazine D’Farándula, could be jailed for four years. (Reuters)

Dozens drown in river

Kinshasa At least 47 people died when a motorboat sank in the Ubangi River, northern Congo. More than 100 people were reported missing from the vessel, which was carrying about 180 passengers to the Central African Republic. (AP)

14-year-old robbers

Beijing Two 14-year-old boys and a girl who carried out an armed robbery at a jewellery shop in Hong Kong last year have each been jailed for three years. They brandished knives and stole necklaces and bracelets worth £65,000. (Reuters)

Girls arrested over bank raids

Paris

A 16-year-old girl arrested in connection with a bank robbery is suspected of involvement in seven hold-ups, a court said. A judge at a court in Créteil on the outskirts of the capital remanded her in custody after requests by the prosecution. (AFP)

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