Wikinews:Briefs/August 24, 2006

The time is 17:00 (UTC) on August 24th, 2006, and this is Audio Wikinews News Briefs.

India may pull peacekeeping troops out of Lebanon
Lebanon

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said India may withdraw the 775 troops it has stationed in Lebanon as part of the 1,990-strong United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

8 Afghans killed in early morning raid
Afghanistan

Eight people, including one child, were killed in an early morning raid by US and Afghan forces in Asmar, a village in the Kunar province of Afghanistan bordering Pakistan. American forces claim that the seven adults were linked with al-Qaeda while Afghan police deny this saying that the victims were local families and elders who had gathered to resolve a dispute.

Terrorism not involved in Netherlands flight alert
Netherlands

The Dutch Justice Minister has said that terrorism does not appear to be involved after a US flight had to make an emergency landing in Amsterdam yesterday.

Ukraine celebrates Independence Day
Ukraine

Ukraine celebrates its independence day today, 15 years after it broke away from the Soviet Union in 1991.

UK population exceeds 60 million for the first time
United Kingdom

The Office of National Statistics has this morning revealed figures which show the United Kingdom’s population has exceeded sixty million for the first time. In June 2005, the number of people living in the country was 60.2 million, an increase of 0.6% since June 2004.

Local communities in the UK must "root out" extremism, says Ruth Kelly
In a speech in South London this morning, Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly has urged local communities to “root out” fanaticism.

Allegations that New Zealand school administers corporal punishment
New Zealand

South Auckland Tyndale Park Christian School have been asking parents of the pupils for permission to administer corporal punishment.

Pluto loses planet status
space

Today, astronomers have endorsed a proposal about the definition of the word planet. As a consequence, our solar system now counts 8 classical planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) and 4 plutons or Pluto-like entities: Pluto itself, Ceres, 2003 UB313 and Charon.

Closing statements
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