Wikinews:Briefs/May 15, 2006

The time is 18:00 (UTC) on May 15th, 2006, and this is Audio Wikinews News Briefs.

Wave of attacks strike policemen in Brazil
Brazil

PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital, Portuguese for First Command of the Capital City) criminals have been backing several attacks against security forces in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Since Friday, there have been over 60 deaths: military and civil policemen, relatives to them and city guards have been targeted. 115 attacks against personnel and police departments have been recorded. In the meantime, there have been 53 prison riots across São Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul and Paraná, with hostages. There is no confirmed count of wounded and dead, but early information indicates that criminals have been killed by rival faction members during the riots.

U.S. to restore full diplomatic relations with Libya
United States

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said in a statement that full diplomatic relations will be restored with Libya and that the country will be removed from the list of nations that sponsor terrorism. "I am pleased to announce that the United States is restoring full diplomatic relations with Libya. We will soon open an embassy in Tripoli. In addition, the United States intends to remove Libya from the list of designated state sponsors of terrorism. Libya will also be omitted from the annual certification of countries not cooperating fully with United States' anti-terrorism efforts," said Rice in a statement posted on the U.S. Department of State's website.

Saddam Hussein's trial resumes, ex-Iraqi President formally charged
Iraq

Saddam Hussein's trial resumed today and the former Iraqi President was officially charged with murder, the torturing of women and children, farmland razing and illegally arresting 399 people in the 1980's. Hussein refused to enter a plea, and when Judge Abdel-Rahman asked Hussein if he pleaded "guilty or not guilty", Hussain simply replied, "this is no way to treat the president of Iraq." Rahman then entered a plea of "not guilty" for the former President.

Satellite phone subsidy to be extended in Australia
Australia

Senator Helen Coonan, Australian minister for communication, information technology and the arts, has announced the federal government will be extending its subsidy on satellite telephone handsets. The scheme allows those living or working in parts of remote Australia without conventional mobile telephone services to claim a subsidy of up to AU$1,200 on the purchase of a satellite telephone. The program was supposed to run for five years from 2002 until 2007. The program will continue until 2009.

Australian senator to oppose petrol deregulation
Australia

Australian senator Barnaby Joyce (Nationals, Queensland) has moved to oppose the government's planned changes to the country's petrol retail industry. The National Party, of which Senator Joyce is a member, governs Australia in coalition with the Liberal Party. The government plans to amend regulations governing the petrol industry to allow oil companies to own more than five percent of petrol stations. Senator Joyce has given notice to disallow regulations that would force the government to debate them in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Michigan woman kidnapped in 1976 found alive in Arizona
United States

Genevieve Rachel Nielsen, 31, who was kidnapped when she was 21 months old from her home in Oakland County, Michigan, has been found living under another name in Arizona on Sunday, Mother's Day. In 1976, Eric Douglas Nielsen, the ex-husband of Laura Gooder of Pontiac, Michigan, took Gooder's daughter to his home for a visit and never returned her.

Australian Mitchell Dean wins Honolulu Triathlon
Sports - Triathlon

Australian Mitchell Dean won the Honolulu Triathlon on Sunday, defeating American Manuel Huerta by five seconds to win the event in 1 hour, 46 minutes, and 55 seconds. Huerta came in second at 1 hour and 47 minutes flat, and Haven Barnes finished third at 1 hour, 47 minutes, and 6 seconds. In the women's race, Jasmine Oeinck of Littleton, Colorado, won in 1 hour, 56 minutes, and 21 seconds. Sarah Groff finished second in 1 hour, 57 minutes, and 18 seconds; and Sara McLarty finished third in 1 hour, 58 minutes, and 8 seconds. Dean and Oeinck both earned US$3,000 for their victories.

Closing statements
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