World news in brief

FINLAND: Hundreds of Finnair technical staff walked off the job today in a 24-hour strike against job cuts.

The air carrier says it plans to shed an additional 310 technical jobs as it streamlines operations and outsources some services as part of an ongoing cost-cutting programme.

The Finnish national carrier has set a cuts target of €140 million (£120m) by 2014.

During the past year Finnair has already slashed its workforce by 9 per cent to 6,800 employees.

Italian kept in India over marine killings

INDIA: The Supreme Court barred Italy's ambassador from leaving the country today and demanded that he explains why his country is refusing to return two Italian marines to stand trial for the killing of two Indian fishermen.

The court had allowed the marines to go home in February to vote in national elections and to celebrate Easter with a written promise from Italian ambassador Daniele Mancini that they would return to stand trial.

Italy announced on Monday it would not send them back.

Tepco 'not part of cover-up'

JAPAN: A company-financed inquiry claimed today that although the operator of Japan's tsunami-crippled Fukushima nuclear plant misinformed investigators and blocked an inspection of key equipment last year, it was not part of a cover-up.

Tepco commissioned the panel last month to look into the matter.

The panel blamed a Tepco official's misunderstanding and claimed that the company was not trying to conceal the equipment.

Refugees up 10%

SYRIA: A UN official said today that the number of registered Syrian refugees has jumped by more than 10 per cent in just one week.

Last week, the UN refugee agency said the number of Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey, Egypt and North Africa had reached one million.

Agency spokeswoman Reem Alsalem said today that 121,000 have registered since then.

UN assembly pays tribute to Chavez

UN: Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon led tributes to late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Wednesday, calling him a leader who made a difference in the world.

Diplomats observed a moment of silence at a UN general assembly meeting before the tributes by Mr Ban, general assembly president Vuk Jeremic, representatives of all regional groups and Venezuela's foreign minister.

M Ban praised Chavez's "commitment to improve the life of the most underprivileged."

Bailout talks break down in Athens

GREECE: Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras said today that bailout lenders will send inspectors back to Athens in about two weeks after both sides failed to finalise a new round of deficit reduction measures.

Mr Stournaras said the inspectors from the EU, European Central Bank and IMF would return in late March or early April.

The sides remain at odds over the speed of state job cuts and plans to address mounting tax arrears.

Sary found dead

CAMBODIA: Ieng Sary, who cofounded the Khmer Rouge regime responsible for the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million Cambodians in the 1970s died today morning before his prosecution could be finished.

Prosecutor Chea Leang said the 87-year-old died of "irreversible cardiac failure."

Yellow Shirts charged

THAILAND: Thirty members of the People's Alliance for Democracy, also known as Yellow Shirts, have been indicted for seizing Bangkok's two airports in 2008.

The 30 and their movement's TV station were charged with terrorism, violation of an emergency decree and other offences.

Activist shot dead

PAKISTAN: Police said today that gunmen shot and killed a pioneering activist in Karachi who helped bring sewage and water services to the city's poorest neighbourhoods.

Perween Rahman was on her way home on Wednesday night when she was shot and killed.