World Bank cancels loan for Bangladesh bridge over corruption allegations

A $1.2bn loan for Bangladesh’s Padma bridge project has been cancelled by the World Bank on Friday, arguing that the government had not co-operated in investigating “high level” corruption in the project.

The bank said about the loan being cancelled immediately : “The World Bank cannot, should not, and will not turn a blind eye to evidence of corruption.”

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North Korea to display Kim Jong-il’s body

The body of late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il will be placed on permanent display at a palace also housing the embalmed body of his father (photo, from ouest-france.fr) in Pyongyang, the country’s capital.

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Less entertainment on Chinese satellite TV

While Chinese president Hu Jintao warned of the influence of Western culture, an order by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) to curb “excessive entertainment” came into effect on January 1st. (photo from chinahush.com)

Therefore satellite broadcasters have cut entertainment TV by two-thirds, state news agency Xinhua has reported.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-il dies

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, known in his country as the “Dear Leader”, has died of a heart attack on Saturday aboard a train during a trip out of Pyongyang, state media has announced on Monday.

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New law allows protests in Burma

Several reforms have been undertaken by Burma’s nominally civilian government which got to power earlier this year.

The latest reform was signed by president Thein Sein (photo with US secretary of state Hillary Clinton, from bbcimg.co.uk) and allows peaceful demonstrations for the first time, state media report.

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Journalists allowed inside Fukushima nuclear plant

Journalists wearing full protective clothing have been allowed to enter the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan on Saturday, for the first time since the country was hit by an earthquake and a tsunami.

During the tour, journalists took pictures inside the damaged plant.(photo, from lefigaro.fr)

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Seven charged over Benazir Bhutto’s murder

Two senior police officers have been charged on Saturday by an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan over the 2007 assassination of Benazir Bhutto (photo, from bbcimg.co.uk), the first female prime minister of any Muslim country. She had been prime minister twice, from 1988 to 1990 and from 1993 to 1996.

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India : hundreds detained ahead of mass fast

Hours before Anna Hazare (photo, from bbcimg.co.uk) started his announced fast to protest against a proposed new anti-corruption law, he was arrested by the police, along with 1,300 of his supporters. Mr Hazare will stay in Delhi’s Tihar prison for a week.

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Hundreds in ‘SlutWalk’ in Delhi

Men and women rallied in India’s capital on Sunday (photo, from bbcimg.co.uk), inspired by the “SlutWalk” protests which started in Toronto last April and has now spread in many countries : United States, Europe, Australia, South Korea and South Africa.

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UN court orders Thai-Cambodian troops withdrawal from border

A few months ago Cambodia asked the International Court of Justice, the UN’s highest judicial organ, to rule over the disputed border with Thailand. (map, from bbcimg.co.uk)

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