ISRAEL ‘STRIKE’ KILLS 3 IRAN-BACKED FIGHTERS IN SYRIA

AFP, Beirut

A missile strike on a Syrian airbase that Damascus blamed on Israel killed at least three Iran-backed militiamen, a monitor said yesterday. Four missiles hit the T4 base in Homs province, north of the capital, at around 10:00 pm (2000 GMT) on Tuesday, state news agency SANA reported, blaming the attack on Israel.

ITALY ARRESTS DOZENS OVER MAFIA SCAM

of EU funds

AFP, Rome

Italian police said yesterday they had dismantled a massive Mafia operation in Sicily which had been defrauding the European Union of millions of euros in funds destined to farmers. A total of 94 people were arrested in the early-morning raids, said the public prosecutor in Messina in a statement.

New trial opens for disgraced S Korea

ex-leader Park

AFP, Seoul

The retrial of ousted former South Korean president Park Geun-hye began yesterday over the sprawling corruption scandal that saw her impeached, convicted and jailed, only for the hearing to end after five minutes. Park, the country’s first female president, boycotted the session, Yonhap news agency reported—she has refused to take part in the judicial proceedings against her for more than two years. As a result, the Seoul High Court adjourned and scheduled another session for January 31, when it will move straight to closing arguments, Yonhap reported.