LITTLE ROCK — QUOTE OF THE DAY
“It’s not the euro that is in danger, it’s the fiscal policy in some member states that got out of hand.The euro is one of the world’s most stable currencies.”
Axel Weber,
the head of Germany’s central bank Article, this pageStudents protest Italy education cuts
ROME - Italian students on Thursday occupied the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Rome’s Colosseum to protest education cuts and university changes being considered by parliament.
Some 2,000 students marched Thursday in the northern university town of Pisa, forming a human chain around its famous tower to prevent tourists from entering, according to Italian news agency ANSA. Several students climbed inside the landmark as tourists snapped photos of the protest.
In Rome, students brandished banners reading “No profits off our future” as they marched around the Colosseum.
Thursday was the second day of protests against the changes, which eliminate some areas of study and force schools that are running a deficit to close.
In Milan, police clashed briefly with students to keep them from entering the subway.
Egypt jails 156 Christians after clash
CAIRO - Egypt’s prosecutor general leveled severe accusations Thursday against 156 Christians, including explosives possession and attempted murder, after clashes with police over the building of a church.
One person died and 68 others were injured when security forces halted construction on a church citing violations of building permits.
Angry Christians hurled stones while riot police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets near the church and later in clashes outside the governor’s office.
The prosecutor general ordered a renewable 15-daydetention for those arrested, on accusations of sabotage, assault, possession of explosives and attempted murder of police.
Some 15 police officers were injured in the clashes.
No one was arrested or charged in the death of one protester, who died after being shot in the thigh, according to forensic reports.
Coptic Christians make up about 10 percent of Egypt’s population of 80 million.
Missing teens found alive in S. Pacific
WELLINGTON, New Zealand - Three teens who have been missing in the South Pacific for 50 days - and were already eulogized in a memorial service - have been found alive by a New Zealand fishing boat.
The boys - two 15-year-olds and a 14-year-old - disappeared while attempting to row between two islands in the New Zealand territory of Tokelau in early October and were given up for dead after an extensive search involving New Zealand’s air force.
Their craft had drifted 800 miles to a desolate part of the Pacific northeast of Fiji, when the crew of a tuna boat saw them frantically waving for help Wednesday afternoon.
The boys, Samuel Pelesa and Filo Filo, both 15, and Edward Nasau, 14, will be taken to a hospital in the Fiji capital of Suva today.
New Zealand mourns 29 in mine blast
GREYMOUTH, New Zealand - New Zealand held a national day of mourning Thursday for the 29 victims of its worst mining disaster in decades, while officials said it could be weeks or months before their bodies are recovered from deep underground.
Recovery teams were prevented from entering the mine by high levels of potentially explosive methane and other toxic gases that are blamed for three huge blasts inside the Pike River Coal mine.
The first explosion last Friday left the 29 men missing up to 1 1/2 miles underground, and officials insisted there was hope for them.
After Wednesday’s second blast, police and mine officials said no one could have survived. A third blast occurred today.
New Zealand’s mining industry is small and generally considered safe.
The disaster deeply shocked the country and devastated families who - buoyed by the survival tale of Chile’s 33 buried miners - had clung to hope that their relatives could emerge alive.
Front Section, Pages 9 on 11/26/2010