news digest

Greek government survives confidence vote

The Greek government has won a critical vote of confidence as it struggles to win support for extra austerity measures and avoid a debt default.Prime Minister George Papandreou's new cabinet was approved in parliament by 155 votes to 143, with two abstentions. MPs will now be asked to approve 28bn euros (?25bn) of cuts, tax rises, fiscal reforms and privatisation plans. ?BBC

Egypt gunmen kill police officers in Sinai

CAIRO, June 22: Unknown gunmen attacked a police checkpoint in the Egyptian town of Al-Arish on Wednesday, killing two policemen and leaving two injured, a security official said. "Unknown gunmen travelling in two small cars without number plates shot at police officers with automatic weapons," the official told AFP.

Australian flights resume as

Chile volcano ash clears

Flights are gradually resuming from airports across Australia after two days of cancellations caused by an ash cloud from a Chilean volcano. Qantas and Virgin jets took off from Adelaide on Wednesday morning. Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney airports were expected to resume flights later. But the ash is heading towards New Zealand, where disruption is expected. ?BBC

Iranian officials unhurt after attack in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, June 22: Gunmen opened fire on a visiting delegation of Iranian oil officials in Baghdad on Wednesday, wounding two Iraqi guards but the foreigners were unharmed, an interior ministry official and the oil ministry in Tehran said. "Gunmen fired on an oil ministry convoy carrying Iranian oil officials in the centre of Baghdad," the Iraqi official said. ?AFP

Dozens of Qaeda militants

escape from Yemen jail

ADEN, June 22 : Dozens of al Qaeda militants escaped from a jail in southern Yemen on Wednesday following an attack on the compound, a security official said. Western countries and neighbouring Saudi Arabia fear al Qaeda is exploiting instability in Yemen to gain a foothold in the impoverished state and launch attacks in the region and beyond. ?Reuters

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