theSun | FRIDAY DECEMBER 26 2008  11

news without borders

EPAPIX
Obama acknowledges

Germans save Egyptian

people watching him
as he walks to his
motorcade to leave
Mid-Pacific Country
Club in Kailua, Hawaii.

ship from Somali pirates

KUALA LUMPUR: A German
warship and helicopter yesterday
of the crew members sustaining
injuries to his leg,” he said.
pirates near the lawless East
African country, with China set
succeeded in foiling an attempt by However, before the pirates to dispatch three vessels today.
pirates to board an Egyptian bulk
carrier travelling in the troubled
Gulf of Aden off Somalia’s coast.
could board the ship, a German
naval warship and helicopter,
responding to the call for help,
“Japan has to deal quickly
with this issue,” chief cabinet
secretary Takeo Kawamura, the
Obama basks in
The ship, which had 31 crew
aboard, was headed for an Asian
arrived at the scene and managed
to chase off the pirates.
government spokesman, said.
But Japan has legal problems
political honeymoon
port from the Egyptian port of Later, the helicopter returned to with sending warships because WASHINGTON: Barack Obama is than any incoming president in the
Suez when pirates approached the the Egyptian carrier and airlifted of its pacifist post-World War II riding the crest of the best approval past three decades,” said CNN polling
vessel and started firing at crew the injured crew member onto the constitution. Under domestic laws, ratings of any president-elect in dec- director Keating Holland on the news
members, said Noel Choong, head warship, Choong said. the navy can only protect ships ades, a new poll showed Wednesday channel’s website.
of the anti-piracy International While the IMB hailed the flying the Japanese flag or carrying as the next US leader relaxed on his “He’s putting up better numbers,
Maritime Bureau (IMB) reporting thwarting the attack, Choong Japanese nationals. Hawaii Christmas vacation. usually by double digits, than Bill Clin-
centre in Kuala Lumpur. warned pirate activity continued to Kawamura said ruling bloc Less than a month before Obama ton, Ronald Reagan, or either George
Upon being attacked, crew grow in the Gulf of Aden. lawmakers will study changes in takes office in the teeth of the worst Bush on every item traditionally
members immediately called for Japan said it is considering legislation. economic slump since the 1930s, a measured in transition polls.”
aid from international coalition dispatching a destroyer to guard The Mainichi Shimbun, quoting new CNN/Opinion Research survey The survey also found that 56% of
forces patrolling the troubled against the pirates who are inflicting unnamed sources, said that Prime found 82% of Americans approve of those asked backed Obama’s plans
Somalia waters, Choong said. a costly toll on the shipping industry. Minister Taro Aso may announce how he is handling his transition to for a huge stimulus package to ignite
“The pirates were randomly A growing number of nations a decision on an operation by the power. the crisis-hit economy, with 42%
firing at the ship, resulting in one are sending navy ships to fight end of the year. – Agencies Obama’s rating is higher than against.
President George W. Bush’s cor- The president-elect was spending
responding figure of 65% after the Christmas Eve at a beachfront com-
Nineteen dead in Ukraine apartment explosion disputed 2000 election and higher
than the 67% posted by Bill Clinton
pound in Hawaii with his family, a day
after paying tribute to his grandmother
YEVPATORIA (Ukraine): Nineteen people were killed and loved ones of those who died,” said Ukrainian President Viktor in 1992. Madelyn Dunham, who helped raise
at least ten more were missing after an explosion ripped Yushchenko, who declared a day of national mourning. The poll was taken between Friday him, but died aged 86 two days before
through an apartment block in a Ukrainian Black Sea resort Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who and Sunday, at the end of a period in he was elected in November.
town, local officials said yesterday. have been engaged in a ferocious political row over the last which Obama has rolled out a high- Obama attended a private me-
Rescuers and residents were desperately searching the months, arrived in Crimea and even headed to the scene in profile cabinet line-up and hosted morial for Dunham, whom he knew
wreckage for survivors after the explosion struck a five- the same car, in a rare show of unity. almost daily press conferences as affectionately as “Toot,” at a Honolulu
story residential building in the Crimean Black Sea town of A spokesman for the regional emergency situations economic turmoil deepens. church on Tuesday before her ashes
Yevpatoria on Wednesday night. ministry said 21 people had been rescued from the rubble “Barack Obama is having a better were scattered by family and friends
“This is a horrible, irreparable loss for all the relatives and so far. – AFP honeymoon with the American public at an ocean overlook. – AFP