TEHRAN -- Iran has repatriated four Iraqi prisoners under a 2011 convict extradition agreement between the two neighbors, the Iranian Students' News Agency reported Thursday.
The four prisoners were handed over to Iraqi authorities on Tuesday to serve the rest of their jail terms in their home country, ISNA quoted Deputy Iranian Justice Minister for Human Rights and International Affairs Askar Jalalian as saying. (Iran-Repatriation-Iraqi Prisoners)
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COLOMBO -- Sri Lanka's central bank revealed on Thursday that the country is presenting three options to domestic holders of locally issued dollar-denominated bonds.
The first option for domestic holders of dollar-denominated bonds would mirror the treatment given to investors in the country's international sovereign bonds, said Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe addressing a press conference. (Sri Lanka-Domestic Debt-Central Bank)
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STOCKHOLM -- Less than a week after a fatal accident at an amusement park in the Swedish capital Stockholm, a roller coaster in the country's second-largest city was shut down on Thursday after a crack was discovered in its foundation.
The fault in the roller coaster at Liseberg amusement park was found during routine maintenance checks, and required welding work, Andreas Andersen, the CEO of Liseberg Group, told Swedish Television (SVT). (Sweden-Roller Coaster- Accident)
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BAGHDAD -- The Iraqi Foreign Ministry on Thursday condemned Swedish authorities for allowing the burning of the Muslim holy book Quran on the first day of Eid al-Adha, Islam's major religious festival.
"Iraq strongly condemns and denounces the Swedish authorities' permission for an extremist to burn a copy of the holy Quran in a manner that gravely insults the religious sacred values," the ministry said in a statement. (Iraq-Sweden-Quran Burning)
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ADEN, Yemen -- The Houthi militia in Yemen on Thursday threatened to resume fighting against the government forces and the Saudi Arabia-led coalition.
Mohamed Al-Atifi, the defense chief of the Houthi rebel militia, accused the coalition of "deception and dishonesty" during ongoing peace talks with the rebels, declaring that the group is actively preparing for new military actions to expel coalition forces from Yemen and seize control of all territory. (Yemen-Houthi Rebels) ■
