■ Uzbekistan
Million dollar' group busted
Police arrested a group of suspected swindlers who tried to sell what they said was US$1 million bill -- offering it at half price, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported on Friday. The suspects told a potential buyer they were prepared to sell the banknote for US$500,000 because they needed quick cash, the agency reported, citing prosecutors in the Uzbek city of Samarkand. The fake bill was made on a color printer, the report said. The US does not print US$1 million bills.
■ India
Security upped after bombs
Security was tightened at religious places in Delhi, as the Indian capital remained on high alert yesterday, a day after twin blasts hit the city's main mosque, the Jama Masjid, police said. At least 13 people were injured as two low-intensity bombs exploded in the 17th-century Jama Masjid complex soon after evening prayers on Friday. But there was no damage to the structure of the building, also India's largest mosque. "Additional police have been deployed at key installations, government offices, particularly religious places like Hindu temples to foil any militant attacks," a senior police officer said.
■ Sri Lanka
Tigers `threatened' by ship
Tamil Tiger rebel commanders yesterday canceled a trip to an internal meeting that they had insisted is crucial for upcoming peace talks in Switzerland, saying they felt threatened by the presence of a naval ship. "They were getting onboard the ferry and suddenly they said they will not go because a Sri Lankan navy vessel was coming too close," said Helen Olafsdottir, a spokeswoman for the European cease-fire monitoring group. A statement issued by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam said the commanders aborted the trip because they felt threatened. They did not say if the trip will be rescheduled, or whether the rebels still intend to attend peace talks with the government in Geneva.
■ Hong Kong
Shops join `no plastic' day
More than 1,000 shops and supermarkets in Hong Kong yesterday took part in a "no plastic" day to discourage shoppers from using environmentally unfriendly plastic bags. Shoppers across the city of 6.8 million were asked to use alternatives to plastic bags or donate HK$0.50 for every plastic bag they use. The event, organized by the Green Student Council, was one of the biggest environmental awareness campaign staged in the city, famed for its pollution and rampant consumerism. Council chairman Angus Ho said he hoped the event would draw attention to the environment, saying awareness of green issues was "not deep-rooted enough" in Hong Kong.
■ Indonesia
Trains collide, killing 13
A passenger train traveling to the city of Surabaya plowed into the back of a stationary train early yesterday, killing at least 13 people and injuring 26 others, officials said. TV footage showed rescue workers trying to free a man who was trapped in a mangled section of one of the trains, which lay on its side in a muddy rice field close to Gubuk station in central Java province. The trains were carrying around 1,000 people in total, officials said. Transportation Minister Hatta Radjasa said initial reports indicated that the driver of the moving train had failed to heed a conductor's call to stop before it crashed into the other train just after 2am.
■ Israel
Olmert becomes PM
RSS