In brief: Al-Qaida militants seize base in Yemen
SANAA, Yemen – Al-Qaida militants seized control of an important army base Thursday following clashes with soldiers that left at least eight people dead, military officials said.
The officials say at least four soldiers and four militants died in the fighting and that at least 15 soldiers were taken hostage. The base is located in the Baihan area in southern Shabwa province.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to reporters.
A Twitter account affiliated with Yemen’s al-Qaida branch posted images of militants raising their black flag over the base.
A statement posted on the group’s Twitter account said the attack on the base followed speculation that Shiite rebels were looking to establish their presence in southern Yemen as well.
The Shiite rebels, known as Houthis, are sworn enemies of al-Qaida. Their stranglehold on the capital eventually forced President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi to resign, and they subsequently dissolved the parliament as well.
Violent clashes mark protest anniversary
SAN CRISTOBAL, Venezuela – Protesters clashed with police in this anti-government stronghold Thursday amid a storm of tear gas, rocks and rubber bullets as Venezuelans staged dueling marches on the anniversary of last year’s bloody protest movement.
While demonstrations were mostly calm elsewhere in the socialist South American country, an anti-government march turned violent in this restive city near the border with Colombia, which was an epicenter of the 2014 movement.
At least five people were injured in the fighting, San Cristobal Mayor Patricia Gutierrez said.
Nearly 200 whales stranded on beach
SYDNEY – Nearly 200 pilot whales stranded themselves on New Zealand’s South Island today, with hordes of rescuers rushing to the remote area in a bid to guide them back to sea.
Two dozen of the 198 whales had already died despite efforts to save the creatures, which were found stranded on Farewell Spit, a famous spot for whale beachings, Department of Conservation area manager Andrew Lamason said.
About 80 conservation workers and volunteers were trying to refloat the whales as high tide rolled in, Lamason said.
Pilot whales grow to about 20 feet, and large strandings are common during the New Zealand summer.
Korean Air exec gets year for nut rage
SEOUL, South Korea – A Seoul court on Thursday sentenced a former Korean Air executive to a year in prison after her inflight tantrum over how she was served macadamia nuts.
Cho Hyun-ah, the daughter of Korean Air’s chairman, achieved worldwide notoriety after she ordered the chief flight attendant off a Dec. 5 flight, forcing it to return to the gate at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York.
Head of cabin service at the time of the incident, Cho was angered she had been offered macadamia nuts in a bag instead of on a dish. A heated and physical confrontation with members of the crew in first class ensued.
The court said Cho was guilty of forcing a flight to change its route, obstructing the flight’s captain in the performance of his duties and forcing a crew member off a plane. It found her not guilty of interfering with a transport ministry investigation into the incident. Prosecutors had called for three years in prison.