Portal:Current events/2005 February 25
February 25, 2005 (Friday)
- A suicide bomber explodes himself at the entrance of the "Stage" club in Tel Aviv, killing at least 4 Israelis and wounding 38 more. Responsibility is reportedly claimed by Islamic Jihad. (Haaretz) (CNN)
- At Amsterdam's Schiphol airport an armoured car is hijacked on the cargo ramp. Unconfirmed reports say that it contained diamonds and other gems worth at least 75 million euros (US$99 million). The vehicle was later recovered in the nearby town of Hoofddorp. (BBC), (Scotsman).
- Three British soldiers convicted earlier this week of abusing Iraqi prisoners are jailed for periods between five months and two years, and dismissed from the army. (BBC).
- Human Rights Watch states that tough methods of Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra in the south of the country may serve to invite more trouble (Reuters Alertnet) (Bangkok Post) (BBC)
- Vice President of Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla, states that he was pleased with the progress of talks with Free Aceh Movement in Finland. Government still opposes independence (Jakarta Post) (BBC)
- In Ecuador, José Gallardo, a former defence minister, is arrested accused of misusing public funds to secretly purchase outdated weapons (Reuters AlertNet) (BBC)
- King Gyanendra of Nepal asks for foreign help to crush Maoist insurgents. He says that he dismissed the elected government to fight terrorism and will return to democracy in three years. Many foreign countries have stopped all aid after his takeover (Channel News Asia) (Bloomberg) (New Kerala)
- In Switzerland, the court of appeals rules that Yeslam Binladin, a half-brother of Osama bin Laden, can market products under the brand name Bin Ladin (SwissInfo)
- Militia members ambush and kill 9 UN Bangladeshi peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. (Xinhua) (LA Times)
- Serial killer Dennis Rader is arrested.