Belgium

Child killer 'will re-offend'

The mother of Marc Dutroux, Belgium's most notorious child killer, said he will re-offend if released early, in an interview published on Monday hours before a court was due to decide on his parole. Marc Dutroux, who was convicted of kidnapping and raping six girls and murdering four of them in the 1990s, launched a bid this month for early release.

Iraq

Blasts claim at least 21 lives

A series of bombings mainly targeting Shiite areas of Baghdad has killed at least 21 people, officials said, in the latest violence to hit Iraq, as Three car bombs struck the sprawling Sadr City slum in the north of the city on Sunday, security and medics said.

Ecuador

Correa claims poll victory

Ecuadoran leader Rafael Correa insisted his revolution is unstoppable as he celebrated victory on Monday in the country's presidential election, with early results giving him a huge 33-point lead over his main rival. "Nobody is going to stop this revolution. We are making history," said Correa, claiming outright victory in the first round of the vote.

Thailand

British couple killed in crash

Police say a British couple cycling around the world and chronicling their journey in a blog have been killed in a road accident in Thailand. Peter Root and Mary Thompson died on Wednesday when they were hit by a pickup truck on a road east of Bangkok.

AP-Reuters-AFP

(China Daily 02/19/2013 page12)