EU stops Bulgarian aid over corruption

Brussels The European Commission has suspended €800 million (£629 million) of EU aid to Bulgaria after criticising one of the newest members of the Union for misusing taxpayers’ money and failing to tackle corruption and organised crime (Rory Watson writes).

The decision was made after investigations into the judicial system of the country and poor management of EU funding. It is the harshest punishment ever imposed by Brussels on a member state. Romania, which also joined the EU in January last year, was criticised but avoided financial sanctions.

Sergei Stanishev, the Bulgarian Prime Minister, said that he was committed to fighting corruption.

President sworn in

Kathmandu The first President of Nepal since it became a republic was sworn in but the Maoist party has refused to form a government. Ram Baran Yadav was voted in without the support of the Maoists, the largest party in the assembly. (AFP)

Quake jolts Japan

Tokyo An earthquake that measured 6.8 on the Richter scale struck northern Japan. Fires broke out and at least a dozen people were injured in the city of Hachinohe. Buildings were affected in Tokyo, 300 miles to the south. (AFP)

Arrests foiled Eta ‘plot'

Madrid Documents seized at the home of one of the nine suspected Eta members arrested on Tuesday showed that the Basque separatists had been planning a “major attack” in Getxo, northern Spain, Cadena Ser news radio reported. (AFP)

Billion-dollar shortfall

Kinshasa About $1.3 billion (£500,000) was lost or stolen by government agencies and state-run businesses in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2006-07, a government inquiry found. Dozens of officials are under investigation. (Reuters)

Killer blaze ‘not arson’

Berlin A fire that killed nine Turkish residents in Ludwigshafen, southern Germany, in February was probably not arson, investigators said. The inquiry, which ruled out a far-right attack, has been closed. (AP)

‘Coup plot’ arrests

Istanbul Police detained 26 people in connection with an investigation into an alleged plot to overthrow the Government, Turkish state media said. The raids were part of an operation against the nationalist Ergenekon organisation. (Reuters)

Nuclear deterrent

Lyon The Coteaux du Tricastin range of French wines could undergo a name change to avoid being associated with a uranium leak at the Tricastin nuclear plant this month. Wine-growers hope to make the change before next year’s harvest. (AFP)

Designer’s art auction

Paris The art collection of the fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent, who died last month, and his partner Pierre Bergé has been will be sold at auction in February. It includes paintings by Picasso and has an estimated value of £400 million. (Reuters)

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