London: Britain snuffs out tobacco advertising

Britain has banned all tobacco advertising, effective Friday, overriding industry protests in a bid to cut smoking-related illnesses and deaths.

Legislation passed by Parliament last year outlaws newspaper, billboard and Internet advertising of tobacco products in Britain, where tobacco companies have long been powerful and smoking fairly widespread.

The new law also prohibits the promotion of smoking through mail campaigns, coupons and the free distribution of cigarettes. Tobacco sponsorship of British sporting events will be outlawed this year and global sports staged in Britain, including Formula One racing, by 2006.

The government believes the ban on tobacco ads — worth an estimated $32 million a year — will lead to a reduction in smoking, particularly among the young. But the tobacco industry says advertising simply affects what brand consumers choose, rather than persuading them to smoke.

Iran: Court lifts professor’s death sentence

Iran’s Supreme Court has lifted the death sentence ordered in the case of a university professor whose sentencing provoked nationwide demonstrations, one of the judges who heard his appeal said Friday.

Hashem Aghajari, a history professor at Tehran’s Teachers Training University, had been condemned to death for insulting Islam and questioning clerical rule during a June speech.

“The death sentence against Aghajari has been revoked by a majority of votes by the review judges. Three out of four of the judges voted to revoke the sentence,” said Ayatollah Mohammad Sajjadi, one of the judges who heard the appeal in the Supreme Court in Qom.

Aghajari, who is in prison, also had been sentenced to 74 lashes, banned from teaching for 10 years and banished to three remote cities for eight years. Iranian courts issue multiple sentences in cases where they want to make an example of the accused.

Hard-line clerics warned this month that they would execute Hashem Aghajari themselves if the court overturned the death sentence. It was not clear Friday what they intended to do.

Puerto Rico: Guantanamo records 16th suicide attempt

Another terror suspect held by the United States at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba tried to hang himself, the 16th attempted suicide there since detentions began last year, the Pentagon said Friday.

It was also the sixth attempt in the past four weeks at the naval base in eastern Cuba, where a new psychiatric wing is set to open next month.

The detainee tried to hang himself in “the last couple days,” Pentagon spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. Barbara Burfeind said.

She said the detainee was fine and back in his cell, being monitored to prevent further attempts.

Amnesty International has demanded an investigation into the wave of suicide attempts, suggesting harsh interrogations may be to blame. U.S. officials insist the questioning is humane.

The United States is holding about 650 detainees from 41 countries who it suspects are linked to the fallen Taliban regime in Afghanistan or the al-Qaida terror network. The first inmates arrived in January 2002.

Thailand: Court orders extradition of slaying suspect

A Thai court ruled Friday to extradite a Florida millionaire wanted in the United States for the 1987 murder of his socialite wife.

James Vincent Sullivan, 61, is accused of paying another man $25,000 to kill Lita McClinton Sullivan to avoid losing property in a divorce.

U.S. authorities say Sullivan is wanted on murder, aggravated assault and other charges. Sullivan, who is in Thai custody, denies the allegations.

His attorney, Puttri Kuvanonda, said he will appeal the extradition order.

Lita McClinton Sullivan, 35, was killed Jan. 16, 1987, at her Atlanta home by a man posing as a flower delivery man who shot her in the head.