World Briefs: Ahmadinejad told not to run for president

Ahmadinejad told not to run for president

DUBAI • Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has told former hardline president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad not to stand again in next year's elections, state media reported yesterday, effectively eliminating a challenger to incumbent Hassan Rouhani.

Commentators had suggested the firebrand populist, who had eight years in office, would have given conservatives a chance of regaining power.

REUTERS

Ex-Spanish banker on trial for fund misuse

MADRID • Former International Monetary Fund chief Rodrigo Rato went on trial yesterday, accused of overseeing a "corrupt system" that helped him and other executives misuse funds when he was the boss of two of Spain's top banks, whose near- collapse sparked an EU bailout of Spain's financial sector.

The former economy minister and 64 other former top officials are accused of using undeclared credit cards to spend €12 million (S$18.4 million) of bank money on themselves.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Shark mauls teen surfer in Australia

SYDNEY • A shark has mauled a 17-year-old surfing near Ballina on Australia's east coast, leaving him with a hip injury. A 3.5m great white shark spotted after the attack was chased out to sea by lifesavers on jet skis.

Ninety-eight shark attacks were reported globally last year, the highest number recorded, according to the University of Florida. Six were fatal.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 27, 2016, with the headline World Briefs: Ahmadinejad told not to run for president. Subscribe