managed to
escape from the warehouse, but without his three sons.
The Bahraini authorities say they'll dismiss charges against some of the demonstrators detained during months of anti-government protests by members of the Shia majority. The country's Sunni monarch King Hamad made the announcement in a national broadcast. Hundreds of people have been arrested since the protests began in February.
More than 300,000 people have been allowed back home in New York after they were ordered to evacuate the city's low-lying areas in the path of a powerful storm. Hurricane Irene, now
downgrade
d, caused extensive damage along the eastern US seaboard but had weakened by the time it reached New York City. Fears of extensive flooding have receded, and the New York Stock Exchange is opening as normal on Monday, but public transport and flights from the city's main airports remain suspended while officials assess damage. Chris Ward is executive director of New York's Port Authority.
"I need to caution travellers that service will not be
resum
ing today, and if anything you should pay attention for, potential beginnings of service late tomorrow afternoon
at best
, and we are hopeful for aviation traffic to begin to resume on Tuesday."
World News from the BBC
Members of parliament from Japan's governing Democratic Party are meeting in a few hours to vote for the country's sixth new prime minister in just five years. Japan's Trade Minister Banri Kaieda is considered the front-runner to succeed Naoto Kan, who announced his resignation on Friday. However, none of the candidates is thought likely to secure enough support on the first ballot, and a run-off vote is expected.