Thai fishermen convert boats to cash in on human-smuggling
RANONG Thailand (Reuters) – The smuggling of Rohingya Muslims fleeing persecution in Myanmar is so lucrative that Thai fishermen are converting their boats to carry humans, police and officials in southern Thailand said.
Eastern Ukraine fighting kills 13 per day despite ceasefire: U.N.
GENEVA (Reuters) – Fighting in Eastern Ukraine has killed an average of 13 people each day in the eight weeks since a Sept. 5 ceasefire agreement, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said in a statement on Thursday.
UAE targets Islamist accounts in money-laundering clampdown
DUBAI (Reuters) – United Arab Emirates banks have been banned from doing business with some Islamist groups including the Muslim Brotherhood, their representative said, as the country’s central bank won powers to freeze suspect accounts for up to seven…
Japan voters to PM Abe: why call an election now?
TOKYO (Reuters) – Nearly two-thirds of Japanese voters don’t understand why Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is calling a snap election next month and about half want ruling and opposition parties to come out evenly in the poll, a survey showed on Thursday, s…
Mexico’s president, under pressure over mansion, reveals $3 million in assets
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Facing conflict of interest accusations over a luxury home, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto disclosed late on Wednesday ownership of nine properties among assets worth at least 45.2 million pesos ($3.3 million).
Britain’s last governor in Hong Kong to address U.S. China commission
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The last British governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, is to address a U.S. government commission on Thursday on prospects for democracy in the territory, something likely to irritate Beijing which sees protests there as an intern…
Indian police capture cult leader, six dead as compound stormed
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – A self-styled Indian religious leader was charged on Thursday with sedition and waging war against the state after a days-long siege of his sprawling compound ended in his arrest along with 450 hardcore followers.
South Korea court sentences ferry operator chief to 10 years in jail
SEOUL (Reuters) – A South Korean court on Thursday sentenced the head of the company that operated a ferry which capsized in April to 10 years in jail over his role in the country’s worst maritime disaster in decades.
Kachin rebels say 23 cadets killed by Myanmar army shell
YANGON (Reuters) – Twenty three cadets of the ethnic insurgent group the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) were killed when they were hit by a single shell fired by Myanmar’s army on Wednesday, the KIA said in a statement on Thursday.
Cameron risks losing UK seat to anti-EU UKIP as two-party system creaks
LONDON (Reuters) – Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservatives risk losing a second British parliamentary seat to the anti-EU UKIP party on Thursday, foreshadowing a possible political upheaval in next year’s national election.
