News in Brief

China's Bo Xilai to go on trial Thursday
Afp, Beijing
Disgraced politician Bo Xilai, whose downfall heralded China's biggest political scandal for decades, will stand trial from Thursday for bribery, graft and abuse of power, it was announced yesterday.
His glittering career came crashing down amid allegations that his wife -- later convicted of murder -- was involved in the death of a British businessman and that he had sought to block the police investigation. Bo was indicted last month on the charges.

Pakistan floods affect 300,000
Afp, Islamabad
Heavy monsoon rains have triggered floods affecting more than 300,000 people across Pakistan in the last two weeks and killed 108 others, disaster management officials said yesterday.
"The rains affected 334,764 people, killed at least 108 people and wounded 104," a senior National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) official told AFP.

Philippine ferry toll climbs to 38
Afp, Cebu
Philippine divers yesterday hauled bodies out of rough seas in the grisly aftermath of a ferry disaster that claimed at least 38 lives, as oil leaked from the submerged vessel.
Rescue efforts were focused throughout yesterday on more than 80 people missing and believed trapped inside the ferry.

Tunisia parties hold crisis talks
Afp, Tunis
Ruling Islamist movement Ennahda and the opposition Nidaa Tounes yesterday said they have held secret talks in Europe to try to find a way out of Tunisia's political crisis.
Nidaa Tounes leader, ex-premier Beji Caid Essebsi met Ennahda chief Rached Ghannouchi while on a European tour last week, his centre-right party said in a statement.

Chevron is enemy of Ecuador: Correa
Afp, Quito
Ecuador's firebrand leftist President Rafael Correa lambasted US oil giant Chevron as an enemy for allegedly besmirching his country as part of a lengthy court battle over Amazon pollution. Last year an Ecuadoran court ordered Chevron to pay $19 billion dollars for polluting the rain forest.

N Korea agrees to hold family reunions
Afp, Seoul

 
North Korea yesterday said it has agreed to South Korea's proposal to resume reunions for families separated since the 1950-53 war, in another apparent sign of easing tensions.
The North has agreed to hold the event during the traditional Chuseok holiday that falls on September 19 as suggested by the South, Pyongyang said in a statement on official media.