News in Brief

Thailand braces for new protests
Afp, Bangkok
Thai opposition protesters were preparing yesterday to relaunch their campaign to overthrow the government after a temporary truce in the strife-hit capital for the birthday of the country's revered king.
Despite a call by the ailing monarch for "stability and security" in his birthday speech, the demonstrators have vowed to step up their rallies after the lull in tensions, which follows violence that left five people dead and more than 200 injured.

India okays 10-district Telangana
Tnn, New Delhi
Faced with the prospect of fresh violence and turmoil, the Indian Union Cabinet on Thursday junked the recommendation of a group of ministers to expand the area of the proposed Telangana state by including the districts of Anantapur and Kurnool.
The Cabinet stuck to the original proposal to grant statehood for Telangana with 10 districts and decided to finalize the capital of the residuary state within 45 days, thus formally setting in motion the process for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

Indian minister under fire over 'sexist' remark
Afp, New Delhi
Indian New and Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah yesterday apologised for causing offence after making a controversial remark on women which rights activists said trivialised a serious issue.
"I'm scared to talk to a woman these days. I don't even want to keep a female secretary. Who knows, I might end up in jail because of a complaint," he said.

Somali MP killed in blast
Afp, Mogadishu

A Somali lawmaker was assassinated yesterday when a car bomb blew up his vehicle outside the prime minister's office in the capital Mogadishu, a fellow MP said.
The blast is the latest in a string of attacks in Mogadishu, many of them claimed by al-Qaeda-linked Shebab insurgents. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.