0 Thais celebrate 85th birthday of revered king

Thais celebrate 85th birthday of revered king

King Bhumibol sat on a throne on a balcony overlooking a plaza with a crowd of 20,000 people.


Vast crowds of devoted Thais have turned out for a brief glimpse of their beloved king as he celebrates his 85th birthday with a rare public appearance.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej sat on a throne on a balcony overlooking a plaza with a crowd that police estimated at 200,000 Wednesday as he delivered a brief homily on national harmony. Most in the crowd were dressed in the royal color of yellow, many waving Thai flags and flags adorned with the king's insignia.

The turnout was a vivid demonstration of the affection in which many hold the king, despite political turmoil in recent years that has raised doubts about the future of the monarchy.

Bhumibol's family flanked him for part of his appearance, including Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, his son and heir-apparent.

0 30 killed in South Sudan cattle raid

30 killed in South Sudan cattle raid

 

South Sudan, the world's youngest nation, is awash with weapons after decades of war with Sudan.

At least 30 people were killed and dozens wounded in a cattle raid between warring communities in South Sudan, the latest in a string of bloody clashes between rival ethnic groups, officials said on Wednesday.

Youths armed with automatic rifles from the Dinka Gok ethnic group in Lakes state marched for around eight hours to attack a rival group of cattle herders from the Dinka Rek tribe in Warrap state, said local official Isaack Mayom Malek.

The attack took place on Friday, but reports from the remote region only filtered out after survivors of the raid limped back to their communities.

"In that fighting, 22 were reported killed, 18 wounded on our side", Malek said, the commissioner of Cueibet county, from where the raiders originated.

On the side of the Dinka Rek, authorities in Tonj South county, where the raid took place, told Malek that "nine were killed and 24 wounded".

Talks between the two ethnic groups were held just two weeks ago and moves made to disarm the youth, who have carried out a series of deadly revenge raids.

South Sudan, the world's youngest nation, is awash with weapons after decades of war with Sudan, making traditional cattle raiding increasingly deadly, with women and children killed in what were once attacks to steal cattle.

Earlier this year, South Sudan was rocked by a wave of ethnic violence as armed youth in the country's neglected and vast Jonglei state marched on a rival clan, killing around 1,000 people, according to Small Arms Survey estimates.

0 Revolution at the president's doorstep

"Revolution at the president's doorstep"

 

Morsi opponents spent the night in Cairo's iconic Tahrir Square under tents.


CAIRO: Hundreds of protesters woke up Wednesday in front of the presidential palace, the new focus of protests against President Mohamed Morsi, as an already-polarised Egypt slipped deeper into crisis.

"The final warning, the presidency under siege," read the headline of daily al-Shuruk as the independent Al-Watan declared "Revolution at the president's doorstep."

On Tuesday, tens of the thousands marched on the upscale neighbourhood of Heliopolis, culminating in a dramatic siege of the palace, in scenes not witnessed even during demonstrations that toppled Hosni Mubarak last year.

Hundreds more Morsi opponents spent the night in Cairo's iconic Tahrir Square under dozens of tents erected almost two weeks ago.

Activists used social networking sites to appeal for blankets and food for the protesters who said they won't leave until Morsi rescinds a decree expanding his powers.

Tuesday's protests were the latest in a string of actions opposed to Morsi's November 22 decree, which expanded his powers and enabled him to call a mid-December referendum on a draft constitution drawn up by an Islamist-dominated panel and rejected by liberals, leftists and Christians.

"Why did he do all this? He's supposed to be a president for all Egyptians, not just for the Muslim Brotherhood," said a protester at the presidential palace.

The draft constitution has become the focal point of a political and ideological battle between Islamists and the largely secular-leaning opposition.