IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Pakistan

Chinese tourists' killer snatched

The mastermind behind the killings of 10 foreign tourists, including two Chinese, in northern Pakistan was arrested, local media reported on Thursday. Qareebullah alias Hasan, who was the former regional commander of the banned outfit Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, was arrested along with his accomplices in a raid launched by the police.

Nigeria

Cholera kills 8, injures 10

Cholera has killed eight people in southern Nigeria and 10 others have been hospitalized, health officials said on Thursday, in the latest outbreak to hit the country following heavy rain. Nigeria suffered cholera epidemics during the rainy seasons of 2010 and 2011, with nearly 2,000 people killed over two years.

Egypt

Official targeted in attack

A "large" explosive targeted the convoy of Egypt's interior minister on Thursday in Cairo, the first attack on a senior government official since a coup toppled the country's president two months ago. The minister, Mohammed Ibrahim, survived the attack, which damaged the convoy's cars and injured at least eight people. There were no fatalities.

Indonesia

8 soldiers jailed up to 11 years

An Indonesian military court sentenced eight soldiers from an army special forces unit to up to 11 years in jail on Thursday for their involvement in the execution of four prisoners to avenge the murder of a fellow soldier. Twelve well-trained troops wore masks as they broke into Cebongan prison in Yogyakarta province, on the main island of Java, on March 23, seeking out four men being held on charges of killing another member of their special unit.

Vietnam

Flash floods leave 8 dead

Flash floods and landslides in northern Vietnam have left at least eight people dead and 10 missing as homes were swept away, disaster officials said on Thursday. Heavy rain of up to 170 millimeters was recorded in the mountainous provinces of Ha Giang, Lai Chau and Lao Cai late on Wednesday.

Cambodia

Garment workers protest layoffs

Around 4,000 Cambodian garment workers protested on Thursday after a factory supplying global brands including Gap and H&M fired hundreds of their colleagues for striking over conditions. Union leaders said the Singapore-owned factory fired 720 workers on Wednesday while more than 5,000 others were suspended after a two-week long strike.

Xinhua-AFP-AP

(China Daily 09/06/2013 page12)