British man returns home from Thai jail

THAILAND: The family of a British man given a life sentence in Thailand for drugs offences welcomed him home after his conviction was quashed. 

India Blames Islamic Militants For Bombings

INDIA – India blamed Islamic militants based in Pakistan and Bangladesh for twin bombings that killed at least 42 people in the south, and a top government official acknowledged that his country was struggling to stop terror attacks. 

Burma Arrests Pro-Democracy Leaders

BURMA: Burma’s military regime has arrested at least nine leaders of a pro-democracy group which had staged a rare protest against massive fuel price hikes, an activist group said Wednesday.

Military Win But A Massive “No” Vote Spells Trouble Ahead

THAILAND: Thailand’s voters have approved an army-drafted constitution but a hefty “No” vote suggests December’s general election will be messy, with ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra still a potent political force. 

Thai PM Declares Victory

THAILAND: A new constitution for Thailand that is to usher in December general elections and end military rule was approved by millions of voters in a nationwide referendum on Sunday, according to two exit polls. 

Legal Experts Slam Thai Goverment

THAILAND: Internet law experts and webmasters have lashed out at the government’s illegal blocking of websites and the use of threats and intimidation tactics against webmasters. 

Thai PM Urges Big Turnout In Referendum

THAILAND: Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont called on Thais to vote on Sunday in a referendum on a military-drafted constitution that will limit the powers of politicians but lead to elections by the end of the year. 

Singh Disappoints

INDIA: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s independence-day speech yesterday should come as a huge disappointment to investors. 

Thousands Protest Against Proposed Thai Constitution

THAILAND: Members of Thailand’s former ruling party put on a show of force on Wednesday by attracting at least 10,000 people to a central Bangkok plaza to protest against the proposed post-coup constitution. 

Travelocity Fined For Bookings To Cuba

Travelocity was fined nearly $183,000 for booking roughly 1,400 Cuba trips between 1998 and 2004, apparently the first time Washington has cracked down on a major online travel provider for violating the 1963 embargo on the communist nation.