Thai protesters threaten escalation
Bangkok: Political tensions are rising in Thailand as pro-democracy activists vowed on Friday to step up protests against the government and police arrested some key figures in recent demonstrations.
Protest leaders warned that they will expand their activities if the government fails to meet their demands, which include dissolving Parliament, holding new elections and changing the constitution.
Recent pro-democracy demonstrations, mostly led by students, have been modest in size but have spread widely and quickly, unnerving the government. (AP)
27 migrants dead after boat capsize
Dakar (Senegal): At least 27 people died when a boat carrying migrants capsized off the West African coast between Mauritania and Western Sahara, United Nations agencies said on Friday.
More than 40 were initially feared dead on Thursday, according to initial reports by the U.N. refugee agency.
One survivor was found during a rescue operation by Mauritania’s coast guard and brought to Nouadhibou, the U.N. agencies for migration and refugees said.
Despite COVID-19 mobility restrictions, migrants are still compelled to undertake risky journeys,” said the Mauritania chief of mission for the International Organization for Migration, Laura Lungarotti. (AP)
Kim visits flood zone
Seoul: Leader Kim Jong Un visited parts of southern North Korea where days of torrential rains have flooded hundreds of houses and vast areas of agricultural land, state media reported on Friday.
It’s rare for Kim to visit a flood-stricken site. The last time state media reported about Kim’s such visit was in September 2015, when he inspected recovery work at a flood-hit northeast city, according to Seoul’s Unification Ministry. (AP)
