Syrian rebels flee
BEIRUT: Syrian state media say rebels have started to evacuate three towns in the eastern Qalamoun region.
Al-ikhbariya TV reported that several buses left the towns of Ruhaiba, Jayroud, and al-nasriya with hundreds of rebels and their families to north Syria.
The station said the evacuations would continue for three days.
Syrian government forces would take over the towns once the departures are complete.
The evacuations are the latest in a string of population transfers around the Syrian capital.
‘Death for rapists’
NEW DELHI: India’s government has prescribed the death penalty for people convicted of raping girls under the age of 12, to combat an increase in crimes against women.
It was reported yesterday that the ordinance is being sent to the president for approval. It will require the approval of Parliament within six months in order the become law. The decision follows outrage over the recent rape and killing of an 8-year-old girl in Jammu-kashmir state and the alleged rape of a girl by a ruling party lawmaker in Uttar Pradesh state. – The Press Trust of India
Cop’s family evicted
YANGON: Myanmar police yesterday evicted the family of a police officer who had testified he and others were ordered to entrap two Reuters reporters facing charges that could get them up to 14 years in prison, his wife said.
The reporters, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, have been detained on charges of violating the colonial-era Official Secrets Act.
Police captain Moe Yan Naing told a court that his superior had arranged for two policemen to meet the reporters and hand over documents described as “important secret papers”.
Armenian protests
YEREVAN: Armenian opposition politician Nikol Pashinyan, who leads the ongoing anti-government protests, said yesterday he plans to conduct a protest about the broken cars of his supporters.
The Armenian capital has been hit by a series of protests against the appointment of former president Serzh Sargsyan as the country’s prime minister.
The protesters announced the beginning of a “velvet revolution” in Armenia. Yesterday, Pashinyan spearheaded another demonstration in Nor Nork district.
Boats capsize – 5 dead
BEIJING: Chinese state broadcaster CCTV says five people have died and others are missing after two dragon boats capsized in southern China.
CCTV reported that the boats had been rehearsing for a race yesterday in the Taohua River.
Five bodies and two survivors were pulled from the water. CCTV said rescuers have been searching for several others.
China has sought to step up safety surrounding nationwide dragon boat racing on the Duanwu festival.
76 Rohingyas rescued
BIREUEN: Indonesian fishermen rescued 76 Rohingya Muslims stranded off the coast of Aceh, authorities said, in the latest attempt by members of the persecuted ethnic group to flee Myanmar by sea.
The group of eight children, 25 women and 43 men were brought ashore in their wooden boat on Friday.
It was unclear how long they had been at sea, said Riza Yulianto, the police chief of Bireuen regency in Aceh on the island of
Sumatra.
Swastika ticket row
RAVENSBURG: A southern German theatre’s offer of free admission to a staged version of Mein Kampf for those willing to wear an armband with a Nazi swastika appeared to have little interest when the play premiered.
A spokesperson for the theatre was unable to say how many people took up the offer, but said at least 12 free tickets had initially been requested. Many appeared to change their minds.
Local prosecutors said they had received several complaints about the offer.
–Sputnik/xinhua/reuters/ap/dpa/african News Agency/ana