China imposes curbs on trade with North Korea

BEIJING • China yesterday banned imports of gold and rare earths from North Korea, as well as exports to the country of jet fuel and other oil products used to make rocket fuel, a move in line with new United Nations sanctions on Pyongyang.

The Security Council passed a resolution early last month expanding UN sanctions aimed at starving North Korea of funds for its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

REUTERS

Thai jailed for citing royal links in land deal

BANGKOK • A Thai developer was sentenced to 12 years' jail yesterday under the kingdom's royal insult law, the latest conviction linked to a scandal that saw the Crown Prince's former wife fall from grace.

Boontham Boonthepprathan, 65, was sentenced for allegedly citing links to the monarchy to ease a land deal nearly 10 years ago.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

47 cops get life terms for killing Sikh pilgrims

LUCKNOW (India) • A special court in India has sentenced 47 policemen to life in prison for killing a group of 11 Sikh pilgrims, whom they had claimed were militants, in 1991, a prosecutor said yesterday.

The officers were convicted of shooting dead the pilgrims to try and earn promotions in Uttar Pradesh, which was hit by Sikh militant activity at the time, news agency Press Trust of India said.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE