World Briefs: US govt ends oversight of Internet role

US govt ends oversight of Internet role

WASHINGTON • The American government yesterday ended its formal oversight role over the Internet, handing over management of the online address system to a global non-profit entity.

The United States Commerce Department announced that its contract had expired with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, which manages the Internet's so-called "root zone".

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE


American confesses to dismembering dead man

BANGKOK • An American accused of running a passport forgery ring in Bangkok confessed to dismembering - but not murdering - a man found in his freezer, Thai police said yesterday, as detectives continue to piece together details of the macabre crime.

Herbert La Fon, 63, was arrested one week ago alongside two other Americans accused of producing fake travel documents from their crime den in the Thai capital. It was not immediately clear what La Fon's explanation for possessing or cutting up the corpse was.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE


Chinese warships call at Myanmar port

YANGON • Two Chinese navy ships had arrived in Myanmar's main city of Yangon for a five-day visit, state media said yesterday, the latest move by Beijing to reinforce military ties with its strategically located southern neighbour. The two warships, the Xiangtan and the Zhoushan, arrived on Friday and were met by senior Myanmar military officers, Xinhua news agency said.

REUTERS


Indians disclose nearly $14b in hidden wealth

NEW DELHI • A government amnesty targeting tax evasion in India has prompted tens of thousands of suspected tax dodgers to disclose nearly US$10 billion (S$13.6 billion) in undeclared income, the Finance Minister said yesterday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government sent out about 700,000 notices earlier this year to suspected evaders to coax them to declare hidden income and assets.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told reporters the four-month scheme that closed on Friday had led to 64,275 declarations, resulting in a provisional US$9.8 billion in undisclosed wealth.

REUTERS

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on October 02, 2016, with the headline World Briefs: US govt ends oversight of Internet role. Subscribe