Joint effort to fight terrorism

JAKARTA • Rising radicalism and terrorism are problems that Indonesia and Singapore should prioritise and tackle together, Indonesia's Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto said yesterday.

The former armed forces general made the statement after meeting Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean here, ahead of the opening of the Indian Ocean Rim Association Business Summit.

Thai King strips monk of his rank

BANGKOK • The former Buddhist abbot at the heart of a stand-off with the authorities at Thailand's biggest temple has been stripped of his monastic rank by the King, the military government said. The symbolic step comes more than two weeks after police surrounded the scandal-hit Dhammakaya temple and began searching for Phra Dhammachayo, who is accused of money laundering.

REUTERS

30 dead in Myanmar rebel clashes

YANGON • At least 30 people were killed yesterday in intense fighting between security forces and ethnic rebels on Myanmar's border with China, the authorities said. Five civilians, five police officers and at least 20 rebel fighters died after clashes broke out at Laukkai in Shan state.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE