More protests in India over rape of girl, eight

NEW DELHI • Hundreds of protesters rallied in central India for the third straight day yesterday over the brutal rape of an eight-year-old girl now battling for her life in hospital.

Crowds holding placards and chanting "death to the rapist" called for the suspect to be hanged in demonstrations across the Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh state.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Thai cleared of royal defamation charge

BANGKOK • A Thai folk singer-turned-activist was cleared of his fourth royal defamation charge yesterday, a rare acquittal in a country where the draconian law prevents the mildest criticism of the monarchy and almost always results in conviction.

It is the second time Tom Dundee, whose real name is Thanat Thanawatcharanont, has been acquitted this year after a separate charge was dropped in March.

But he remains in jail where he is serving a total of nearly 11 years for two other royal defamation convictions.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Damage to 2 powerful microscopes in quake

TOKYO • Two of the world's most powerful microscopes suffered severe damage from a deadly earthquake that hit the western Japanese city of Osaka on June 18, causing delays in cutting-edge cell and atomic-level research, a scientist said yesterday.

The two damaged units - both with price tags of 2.3 billion yen (S$28 million) - at Osaka University may not come back online until next year.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE