Excreta in PM house

BANGKOK: A suspected anti-government protester threw bags of human excrement into Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's home in the latest sign of growing political tensions, his deputy said on Tuesday. Deputy premier Suthep Thaugsuban was quick to blame Monday’s attack on “Red Shirts” — supporters of ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra who have announced plans to step up anti-government rallies in the coming weeks.

Indigenous combat jet

BANGALORE: India’s defence minister announced on Tuesday that a much-delayed project to build an indigenous supersonic combat aircraft was a success. The jets are intended to become the country’s frontline combat plane by 2020. AK Antony told reporters the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) — billed by India as the world’s smallest warjet — would be cleared for limited flights by the end of 2010. “Today I can declare that at last the LCA is going to be a reality,” Antony said in Bangalore.

Justice official in dock

BEIJING: A former top justice official in southwestern China went on trial on Tuesday accused of mafia links, rape and accepting bribes in the latest lurid case stemming from a major crackdown on organised crime. Wen Qiang, former director of the justice department in Chongqing, is the highest-ranking official to appear in the dock in prosecutions over corruption and mafia crime in the city.