EX-THAI PM CHARGED WITH MURDER
BANGKOK: Thailand’s former premier Abhisit Vejjajiva was charged with murder on Thursday over the death of a civilian during a military crackdown on anti-government “Red Shirt” rallies two years ago.

Abhisit, along with his then deputy Suthep Thaugsuban, were formally charged at Bangkok’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI), making them the first officials to face court over Thailand’s worst political violence in decades. About 90 people were killed and nearly 1,900 wounded in a series of street clashes between demonstrators and security forces, which culminated in a deadly army operation to break up the protest in May 2010.The charge against Abhisit, who was prime minister at the time, relates to the fatal shooting of taxi driver Phan Kamkong. Abhisit dismissed the case against him as “political” and said his government had no choice but to take tough action.

CYCLONE CUTS POWER IN SAMOA
APIA, Samoa: Flash floods and power cuts hit the Samoan capital Apia Thursday as tropical cyclone Evan lashed the Pacific island nation with high winds and heavy rain, witnesses said. Meteorologists said the category two cyclone, packing wind gusts exceeding 120 kilometers per hour, made landfall in the early afternoon and was expected to intensify after moving out to sea. The Fiji Meteorological Service, which provides forecasts for the South Pacific, said the cyclone was expected to head out to sea but could curve back and intensify to category three.

AUSTRALIA’S MEDIA WATCHDOG PROBES ROYAL PRANK
SYDNEY: Australia’s media watchdog on Thursday opened an investigation into a prank call to the hospital treating Prince William’s pregnant wife Catherine ahead of autopsy results on the nurse who died. The Australian Communications and Media Authority said its probe was into the broadcaster, 2Day FM, and not presenters Mel Greig and Michael Christian who have borne the brunt of worldwide anger.

MCAFEE BACK IN US
MIAMI: Anti-virus software pioneer John McAfee was back on American soil Wednesday after being expelled from Guatemala, escaping immediate deportation to Belize for questioning over his neighbor’s murder. In a blog post entitled “I am in South Beach,” McAfee said a while later that he was at a hotel on Miami’s South Beach with “no phone, no money, no contact information.”
    
CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR HAS CANCER
LOS ANGELES: California Governor Jerry Brown is being treated for early-stage prostate cancer, but it is localized and his prognosis is excellent, his doctor said Wednesday. The 74-year-old, who succeeded former actor Arnold Schwarzenegger in January 2011, is undergoing radiotherapy and is continuing a full work schedule during the treatment. The veteran Democratic politician is the oldest governor ever of the western US state, which he first led in 1975 to 1983, when he was the youngest holder of the same office. In April of last year, three month’s after he took office, doctors removed a cancerous growth from Brown’s nose. AFP