Briefs, November 1, 2012

Boat carrying Rohingya sinks, 130 missing

DHAKA - About 130 passengers are missing after a boat carrying Rohingya refugees sank off the border between Myanmar and Bangladesh, according to Bangladesh police and a Rohingya advocacy group. Mohammad Farhad, police inspector of Teknaf on the southeast tip of Bangladesh, said one survivor from the sinking reported the boat had about 135 passengers on board. "The boat was heading to Malaysia illegally," Farhad said, adding that the survivor was being held in custody. Farhad said a total of six survivors were reported to have been picked up by a fishing vessel after the refugee boat left Sabrang village in Bangladesh on Saturday. AFP
 

Thai police charge Red Bull heir over accident

BANGKOK - Thai police have pressed drunk driving and speeding charges against the Red Bull energy drink heir accused of killing a police officer in a Ferrari crash. Police charged him with causing death by reckless driving and escaping an arrest after the hit-and-run wreck in early September. Police did not accuse Vorayuth Yoovidhya of using drugs even though blood tests found cocaine. Vorayuth is the grandson of the Red Bull creator. His family was ranked fourth-richest in Thailand this year by Forbes magazine, with a net worth of US$5.4 billion. AP
 

34 die as storm hits Vietnam, Philippines

HANOI - Thirty-four people were killed in Vietnam and the Philippines after tropical storm Son-Tinh swept through the region and moved across southern China. Seven people were killed, four are missing and 90 injured after the typhoon hit Vietnam's northern coast on Sunday, the National Committee for Flood and Storm Control said. Son-Tinh traversed the Philippines' three main islands before moving away from the country on Friday, killing 27 people, injuring 19 and leaving 9 missing, according to an official national report. Bloomberg