World briefs

CHINA An 18-year-old native of China’s troubled far western region of Xinjiang used videos and other multimedia to enlist followers and then masterminded the slaying of a pro-government Muslim leader, Chinese state media say. They say Aini Aishan organized the July 30 attack on Jume Tahir, and was arrested two days later in the city of Hotan, also in Xinjiang. The victim was the state-appointed imam of China’s biggest mosque and often spoke in support of government policies. More on p10

THAILAND’s junta leader, who seized power in a military coup three months ago, officially assumes his new post as prime minister following an endorsement from the country’s monarch. Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha accepted a written royal command issued by King Bhumibol Adulyadej certifying his appointment as the country’s 29th premier. More on p13

VIETNAM is sending a senior Communist party official to China this week to try to rebuild relations badly bit by Beijing’s decision to deploy an oil rig in waters claimed by Hanoi in May.
JAPAN Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visits Hiroshima as rescuers expand their search for 28 people missing in landslides five days ago that killed more than 50 people. Rain showers raised risks of more slides, hampering the search effort and also triggering slides elsewhere in mountainous and densely populated Japan.

JAPAN says it is ready to provide a Japanese-developed anti-influenza drug as a possible treatment for the rapidly expanding Ebola outbreak. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters that Japan can offer favipiravir, developed by a subsidiary of Fujifilm Holdings Corp., at any time at the request of the World Health Organization.

LIBERIA A Liberian doctor who was among three Africans to receive an experimental Ebola drug has died, the country’s information minister said yesterday. Dr. Abraham Borbor, the deputy chief medical doctor at the country’s largest hospital, had been among three Liberians, and the first Africans, who received the drug, ZMapp. Two Americans received the untested drug and survived. A Spaniard infected with Ebola received the treatment but died. There was no update given on the two other Liberians who took doses of the drug.

SYRIA While offering to assist any international effort to fight Islamic State militants, Syria’s foreign minister warned the U.S. yesterday not to conduct airstrikes against the group inside Syria without Damascus’ consent, saying any such attack would be considered an aggression.

TURKEY’s state-run news agency says Kurdish rebels have abducted three Chinese workers in southeast Turkey and attacked a thermal power plant where they worked, injuring a security guard.

GAZA  Fighting between Israel and Gaza militants raged yesterday despite claims of new cease-fire efforts as hundreds of Israelis living in communities near the coastal strip were fleeing their homes following a deadly mortar attack over the weekend.

BRAZIL Two prisoners are beheaded and at least another one dies after being thrown off the roof in a riot at a prison in southern Brazil.
UK Richard Attenborough was a lord, an Oscar-winning director for the much-lauded “Gandhi” and an unflagging pillar to British cinema. Attenborough, who died Sunday at 90, had been in poor health for some time. Prime Minister David Cameron issued a statement calling Attenborough “one of the greats of cinema”: “His acting in ‘Brighton Rock’ was brilliant, his directing of ‘Gandhi’ was stunning,” Cameron said.