900 ARRIVE IN INDONESIA, BUT WHAT IS SOLUTION?

A Thai official said the passengers—who wanted to reach Malaysia—declined offers to come ashore in Thailand, fearing they would be sent back to Myanmar.

They planned instead to make for Indonesia, the official said.

Regional governments have been roundly chastised for what Human Rights Watch described as a deadly game of “human ping pong” in rejecting migrants.

NEPAL: AT A GLANCE

Nepal is known for fine architecture, such as in Bhaktapur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site: BBC

Democratic politics was introduced in 1991 after popular protests, but was marked by frequent changes of government. The last king of Nepal, Gyanendra, twice assumed executive powers - in 2002 and 2005. Maoist rebels waged a decade-long campaign against the monarchy, leaving more than 12,000 people dead and 100,000 people displaced according to UN figures. When King Gyanendra's direct rule ended under public pressure in April 2006, the rebels entered talks with the parliamentary government on how to end the civil war. A peace deal was agreed in November, although the Maoists continued to press for abolition of the monarchy.