Cyclone Laila batters India

Death toll at 26:

Cyclone Laila weakened Friday after battered India’s southeastern coast with several days of torrential rain and high winds that claimed 26 lives, officials said.

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Thai turmoil ‘disastrous’ for tourism

Thailand’s violent political turmoil has had a “disastrous” effect on the vital tourism sector, the country’s finance minister said Friday, stressing that the overall economy remained sound.

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