Asylum Seekers Boat Explodes Near Australia

Afghan refugees die in explosion on boat escorted by Australian navy Guardian UK — At least three people believed to have been seeking asylum in Australia were killed today in an explosion on a boat that was being escorted to a detention centre by a navy vessel. Two more people were missing and a number of others suffered burns in the blast on the boat that was on its way to Christmas Island, the remote Indian Ocean territory where the Australian government processes refugee applications. click to read complete article

Australia intercepts boat of suspected refugees Jerusalem Post — Australia's navy has intercepted a boatload of suspected asylum seekers in the Indian Ocean and is transporting them to a detention center to conduct security checks and process any refugee claims. It is the sixth boat to illegally enter Australian waters this year. click to read complete article

Opposition: Australian gov't must pump more funds into border protection Xinhua — Australian federal government must put more funding into border protection if it wants to curb the number of asylum seekers entering Australian waters, the opposition said on Thursday. "The government can't afford to cut any more resources, there was more than 51 million Australian dollars (35.7 million U.S. dollars) cut from Customs in last year's budget and that's of concern," Opposition Customs spokeswoman Sussan Ley said in a statement. click to read complete article