WORLD BRIEFS

IRELAND: EU referendum seen passing easily

The Irish were expected to pass a referendum on the European Union's new fiscal treaty by more than three to two, saving Europe a major headache, government sources told Reuters ahead of the vote counting on Friday. While the German-led plan for stricter budget rules needs the approval of only 12 of the 17 eurozone countries, an Irish rejection would undermine a key European initiative as problems mount in Spain and Greece.

WORLDWIDE: Cancer expected to continue rising

The global incidence of cancer may rise more than 75 percent by 2030, led by developing countries, according to research published Thursday in the British journal Lancet. The number of people with cancer in 2030 may rise to 22.2 million, or 0.3 percent of the global population, from 12.7 million in 2008, according to research led by Freddie Bray of the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France. The projection is based on the UN population forecast, the IARC's database tracking cancer incidence in 184 countries and increases in colorectal, breast, prostate and, in high-income countries, lung cancer in women.

THAILAND: Suu Kyi speaks for Burmese abroad

Aung San Suu Kyi is using her first foreign trip in 24 years to fight for her Burmese countrymen abroad, millions of economic migrants unable to work at home but subject to exploitation elsewhere. She pressed her concerns about the millions of Myanmar migrants in Thailand on Thursday, meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubumrung.