Iraqi troops are trying to reclaim Tikrit, birthplace of Saddam Hussein, to stop the rebel takeover of Sunni militants.
Asia
China boat sinks in waters north of islets disputed with Japan
(Reuters) – Five Chinese fishermen are missing after a trawler sank on Friday in waters to the north of islands disputed with Japan in the East China Sea in what appeared to be an accident, state media said. The boat sank in the morning, north of the islands, which Chinacalls the Diaoyus and Japan the Senkakus, the official Xinhua news agency said, citing naval sources. The dispute over the Japanese-held islets, where Chinese and Japanese ships regularly engage in a cat-and-mouse game, […]
Palace: China’s new map, self serving
Malacañang has described as “self-serving” the issuance of a new map by China, apparently aimed at bolstering its claims in the .
Malaysia jet passengers likely suffocated, Australia says
(Reuters) – The passengers and crew of the missing Malaysia Airlines (MASM.KL) Flight MH370 most likely died from suffocation and coasted lifelessly into the ocean on autopilot, a new report released by Australian officials on Thursday said. In a 55-page report, the Australian Transport Safety Board outlined how investigators had arrived at this conclusion after comparing the conditions on the flight with previous disasters, although it contained no new evidence from within the jetliner. The […]
Malaysia jet most likely on autopilot when it crashed, Australia says
(Reuters) – Malaysia Airlines (MASM.KL) Flight MH370 was most likely on autopilot when it crashed into the Indian Ocean further south than previously thought, Australian officials said on Thursday, as they charted the next phase of a so far fruitless search. The new analysis comes more than 100 days after the Boeing(BA.N) 777, carrying 239 passengers and crew, disappeared on March 8 shortly after taking off from Kuala Lumpur bound for Beijing. Investigators say what little evidence they […]
China says Philippines stirring tensions after Aquino expressed support for Japan
(Reuters) — China on Wednesday (June 25) accused the Philippines of creating tension in the region and urged Manila to show “sincerity” in upholding stability after President Benigno Aquino welcomed Japan’s more assertive military policy. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made it clear on Tuesday (June 24) he wanted an early agreement with his ruling party’s dovish junior partner to ease constitutional curbs that have keptJapan’s military from fighting abroad since World War Two. Aquino said after meeting Abe on Tuesday that “nations of […]
Kirkuk blast kills 6
A total of six people died when a suicide bomber attacked an Iraqi city, injuring 23 others.
Singapore expresses support on arbitration
Although not involved in the maritime dispute in the West Philippine Sea, Singapore has declared its support to fellow ASEAN member, Philippines efforts to solve the territorial dispute through arbitration.
Iran strongly opposes U.S. intervention in Iraq
Iran’s supreme leader rejected possible intervention in Iraq by the United States and others, saying that Iraqis themselves can bring peace in their country.
23 dead in China bad weather
The continuous rainstorms affecting six provinces in south China has resulted in 26 deaths and 3 missing.
Hundreds of thousands vote in Hong Kong democracy ‘poll’ in defiance of Beijing
(Reuters) – Nearly 600,000 votes have been cast in three days of an unofficial referendum on democratic reforms in Hong Kong, part of a civil campaign that has been branded illegal by the former British colony and by Communist Party authorities in Beijing. Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with wide-ranging autonomy under the formula of “one country, two systems”, along with an undated promise of universal suffrage. But social tensions have risen […]
South Korea launches manhunt for soldier who killed five comrades
(Reuters) – South Korean special forces joined a manhunt on Sunday for a soldier who killed five comrades in a grenade and gun attack at a base near the North Korean border, and once dawn broke military helicopters began scouring the forested hillsides. The soldier shot dead five of his fellow unit members and wounded seven others late on Saturday at a outpost in the base at Goseong county, a mountainous region that borders the […]
