The Philippines says it plans to submit its dispute with China over waters around the Spratly Islands to a United Nations tribunal. Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario told reporters in Manila Monday that he informed his Chinese counterpart of the plan during weekend meetings in Beijing. He said Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi did not […]
Philippines to Seek UN Ruling on China Sea Dispute
Witnesses Say Syrian Troops Storm Central City
Rights activists and residents say Syrian troops backed by armored vehicles have stormed into the central city of Homs, killing at least one person and wounding 20 others. The witnesses said the attacks Monday included troops firing machine guns. The clashes come as Syria holds the second day of a national dialogue on political reform. […]
Asian Markets Close Lower
Asian stock markets closed lower Monday. Tokyo’s Nikkei index dropped seven-tenths of a percent to close at 10,070. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell 1.69 percent , to end at 22,343. Elsewhere, share prices were lower in Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Wellington and Manila. Markets also closed lower in Seoul, Sydney, Singapore, Mumbai and Bangkok. […]
Space Shuttle, ISS Begin Equipment Transfer
The crews aboard the U.S. space shuttle Atlantis and the International Space Station are in the process of transferring the 12.5-ton Raffaello multi-purpose module from the shuttle cargo bay to the space station. The module is packed with more than 8,000 pounds of spare parts, equipment, food and other supplies that will sustain space station […]
11 Bangladeshi Students Killed in Crash
Bangladesh police say at least 11 school children were killed and dozens more are feared dead after their bus crashed into a roadside ditch Monday. Officials say the students were returning from a football match when the accident happened outside the southeastern city of Chittagong.
Cambodia Opens Stock Exchange Without Traders
Cambodia officially opened its long-delayed stock exchange Monday, although no companies are yet listed for trading. Finance Minister Keat Chhon said at the opening of the Cambodia Securities Exchange that trading is expected to begin by the end of the year. He said the government has instructed three state-owned companies to work on listing their […]
Chinese Military Chief Rebukes US Over China Sea Drills
China’s military chief is bluntly criticizing the United States for holding military exercises in the South China Sea and conducting surveillance flights off its shores. General Chen Bingde made the remarks Monday at a joint press conference with his American counterpart, Admiral Mike Mullen. Chen said recent U.S. exercises with the Philippines and Vietnam are […]
US Defense Chief Concerned About Iranian Weapons in Iraq
U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta says the United States is very concerned about Iran providing weapons to militants in Iraq, as he prepares to meet with Iraqi leaders about the future of U.S. troops in the country. Panetta told a group of U.S. soldiers in Baghdad Monday that the U.S. cannot allow the arming […]
Tokyo Stocks Down, Dollar Up
Japanese share prices ended lower Monday, while the dollar rose against the yen. Tokyo’s Nikkei index dropped seven-tenths of a percent to close at 10,070. In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 80.78 yen, up a tenth of a yen from late Friday. Gold was selling for $1,545.48 an ounce.
21 Miners Trapped in China’s Fourth Accident This Month
Chinese state media say 21 miners are trapped in a flooded iron ore pit in the nation’s fourth mining accident in 10 days. The official Xinhua news agency said water flooded the mine in eastern Shandong province late Sunday. It said seven miners managed to escape. The accident is the fourth to hit China’s notoriously […]