8 killed in Philippine troops, militants clash
AP, Manila
At least eight people were killed Tuesday in a gunbattle between Philippine forces and suspected Abu Sayyaf militants on a central resort island, far from the extremists’ southern jungle bases and in a region where the U.S. government has warned that the gunmen may be plotting kidnappings, officials said. Military officials said at least five gunmen, two soldiers and a policeman had died in the ongoing gunbattle in a village in the coastal town of Inabanga in Bohol province.
No room for independence: HK leader
Reuters, Beijing
Hong Kong leader-elect Carrie Lam said on Tuesday there is no room for moves toward independence in the former British colony which she said needs the support of the central government in Beijing to boost economic development over the next five years. Lam was speaking in Beijing after Chinese Premier Li Keqiang presented her with the official letter of appointment as chief executive, paving the way for her to take office on July 1.
Alabama gov resigns following charges
AP, Montgomery
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley resigned Monday rather than face impeachment and pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor campaign violations that arose during an investigation of his alleged affair with a top aide. In a remarkable fall, the mild-mannered 74-year-old Republican and one-time Baptist deacon stepped down as the sex-tinged scandal gathered force over the past few days.
2 Turkish nationals kidnapped in Nigeria
AFP, Nigeria
Gunmen have kidnapped two Turkish nationals from their hotel in southern Nigeria’s oil-rich Akwa Ibom state, police said Tuesday in the latest unrest to hit the restive Niger Delta. “Two Turkish nationals working for a construction company in Onna local government area were abducted from their hotel rooms on Sunday,” state police spokesman Chukwu Okechukwu told AFP.
