South Korea begins annual war games to defend against Japan
AFP, Seoul
South Korea Sunday began two days of war games to practise defending disputed islands off its east coast against an unlikely attack from Japan, further stoking tensions between the Asian neighbours.
The annual drills come just days after Seoul terminated a military intelligence-sharing pact with Tokyo, with the countries at loggerheads over Japan’s use of forced labour during World War II. The two-day exercise will involve warships and aircraft, the South Korean navy said in a text message without providing more detail.
Yemen govt forces take separatist camps
AP, Sanaa
Forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognized government on Saturday took control of a headquarters and at least three military camps from a separatist militia backed by the United Arab Emirates in and outside a key southern city, military officials and the government said.
The development came a day after government forces of Saudi-backed President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi took full control of the city of Ataq, the capital of oil-rich Shabwa province, following clashes with a UAE-trained militia known as the Elite Force.
Iran blacklists US-based think-tank
AFP, Tehran
Iran has blacklisted US-based think-tank the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and its chief Mark Dubowitz on accusations of being behind “economic terrorism” against the Islamic republic.
The Iranian foreign ministry said in a statement issued late Saturday that it had “added the so-called Foundation for Defence of Democracies (FDD) and its director to the sanctions list”.
Nauru President loses seat in polls
AFP, Wellington
Nauru’s president, a strong supporter of Australia’s hardline policy of detaining refugees on the tiny Pacific island nation, has lost his seat in a general election, official results showed Sunday.
Voters went to the polls on Saturday and selected two rival candidates over Baron Waqa in his electorate of Boe, results revealed, ending the 59-year-old’s six years in office.
7 adults shot at child’s birthday party in Maryland
AP, Camp Springs
A Maryland police chief says seven adults were injured when shots were fired at a child’s birthday party a few miles southeast of the nation’s capital.
Prince George’s County police Cpl. Nicholas Clayton tells The Associated Press that the shooting occurred Saturday night near the Camp Springs and Morningside areas. Police Chief Hank Stawinski said at a press conference that around 12 people were at a 2-year-old’s birthday party when an individual fired shots into the gathering.
