AP, Washington
President Barack Obama has made his decision on a Supreme Court nominee and planned to introduce his pick at a Rose Garden ceremony Wednesday, setting up a showdown with Senate Republicans who have told the White House not to bother filling the vacancy in an election year.
In an email to supporters, Obama did not identify his choice to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia on the nine-member court.
Ecuador army plane crash kills 22
AFP, Quito
An Ecuadoran army plane crashed in the Amazon rainforest Tuesday, killing all 22 people on board, President Rafael Correa said.
“There are no survivors,” Correa wrote on Twitter, several minutes after first posting news of the crash. “This is a tragedy.”
Japan Submarine to visit Philippines
AFP, Tokyo
A Japanese submarine will make a port call in the Philippines for the first time in 15 years while accompanying naval ships will visit Vietnam’s Cam Ranh Bay for the first time ever, Japan’s navy said.
The announcement came days after China accused its Asian rival of interfering in the South China Sea.
Jakarta gets new anti-terror chief as threats rise
AFP, Jakarta
Indonesia today installed a prominent police general as its new anti-terror chief at a time when the Muslim-majority nation faces a rising threat from citizens flocking to join terrorists in Syria.
Tito Karnavian’s promotion to head of the National Counter Terrorism Agency came two months after a suicide bombing and gun attack in Jakarta claimed by ISIS left four attackers and four civilians dead.
Suicide bombers kill 22 in Nigeria
AFP, Maiduguri
At least 22 people were killed Wednesday when two women disguised as men blew themselves up during morning prayers at a mosque in Maiduguri, northeast Nigeria, rescuers and the military said.
The attack took place at about 5:30 am (0430 GMT) in the Molai district of the city.
Civilians flee Iraq town as battle looms
AFP, Baghdad
Terrified residents were fleeing the Iraqi town of Hit as security forces closed in Tuesday and jihadist fighters hunkered down to defend one of their main bastions in Anbar province.
After regaining control of Anbar provincial capital Ramadi from the Islamic State group earlier this year, Iraqi forces have been advancing up the Euphrates Valley in recent weeks.
Mild quake jolts Nepal
PTI, Kathmandu
A mild tremor measuring 4.5 magnitude on the Richter Scale today hit central Nepal as aftershocks from last year’s massive earthquake continue to jolt the country.
The aftershock of 4.5 magnitude was felt in Kathmandu valley and adjoining districts at 3:11 am local time.
