Islamist militia help libyan PM seize office
Tripoli: The newly elected libyan Prime Minister has taken charge of his office with the help of an Islamist militia, officials said, the latest in the crisis roiling the North African country where a renegade general is leading an offensive against Islamists.
China-Vietnam naval conflict escalates
Beijing: The China-Vietnam row over the deployment of Chinese oil rig in the disputed South China Sea escalated as their naval vessels had a confrontation, leading to partial sinking of a Vietnamese ship.
US shuts Afghan transit base in Kyrgyzstan
Bishkek: The United States on Tuesday shut its airforce base in Kyrgyzstan that had been the main transit point for military personnel and cargo headed to Afghanistan for 12 years.
22 killed in coal mine accident in China
Beijing: At least 22 workers were killed in a coal mine accident in southwest China on Tuesday. The accident happened at the Yanshitai Coal Mine in the Wansheng district, State-run Xinhua News agency reported.
Iraq attacks and shelling kill 35
Baghdad: Violence across Iraq, including shelling of the conflict-hit city of Fallujah, killed 35 people on Tuesday, as politicians haggle over forming a new governing coalition after April elections.
Assad eyes crushing win in Syria vote
Damascus: Syrians in Government-held areas voted on Tuesday in a controversial presidential election in which incumbent Bashar al-Assad is looking to boost his grip but which the exiled opposition has slammed as a “farce”. There was no voting in the roughly 60 per cent of the country outside the control of Assad’s Government, which includes large areas of second city Aleppo.