Italy

Cruise ship to be raised on Monday

Salvage workers will attempt to raise Italy's Costa Concordia cruise ship on Monday, weather permitting, in an unprecedented $1 billion operation, officials said. The 114,500-ton luxury liner has been lying on its side just off the tiny Tuscan island of Giglio ever since it hit rocks and keeled over with 4,229 people from 70 countries on board in January 2012.

Somalia

American rapping jihadi killed

A rapping jihadi from Alabama who ascended the ranks of Somalia's al-Qaida-linked militant group high enough to attract a $5 million US government bounty was killed on Thursday in an ambush ordered by the militant group's leader, militants said. Omar Hammami died on Thursday in southern Somalia following several months on the run after a falling-out with al-Shabab's top leader, the militants said.

The Philippines

Muslim rebels besiege city

Philippine forces were fighting Muslim rebels on two fronts on Thursday as troops launched an offensive to retake parts of a key southern city besieged by guerrillas opposed to peace talks with the government, officials said. Rebels torched houses as about 200 elite military and police units punched into one of the gunmen's strongholds in Zamboanga where the fighting has forced about 13,000 to flee their homes.

Indonesia

Dutch sorry for colonial killings

The Netherlands has formally apologized for mass killings committed by the Dutch military more than six decades ago during its former colony Indonesia's fight for independence. Dutch Ambassador Tjeerd de Zwaan issued the apology on Thursday to the widows of victims from South Sulawesi for his country's "excesses" that took place between 1945 and 1949.

Turkey

Death spawns new protests

Police used water canon and tear gas overnight on Wednesday in a bid to break up fresh anti-government protests across Turkey, media said. Thousands of people angry over the death of a 22-year-old demonstrator in southern Turkey on Monday clashed with police in Istanbul, the capital Ankara, the western city of Izmir as well as in the southern cities of Mersin and Atakya.

United Kingdom

Prince William ends tour of duty

Royal officials say Prince William has finished his tour of duty as a Royal Air Force search-and-rescue helicopter pilot and has left operational service with the British military to focus on royal duties and charity work.

AP-AFP

(China Daily 09/13/2013 page11)