YANGON: Myanmar yesterday looked to build on a tentative peace deal with Kachin rebels, with talks aimed at ending the country’s last major active civil war. Fighting in northern Kachin state has displaced tens of thousands since a 17-year ceasefire crumbled two years ago, with bouts of heavy combat that have undermined the reformist government’s aim of securing countrywide peace. President Thein Sein’s government has reached tentative peace deals with most major armed ethnic minority rebel groups in the country, which has been racked by civil wars since independence from British colonial rule in 1948.
10 missing as China boat sinks
Beijing: One fisherman has been rescued but 10 others remain missing after a boat capsized off the coast of east China’s Jiangsu Province, China’s News agency (Xinhua) reported. The survivor was immediately sent to hospital and is in a stable condition, said the rescue headquarters for the fishing boat accident in Qidong City. The boat overturned suddenly in sea waters about 25 nautical miles from the coast of Qidong while on its way back to shore, leaving all 11 people aboard missing. Rescuers continued their search for the missing crew members.
Japan ships for Philippines
MANILA: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe has confirmed that Japan will give 10 patrol ships to the Philippine Coast Guard, putting an end to rumours since 2012. Kyodo News quoted officials as saying that Abe will push through with plans to assist Manila in its efforts to develop its coast guard amid sea disputes of the two countries with China. The prime minister reportedly told this to President Beningo Aquino III in a bilateral meeting in Brunei Darussalam on the sidelines of the an Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit. Abe added that the transfer process for the new vessels is swiftly under way. Officials are still in talks with Japan for the acquisition of the vessels by 2014. Agencies
