Kiir Cuts Short China Visit

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has cut short his visit here to China.
Kiir arrived here in China this week for what was supposed to be an official 6-day visit.
The Chinese foreign ministry says the Chinese side repects his decision, and wouldn't reveal exactly why Kiir has decided to leave early.
Kiir's time here in China comes amid growing border clashes between his South Sudanese forces and the military of Sudan.
At the same time, the Foreign Ministry has confirmed that Chinese special envoy Zhong Jianhua is set to visit both South Sudan and Sudan to try to help spur negotiations between the two countries.
US and Filipino military drill in Palawan, Japan self defence troops to be stationed at US bases

Around a hundred US and Philipine troops have taken part in a mock combat drill in Philippines western province of Palawan.　
The combat drills are part of the annual exercises, involving thousands of American and Filipino military personnel. 　
At the same time, Japan and the US have reached an agreement to allow the Japanese self-defence forces to use US bases in the Philippines.
The latest moves come amid the continued tensions between China and the Philippines over the Huangyan Island in the South China Sea.
China Calls for Restraint & Dialogue to Ease Tension in South China Sea

The Chinese side is calling for restraint in the South China Sea.
Deputy Foreign Minster Cui Tiankai says the Chinese side remains commited to resolving the dispute through diplomacy.
“I must point out that the current state of affairs was not created or provoked by China and China does not want to see more tension on that area. We have all along been committed to dialogue and diplomacy as a way to settle that issue. All of these remarks and deeds violate the aspiration of people in the region for good neighborliness, cooperation and joint development and their interests.”
At the same time, Chinese embassy in the Philippines has released a fact-sheet to try to solidify China's claim to Huangyan Island.
The fact-sheet says the Chinese government declared sovereignty over Huangyan Island some 80 years ago, and notes the Philippine government never challenged the sovergnty of the island until 1997.
Surge in suicide bombing reports in Syria

The size of the UN observer mission in Syria is on the rise.
The most recent arrivals are from China, Indonesia and Ghana.
Neeraj Singh, the head of the UN observer mission, says there are now 15 observers carrying out regular patrols in several Syrian cities.
However, there has been a surge in bombings in Syria.
In the latest incident, 16 people have been killed in an explosion in the central Syrian province of Hama.
Syrian media is reporting the explosion went off inside a home while 'terrorits' were trying to construct the bomb.
Egyptian former PM greenlighted for the presidential election

Reports out of Egypt are now indicating a reversal of fortunes for a former member of Hosni Mubarak's former top inner-circle.
The Higher Presidental Election Commission has now reportedly rule that former Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq is going to be allowed to run in the forthcoming Presidental elections.
If the reports are accurate, the decision would reverse a ruling earlier this week which barred Shafiq from running.
That decision citied a recent ammendment to Egyptian law which makes it illegal for any of former President Hosni Mubarak's top leadership from entering Egyptian politics for 10-years.
Gingrich to quit U.S. presidential race: reports

It now sounds as though Newt Gingrich is finally going to conceed defeat in the US Republican Presidental primaries.
Reports in the US suggest Gingrich is preparing to formally drop out of the Republican race and throw his support behind presumptive nominee Mitt Romney.
The move by Gingrich would come after Romney won 5 state primaries on Tuesday, leaving it virtually impossible for Gingrich to garner enough delegates for the Republican nomination.
A Gingrich withdrawl would only leave representative Ron Paul in the race against Mitt Romney, though he doesn't have the numbers to win either.
U.S. state Connecticut abolishes death penalty

The Governor of Connecticut has signed off on a bill repealing the death penalty in the state.
Connecticut now becomes the 17th US state to ban the execution of prisoners.
The new law replaces the death penalty with a sentence of life without parole.
The changes do not affect the sentences for 11 inmates currently on death row in the state.
S. Korea's GDP growth posts 0.9 pct in Q1

The Bank of Korea, South Korea's central bank, is reporting the country's GDP grew by 0.9-percent in the 1st quarter of this year.
This marks a much larger increase in growth South Korean officials had been expecting.
The BOK, at the beginning of the year, was only forecasting a 0.3-percent increase in growth for the 1st quarter.
Nine dead, 36 injured in SW expressway accident

Details are sketchy at this point, but local authorities in Yunnan are reporting that 9 people are dead following a traffic accident last night.
36 others have been hurt, 8 of them seriously.
Details of exactly where in the southern Chinese province the accident occured and how many vehicles involved have not been released at this point.
China approves int'l border cooperation zone

The Chinese government has now given formal approval for an international trading zone to be set up in the northeastern province of Jilin.
The move by the State Council is designed to try to promote cross-border trade among China, Russia and North Korea.
The demonstration zone is going to be located in the port city of Hunchun, which lies at the intersection of the three countries.
The trade zone isn't expected to be finished until 2020.