Abu Sayyaf kidnap Indonesian boat crew

MANILA • Ten Indonesian crew members on board a tugboat were kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf militants in the Philippines at the weekend, officials in Manila said yesterday.

Two Philippine military officials said the militant group had demanded an undisclosed ransom amount from the boat's owners.

The officials declined to be identified because they are not authorised to speak to media.

The crew were operating a privately owned Taiwanese tugboat on its way from Jakarta to Manila when it was hijacked near the Malaysian border.

They managed to call their employer to inform them of the hijacking, but the exact location of the incident remains unknown, officials said.

REUTERS

Scientists lose track of Japanese satellite

TOKYO • Dozens of space scientists are desperately scouring the skies after losing track of a Japanese satellite that was sent to study black holes.

The ultra-high-tech "Hitomi" - or eye - satellite briefly made contact with ground crews but has since disappeared, with American researchers reporting that it could have broken into several pieces.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE