Former Sri Lankan ambassador arrested
COLOMBO • Sri Lanka's former ambassador to Washington was arrested yesterday for allegedly pocketing US$345,000 (S$492,000) from the purchase of a building for the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington during his tenure as ambassador from 2008 to 2014. Mr Jaliya Wickramasuriya is the latest member of strongman ex-president Mahinda Rajapakse's family - he is a cousin - to be investigated for corruption in office.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
14 killed in clash with Philippine militants
MANILA • Four Philippine soldiers and 10 Islamic militants were killed yesterday as security forces clashed with gunmen who have abducted dozens of foreign sailors at sea in recent months, the military said.
Up to 150 members of the Abu Sayyaf traded fire with an army unit on the remote southern island of Jolo, but later withdrew, taking with them seven of their dead. The troops did not see any of the captives being held hostage by the militants.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Protection for Confucius papers
JINAN (China) • The National Library of China signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Qufu Bureau of Cultural Relics yesterday to put documents related to Confucius' estate under a national ancient books protection programme.
XINHUA