Marcos' son narrowly loses V-P election

MANILA • The son and namesake of the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos has narrowly lost the election for vice-president, according to an official count that was only completed yesterday, almost three weeks after the May 9 polls.

The result dealt a blow to the aspirations of the Marcos family, which had targeted the position for Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr as a stepping stone to recapturing his late father's presidential post. He lost by around 263,000 votes to political neophyte Leni Robredo.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

N. Korean boats cross disputed sea border

SEOUL • South Korea's navy fired warning shots yesterday after a North Korean patrol boat and fishing boat crossed the disputed sea border off the west coast of the Korean peninsula, an official with South Korea's joint chiefs of staff told Reuters. The two vessels retreated about eight minutes after the South fired five 40mm artillery shots at around 7.30am, the officials said. REUTERS

Japan's oldest elephant dies

TOKYO • Animal lovers were mourning the death of Hanako, the country's oldest elephant, yesterday. It died "quietly" after spending most of its 69 years in captivity.

The cause of death was not immediately known, zookeepers said, adding that an autopsy would be conducted and that the body is to be donated to research.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE