Xi to be in HK to mark 20th year of handover

BEIJING • China's official state media yesterday confirmed that President Xi Jinping will visit Hong Kong this week to mark the 20th anniversary of the former British colony's return to China. An annual protest to press for full democracy in the city is expected to take place after Mr Xi's departure on July 1.

XINHUA, REUTERS

Indian soldiers, rebels clash at Kashmir school

SRINAGAR • Government forces in Indian-administered Kashmir were locked in an intense battle yesterday with armed militants who took cover in a school after opening fire on a group of soldiers on the eve of Eid, police said.

The battle came as Kashmir prepared to celebrate Eid and the end of the Islamic fasting month.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Chinese flotilla sets out for training mission

QINGDAO • A flotilla with aircraft carrier Liaoning set out from Qingdao in east China yesterday for a training mission, a military statement said. The naval formation included destroyers Jinan and Yinchuan, frigate Yantai and a squadron of J-15 fighter jets and helicopters.

XINHUA

Abe to push for Constitution revision

TOKYO • Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants to accelerate plans to amend Japan's pacifist Constitution, saying he expects to submit a proposed revision to lawmakers before the end of the year, media said yesterday. Mr Abe has proposed revising the war-renouncing Article 9 by 2020 to officially recognise Japan's Self-Defence Forces as its military.

REUTERS