PHIL.-TERRORISM: The Philippine military says D.N.A. tests confirm that Khaddafy Janjalani, the leader of Muslim militant group Abu Sayyaf and one of the most wanted men in the country, is dead. Military chief General Hermogenes Esperon said today (Saturday) that U.S. forensic tests on human remains found last month on the island of Jolo have confirmed it was Janjalani. The militant leader was on a U.S. list of wanted terrorists with a five-million-dollar bounty on his head. He is believed to have been killed in a battle with Philippine troops last September.
IRAQ: U.S. military officials say coalition forces in Iraq have detained 25 suspected terrorists in a series of raids across the country. A military statement issued today (Saturday) says 11 suspects were detained west of Baghdad, seven more were caught in Tarmiyah, and another seven suspects were captured in Fallujah and Balad. The detainees are accused of being so-called "facilitators" who aid al-Qaida and foreign terrorists operating in the country. Meanwhile, the U.S. military says a roadside bomb in northern Baghdad killed one U.S. soldier and wounded another today (Saturday).
TURKEY-JOURNALIST: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has condemned the shooting death of a high-profile Turkish-Armenian journalist. Mr. Erdogan vowed to bring the assailants to justice for the killing Friday of Hrant Dink, editor of an Armenian-Turkish weekly newspaper ("Agos"). An unidentified gunman shot Dink outside his newspaper's office in Istanbul. Turkish media report the arrests of three suspects. Dink was controversial in Turkey. His comments about the mass killings of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire at the start of the 20th century angered many Turkish nationalists. Turkey rejects use of the term "genocide" to refer to the killings.
US-CHINA-SPACE: The United States has asked China to clarify its intentions following a successful test last week of an anti-satellite weapon. U.S. officials expressed concern Friday that debris generated when China's missile hit a Chinese satellite could endanger people in space and on the ground.
NOKOR-NUCLEAR: The top U.S. negotiator on North Korea says he expects multinational talks on Pyongyang's nuclear program to resume within weeks. Following his arrival in Tokyo today (Saturday), U.S. envoy Christopher Hill said during talks in Germany earlier this week with his North Korean counterpart, Kim Kye Kwan, the two agreed to get the six-party talks going soon. No date has been set. Hill's comments appear to clear up confusion earlier this week when North Korea reported that a "certain agreement" was reached during the three-day meeting in Berlin.
THAILAND-BOMBINGS: Thai police say they are questioning at least 10 suspects, including some government and military officers, in connection with deadly New Year's Eve bomb blasts in Bangkok. Authorities say police searched more than 10 locations today (Saturday) in and around the capital. None of the suspects being questioned have been charged with any crime. The New Year's Eve bomb blasts killed three people and wounded 40 others.
BIRD FLU: Indonesia's Health Ministry has announced the country's 62nd human bird flu death. The ministry said a 19-year old woman from West Java died Friday from the H5N1 strain of bird flu. In Egypt, the state news service (MENA) quotes a Health Ministry official as saying a 27-year-old woman infected with bird flu died Friday at a hospital in Cairo. She is the 11th person to die from the disease in Egypt.
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