American killed in Philippines
American killed in Philippines
PHILIPPINES: Philippine police have launched a murder inquiry after an American man was found dead in the northern city of Angeles, police said on Sunday.
The body of James Nehring, 41, was discovered on the blood- soaked floor of his apartment outside the former U.S. Air Force base of Clark on Friday by his brother Thomas Nehring, police investigators said.
The victim had suffered a head injury, Filipino police spokesmen said.
Thomas Nehring told police an electrician working at the building informed him that he saw drops of blood outside the door of James' apartment.
The victim had recently relocated to Angeles after working as a machine operator in Thailand, police said. --AFP ;AFP;APS; ANPAi..u.. ASEAN-Thailand-unrest-south Village chief slain in troubled Thai south JP/9/ASEAN
Village chief slain in south Thailand
THAILAND: A Thai village chief has been shot dead in the kingdom's restive Muslim-majority south, where a separatist insurgency has flared this year, leaving more than 200 people dead, police said on Sunday.
Masali Salae, 41, was killed on Saturday when gunmen attacked him as he rode his motorcycle home from a local market in Narathiwat province, where he served as chief of Baan Rue Bor village.
"It is not clear whether they were snipers or they followed him home," police Lt. Sompong Udomphol said.
The victim had been suspected of involvement in shady business dealings, police said, and personal conflict could not be ruled out as a motive for the murder.
"He was close to many local influential people," Sompong said. Police scoured the area for suspects but no arrests were made, he added. --AFP
;AP;APS; ANPAu..r.. ASEAN-Malaysia-US-Europe Malaysia's Abdullah plans meetings with Bush, other leaders on trip JP/9/ASEAN
Malaysia's PM plans meetings with Bush
MALAYSIA: Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is planning to meet U.S. President George W. Bush and the leaders of Britain and France during visits to the United States and Europe later this month, officials said on Sunday.
Abdullah's foreign tour is part of a plan to "introduce him to world leaders" after he succeeded former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who retired last October after 22 years in power, said Abdullah's spokesman Azhar Osman.
Abdullah is expected to meet Bush at the White House on July 18, before traveling to Europe for talks with French President Jacques Chirac on July 21 and British Prime Minister Tony Blair the following day, Azhar told The Associated Press.
Their discussions would likely focus on bilateral ties and Malaysia's role as the current chairman of the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference, the world's largest Islamic grouping, and the Non-Aligned Movement, comprising 116 mostly developing nations, Azhar said. --AP