介绍:
Syria kicks off 1st multi-candidate presidential election
Voting is underway in Syria's presidential election.
Eligible voters are casting their ballots for the three presidential candidates, including the incumbent Bashar al-Assad.
It is the first time in decades that more than one name has appeared on the ballot paper.
The Interior Ministry says more than 15 million registered voters are taking part.
The vote is taking place despite the rejection of the opposition and their Western backers, which denounce the election as a sham.
Spanish cabinet to discuss King Juan Carlos's abdication
The Spanish cabinet is to discuss the next steps in the process of King Juan Carlos's abdication.
The king announced on Monday his intention to abdicate after nearly 40 years on the throne.
Ministers will now discuss the steps needed to approve his son Crown Prince Felipe's accession to the throne.
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy says the cabinet meeting would aim at carrying out the "constitutional measures" needed to clear the way for the succession.
Obama arrives in Poland to reassure eastern Europe over Ukraine
U.S. President Barack Obama has arrived in Poland at the start of a four-day trip to Europe.
He is visiting Poland, Belgium and France on a trip meant to reassure allies that the US has their backs in the Ukraine crisis.
He's scheduled to meet with Ukraine's president-elect in Poland
Obama will also attend ceremonies marking the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, France.
U.S. troop leader wants deployment of new missile defense in S Korea
The commander of U.S. troops stationed in South Korea has proposed deploying an advanced missile-defense system to the country, to counter the growing threat of North Korea's weapons capabilities.
General Curtis Scaparrotti is recommending the deployment of the THAAD or Theater High Altitude Area Defense missiles.
Media reports say the US has carried out a site survey in South Korea for possible locations for the THAAD battery, but no final decisions have been made.
In March, North Korea test fired a mid-range Rodong missile with a range of more than 1,000 kilometers, prompting condemnation from the U.N. Security Council.
South Korean, 73, linked to ferry disaster fails in asylum bid
Prosecutors in South Korea say a businessman and Christian sect leader, who is wanted on charges tied to the ferry disaster in April, has sought asylum at a Seoul embassy but was rejected.
73-year-old Yoo Byung-un is wanted on charges of embezzlement, negligence and tax evasion. His son has an investment firm which owns the operator of the sunken ferry Sewol.
Prosecutors declined to disclose which embassy was contacted by Yoo's representative, or if there were others.
Authorities have offered a reward of half a million dollars for information leading to Yoo's arrest but he and his first son have eluded a massive manhunt.
Prosecutors believe the Yoos are responsible for business decisions related to the renovation of the ferry and its operation that led to the country's worst maritime disaster in 20 years.
Thai confidence jumps on hopes army will bring order after chaos
Consumer confidence in Thailand jumped in May on hopes a new military government would impose order after months of political chaos.
The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce says its May consumer confidence index hit its highest level since January, just before protesters disrupted a Feb. 2 snap election.
The index rose to 70.7 in May from 67.8 in April, when it had fallen for the 13th month in a row and was at its lowest level in more than 12 years.
The Thai military took over power on May 22 following months of anti-government protests.
Trapped miners in flooded coal mine rescued
All five miners trapped in a flooded coal mine in north China's Hebei Province have been rescued.
The accident happened in a coal mine in Xingtai City Monday evening, when 14 miners were working underground.
One was killed and eight managed to escape while the other five were trapped.
9 detained for fatal coal mine blast
Nine people have been detained in connection with a coal mine gas explosion in April that killed 14 miners in China's Yunnan Province.
Those include the mine's investor, the legal representative and other senior officials.
They are accused of breaking work safety rules and avoiding work safety supervision.
A probe has found that two technicians who were on duty failed to detect the excessive gas, eventually resulting in the tragedy.
They are being pursued by the police.
China's non-manufacturing PMI rises in May
An official survey shows China's services sector grew at its fastest pace in six months in May as new orders rebounded.
The non-manufacturing purchasing managers' index rose to 55.5 from 54.8 in April.
The rise marks the second straight month of improvement, following a 0.3-point rebound in April and a decline in March.
The pick-up in the services PMI echoes a rebound in China's factory sector which grew at its fastest pace in five months in May.
A PMI for the sector touched a high of 50.8 last month.
