In the news...
China's navy is reported to have issued eight warning messages to a U.S. military spy plane. The plane flew over several man-made islands that China is using to secure its territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea.
An official from China's foreign ministry said he was not aware of the event, but said he hopes the " relevant country" can respect China's "indisputable sovereignty" over the area.
U.S. officials have expressed concern about China's land-reclamation efforts at seven sites in the Spratly Islands, parts of which are also claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.
Rohingya migrant boat accepted in Indonesian waters
More than 400 Rohingya migrants who were pushed back to sea in southern Thailand last week have arrived in Indonesia.
Local fishermen rescued the migrants, many of whom were weak and starving. They took them to the eastern province of Aceh.
Most of those rescued are Rohingya, a mainly Muslim ethnic community from Myanmar, which the government considers stateless, or are Bangladeshis fleeing poverty at home.
US, Cuba continue talks
The United States and Cuba began a fourth round of talks on Thursday aimed at overcoming obstacles to opening embassies in each other's capitals and re-establishing diplomatic ties.
The meetings at the State Department are being led by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Roberta Jacobson and Josefina Vidal, director of U.S. affairs at the Cuban Foreign Ministry.
Words in the News
relevant – adj. relating to a subject in an appropriate way
indisputable – adj. impossible to question or doubt : not disputable
obstacle – n. something that makes it difficult to do something
