Top Asian News at 7:00 a.m. GMTMANILA, Philippines — Somali pirates freed a chemical tanker and its 23 Filipino crew members Tuesday after holding them hostage for more than five months, a spokesman for the Philippine ship owner said. Securing the safe release of the crew and the vessel was “difficult and protracted” and the company was “extremely pleased” with the result, Capt. Dexter Custodio, spokesman for Sagana Shipping Inc., said in a statement. Top Asian News at 6:30 a.m. GMTMANILA, Philippines — A Philippine shipping company says Somali pirates have freed a tanker and its crew of 23 Filipinos after holding them hostage for more than five months. Capt. Dexter Custodio said the vessel was released Tuesday. Custodio is the spokesman for Sagana Shipping Inc., owner of the MT Stolt Strength. Chinese court sentences three over arson attack during 2008 riots in Tibet capital LhasaBEIJING — A Chinese court has sentenced three people to lengthy prison terms over deadly arson attacks during last year’s rioting in the Tibetan capital Lhasa, state media reported Tuesday. |