China has again rejected an attempt by the Philippines to challenge its territorial claims over the South China Sea through international arbitration, a week before a deadline for Beijing to respond to the case.

FEARS are growing about the wellbeing of kidnapped Irish priest Fr Michael Sinnott, who is entering his third week of captivity in the Philippines today.

IRAQ’S interim government vowed yesterday to restore the death penalty and take a “sharp sword” to insurgents, but also promised an amnesty to any rebels who stop fighting.