IN BRIEF (Page 12)

China

Ministry faults Manila's protest

The Philippines' protest over Chinese patrol ships "blocking" Manila's construction on China's Ren'ai Reef has revealed its intention to illegally occupy the reef, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. Manila is trying to start construction on the reef after it ran aground an old transport ship in 1999 to mark its territory and stationed marines on the ship. Chinese ships patrolling waters around the reef on Sunday ordered Philippine ships carrying construction materials to leave the area. "The so-called protest from the Phillipines is a blame on others while itself is at fault," said Qin Gang, the ministry's spokesman.

United States

Building explodes in New York

A residential building in New York's East Harlem neighborhood exploded and collapsed on Wednesday, sparking a serious fire and engulfing the area in thick smoke, officials said. Local TV stations reported that several people had sustained minor injuries in the incident at 116th Street and Park Avenue. TV footage showed debris strewn across the street. "It was an explosion and a building collapsed," said a spokesman for NYPD.

China Daily-AFP

(China Daily 03/13/2014 page12)