News Headlines - 18 July 2014

▽BBC News - MH17 hit by missile from rebel-held Ukraine - Obama

US President Barack Obama has said a surface-to-air missile fired from a rebel-held area in east Ukraine brought down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.

▽Transcript: President Obama’s July 18 statement on Ukraine and Gaza - The Washington Post

Now, here's what's happened now. This was a global tragedy. An Asian airliner was destroyed in European skies, filled with citizens from many countries. So there has to be a credible international investigation into what happened. The U.N. Security Council has endorsed this investigation, and we will hold all its members, including Russia, to their word.

▽Amazon Unveils E-Book Subscription Service, With Some Notable Absences - NYTimes.com

After months of speculation, Amazon on Friday introduced a digital subscription service that allows subscribers unlimited access to a library e-books and audiobooks for $10 a month... So far, however, none of the five biggest publishers appear to be making their books available through the service.

▽AbbVie, Shire agree on $55B combination | Mail Online

The drugmaker AbbVie has reached a deal worth roughly $55 billion to combine with British counterpart Shire and become the latest U.S. company to seek an overseas haven from tax rates back home.

▽Japanese artist released following arrest over vagina selfie for 3D prints | The Guardian

A Tokyo-based artist known for her genital-inspired works has been released from police custody following her arrest on obscenity charges, her lawyer has said, in a case that triggered accusations of a clampdown on freedom of expression in Japan.