Japanese police say they have arrested five pro-China activists who landed Wednesday on an island chain claimed by both China and Japan. The activists arrived on the islands by boat from Hong Kong despite heightened security by Japan’s coastguard, which fired water cannons at the Chinese fishing vessel. Japanese police say five of the 14 […]
Japan Arrests 5 Pro-China Activists on Disputed Island
Posted August 15th, 2012 at 6:50 am (UTC-5)
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Burma Names Naval Chief as VP
Posted August 15th, 2012 at 5:55 am (UTC-5)
A navy chief with a politically moderate reputation has been sworn in as one of Burma’s vice presidents in a move seen as empowering reformers in the military-dominated government. Admiral Nyan Tun replaces a regime hardliner whose resignation last month prompted rumors of a power struggle. Tin Aung Myint Oo officially quit for health reasons, […]
Bomb Wounds 3 Near UN Hotel in Syrian Capital
Posted August 15th, 2012 at 5:05 am (UTC-5)
Syrian state television says a bomb has exploded near a hotel used by United Nations observers in Damascus, wounding three people. The report said the blast Wednesday was caused by a bomb planted on a fuel truck. Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said none of the U.N. monitors were hurt in the explosion. He […]
North Korea May Complete Reactor Next Year: US Think Tank
Posted August 15th, 2012 at 5:00 am (UTC-5)
A U.S. research institute says satellite images show North Korea could complete construction on a light-water nuclear reactor by the end of next year. But analysts say there is no consensus on what it means for the future of Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program. The Washington-based Institute for Science and International Technology says imagery taken in […]
Afghan-Pakistani Team to Investigate Cross-Border Shelling
Posted August 15th, 2012 at 4:45 am (UTC-5)
The presidents of Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to send a joint military delegation to investigate recent cross-border shelling incidents that have raised tensions between the two neighbors. Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari met Tuesday on the sidelines of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit in Mecca. A statement […]
Bomb Wounds 3 Near UN Hotel in Syrian Capital
Posted August 15th, 2012 at 3:35 am (UTC-5)
Syrian state television says a bomb has exploded near a hotel used by United Nations observers in Damascus, wounding three people. The report said the blast Wednesday was caused by a bomb planted on a fuel truck. U.N. officials did not immediately comment, but none of the wounded are believed to be U.N. staff. The […]
Report: Asia Cities Must ‘Go Green’ or Risk Disaster
Posted August 15th, 2012 at 3:20 am (UTC-5)
A new report by the Asian Development Bank is warning that Asia’s rapidly growing cities must “go green” in order to prevent disasters such as mass flooding and out-of-control pollution. The report says Asia, which is urbanizing at a faster rate than anywhere else, is already home to almost half of all the world’s city […]
Australian High Court Upholds Plain Cigarette Packaging
Posted August 15th, 2012 at 2:25 am (UTC-5)
Australia’s highest court has ruled that new laws requiring cigarettes to be sold in plain packaging without company logos do not violate the country’s constitution. The court on Wednesday ruled against four tobacco companies that challenged the law, saying the measure violated their intellectual property rights. The companies include British American Tobacco, Japan Tobacco International, […]
Japan Ministers Visit Controversial War Shrine, Angering Neighbors
Posted August 15th, 2012 at 2:15 am (UTC-5)
Two Japanese cabinet ministers have visited a controversial war shrine seen by many as a symbol of Tokyo’s imperialist past, in a move likely to anger neighboring China and South Korea. National Public Safety Commission Chairman Jin Matsubara and Land Minister Yuichiro Hata on Wednesday paid homage at Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan’s war […]
Australian High Court Upholds Plain Cigarette Packaging
Posted August 15th, 2012 at 1:40 am (UTC-5)
Australia’s highest court has ruled that new laws requiring cigarettes to be sold in plain packaging without company logos do not violate the country’s constitution. The court on Tuesday ruled against four tobacco companies that challenged the law, saying the measure violated their intellectual property rights. The companies include British American Tobacco, Japan Tobacco International, […]
