TMCnet News
Top Asian News at 1:30 p.m. GMT(Associated Press Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Australian police: Raids thwarted beheading plotSYDNEY (AP) — Police on Thursday said they thwarted a plot to carry out beheadings in Australia by supporters of the radical Islamic State group. They detained 15 people and raided more than a dozen properties across Sydney, though nine of those brought in were freed before the day was over. The raids involving 800 federal and state police officers — the largest in the country's history — came in response to intelligence that an Islamic State group leader in the Middle East was calling on Australian supporters to kill, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said. Senate: China hacked military contractor networksWASHINGTON (AP) — China's military hacked into computer networks of civilian transportation companies hired by the Pentagon at least nine times, breaking into computers aboard a commercial ship, targeting logistics companies and uploading malicious software onto an airline's computers, Senate investigators said Wednesday. A yearlong investigation announced by the Senate Armed Services Committee identified at least 20 break-ins or other unspecified cyber events targeting companies, including nine successful break-ins of contractor networks. It blamed China's government for all the most sophisticated intrusions, although it did not provide any detailed evidence. India, China vow cooperation as troops face offNEW DELHI (AP) — Indian and Chinese troops faced off along their Himalayan border on Thursday as the countries' leaders held a rare meeting in New Delhi, promising to boost economic cooperation and substantially increase Chinese investment in India's infrastructure. The long-festering border dispute is a stark reminder of the complicated relationship between the two Asian giants as they try to increase trade and investment. Alibaba symbol of China's new tech giantsBEIJING (AP) — Alibaba Group's U.S. stock offering is a wakeup call about an emerging wave of technology giants in China's state-dominated economy. Until now, Chinese companies that made a splash in global stock markets were state-owned banks and oil companies. But they are big by decree, not because they sell products customers want. Minority scholar denies separatism at China trialURUMQI, China (AP) — A Muslim Uighur scholar accused of separatism sought to show Thursday that his writings and classroom lectures, including descriptions of Chinese as dragons and Uighurs as wolves, were not a campaign to split his native Xinjiang region from China. Frequent government critic and former Beijing economics professor Ilham Tohti is accused of fomenting ethnic hatred and unrest to overthrow Chinese rule in Xinjiang, which has seen an uptick of violent over the past 18 months that authorities blame on terrorist cells seeking a separate state. Even seemingly benign causes draw China crackdownBEIJING (AP) — More than 30 people had gathered at Beijing's most august Buddhist temple to remember the siblings, children and parents lost exactly six months earlier when a Malaysia Airlines jet disappeared. They found themselves encircled by shouting police blocking them from speaking to reporters or entering the temple as a group. The relatives, dressed in white T-shirts reading "Pray for the return of MH370," finally made it past the security in a scene that unfolded in front of international media. Once inside, they fell to their knees and wailed for the return of their missing loved ones. Int'l monitors endorse Fiji election as credibleSUVA, Fiji (AP) — International observers endorsed the landmark Fiji election as credible on Thursday, although most smaller political parties said they would not accept what appeared to be a decisive win for the South Pacific country's military ruler. The Multinational Observer Group said the result of Wednesday's election, while still being finalized, would broadly reflect the will of voters. The endorsement paves the way for international sanctions to be dropped, including Fiji's likely return this month to full status among the Commonwealth group of nations. Thai military ruler apologizes for bikini commentBANGKOK (AP) — Thailand's military ruler apologized Thursday for suggesting that foreigners visiting the country's world-famous beaches might be unsafe wearing bikinis in the wake of the killing of two British tourists this week. The bodies of the man and woman were found bludgeoned on the scenic resort island of Koh Tao on Monday, dealing another blow to a tourist industry which has been struggling to recover since the army seized power in May. Image of Asia: Lava flows from Indonesian volcanoIn this photo by Idhad Zakaria, lava erupts from Indonesia's Mount Slamet volcano early Thursday morning as seen from Pandansari village in Central Java province. Ash has fallen on some villages and activity is banned within 4 kilometers of the peak. Authorities have made preparations to move nearly 24,000 residents from seven villages that are within 6 kilometers of the crater, if Slamet becomes more dangerous. Indonesia has about 130 active volcanos and Java is its most densely populated island, home to more than half of the country's 240 million people. Vietnam jails 4 policemen in death of suspectHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — A Vietnamese court sentenced four policemen on Thursday to up to 17 years in prison for beating a suspect to death, in an unusually harsh punishment for police brutality. The online newspaper VnExpress said the Hanoi People's Court convicted Hoang Ngoc Tuyen, the deputy police chief of Kim No village outside Hanoi, of murder and sentenced him to 17 years in prison. Three other police in the village were sentenced to eight to 16 years on the same charge in the two-day trial. NKorea rejects US offer to send high-level envoyWASHINGTON (AP) — North Korea is not accepting American offers to send a high-level envoy to seek the release of three detained Americans, a senior U.S. official said. Robert King, the U.S. special envoy for North Korean human rights issues, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that freeing the detainees could provide a diplomatic opening in ties, also snared by Pyongyang's development of nuclear weapons. But he said that Washington would not give into attempts to "extort" political gain from the detentions. Japan, neighbors agree to moves to protect eelsTOKYO (AP) — Japan has agreed to cut purchases of eel fry from neighboring East Asian countries by 20 percent as part of moves to protect the endangered species. The agriculture ministry said the agreement with China, South Korea and Taiwan, reached Wednesday, calls for reducing eel hauls by 20 percent for one year, beginning in November. North Korea powerful temptation for some AmericansSEOUL, South Korea (AP) — One shouted about God's love as he crossed a frozen river, clutching a Bible. Another swam, drunk and naked. Several U.S. soldiers dashed around land mines. Time and again, Americans over the years have slipped illegally into poor, deeply suspicious, fervently anti-American North Korea, even as it has become increasingly easy to enter legally as a tourist. It's incomprehensible to many, especially since tens of thousands of desperate North Koreans have crossed in the opposite direction, at great risk. Japan logs trade deficit for 26th month in a rowTOKYO (AP) — Japan logged a 948.5 billion yen ($8.7 billion) trade deficit in August, the 26th straight month of red ink, as slack demand from China and the U.S. stymied exports, the Finance Ministry said Thursday. Exports fell 1.3 percent from a year earlier to 5.71 trillion yen ($53.3 billion) while imports dropped 1.5 percent to 6.65 trillion yen ($62.1 billion), resulting in a 948.5 billion yen ($8.8 billion) deficit, according to preliminary data. Japan posted a 971.4 billion yen deficit in August 2013. Bangladesh empowers parliament to impeach judgesDHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh's parliament now has the authority to impeach Supreme Court judges after lawmakers late Wednesday voted to approve a much-debated amendment to the constitution. The amendment passed unanimously in a voice vote of 327-0, with support coming from the ruling Awami League. Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |