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Top Asian News at 2:30 a.m. GMT
(AP Online Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) History, dissent cloud Pakistan's Mumbai reactionISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) _ The black-and-white flag of Jamaat-ud-Dawa still flutters over a relief camp for survivors of an earthquake that hit a remote corner of Pakistan in October. But bearded medics who work with the group had vanished from the huddle of tents and mud huts when a half-dozen police showed up to close the operation following allegations the charity was linked to militants blamed for the deadly Mumbai attacks in India.
Protest by suitcase workers sent packing in ChinaDONGGUAN, China (AP) _ Laid-off migrant worker Chen Li had red scrape marks on his right cheek from a scuffle with riot police outside his factory that went bust this week in southern China. Now the angry young man is going home early to his village in northern Hubei province for the annual Chinese New Year holiday, where he says he will be bored and idle for a couple of months. It's restless migrants like Chen who are among the biggest worries for Chinese leaders trying to maintain social order during a souring economy.
South Korea denies involvement in alleged Kim plotSEOUL, South Korea (AP) _ South Korea on Friday denied North Korea's claim that it hired an agent to track leader Kim Jong Il in what the communist nation suggested was an assassination plot. The North's spy agency, the Ministry of State Security, made the claims late Thursday, saying it recently arrested an agent it alleged was trained by the South to gather information about Kim's movements.
Japan says POW labor used in PM's family mineTOKYO (AP) _ Japan has acknowledged that Allied prisoners of war were put to work in a coal mine owned by Prime Minister Taro Aso's family, reversing previous denials after newly found documents provided proof. The Health and Welfare Ministry said Friday that the wartime documents showed 300 British, Dutch and Australian prisoners worked at the Aso family mine in Fukuoka, southern Japan, from April 1945 through Japan's surrender four months later. It was the first time the government had acknowledged the use of prisoners at an Aso mine.
Amnesty International slams Indian anti-terror lawNEW DELHI (AP) _ Amnesty International on Friday slammed India's new anti-terror legislation to beef up police powers in the wake of the Mumbai attacks, saying it violates international human rights treaties. The London-based human rights group called on India's president not to approve the legislation, which would double the number of days police can detain terror suspects before filing charges, from 90 days to 180, as well as boost their powers to conduct searches.
Internet witch hunt instigator ordered to payBEIJING (AP) _ A Chinese court has ordered an Internet user and a Web site to compensate a man who became the victim of an online witch hunt after his wife killed herself over his alleged infidelity. It is the first online harassment case in China. Beijing's Chaoyang District People's Court ordered Zhang Leyi, a college friend of the wife, and the owners of the news and entertainment Web site Daqi.com, to pay compensation to Wang Fei, said a notice seen Friday on an official Web site for court news, chinacourt.org.
Minister: Indonesians aboard hijacked tugboat safeKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) _ All 11 Indonesian crew members on board a Malaysian tugboat hijacked by Somalian pirates in the Gulf of Aden this week are safe and have enough food for a month, Malaysia's foreign minister said Friday. The pirates got in touch with the tugboat's owner, Masindra Shipping Pvt. Ltd., by satellite phone to say the vessel was being taken to Somalian waters from near Yemen where it was hijacked Tuesday, Foreign Minister Rais Yatim told reporters.
Philippines appeals for help in probing pig virusMANILA, Philippines (AP) _ The Philippine government has appealed for international help in investigating an outbreak of the Ebola Reston virus that has for the first time infected pigs but is not harmful to humans, officials said Friday. Bureau of Animal Industry Director Davinio Catbagan this week wrote to the Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization requesting official assistance, after authorities quarantined three hog farms in the northern Philippines.
New Thai leader surveys damage at PM's officeBANGKOK, Thailand (AP) _ Thailand's new prime minister picked up a broom and posed for cameras Friday on the steps of Government House, vowing to quickly clean the mess from a three-month sit-in and show the country is "back to normal." About 100 painters, cleaners and maintenance workers accompanied Abhisit Vejjajiva on his first trip to the prime minister's office compound. It was left in shambles by protesters who barricaded the building Aug. 26 and then took over Bangkok's two airports in an eight-day siege ending Dec. 3 to demand the departure of allies of deposed ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
SKorea brings last remaining troops home from IraqSEOUL, South Korea (AP) _ South Korea brought its last remaining troops home from Iraq on Friday. The arrival of about 520 troops marked the end of South Korea's five-year reconstruction mission in the war-torn country. About 100 troops stationed in Kuwait on a mission to support the Iraq unit returned with them.
Chinese manufacturing giant outgrows its cradleDONGGUAN, China (AP) _ When China opened up to capitalists 30 years ago, Jeffrey Lam was one of the pioneers. But the only space he could find for his factory was an old town hall. For workers, he had 25 farmers who had never operated a sewing machine. Today the Hong Kong businessman has five toy factories employing thousands of workers in southern China. He personifies the experiment begun in December 1978 that would ultimately transform the face of world trade.
Shanghai man jailed for abandoning motherSHANGHAI, China (AP) _ A Shanghai man who refused to care for his ailing 83-year-old mother and abandoned her in a public city square has been sentenced to 18 months in prison, a newspaper and court official said Friday. Zhabei District People's Court sentenced 54-year-old Wang Kouma on Thursday after finding him guilty of leaving his mother at the People's Square in Shanghai in October 2007, said an official at the Zhabei District People's Court.
10,000 urge Pakistan to cut US-NATO supply lineISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) _ Thousands of anti-government protesters demanded that Pakistan shut the route along which supplies are ferried to U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, adding to the growing pressure on Islamabad's beleaguered leadership. The demonstration Thursday by more than 10,000 people in the northwestern city of Peshawar also focused on a recent series of U.S. missile strikes against suspected al-Qaida and Taliban targets in Pakistan's lawless tribal areas along the Afghan border and Pakistani military offensives against Islamic insurgents in the area.
Protests in China over cats on the menuGUANGZHOU, China (AP) _ While animal lovers in Beijing protested the killing of cats for food on Thursday, a butcher in Guangdong province _ where felines are the main ingredient in a famous soup _ just shrugged her shoulders and wielded her cleaver. "Cats have a strong flavor. Dogs taste much better, but if you really want cat meat, I can have it delivered by tomorrow," said the butcher, who gave only her surname, Huang.
30 years transform China, but not its politicsBEIJING (AP) _ China marked the 30th anniversary of the start of its capitalist revolution with a speech Thursday from Communist Party leader Hu Jintao, who urged continued economic reform but said it would not lead to Western-style democracy. He praised the economic changes of the last three decades, including opening the door to free market reforms and foreign trade, which have brought a massive transformation to the country.
Copyright ? 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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