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Top Asian News at 9:30 a.m. GMT(Associated Press Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Blast at Kabul military hospital kills at least 3KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) _ A powerful blast struck Kabul's main military hospital on Saturday, killing at least three people and wounding many others, the Defense Ministry said. Defense Ministry spokesman Gen. Mohammed Zaher Azimi said the blast occurred at noon inside a tent on the grounds of the Mohammad Daud Khan military hospital in central Kabul. Afghan media reported that it was a suicide attack and another bomber might be on the hospital grounds. Exiled Tibetans discuss shifting Dalai Lama's roleDHARMSALA, India (AP) _ Exiled Tibetans are debating how to change their constitution to allow the Dalai Lama to leave political life. The 75-year-old Dalai Lama says he remains the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader but it is time the political leader be elected. The change reverses centuries of Tibetan political tradition. Pakistan official: 15 killed in NATO tanker blastPESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) _ A tanker carrying oil for NATO forces in Afghanistan exploded Saturday in northwestern Pakistan as people tried to siphon off some of its fuel, and 15 were killed, an official said. Separately, 14 NATO tankers were damaged in a bombing at a nearby border town, but no one was hurt. The incidents underscored the dangers linked to the vehicles that carry non-lethal supplies for Western troops in Afghanistan through Pakistan. Such convoys frequently face bombings and other attacks by Taliban and other militants, as well as ordinary criminals, and many Pakistani civilians get hurt as a result. NKorea's Kim in northern Chinese city, reports sayCHANGCHUN, China (AP) _ North Korea's reclusive leader, Kim Jong Il, reportedly arrived Saturday in an industrial city in northeastern China on the second day of a mysterious trip to his country's most important ally. South Korea's Yonhap News agency said Kim arrived in Changchun by train early in the day and was shuttled by motorcade to the same state guesthouse where he had met with Chinese President Hu Jintao during a visit to the city in August. China, SKorea leaders tour devastated Japan regionTOKYO (AP) _ The leaders of Japan, China and South Korea gathered Saturday to demonstrate their shared desire for Japan's earthquake and tsunami recovery and to smooth out differences over Japan's handling of its nuclear crisis. Ahead of a trilateral summit, the leaders met in the city of Fukushima, just 40 miles (60 kilometers) from the crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, which suffered severe damage from the March 11 disaster. Tour boat sinks in southern Vietnam; 15 missingHANOI, Vietnam (AP) _ Fifteen people, including five children, were reported missing and feared dead in southern Vietnam after a double-decker tour boat capsized amid strong winds during a child's birthday party, an official said Saturday. Several people, including two Chinese passengers, managed to swim to safety following Friday evening's incident, said Le Van Hieu, chief of Binh Nham village in Binh Duong province, some 19 miles (30 kilometers) northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. China alleges huge tax evasion by artist Ai WeiweiBEIJING (AP) _ A company that China says is controlled by artist Ai Weiwei was accused of massive tax evasion in the government's clearest disclosure yet about its investigation of the activist detained for more than six weeks. The investigation also found that Beijing Fake Cultural Development Ltd. had intentionally destroyed accounting documents, the official Xinhua News Agency said Friday, citing unidentified police investigators. The brief report gave no other details and did not quantify the "huge amount" of tax the company is accused of not paying. Japan utility head resigns over nuclear crisisTOKYO (AP) _ The president of the Japanese utility that runs a tsunami-devastated nuclear plant resigned in disgrace Friday after reporting the biggest financial losses in company history, saying he was stepping down to take responsibility for the ongoing crisis. Tokyo Electric Power Co. President Masataka Shimizu, criticized for his low profile during the disaster's early days, vowed that the utility would continue doing its "utmost" to bring the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant under control. Analysis: Hard choices for US on Taiwan arms salesTAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) _ Repeated requests from Taiwan's president for new American fighter jets are putting the Obama administration in a bind, pressuring it to choose between providing advanced weaponry to the democratic island and nurturing its important relationship with China. President Ma Ying-jeou's latest plea for 66 F-16 C/Ds, made in a videoconference with a Washington think tank last week, likened procurement of the warplanes to a confidence booster for Taiwan, allowing it to negotiate further with Beijing in one of Asia's perennial flash points. US envoy ends Myanmar mission with doubtsYANGON, Myanmar (AP) _ A senior U.S. diplomat left Myanmar still concerned about the government's human rights policies and its relations with North Korea, despite a recent change of leadership. Joseph Yun's visit was the first by a senior American official since a nominally civilian government took over from the ruling junta in late March and was meant to investigate the prospects for reform. Washington is carefully watching the new leaders because President Barack Obama has pinned his new policy on Myanmar on hopes that dialogue _ in contrast to the previous isolation _ will persuade the repressive regime to change. 2 killed in explosion at China electronics plantBEIJING (AP) _ Two people died in an explosion at a factory in southwestern China belonging to electronics maker Foxconn Technology Group, a company official and state media reported. Foxconn spokesman Edmund Ding told reporters Saturday that a fire caused by Friday's explosion had been quickly put out and that operations at the factory in Chengdu would not be affected. China calls for attacking Somali pirate basesBEIJING (AP) _ A Chinese general's call for land attacks on Somali pirate strongholds is being seen by analysts as another sign of the armed forces' growing assertiveness, even if the proposal is unlikely to result in action. Speaking at a news conference Wednesday in Washington, Gen. Chen Bingde said he believes land bases must be assaulted in order to eradicate piracy. Indonesia imposes forest cutting ban for 2 yearsJAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) _ Indonesia has banned cutting down peatland and primary forests for two years Friday in a financial deal with Norway that officials say will protect half of the remaining forests in the tropical archipelago. Deforestation, the burning of woodlands or the rotting of felled trees, is thought to account for up to 20 percent of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere _ as much as is emitted by all the world's cars, trucks, trains, planes and ships combined. Lawmaker ordered arrested in India telecom scandalNEW DELHI (AP) _ A judge has ordered an Indian Parliament member arrested over her alleged involvement in the country's costly telecoms scandal. The order made Friday seeks the arrest of Kanimozhi, a lawmaker who heads a television company that allegedly received millions of dollars in kickbacks. She uses only one name. Pakistan minister: China providing 50 fighter jetsBEIJING (AP) _ China has agreed to provide Pakistan with 50 more fighter jets in a deal clinched during Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's trip to Beijing, Pakistani defense officials said Friday. Gilani's four-day visit highlighted Pakistan's warm ties with China at a time of heightened tensions with Washington over the killing of Osama bin Laden in a Pakistani town by American special forces. (c) 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |