Asia
US wants role in efforts to settle South Korea-Japan dispute
Seoul, Jul 17 (AP/UNB) — The United States will "do what it can" to help resolve festering trade and political disputes between South Korea and Japan, a senior U.S. official said Wednesday after a series of meetings with Seoul officials.
Rescuers look for survivors after building collapse in India
India, July 17 (AP/UNB) — Rescuers cleared debris and used sniffer dogs Wednesday to find possible survivors under the rubble of a dilapidated building that collapsed in India's financial capital of Mumbai. At least 12 people were killed, and several are still feared trapped.
North Korea suggests it might lift weapons test moratorium
Pyongyang, Jul 16 (AP/UNB) — North Korea on Tuesday suggested it might call off its 20-month suspension of nuclear and missile tests because of summertime U.S.-South Korean military drills that the North calls preparation for an eventual invasion.
Hong Kong protests challenge China with no end in sight
Hong Kong, Jul 16 (AP/UNB) — Colin Wong has come to know the sting of pepper spray well.
Rescuers save 2, retrieve 8 bodies after Pakistan mine blast
Quetta, Jul 16 (AP/UNB) — A Pakistani official says rescue teams saved two miners and retrieved the bodies of eight others after a methane explosion trapped the 10 in a coalmine in southwestern Baluchistan province.
78 dead in Nepal as flooding wreaks havoc in South Asia
Gauhati, Jul 16 (AP/UNB) — Monsoon flooding and landslides continued to cause havoc in South Asia on Tuesday, with the death toll rising to 78 in Nepal and authorities in neighboring northeastern India battling to provide relief to over 4 million people in Assam state, officials said.
Afghan radio station closes down following Taliban threats
Kabul, Jul 16 (AP/UNB) — A local radio station in eastern Afghanistan was forced to shut down after repeated threats from the area's Taliban commander, the head of the station said on Tuesday.
Pakistani journalists stage protests to denounce censorship
Karachi, Jul 16 (AP/UNB) — Pakistani journalists are holding nationwide protests to denounce rampant censorship by the country's powerful security services, massive layoffs due to budget cuts and months-long delays in payments of their wages.
Building collapses in India; 3 dead, several feared trapped
Mumbai, Jul 16 (AP/UNB) — A four-story residential building collapsed Tuesday in Mumbai, India's financial and entertainment capital, killing at least three people, an official said. Rescuers were looking for several others feared trapped in the rubble.
Philippine leader signs law punishing sexual harassment
Manila, Jul 16 (AP/UNB) — The Philippine president has signed a bill into law penalizing a range of acts of sexual harassment including catcalling, wolf-whistling and persistent telling of sexual jokes, which pro-women's groups have accused him of committing.