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The Associated Press
Bo's fans, gov't critics vent outside China court
JINAN,
China (AP) — Outside the courthouse where fallen political juggernaut
Bo Xilai is about to stand trial, a woman pumped her fist, declared him a
champion of ordinary folks and shouted that punishing him will turn the
world upside down.
Another woman rode up on a bicycle topped with a pink umbrella and yelled, "Give me justice!" But she wasn't talking about Bo at all. China's most anticipated trial in years begins here Thursday when Bo, former Communist Party leader in the megacity of Chongqing, faces charges of corruption and abuse of power. But on Wednesday the venue presented a rare opportunity for a few dozen people, fans of the fallen politician and government critics alike, to let off steam in front of a gaggle of international reporters.
Who's who in China's Bo Xilai political scandalThe corruption trial of ousted Chinese politician Bo Xilai on Thursday marks the Communist Party's efforts to wrap up its messiest scandal in decades. Bo's spectacular downfall last year was triggered by the embarrassing flight of his top aide to a U.S. consulate and revelations that Bo's wife had murdered a British businessman. The scandal exposed divisive infighting in the highest echelons of Chinese politics that party leaders would rather keep behind closed doors. Here's a look at the leading characters in the scandal:
Japan nuclear watchdog may raise leak to 'serious'TOKYO (AP) — Japan's nuclear watchdog on Wednesday said it is taking the leakage of highly radioactive water at the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant seriously, and proposed raising the rating to describe it from "an anomaly" to a "serious incident." The operator of the plant said about 300 tons (300,000 liters, 80,000 gallons) of contaminated water has leaked from one of hundreds of steel tanks around the wrecked Fukushima Dai-ichi plant. Tokyo Electric Power Co. hasn't figured out how or where the water leaked, but suspects it did so through a seam on the tank.
33 killed in bus accident near Malaysian resortKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — A passenger bus plunged into a deep ravine Wednesday while traveling downhill near a Malaysian highland resort, killing 33 people, an official said. Sixteen people survived the accident, which occurred on a winding slope in central Genting Highlands, a popular destination that houses Malaysia's sole casino, said fire department official Azizan Ismail.
Floods in Pakistan from monsoon rains kill 139ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan's government says flooding caused by torrential rains has killed 139 people and affected nearly a million others. A statement Wednesday on the monsoon season released by the National Disaster Management Authority said 47 of the dead are from Punjab province.
Tobacco brands slip into Myanmar without fanfareYANGON, Myanmar (AP) — As some of the world's biggest companies trumpet their arrival in Asia's hottest frontier market, the tobacco industry has a different strategy: It's slipping into Myanmar without fanfare. The impoverished nation of 60 million people emerged from a half-century of isolation and brutal military rule two years ago. With most international sanctions against the country lifted or suspended, foreign businesses from Coca-Cola and Unilever to Suzuki Motors have scrambled to get in.
Anti-superstition activist gunned down in IndiaNEW DELHI (AP) — The killing of an Indian crusader against superstition and religious charlatans prompted hundreds of protesters to shut down a city near Mumbai on Wednesday as a group of Indian scientists decried an "atmosphere of intolerance and anti-science attitude" that could undermine development. Police were hunting for two unidentified men suspected of firing four shots at Narendra Dabholkar as he was taking a morning walk Tuesday in Pune. A witness reported seeing the assailants flee on a motorcycle. Police released a sketch of one suspect and said the two were believed to be in their 20s.
Severe Tropical Storm Trami hits TaiwanTAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Severe Tropical Storm Trami struck Wednesday in heavily populated northern Taiwan, prompting schools and offices to close down as heavy rains triggered landslides and other disruptions throughout the island. At 5:30 p.m.(0330 GMT), the Central Weather Bureau said the center of the storm was located offshore, 100 kilometers (63 miles) northeast of the capital of Taipei, packing sustained winds of 108 kmh (68 mph) with gusts of up to 137 kmh. It was expected to complete its passage of the island's northern coast by midnight, heading westward on a direct course toward the Chinese province of Fujian.
Pakistan, India trade fire along Kashmir borderISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani and Indian troops traded fire in a hotly contested area along the Kashmir border where the nuclear-armed rivals fought a bloody conflict over a decade ago, military officials said Wednesday. The Pakistani military said one of its army captains was killed and another soldier seriously wounded in the fighting. The two sides have accused each other of a series of deadly attacks along the border over the last two weeks that have threatened to derail an expressed desire from the leaders of both countries to improve relations after decades of war and animosity.
Indonesia arrests 8 more in Myanmar Embassy plotJAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia's elite anti-terrorism squad arrested eight more suspected militants, including a former convicted terrorist, in connection with a plot to bomb the Myanmar Embassy to protest that country's treatment of Muslims, police said Wednesday. Authorities have now arrested a total of 14 suspects since May in the plot to bomb the embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia's capital.
Australian opposition leader fights sexist imageCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian opposition leader Tony Abbott is fighting perceptions that he is sexist and old-fashioned in his attitudes toward women with a taxpayer-funded parental leave policy for working mothers that even his political allies have criticized as too generous. Abbott's conservative coalition is tipped to win power in Sept. 7 elections after six years in opposition, even though he remains unpopular among women voters. But despite Australia's dwindling tax revenue in the aftermath of a China-led mining boom, Abbott on Wednesday defended his plan to spend 5.5 billion Australian dollars ($5 billion) a year to pay mothers to stay home with their newborn babies.
Afghan attorney general denies being firedKABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A spokesman for Afghanistan's attorney general says the senior judicial official has not been fired by the president for meeting Taliban officials in Dubai. Basir Azizi on Wednesday denied reports that Attorney General Mohammed Ishaq Aloko had been dismissed over the weekend for having an unauthorized meeting with insurgents in the emirate.
Thai police seize 14 elephants with fake IDsBANGKOK (AP) — Thai police said they seized more than a dozen elephants Wednesday in raids after busting a gang that allegedly provided the animals' owners with false identification papers. Fourteen unregistered or illegally registered elephants were taken in simultaneous raids on tourist destinations in the southern provinces of Phang Nga, Phuket and Krabi, said Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression chief Police Maj. Gen. Norasak Hemnithi.
US sanctions Islamic school in PakistanPESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — The United States has placed unprecedented sanctions on an Islamic school in northwest Pakistan for allegedly training and financing fighters from al-Qaida and other militant groups. The sanctions against Jamia Taleem-Ul-Quran-Wal-Hadith Madrassa, also known as the Ganj Madrassa, in the city of Peshawar were the first to target an Islamic school, the U.S. Department of the Treasury said in a statement Tuesday.
At least 19 killed in Indonesia church bus crashJAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — A car and a packed church bus returning from an outing collided and plunged into a river Wednesday in Indonesia's West Java province, killing at least 19 people and injuring more than a dozen, officials said. The bus, carrying about 60 people from a church in northern Jakarta, was returning from a trip to the hilly resort town of Puncak when its brakes apparently malfunctioned, said local traffic police chief Capt. Muhammad Chaniago.
Another woman rode up on a bicycle topped with a pink umbrella and yelled, "Give me justice!" But she wasn't talking about Bo at all. China's most anticipated trial in years begins here Thursday when Bo, former Communist Party leader in the megacity of Chongqing, faces charges of corruption and abuse of power. But on Wednesday the venue presented a rare opportunity for a few dozen people, fans of the fallen politician and government critics alike, to let off steam in front of a gaggle of international reporters.
Who's who in China's Bo Xilai political scandalThe corruption trial of ousted Chinese politician Bo Xilai on Thursday marks the Communist Party's efforts to wrap up its messiest scandal in decades. Bo's spectacular downfall last year was triggered by the embarrassing flight of his top aide to a U.S. consulate and revelations that Bo's wife had murdered a British businessman. The scandal exposed divisive infighting in the highest echelons of Chinese politics that party leaders would rather keep behind closed doors. Here's a look at the leading characters in the scandal:
Japan nuclear watchdog may raise leak to 'serious'TOKYO (AP) — Japan's nuclear watchdog on Wednesday said it is taking the leakage of highly radioactive water at the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant seriously, and proposed raising the rating to describe it from "an anomaly" to a "serious incident." The operator of the plant said about 300 tons (300,000 liters, 80,000 gallons) of contaminated water has leaked from one of hundreds of steel tanks around the wrecked Fukushima Dai-ichi plant. Tokyo Electric Power Co. hasn't figured out how or where the water leaked, but suspects it did so through a seam on the tank.
33 killed in bus accident near Malaysian resortKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — A passenger bus plunged into a deep ravine Wednesday while traveling downhill near a Malaysian highland resort, killing 33 people, an official said. Sixteen people survived the accident, which occurred on a winding slope in central Genting Highlands, a popular destination that houses Malaysia's sole casino, said fire department official Azizan Ismail.
Floods in Pakistan from monsoon rains kill 139ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan's government says flooding caused by torrential rains has killed 139 people and affected nearly a million others. A statement Wednesday on the monsoon season released by the National Disaster Management Authority said 47 of the dead are from Punjab province.
Tobacco brands slip into Myanmar without fanfareYANGON, Myanmar (AP) — As some of the world's biggest companies trumpet their arrival in Asia's hottest frontier market, the tobacco industry has a different strategy: It's slipping into Myanmar without fanfare. The impoverished nation of 60 million people emerged from a half-century of isolation and brutal military rule two years ago. With most international sanctions against the country lifted or suspended, foreign businesses from Coca-Cola and Unilever to Suzuki Motors have scrambled to get in.
Anti-superstition activist gunned down in IndiaNEW DELHI (AP) — The killing of an Indian crusader against superstition and religious charlatans prompted hundreds of protesters to shut down a city near Mumbai on Wednesday as a group of Indian scientists decried an "atmosphere of intolerance and anti-science attitude" that could undermine development. Police were hunting for two unidentified men suspected of firing four shots at Narendra Dabholkar as he was taking a morning walk Tuesday in Pune. A witness reported seeing the assailants flee on a motorcycle. Police released a sketch of one suspect and said the two were believed to be in their 20s.
Severe Tropical Storm Trami hits TaiwanTAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Severe Tropical Storm Trami struck Wednesday in heavily populated northern Taiwan, prompting schools and offices to close down as heavy rains triggered landslides and other disruptions throughout the island. At 5:30 p.m.(0330 GMT), the Central Weather Bureau said the center of the storm was located offshore, 100 kilometers (63 miles) northeast of the capital of Taipei, packing sustained winds of 108 kmh (68 mph) with gusts of up to 137 kmh. It was expected to complete its passage of the island's northern coast by midnight, heading westward on a direct course toward the Chinese province of Fujian.
Pakistan, India trade fire along Kashmir borderISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani and Indian troops traded fire in a hotly contested area along the Kashmir border where the nuclear-armed rivals fought a bloody conflict over a decade ago, military officials said Wednesday. The Pakistani military said one of its army captains was killed and another soldier seriously wounded in the fighting. The two sides have accused each other of a series of deadly attacks along the border over the last two weeks that have threatened to derail an expressed desire from the leaders of both countries to improve relations after decades of war and animosity.
Indonesia arrests 8 more in Myanmar Embassy plotJAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia's elite anti-terrorism squad arrested eight more suspected militants, including a former convicted terrorist, in connection with a plot to bomb the Myanmar Embassy to protest that country's treatment of Muslims, police said Wednesday. Authorities have now arrested a total of 14 suspects since May in the plot to bomb the embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia's capital.
Australian opposition leader fights sexist imageCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian opposition leader Tony Abbott is fighting perceptions that he is sexist and old-fashioned in his attitudes toward women with a taxpayer-funded parental leave policy for working mothers that even his political allies have criticized as too generous. Abbott's conservative coalition is tipped to win power in Sept. 7 elections after six years in opposition, even though he remains unpopular among women voters. But despite Australia's dwindling tax revenue in the aftermath of a China-led mining boom, Abbott on Wednesday defended his plan to spend 5.5 billion Australian dollars ($5 billion) a year to pay mothers to stay home with their newborn babies.
Afghan attorney general denies being firedKABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A spokesman for Afghanistan's attorney general says the senior judicial official has not been fired by the president for meeting Taliban officials in Dubai. Basir Azizi on Wednesday denied reports that Attorney General Mohammed Ishaq Aloko had been dismissed over the weekend for having an unauthorized meeting with insurgents in the emirate.
Thai police seize 14 elephants with fake IDsBANGKOK (AP) — Thai police said they seized more than a dozen elephants Wednesday in raids after busting a gang that allegedly provided the animals' owners with false identification papers. Fourteen unregistered or illegally registered elephants were taken in simultaneous raids on tourist destinations in the southern provinces of Phang Nga, Phuket and Krabi, said Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression chief Police Maj. Gen. Norasak Hemnithi.
US sanctions Islamic school in PakistanPESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — The United States has placed unprecedented sanctions on an Islamic school in northwest Pakistan for allegedly training and financing fighters from al-Qaida and other militant groups. The sanctions against Jamia Taleem-Ul-Quran-Wal-Hadith Madrassa, also known as the Ganj Madrassa, in the city of Peshawar were the first to target an Islamic school, the U.S. Department of the Treasury said in a statement Tuesday.
At least 19 killed in Indonesia church bus crashJAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — A car and a packed church bus returning from an outing collided and plunged into a river Wednesday in Indonesia's West Java province, killing at least 19 people and injuring more than a dozen, officials said. The bus, carrying about 60 people from a church in northern Jakarta, was returning from a trip to the hilly resort town of Puncak when its brakes apparently malfunctioned, said local traffic police chief Capt. Muhammad Chaniago.
Copyright The Associated Press
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