Tag Archives: japan

Somalia parliament votes in Sharia law

Somalia’s transitional federal parliament has unanimously backed the introduction of Islamic Sharia law in the country after a vote over the issue was brought to parliamentarians Saturday. In an announcement on state-run television, the country said it was ready to step up efforts to develop nuclear weapons and poised for a military response to any moves against it. “The revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK are always keeping themselves fully ready to go into action any moment to mercilessly punish anyone who encroaches upon the sovereignty and dignity of the DPRK even a bit,” it said

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N. Korea orders out nuclear inspectors

The International Atomic Energy Agency said its inspectors left North Korea on Thursday after being ordered out by the reclusive nation. “IAEA inspectors at the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Yongbyong nuclear facilities, on 15 April, removed all IAEA seals and switched off surveillance cameras,” a statement from the agency said

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What the World Will Look Like by 2050

A Brief History of the Future: A Brave and Controversial Look at the Twenty-First Century By Jacques Attali Arcade Publishing; 312 pages The Gist: Imagine a world where pirates run amok, blowing themselves up in European city centers; where wars are ignited over lack of drinking water; where a global face-off between Islam and Christianity makes World War II look like a water-balloon fight. According to economist and political scientist Jacques Attali, that is what the future has in store for us by 2025. In the belief that past experiences are indicative future events, Attali combs through the history of human kind, all the way back to Homo Habilis, separating the past into nine distinct periods to isolate “what is possible, what changes and what is unvarying” and applies those trends to the coming century

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Schoolgirl told to choose: Country or parents

The clicking of dozens of news cameras drowned out the sobs of the 13-year-old girl, but her face explained what was happening in the departure hall of Japan’s Narita International Airport. Noriko Calderon, wearing her school uniform, was being forced to make one of the most wrenching choices of her young life: To stay in the country of her birth rather than join her parents being deported to the Philippines.

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North Korean leader gives brother-in-law top job

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has added his brother-in-law to a military board in a move analysts say paves the way for an heir, according to South Korea’s state-sponsored Yonhap news agency. The addition of his kin to the powerful National Defense Commission also solidifies his standing, Yonhap said. Kim was reappointed Thursday as chairman of the military board in his first major public appearance since a reported stroke in August.

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As piracy surges, U.S. warns of dangers off Somali coast

A sudden surge of pirate attacks off the coast of eastern Somalia in recent days has prompted the U.S. military to put out a new alert to mariners, warning of increased danger in the region. The attacks, which took place south of the area patrolled by U.S.

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Amanpour: Why did North Korea launch rocket?

After a three-hour emergency session Sunday, the United Nations Security Council failed to come to any agreement on how to deal with North Korea’s rocket launch over the weekend. Deliberations will continue Monday. Sources say China, Russia Libya and Vietnam are blocking any resolution or punitive measures

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Tibet reopens to foreign tourists, China says

Tibet reopened to foreign tourists Sunday after a month-long suspension, the state-run Chinese Xinhua news agency reported. Twenty-five tourist groups were to arrive Sunday in Lhasa, the capital of the autonomous region in China, the agency said. More than 500 foreigners are expected in Tibet in the next two weeks, according to the Tibet Autonomous Regional Tourism Bureau, Xinhua said

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