by Associated Press BC-AS--Asian News Digest, AS Associated Press - 18 February 2015 00:43-05:00 ASIA: JAPAN-ECONOMY TOKYO — Japan's central bank points to signs of improvement in the world's third-biggest economy after ending a policy meeting Wednesday with no change to its ultra-loose monetary stance. The Bank of Japan noted that lower energy costs due to the plunge in crude prices will slow progress toward its inflation target of 2 percent. By Elaine Kurtenbach. SENT: 340 words. UNITED STATES-NORTH KOREA WASHINGTON — The leader of a U.N. commission of inquiry that found North Korea committed crimes against humanity says that members of the panel are ready to go anywhere to talk to the North's government - but it refuses to engage. Michael Kirby addressed a conference in Washington marking the anniversary of the publication of the commission's landmark report, which called for North Korea to be referred to the International Criminal Court. By Matt Pennington. SENT: 680 words, photos. INDIA-VANISHING ISLANDS BALI ISLAND, India — For some 13 million impoverished villagers living precariously on the river deltas that spill into the Bay of Bengal, global warming is already a reality. In the ecologically sensitive and overpopulated Sundarbans, shared by India and Bangladesh, thousands of people have been made homeless by seas that are rising twice as fast as the global average. By Katy Daigle. UPCOMING by 0700GMT: 1,300 words, photos. CHINESE HOLIDAY-WORLD IMPACT HONG KONG — A quarter century ago, China's economy didn't matter and its new year holiday was a curiosity for much for the world. Now, as the second biggest economy and with a much expanded diaspora, Chinese New Year celebrations reverberate globally. By Kelvin Chan; UPCOMING by 0700GMT: 800 words of chunky text, photos. CHINA-NEW YEAR FIREWORKS BEIJING — Setting off fireworks to celebrate Chinese New Year may be a centuries-old tradition, but the country's authorities are urging people to light fewer of them this week as cities fight a losing battle against relentless, toxic air pollution. Dozens of cites in China have outright banned lighting fireworks on Wednesday and Thursday, while others have reduced the number of fireworks vendors allowed to operate. SENT: 130 words. CHINA-MYANMAR-REFUGEES YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar granted its military unprecedented powers to deal with fighting between ethnic minority rebels and government troops in the Kokang region, after week-long clashes left dozens of soldiers dead and sent tens of thousands of refugees fleeing to neighboring China. Two announcements, signed by Myanmar President Thein Sein, were read out on national television late Tuesday declaring a 90-day state of emergency and that a military administration had been imposed in the northern special region. By Aye Aye Win. SENT. PHILIPPINES-US-SHIP AGROUND MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government says it had received 87 million pesos ($1.97 million) from the United States to pay for damage caused by a U.S. Navy minesweeper to a protected reef two years ago. SENT: 220 words. JAPAN-AUSTRALIA-LOGISTICS DEAL TOKYO — Japan's post office has agreed to buy a leading Australian transportation company in a $5.1 billion deal that will give the Japanese company an Asian distribution network. SENT, photos. JAPAN-FAST RETAILING TOKYO — Japanese fashion chain Fast Retailing Co. says it will expand monitoring of factories operated by its suppliers following complaints over labor violations and other problems. SENT: 130 words. US & INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC STATE-AMBITIOUS EGYPT-ANALYSIS CAIRO — Egypt is making an ambitious bid to place itself at the center of the fight against extremism across the Middle East. Beyond fighting militants in its own Sinai Peninsula, it is trying to organize an international coalition against a branch of the Islamic State group in Libya, helping Saudi Arabia defend its borders and backing the kingdom in Yemen's crisis. An AP News Analysis. By Hamza Hendawi. SENT: 1,080 words, photos, interactive. — ISLAMIC-STATE — El-Sissi says Libya was "abandoned" to militias, wants U.N.-backed coalition against extremist. SENT: 850 words, photos. — UNITED NATIONS-LIBYA — U.N. Security Council to meet Wednesday in emergency session on Libya; Egypt presses for action. SENT: 460 words. — WHITE HOUSE-FIGHTING EXTREMISM — Biden opens three-day White House summit on countering the spread of violent extremism. SENT: 460 words, photos, video. EUROPE TERROR TRACKING PARIS — France is tracking hundreds of people believed to be in possible sleeper cells for terror organizations. In an interview with The Associated Press, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve laid out what has become an increasingly urgent question for European intelligence services: How to trace the moment when someone transforms from a disgruntled criminal into a terrorist and, more long term, how to block the first steps toward radicalization. By Lori Hinnant and Jamey Keaten. SENT: 800 words, photos. — DENMARK SHOOTINGS — Danish intelligence: No sign Copenhagen gunman was planning attacks, despite alert from prison. SENT: 740 words, photos, videos. HAITI-CARNIVAL ACCIDENT PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — At least 16 people were killed in the Haitian capital after a man on top of a musical group's Carnival float was shocked by high-voltage wires above the street, setting off a panic in which dozens of people were trampled, officials say. By Evens Sanon. SENT: 500 words, photos. IRAQ-DEFENDING KIRKUK KIRKUK, Iraq — Iraq's Shiite militias are helping defend Kirkuk from the Islamic State group's onslaught, but it is an uneasy alliance with the Kurdish peshmerga fighters in the oil-rich northern city. Kurdish leaders and residents are unsettled by the presence of the Shiite forces. By Vivian Salama and Bram Janssen. By Vivian Salama and Bram Janssen. SENT: 950 words, photos. UPCOMING: 1,000 words by 3 p.m., photos. UKRAINE LUHANSKE, Ukraine —Under a near-constant barrage of artillery fire, Ukrainian forces and separatist rebels fought fierce street battles Tuesday for control of the strategic railway hub of Debaltseve, a battle impeding implementation of a peace plan. By Petr Josek and Jim Heintz. SENT: 980 words, photos, interactive. — UNITED NATIONS-UKRAINE — U.N. Security Council votes support on Ukraine cease-fire agreement, stressing independence. SENT: 460 words. IMMIGRATION WASHINGTON — The Obama administration put its new deportation-relief program on hold Tuesday on the eve of its launch, complying reluctantly with a federal judge's order that roiled immigrant communities nationwide and seemed to harden an already-tense stalemate on Capitol Hill. By Erica Werner and Jim Kuhnhenn. SENT: 890 words, photos, interactive. CYBERSPY REPORT SAN FRANCISCO — Did the NSA find a way to plant spyware deep in the hard drives of computers used by surveillance targets around the world? A new report from Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab says the spyware found on computers used by foreign governments, banks, military, and Islamic activists is nearly undetectable and impossible to remove. By Technology Writer Brandon Bailey. SENT: 600 words. UPCOMING: 700 words by 6:30 p.m., photo. MARDI GRAS-NEW ORLEANS NEW ORLEANS — If there was a theme for this year's Mardi Gras costumes in New Orleans, it was "Brrrr." With temperatures near freezing, almost everyone was bundled up. Some costumes were no more than a fake-fur hat topped with animal ears. By Janet McConnaughey. SENT: 520 words, photos, video. ISRAEL-NETANYAHU SCANDAL JERUSALEM — With Israeli elections looming and the region in turmoil, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finds himself once more enmeshed in a gossipy scandal: A new government report alleged possible financial malfeasance at his official residence, while his wife faced criticism for pettiness and possible security breaches after complaining about their kitchen in a video. By Aron Heller. SENT: 920 words, photos. UPCOMING: video. GREECE-BAILOUT BRUSSELS — Despite all the tough talk and ultimatums, Greece and its creditors in the 19-country eurozone are still expected to cobble together some sort of deal that will allow the country to remain a member of the euro currency. By Pan Pylas and Lorne Cook. SENT: 960 words, photos. ALSO GETTING ATTENTION — MICHELLE OBAMA-BILLY ON THE STREET — First lady is game for "Billy on the Street" in a zany video to promote healthy eating. SENT: 360 words, photo. — DRONE EXPORTS — U.S. to allow export of armed military drones to allies that pledge to use them legally. SENT: 470 words. — VIDEO GAME HALL OF FAME — The National Toy Hall of Fame announces plans to establish the World Video Game Hall of Fame. SENT: 400 words. — ISLAMIC SCHOOL DEFACED — Faith leaders show solidarity after Islamic school defaced; FBI joins investigation. SENT: 360 words. ___ YOUR QUERIES: The editor in charge at the AP Asia-Pacific Desk in Bangkok is Scott McDonald. Questions and story requests are welcome. The news desk can be reached at (66) 2632-6911 or by email at asia@ap.org. The Asia Photo Desk can be reached at (81-3) 6215-8941 or by fax at (81-3) 3574-8850. Between 1600 GMT and 0000 GMT, please refer queries to the North America Desk in New York at (1) 212-621-1650. News Topics: General news, Economy, Militant groups, War and unrest, Government and politics, Political scandals, Radicalism, Business, Political issues People, Places and Companies: Thein Sein, Benjamin Netanyahu, Michelle Obama, China, Egypt, Japan, Philippines, Myanmar, Tokyo, North Korea, United States, Middle East, Libya, Israel, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Ukraine, Greater China, Asia, North Africa, Africa, North America, Eastern Europe, Europe Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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