Nepal's Maoist former rebels on Saturday announced month-long protests beginning Sunday that will culminate in a nationwide three-day general strike from Dec 20. The party's spokesman Dinanath Sharma said the third phase of protests became necessary as the ultimatum issued by the party for the government to address its demands expired Friday.
Japan defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka will leave Urawa Reds when his contract expires at the end of this season, soccer sources said Saturday. The 28-year-old is expected to start talks with clubs outside Japan as he has always wished to play abroad. Clubs from Europe and the Middle East have shown interest in acquiring him, the sources said.
Anime fans from all over Southeast Asia gathered here Saturday for the region's biggest anime festival. Thousands thronged the two-day Anime Festival Asia, most of whom had been lining up in long queues to buy tickets before the show opened its doors on Saturday morning at the Suntec City Convention Center.
Japan defeated Iran in a full-set thriller to improve its win-loss record to 3-0 at the men's World Grand Champions Cup on Saturday. The host won 27-25, 18-25, 25-23, 20-25, 16-14 to retain a share of the lead with defending champion Brazil in the six-team, round-robin event.
Myanmar and Laos signed treaties Friday on visa exemption and avoidance of double taxation, a Myanmar state-run newspaper reported Saturday. Notes were exchanged after agreements were signed by Laotian Deputy Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and Myanmar's foreign and finance ministers at a ceremony in Myanmar's administrative capital Naypyitaw, the New Light of Myanmar said.
The Thai police have placed a Japanese man on an international wanted list on suspicion of fraud allegedly for not paying expenses and wages to people who bought brand items in Thailand on behalf of his company in 2006, lawyers of the victims said Saturday. However, since Japan and Thailand have not concluded a criminal extradition treaty, the Japanese police are not able to detain the suspect even though they found him in Japan, and the victims are enraged with the judicial loophole.
At least 42 miners were killed and 66 others remain trapped following a gas explosion in a coal mine in northeastern China early Saturday, according to state media. The blast ripped through the Xinxing Coal Mine in Hegang City, Heilongjiang Province, around 2:30 a.m., Zhang Jinguang, a spokesman with the local rescue headquarters, was quoted as saying by Xinhua News Agency.
Japanese challenger Tsubasa Tenku lost a unanimous decision on Saturday to South Korean WBA featherweight champion Choi Hyun Mi. Tenku failed in the match held in Suwon, South Korea taking her first crack at a world title after the Japan Boxing Commission approved holding women's professional boxing two years ago.
Two-time double Olympic breaststroke champion Kosuke Kitajima settled for second in the 200 meters breaststroke final at a time trails meet in Tokyo on Saturday. Kitajima touched the wall in 2 minutes, 14.31 seconds behind Ryo Tateishi at Tokyo Swimming Center, almost seven seconds off his national record of 2:07.51.
Takuya Nozawa fired Kashima Antlers back to the top of the J-League with a super strike in a 1-0 win away to Kyoto Sanga on Saturday. Nozawa settled a dull affair late in the first half at Nishikyogoku Stadium to temporarily lift the Antlers two points clear of Kawasaki Frontale, who visit relegated Oita Trinita on Sunday.
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