Asia news in brief
South Korean government prosecutors called for the arrest of Hyundai Motor Chairman Chung Mong Koo on Thursday and said they would continue to investigate possible wrongdoing by his son, Kia Motors President Chung Eui Sun, sparking fears that the companies could be derailed just as they are emerging as global competitors.
But a top Kia Motors executive said the investigation, which could lead to prison sentences for one or both Chungs, will not affect the companys plan to build a $1.2 billion factory in West Point, Ga., its first in the United States.
Indonesias rumbling Mount Merapi is spewing volcanic ash and magma has fully covered its crater, and a powerful eruption could come any day, a scientist said Thursday.
Authorities said, however, that they were not ready to raise the alert to the highest level, which requires immediate evacuation of villagers living on the slopes of the 9,700-foot peak.
More: mercurynews.com
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Asia news in brief
Police special forces pulled people from cars and beat them Saturday, two days after a mob bludgeoned to death four of their security colleagues during a protest to demand the shutdown of a U.S.-owned gold mine in eastern Indonesia.
The mob killed three police officers and an air force officer during the protest Thursday in Jayapura. Police have arrested 12 people.
Protesters complain that the mine owned by Freeport-McMoRan has earned the New Orleans-based company billions of dollars but that the local community has received little benefit.
More: mercurynews.com
Asia news in brief
A magnitude 7.7 undersea earthquake rocked eastern Indonesia early today, the U.S. Geological Survey said. There was no danger of a tsunami, and no injuries were reported.
The earthquake occurred in the Banda Sea about 120 miles south of Ambon city, the USGS said. It occurred at a depth of 212 miles.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said no tsunami threat existed. People reportedly fled their houses in panic when the earthquake struck.
Japan's most prestigious university will discipline Professor Kazunari Taira after finding that 12 of his genetic research experiments could not be reproduced, raising questions about their veracity,
Asia's largest Christian convention begins
The 111th edition of the Maramon Convention, believed to be one of Asia's largest Christian conventions began here Sunday.
The week-long Maramon Convention is organised by the Evangelistic Association, which is the missionary wing of the Mar Thoma Church.
"This convention is not just a meet of Marthomaites alone, instead it is being attended by all sections of Christians and people of all religions come to hear the speeches," said Dr Joseph Mar Irenaeus Suffragan Metropolitan, president of the Evangelistic Association of the Mar Thoma Church.
Following the tradition since 1896, the convention is held on the Pampa riverbank
Asia news in brief
Two mines were detonated near two military vehicles in northeastern Sri Lanka, killing eight people in separate attacks, officials said today.
Late Saturday, a mine detonated near a jeep carrying air force personnel as it was returning to its camp, said Capt. Ajantha Perera, an air force spokesman. The three people in the jeep were killed, said Perera, who blamed the Tamil Tiger rebels for the attack.
In the first attack, a similar mine exploded as a bus carrying troops approached the town of Vavuniya earlier on Saturday, said Gamini Silva, the deputy inspector general of police. He also
EU welcomes 1st East Asia Summit
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 6 (Xinhuanet) -- The European Union (EU) welcomes the inaugural East Asia Summit (EAS) as an inclusive, open forum and wishes to work closely with it, an EU official said Tuesday.
Such a forum of regional cooperation and coordination can help bring a multipolar world and contribute to regional development, peace and security, EU ambassador to Malaysia Thierry Rommel said.
"For the EU, this evolution (EAS) is something we are very interested to follow and hopefully to engage with," Rommel said in an
