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Japan ruling party considers international arbitration over China dispute
 Japan's ruling party urged Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government on Wednesday to consider seeking international arbitration over Beijing's drilling activities in the disputed East China Sea, mirroring similar action by the Philippines. Sino-Japanese ties have long been plagued by conflicting claims over a group of uninhabited East China Sea islets. Last year, Japan called on China to halt construction of oil-and-gas exploration platforms in the East China Sea.
Russia says another group of its warplanes flies back from Syria
 MOSCOW (Reuters) - Another group of Russian warplanes has taken off from the Hmeimim airbase in Syria, flying back to their permanent bases in Russia, the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. The warplanes included an Il-76 transport plane as well as Su-25 jets, it added. (Reporting by Alexander Winning; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
Bus blast kills 15 government employees in northwest Pakistan
 At least fifteen people were killed when a bomb exploded on a bus carrying government employees in the volatile northwest Pakistani frontier city of Peshawar on Wednesday, officials said. The attack took place on a main road after the bus picked up government workers from districts surrounding Peshawar and was transporting them to work in the city. Senior police official Mohammad Kashif said 15 people were killed and 35 wounded.
Ties will progress no matter who wins U.S. election: China's Li
 China-U.S. relations will continue to develop regardless of who wins the U.S. presidential election in November, China's Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday, after criticism of Beijing by U.S. candidates. The Chinese government has largely refrained from commenting on the U.S. election campaign, saying it is an internal matter for the American people, despite attacks on China by real estate mogul and Republican presidential contender Donald Trump. Trump has frequently accused China of stealing jobs and portrayed himself as a tough negotiator who would beat Beijing at its own game.
Austria wants to help Macedonia keep border shut, Die Welt reports
 Austria will supply equipment to help Macedonia keep its border closed and Europe's main migrant route blocked, a German newspaper reported on Wednesday. Last week, Macedonia closed its border with Greece to migrants. People who tried to cross the border on Tuesday were forced back to Greece, where about 12,000 migrants have been stranded.
Aid reaches 13,000 families in Syria's Aleppo province: Red Cross
 BEIRUT (Reuters) - Fresh humanitarian aid reached some 13,000 families in northern Aleppo province as a convoy of 26 trucks entered areas hit by recent fighting, the Red Cross said on Wednesday. The delivery by the Syrian Red Crescent to towns including Azaz, Afrin and Tal Rifaat was the largest in the area for weeks, Red Cross spokesman Pawel Krzysiek said. Clinics had been resupplied in the meantime, he said. A fragile cessation of hostilities agreement has reduced violence in western Syria but has not halted fighting. (Reporting by John Davison; Editing by Catherine Evans)
N. Korea sentences US student to 15 years hard labour
 North Korea on Wednesday sentenced an American student, who had admitted to stealing a propaganda banner from a hotel, to 15 years hard labour for subversive activities, state media said. The sentence was handed down on Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old student from the University of Virginia, by North Korea's Supreme Court, the North's official KCNA news agency said. KCNA said Warmbier had been arrested on charges of "hostile acts" against the state and had been convicted under an article of the criminal code dealing with subversion.
Philippine frontrunner favors easing foreign ownership in media, utilities
 By Karen Lema MANILA (Reuters) - Grace Poe, frontrunner in the Philippines' presidential election campaign, said on Wednesday she favored relaxing restrictions on foreign ownership in utilities and media as part of changes she would introduce in the constitution. The May 9 election is being closely watched by investors who fear the political succession could derail average economic growth of more than 6 percent a year and stall efforts to crack down on corruption made under outgoing President Benigno Aquino, who is limited to one term. Poe, who is a senator, has campaigned on a pro-poor platform, promising to build on Aquino's programs of creating jobs and building infrastructure, which have helped propel one of Asia's fastest growing economies.
Breivik refrains from Nazi salute as he arrives in court
 SKIEN PRISON (Norvège) (AFP) - Mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik obeyed a judge's orders not to make a Nazi salute as he arrived in court Wednesday on the second day of his lawsuit against the Norwegian state. "I will try to take that into account," replied Breivik, after initially objecting that it was a Norse salute used by his ancestors a thousand years ago, a claim yet to be verified. In a 2014 letter to AFP, Breivik described himself as a "militant nationalist" and said he had pledged his "allegiance to National Socialism".
Minister: 27 staff at French schools fired for child abuse
PARIS (AP) — French Education Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem says 27 members of staff in schools and high schools were struck off in 2015 because of pedophilia-related offenses.
Iran sees Russia's withdrawal from Syria as 'positive sign'
Iran's foreign minister has called Russia's decision to withdraw its forces from Syria "a positive sign", while a senior security official said the move was pre-planned and not a surprise to Tehran. President Vladimir Putin unexpectedly announced on Monday that most Russian forces would be withdrawn from Syria after deploying in September to bolster President Bashar al-Assad. "The fact that Russia announced they are withdrawing part of its forces indicates that they don't see an imminent need for resort to force in maintaining the ceasefire," Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was quoted as saying by Iran's Press TV during a visit to Australia on Tuesday.
German authorities conduct raids against far right group
BERLIN (AP) — German authorities are conducting raids across the country after the government banned a right-wing extremist group called Weisse Woelfe Terrorcrew.
Top Asian News 8:26 a.m. GMT
PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — North Korea's highest court sentenced an American tourist to 15 years in prison with hard labor on Wednesday for subversion. Otto Warmbier, a University of Virginia undergraduate, was convicted and sentenced in a one-hour trial in North Korea's Supreme Court. He was charged with subversion under Article 60 of North Korea's criminal code. The court held that he had committed a crime "pursuant to the U.S. government's hostile policy toward (the North), in a bid to impair the unity of its people after entering it as a tourist." North Korea regularly accuses Washington and Seoul of sending spies to overthrow its government to enable the U.S.-backed South Korean government to take control of the Korean Peninsula.
Bomb hits government bus in northwestern Pakistan, kills 15
 PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — A bomb ripped through a bus carrying Pakistani government employees in the volatile northwestern city of Peshawar on Wednesday, killing 15 people, police said.
IOC confident about S.Korean Olympic preparations
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean organizers are progressing well in their preparations for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, but must focus on successfully delivering what would be an increasing number of warm-up events as the Games draw closer, an International Olympic Committee official said Wednesday after an inspection visit.
Cambodian to appeal jail sentence for Facebook comment
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — A Cambodian student's lawyer says he plans to appeal a jail sentence his client received for making a reference on his Facebook page to a "color revolution" in the country.
Myanmar army chief endorses election of Suu Kyi's president
 By Aung Hla Tun YANGON (Reuters) - Myanmar's powerful army chief congratulated incoming president Htin Kyaw and pledged cooperation on Wednesday, after the ally of Aung San Suu Kyi was elected as the country's first head of state with no military background in decades. Suu Kyi led her National League for Democracy (NLD) to a landslide election win in November, but a constitution drafted by the former junta bars her from the top office. Relations between the armed forces and Suu Kyi will define the success of Myanmar's most significant break from military rule since the army seized power in 1962.
Danes, once again, take top spot in world happiness report
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Denmark, perhaps better known for its fictional, suicide-agonizing prince Hamlet and fierce marauding Vikings than being a nation of the happiest people, has just won that very accolade. Again.
Russia says withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria won't weaken Assad
MOSCOW (Reuters) - A spokeswoman for Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that the withdrawal of the main part of Russia's armed forces in Syria would not weaken Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Interfax reported. Maria Zakharova, the spokeswoman, added that the main theme of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's visit to Russia next week would be Syria. (Reporting by Alexander Winning; Editing by Dmitry Solovyov)
2 suspected Uighur militants killed in central Indonesia
PALU, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesian police said Wednesday they killed two suspected Chinese Uighur militants during a hunt for the country's most wanted Islamic radical.
China renews vow to avoid 'hard landing' as congress ends
 China's economy will not suffer a "hard landing", Premier Li Keqiang said Wednesday, stepping up Beijing's charm offensive to reassure investors that the government can manage slowing growth. "We have long-term confidence in the Chinese economy and this confidence isn't without a foundation," Li told his once-a-year press conference at the end of the National People's Congress (NPC), the Communist-controlled legislature. Beijing has been looking to send positive messages in recent weeks after expansion in the world's second-largest economy fell to a 25-year low of 6.9 percent in 2015, raising concerns on global markets and sending commodity prices plunging.
Deutsche Boerse, LSE agree to go ahead with planned merger
 Frankfurt stock exchange operator Deutsche Boerse said Wednesday it has agreed with the London Stock Exchange to go ahead with their planned merger to create a pan-European trading titan. "Following approval of the supervisory board of Deutsche Boerse, the management board of Deutsche Boerse today concluded an agreement on the implementation of a business combination with (the London Stock Exchange Group) LSEG under a UK holding company," the German company said in a statement. "Moreover, the management board and the supervisory board of Deutsche Boerse consented to certain measures serving the implementation of the merger," it added.
Breivik to address court in human rights trial
 SKIEN, Norway (AP) — Anders Behring Breivik, who killed 77 people in bomb-and-gun attacks in 2011, is set to take the stand on second day of his human rights case against the Norwegian government.
EU leaders push migrant plan ahead of Turkey summit
 European leaders launch a charm offensive to win backing for a migrant deal with Turkey on Wednesday, seeking to heal rifts between member states on the eve of a key summit with Ankara. EU president Donald Tusk warned Tuesday that hard work lay ahead to finalise the deal, after Cyprus threatened to derail it over long-standing disagreements with Turkey. Tusk held talks in Nicosia in an attempt to win Cyprus' backing for the proposal, which has been hailed as a "game-changer" for European countries buckling under the wave of new arrivals.
Hamilton bike ride video upsets Kiwi cops
 New Zealand police on Wednesday ruled out charging reigning Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton over a video apparently filmed while he was riding a motorbike on an Auckland highway. In the selfie-style video, Hamilton is riding a Harley-Davidson down the motorway, with the angle panning across his shoulder to show the traffic behind him. Using a handheld mobile while driving is an offence in New Zealand, but police said the footage posted by Hamilton was inconclusive.
Hamas calls for Egypt to loosen Gaza blockade: delegate
 Hamas called for Egypt to loosen restrictions on the Gaza Strip, a delegate said, after officials from the Islamist group travelled to Cairo seeking to mend strained relations. Senior official Khalil al-Haya said Hamas had begged Egypt to allow more traffic through the Rafa border crossing with the Gaza Strip, the enclave's only transit point not controlled by Israel. Egypt has largely kept its border with Gaza closed since 2013 and has destroyed hundreds of Palestinian tunnels used to smuggle commercial goods, cash, people and, allegedly, weapons.
More Russian warplanes leave Syria as Kerry plans Moscow visit
 A second group of Russian warplanes flew out of Syria Wednesday in line with Moscow's decision to withdraw most of its forces, as US Secretary of State John Kerry prepared a rare trip to Moscow to discuss the conflict. SU-25 combat aircraft and IL-76 transport planes pulled out of Russia's Hmeimim base in Syria, the defence ministry said in a statement. The departure follows that of a first group of aircraft which arrived back in Russia on Tuesday to a hero's welcome.
Chinese premier strikes mild tone on regional disputes
 BEIJING (AP) — China sees no contradiction between its insistence on safeguarding territory it claims and its desire for peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, Premier Li Keqiang said Wednesday.
Another group of Russian planes leaves Syria, returns home
 MOSCOW (AP) — Russia's defense ministry says another group of its aircraft has left the Russian air base in Syria and is returning home.
Cuban woman has first known homegrown Zika case
 A young Havana woman is the first known person to have contracted the Zika virus in Cuba, authorities said. The other patients contracted Zika in Venezuela. The mosquito-borne Zika virus usually causes mild symptoms in adults, with a low fever, headaches and joint pain.
Mayor of Chinese port city Ningbo probed for corruption
Chinese authorities have begun a graft probe into the mayor of the major eastern Chinese port city of Ningbo, the ruling Communist Party announced on Wednesday, the latest senior official caught up in a sweeping corruption crackdown Lu Ziyue was being investigated for "suspected serious disciplinary violations", a euphemism for corruption, the ruling Communist Party's graft-busting Central Commision for Discipline Inspection said in a brief statement. Lu, who spent his career in Zhejiang province south of Shanghai, was deputy secretary of the party's Ningbo branch in addition to being mayor. Ningbo and neighboring Zhoushan are home to the world's sixth biggest container port, according to 2013 data on the website of the World Shipping Council.
Israel to Russia: don't let Syria pullout boost Iran, Hezbollah
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin will ask Russia on Wednesday to ensure that its partial pullout from Syria does not embolden Iranian and Hezbollah forces there, an Israeli official said. Rivlin is in Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose withdrawal announcement on Monday blindsided world powers. Israel believes the Russian intervention in Syria's civil war served to restrain Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah militia, anti-Israeli foes which are also fighting for Damascus.
Poor man's game: Myanmar's grassroots golfers lead the way
 As a hard-up 10-year-old, Aung Win scrabbled for pocket money collecting balls on a parched Myanmar golf course. Now 35, he is basking in his stand-out performance at the Leopalace21 Myanmar Open in February where he was the highest finisher among the home players, winning admiration -- and a few thousand dollars. With a purse of $750,000, the Asian Tour event was billed as the nation's richest sports tournament as Myanmar targets a new era of achievement to banish decades of junta neglect that left sport in the doldrums.
Chinese insurer has global ambitions
 BEIJING (AP) — Young, privately owned and ambitious, Anbang Insurance Group stands out in China's staid, state-dominated insurance industry.
Australia: Debris on French island unlikely to be from MH370
 SYDNEY (AP) — A piece of debris recently found on an Indian Ocean island where a wing fragment from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 had previously washed ashore is unlikely to be from the missing plane, Australian officials said Wednesday.
US says losing access to China-claimed waters would be huge
 CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A U.S. Navy commander warned Wednesday that if the United States lost access to international waters claimed by China in the South China Sea, it would have far-reaching implications beyond military.
Bus blast kills at least 16 in NW Pakistan
 At least 16 people were killed and more than two dozen wounded when a bomb blew up inside a bus in Peshawar, the main city of Pakistan's insurgency-wracked northwest, officials said, with the toll feared to rise. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the explosion, which took place as the bus carrying mainly government employees was passing through the crowded shopping district of Saddar. "At least 16 people were killed and more than 24 were wounded in a blast on a government employees' bus," senior police official Mohammad Kashif Zulfiqar told AFP.
Turkish police detain 20 in Istanbul raids targeting PKK: Anadolu
Turkish police detained 20 suspects, including lawyers, in an operation involving raids across Istanbul targeting the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group, the state-run Anadolu Agency said on Wednesday. The raids came as fighting between security forces and PKK militants spread to new areas in southeast Turkey, with tanks, helicopters and armored cars deployed after a suicide bombing that killed 37 people in the capital, Ankara. The agency said the anti-terror police raids, backed by helicopter, were carried out simultaneously at 32 spots across the city and those detained included lawyers of an unspecified association.
Black Caviar trainer cleared of cobalt doping
 Black Caviar's trainer was cleared of intentional cobalt doping on Wednesday, but found guilty of a lesser charge of giving the substance to one of his horses. Australian Peter Moody was convicted of a single count of administering the element -- believed to improve equine endurance -- to Lidari, which tested positive in 2014. Two other Australian trainers, Danny O'Brien and Mark Kavanagh, were banned for four and three years respectively by the Victorian Racing and Appeals Disciplinary Board in January, joining several others who have already been hit by lengthy suspensions.
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