Briefs, February 27, 2013

US sailors on trial for rape in Okinawa

TOKYO - Two US sailors yesterday admitted raping a Japanese woman in Okinawa, in a case that has generated huge anti-American anger in Japan. Skyler Dozierwalker, 23, and Christopher Browning, 24, attacked the woman in central Okinawa during a brief trip there in October. Dozierwalker told Naha District Court he committed the crime, while Browning also admitted the charges but denied having conspired in advance. AFP

Woman sets record for climbing Everest

A young Nepali sherpa climber has been recognised as the world's first woman to scale Mount Everest twice in a week, Guinness World Records has confirmed. Chhurim Sherpa, 29, climbed to the 8,850-metre Everest summit on May 12 and 19 last year. Reuters

Polio team's guard shot dead in Pakistan

PESHAWAR - A Pakistani policeman was shot dead while protecting a polio vaccination team. No one has claimed responsibility for the killing, at Ghalla Dher near the northwestern town of Mardan, on the second day of a three-day anti-polio campaign. AFP

Whalers and activists trade accusations

SYDNEY - Japanese whalers and militant conservationists have again been involved in dangerous clashes off Antarctica, with both sides accusing the other of ramming their vessels. Anti-whaling campaigner Paul Watson said the Japanese factory ship the Nisshin Maru rammed the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's much smaller vessel, the Bob Barker. On its website, Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research accused several Sea Shepherd boats of ramming the Nisshin Maru. AFP