Briefs, January 8, 2013
Four Chinese government ships entered territorial waters around Japan-controlled islands at the centre of a dispute yesterday. The marine surveillance ships were seen moving within 12 nautical miles of the islands, known as the Senkakus in Japan and the Diaoyus in China, just before midday, Japan's coastguard said in a statement. Japan's foreign ministry lodged a protest with the Chinese embassy in Tokyo over the incident by telephone, a ministry official said. It was the first time since December 31 that any state-owned Chinese ship has been seen in the archipelago's waters, which lie in the East China Sea.
Four Chinese government ships entered territorial waters around Japan-controlled islands at the centre of a dispute yesterday. The marine surveillance ships were seen moving within 12 nautical miles of the islands, known as the Senkakus in Japan and the Diaoyus in China, just before midday, Japan's coastguard said in a statement. Japan's foreign ministry lodged a protest with the Chinese embassy in Tokyo over the incident by telephone, a ministry official said. It was the first time since December 31 that any state-owned Chinese ship has been seen in the archipelago's waters, which lie in the East China Sea. AFP
About 80 Taiwanese and Chinese nationals have been arrested in Cambodia for allegedly extorting money from victims overseas over the telephone, police said. The suspects, mostly Taiwanese nationals arrested on Saturday, would be deported to their home countries to face justice, interior ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak said. "They committed crimes by using phones over the internet to extort money from victims abroad," he said, adding that China had co-operated in the raids. AFP
Hollywood heart-throb Brad Pitt made waves with his first post on Chinese social media, a cryptic message suggesting he would soon visit the country. "It is the truth. Yup, I'm coming...," said the initial entry on the star's verified account on Sina Weibo, one of China's hugely popular Twitter-like microblogs. Pitt's Weibo account was an instant hit, drawing more than 100,000 followers within six hours of his first post. "Bring Jolie along," said one comment, referring to Pitt's glamorous partner actress Angelina Jolie. AFP
