December 22, 2016 North Korea ridicules UN chief's presidential ambitions North Korea has mocked outgoing United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon over his apparent ambitions to run for South Korean president, calling him an opportunistic "chameleon in a human mask" who's dreaming a "hollow dream."
December 22, 2016 South Sudan arms embargo 'not productive,' Japan envoy says A Japanese official says an arms embargo on South Sudan is "not productive," even as the United States pushes Japan and other U.N Security Council members to impose one amid warnings of possible genocide.
December 22, 2016 Fire that spread to 140 buildings under control in Japan A huge fire that spread to about 140 buildings in a small city on Japan's western coast was brought under control Thursday night after authorities called in extra firefighters to fight the blaze.
December 22, 2016 At least 140 buildings on fire in wind-swept blaze in Japan A fire whipped by high winds has spread to at least 140 buildings in a small Japanese city on the Japan Sea coast.
December 22, 2016 Thai court revokes bail of activist who shared BBC story A pro-democracy activist in Thailand has been rearrested after his bail was revoked in a case accusing him of sharing online a Thai-language BBC story about the country's new king.
December 22, 2016 Huge but empty pyramid hotel a sphinx-like N. Korean mystery Pyongyang's pyramid-shaped Ryugyong Hotel, which poetically enough was built with some help from Egyptians, is one of the world's strangest landmarks and most conspicuous construction-project fails.
December 22, 2016 N. Korea says South committing 'terror' by luring defectors North Korea's Foreign Ministry says South Korea is stepping up efforts to encourage North Koreans overseas, especially diplomats, to defect.
December 22, 2016 Mongolia says Dalai Lama will not be allowed future visits Mongolia's foreign minister says the Dalai Lama will no longer be allowed to visit his country after a visit by the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader prompted protests from China and a suspension of talks on a major loan.
December 22, 2016 South Korean court holds hearing on impeached president South Korea's Constitutional Court on Thursday held its first preparatory hearing in the trial of impeached President Park Geun-hye, whom lawmakers voted to remove over an explosive corruption scandal that saw millions of people protest in past weeks.
December 22, 2016 4 in China cleared after 2 successful death sentence appeals Four men in eastern China accused of murder and rape have been exonerated after a 16-year legal ordeal in the latest instance of Chinese courts overturning deeply flawed verdicts.
