
- Indonesia - ‘Little People’ of Indonesia Seem to Be Distinct Tribe [NY Times]
In the continuing debate over the origin of the extinct “little people” of Indonesia, a team of scientists says it has found evidence in three wrist bones that these people were members of a distinct species rather than humans with a physical disorder. - Putrajaya, Malaysia - Malaysia lawyers hold rare demonstration for reform [Reuters]
About 800 Malaysian lawyers marched on the prime minister's office on Wednesday to demand reforms to the country's judiciary after a scandal erupted over claims of political meddling in the appointment of judges. - Yangon, Myanmar - Police beat protesters with batons [Channel News Asia]
Police baton-charged a crowd of around 700 anti-military protesters including students and some Buddhist monks who gathered near a pagoda in Myanmar's main city Yangon in defiance of a ban, witnesses said. - Tokyo, Japan - New PM heads for showdown with opposition [Channel News Asia]
Japan's new Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda was ceremonially sworn into office Wednesday as he headed toward a showdown with the resurgent opposition amid growing calls for snap elections. - Zamboanga, Philippines - Two soldiers dead in assault on Muslim extremists [AFP]
Two soldiers were killed and nine wounded in a clash with Al-Qaeda-linked Muslim extremists on the southern Philippine island of Basilan. - Kabul, Afghanistan - Abducted Italian soldiers freed in Afghanistan [Reuters]
Two Italian soldiers kidnapped in Afghanistan were freed on Monday during a raid by NATO-led troops.
Photo of the 'Little People' of Indonesia from Asian Offbeat
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