AP - Radical conservationists who have been chasing Japanese whalers in the Antarctic Ocean said Wednesday they were heading to Australia to refuel their ship, a day after Japan argued they were pirates who should be barred from refueling.

Reuters - Communist North Korea announced on Wednesday it will elect new delegates to its rubber stamp parliament in March, marking another step in a leadership shakeup that has already included a cabinet reshuffle.

AP - The year ahead will challenge Chinese security officials increasingly nervous about social stability, the nation's top police officer said, amid concerns about gang violence, separatism and dissident plans to mark the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests.

AFP - A shipment of US food aid is due to arrive in North Korea later this week after rough seas caused a delay, the State Department said Tuesday.

AFP - A strong earthquake rattled Indonesia's West Papua province early Wednesday, the US Geological Survey said.

AP - Armed men attacked a private Sri Lankan television station Tuesday, tossing hand grenades, shooting out TV screens and starting a fire that caused heavy damage, witnesses and police said.

AP - Pakistan's president called Tuesday for foreign allies to provide more support — not more troops — to help win the battle against extremist militias along its volatile border with Afghanistan.