Regional trade: A delegation of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation's Chamber of Commerce and Industry, headed by its president, Tariq Sayeed (3R), meets Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari (L) in Islamabad, Pakistan on July 2, 2009. Zardari urged the delegation to visit all eight nations in the SAARC group to enhance trade and commerce between them. (Photo/Government of Pakistan)
ANALYSIS
By S.L. SHEN
Beijing, China, July 3 — A nearly completed 13-floor apartment building suddenly toppled over Saturday in Shanghai, costing one worker his life. The structure just fell on its side, still largely intact. The news raised fears among would-be homebuyers already under stress due to high housing prices in the city.
By HIROSHI YAMAZAKI
Tokyo, Japan, July 3 — U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday praised celebrities who use their fame to promote humanitarian causes under U.N. auspices. Ban was meeting with eight Japanese goodwill ambassadors at the U.N. University in downtown Tokyo during his two-day visit to Japan.
By LEE JONG-HEON
Seoul, South Korea, July 2 — North Korea test-fired four short-range missiles from a base near the eastern port of Wonsan on Thursday, according to Seoul’s Defense Ministry. The missile test came as a North Korean cargo vessel suspected of shipping weapons is being tracked by a U.S. Navy destroyer.
