TOKYO -- The Naha branch of the Fukuoka High Court in Japan on Wednesday rejected demands from the Okinawa prefectural government to halt the relocation of a controversial U.S. base within Japan's southernmost prefecture despite calls from local officials and residents for the base to be moved off the island.

The Okinawa prefectural government's appeal for the suspension of work for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from the crowded residential area of Ginowan to the less populated Henoko coastal district in Nago, both in Okinawa, was dismissed by a lower court with the ruling upheld by the high court on Wednesday. (Japan-U.S. Military Base)

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JAKARTA -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Wednesday ordered the military and police to arrest those responsible for the recent killing of construction workers and a troop in Papua province.

Widodo reiterated the trans-Papua project would continue despite deadly challenges from insurgents. (Indonesia-Killing-Papua)

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TOKYO -- An outbreak of swine flu has been found at a public research institute in the central Japan city of Minokamo, in Gifu Prefecture, the local government said Wednesday.

Following two pigs testing positive for the virus, also known as hog cholera, the prefecture began the culling of hogs at the institute, which breeds around 500 pigs for premium pork products. (Japan-Swine Flu)

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COLOMBO -- Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena assured on Wednesday that the political crisis in the island country would be solved in seven days.

The assurance comes after the new government appointed by the president has been temporarily suspended by a Sri Lankan court. (Sri Lanka-Political Crisis)

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KABUL -- At least 24 militants had been killed elsewhere in Afghanistan as Afghan security forces increased pressure on the armed opposition groups, officials said.

In the latest crackdown on militants, the government forces stormed Taliban hideouts outside Pul-e-Alam the capital of eastern Logar province early on Wednesday, killing four insurgents and capturing 11 others, provincial government spokesman Shahpor Ahmadzai said. (Afghanistan-Military Operations) Enditem

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