WORLD FOCUS

Sydney Morning Herald

Tuesday September 8, 2009

AP; AFP; NYT

Taiwan's Premier Liu Chao-shiuan says he has resigned to pave way for a cabinet reshuffle in response to mounting criticism over the Government's slow response to Typhoon Morakot, which killed an estimated 670 people last month.S Korea queries foeSouth Korea yesterday sent a message to North Korea, requesting an explanation from Pyongyang as to what caused a sudden surge of water in the Imjin River, which flows across the border, that left three South Korean dead and three missing. The victims were swept away on Sunday when the river suddenly doubled in height. Officials in Seoul believe a new dam just north of the border discharged an estimated 36 million tonnes of water without notice.Survivor in oceanA woman who survived more than 24 hours in shark-infested waters off the southern Philippines after a ferry sank was hauled to safety yesterday in what was hailed a miracle rescue. A specialist air force team found Lita Casunglon about 15 kilometres from where the Superferry 9 sank on Sunday.Khatami: J'accuseMohammad Khatami, Iran's former president, made a fiery speech on Sunday against the Government, accusing its leaders of trying to purge their enemies from public life with "fascist and totalitarian methods". The speech by the leading reformist came a day after his ally, the losing presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, called on supporters to deepen their protest movement.Japanese climate callJapan's next prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama €“ due to take office on September 16 €“ says his government will pursue a greenhouse gas reduction target of 25 per cent from 1990 levels by 2020.

© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald

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