Japan restarts third nuclear reactor

TOKYO • Japan has restarted its third nuclear reactor since a nationwide shutdown in the wake of the Fukushima disaster after a court ruled it was safe despite opposition from local residents.

Kansai Electric Power's No. 3 reactor at its Takahama plant north-west of Tokyo was switched on yesterday, a company official said.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Muslim hardliners put up anti-gay banners

JAKARTA • The Indonesian city of Bandung has ordered a hardline Muslim group to take down "provocative" banners targeting the gay community, officials said yesterday.

The move comes after members of the Islamic Defenders Front raided boarding houses in the city where they believed gay people were staying and put up the signs.

REUTERS

China's statistics chief sacked in graft probe

BEIJING • The head of China's National Bureau of Statistics has been sacked after the authorities announced an anti-corruption investigation against him this week, state media reported yesterday.

The top anti-graft watchdog said on Tuesday that Wang Bao'an was "suspected of serious violation of discipline", a euphemism for corruption.

REUTERS