TOKYO: Japanese pop star Aska was arrested yesterday for possessing illegal stimulant drugs in his apartment in Tokyo, reports said. Investigators were probing how Aska — who is part of the popular music duo Chage and Aska — obtained the “small dose” of drugs and whether he had used them, NHK and Tokyo Broadcasting System Television said. Aska, 56, whose real name is Shigeaki Miyazaki, reportedly denied the charges. Before his arrest, he also rejected news reports that he was a drug addict. Authorities were not immediately available to confirm his arrest. Chage and Aska made their musical debut in 1979 and remain popular in Japan and other Asian countries
Official yields drugs in raid
MANILA: Police arrested a village official after authorities seized illegal drugs during a raid on his house in Aklan. Reports said that Isidro Mayor Bune, 40, barangay chairman of the Pinamuk-an, New Washington, Aklan, was hauled off to jail by joint members of Provincial Intelligence Board, Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force and Provincial Public Safety Company. Reports said that authorities, with a search warrant issued by Judge Marietta Homena, Executive Judge of Regional Trial Court branch 6 in Kalibo, raided Bune’s house last May 13.
Police break up remembrance day
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s police broke up a remembrance service for ethnic Tamils killed in the separatist war, residents said yesterday, as the military prepared to celebrate its victory over Tamil Tiger rebels five years ago. Tamil politicians attempted to stage the remembrance on Friday at local council offices in the northern battle-scarred town of Jaffna, defying a ban on public commemorations of war victims, witnesses said. The government is planning a major military “victory parade” to mark five years since the defeat of Tamil Tiger rebels, who waged a decades-long battle for a separate homeland for minority Tamils.
Nepal keen to maintain India ties
Kathmandu: Nepal yesterday expressed confidence that India will not change its policy towards the Himalayan nation after the victory of Narendra Modi-led BJP in the Lok Sabha elections. Foreign Minister Mahendra Bahadur Pandey told media persons here that while India could change its internal policy, its Nepal policy would remain the same, Xinhua reported. “Nepal and India share close ties which will be continued in the coming days. I have confidence that India will not change its Nepal policy,” Pandey said. In an interview with Xinhua a few weeks ago, Pandey said Nepal wanted to maintain dignified relations with neighbouring countries. This is the first formal comment from Nepal after the victory of the BJP-led NDA in the Indian general election.
Agencies
