TOKYO -- A suspected left-wing radical group claimed responsibility Friday for an arson attack on the office of the authors of a Japanese history textbook accused of glossing over wartime atrocities. The group, which calls itself a "revolutionary army", sent a letter to news organizations declaring that the attack was a "revolutionary reprisal" for the adoption of the book for special-needs schools. A fire broke out late Tuesday at a parking lot adjacent to a three-story building here that includes the office of the Society for History Textbook Reform.

TAIPEI -- Taiwan will not hold a referendum this year on the fate of a controversial nuclear power plant, the government announced on Friday. Cabinet Secretary General Chiou I-jen said the government had decided against holding the referendum at the end of this year on whether to build a fourth nuclear power plant. Chiu said the government had decided to shelve the non-binding public vote on the issue this year due to concerns over political instability, but added that a referendum on the issue could still be held in the future.