N Korea rocket

Seoul, Dec. 2 (AP): North Korea is gearing up to fire a long-range rocket this month in a defiant move expected to raise the stakes of a global standoff over its missile and nuclear programmes. This is the second launch attempt under leader Kim Jong Un.

Japan tunnel

Tokyo (Reuters): A tunnel on a major highway Yamanashi prefecture collapsed on Sunday, killing at least three. The fire service had earlier said at least seven persons were unaccounted for.