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Nudists sweat it out, media ogle at Dutch gym

By TIMES WIRES
Published March 5, 2007

NETHERLANDS

A dozen middle-aged and elderly men who were game enough for a Dutch gym's invitation to work out nude were vastly outnumbered Sunday by the dozens of journalists watching them lift, row and cycle in the buff.

Fitworld owner Patrick de Man allowed the media in for the first session of Naked Sunday after receiving inquiries from as far away as Russia and Australia. The response from nudists was more lukewarm - a smattering of men trickled into the gym in the small town of Heteren, near Amsterdam. The Netherlands is known for its relaxed sexual attitude, but some residents were upset by the nudism, and some gym members worried about sanitation.

TOKYO

Abe: No more brothel apologies

Japan will not apologize again for its World War II military brothels, even if the U.S. Congress passes a resolution demanding it do so, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told Parliament today.

Abe, elaborating on his denial last week that women from across Asia were forced to serve as frontline prostitutes, said none of the testimony in hearings last month in the U.S. House of Representatives offered any solid proof of abuse. "I must say we will not apologize even if there's a resolution," Abe told lawmakers in a lengthy debate.

VANUATU

State of emergency is declared

The government of the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu declared a state of emergency today after ethnic clashes at a squatter settlement, reportedly over claims of witchcraft, left two men dead and eight others hospitalized, officials said. Armed police arrested more than 100 people after the violence broke out Saturday at the Blacksands settlement that houses thousands of people outside the capital.

SWITZERLAND

At least 5 die in Alps avalanches

Avalanches killed at least five skiers in the Swiss and French Alps on Sunday following days of heavy snow, authorities said. At least four other people died in unrelated mountain accidents. All of the Swiss accidents occurred away from prepared slopes and trails in widely separated parts of the country.

CHINA

Jump in defense spending planned

China announced its biggest increase in defense spending in five years, a boost that prompted the United States to renew its calls for more transparency from the Chinese military about the scope and intent of its continuing, rapid arms buildup. The military budget would rise this year by 17.8 percent to roughly 350-billion yuan, or just under $45-billion.

[Last modified March 5, 2007, 01:35:45]