Nasty neighbors China and Japan pole and prod each other over disputed islands in the East China Sea – The US gives its clearest indication to date of where it stands on the ouster of Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi – And Who will pilot the Tardis?

China’s Army is defending its new video game in which the player fights alongside the Peoples Liberation Army to defend “sovereign” Chinese territory from Japanese invaders; except that “sovereign” territory is the Senkaku Islands, internationally recognized as Japanese territory for more than a hundred years but recently claimed by China. The Japanese are referred to as “guizi”, the derogatory Chinese term for the Japanese occupiers during World War Two.  Earlier versions of the “Glorious Mission” game had players play-killing American soldiers.

Japan’s Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso is retracting comments he made suggesting that Japan should take a lesson from the Nazis and change the constitution.  The comments drew criticism from Jewish groups, and neighboring China and South Korea.  Aso’s remarks coincide with concern over the ruling party’s desire to change Japan’s pacifist post-war constitution.

Bangladesh’s highest court is banning the country’s largest Islamist political party Jamaat-e-Islami, because its religious nature violates the country’s secular constitution.  Senior Jamaat leaders who opposed the country's 1971 separation from Pakistan are being tried on war crimes charges, and some have been sentenced to death for their atrocities.

US Secretary of State John Kerry says Egypt's military was “restoring democracy” when it ousted elected President Mohammed Morsi last month.  Kerry notes that Morsi was ousted at the request of “millions and millions of people”.  This comes as Egyptian police prepare to disperse two large pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo.

Cuba’s first solar power farm is up and running.  Cantarrana will produce 2.6 megawatts at peak capacity once the final locally produced panels are installed next month, and it’s already saved 145 tons of fossil fuels.  Cuba is building six more solar plants in the near term, and is helping Jamaica start its own solar power panel plant.  Turning to the sun was pretty much the last move Cuba had after the loss of Soviet backing in the 1990s and the death of petro-benefactor Hugo Chavez in Venezuela earlier this year.

The man who kidnapped three young women off the streets of Cleveland, Ohio and imprisoned them in his house for ten years will spend the rest of his life in a real prison.  Ariel Castro spoke at his sentencing hearing, apologizing to his victims but then attempting to rationalize and deny his crimes, claiming he is “not a monster”.  Everyone else in the world disagreed, especially the judge who imposed the sentence of life plus 1,000 years.  One of his victims, Michelle Knight, testified at the hearing telling Castro he would “face hell for eternity”.

A New York City woman died when she stepped outside onto the balcony of her 17th storey apartment for a cigarette, leaned on the railing against the advice of her date, and the railing gave way.  The body of 35-year old Jennifer Rosoff was recovered from atop construction scaffolding surrounding the first floor.  Police interviewed the man with her and suspect no foul play.

The new Doctor will be introduced on Sunday!  Matt Smith is stepping down from the role of Doctor Who, and the 12th actor to play the intrepid Time Lord will be introduced this weekend.  According to the official announcement, presenter Zoe Ball “will unveil the 12th Doctor in the first ever interview in front of a live studio audience set against the backdrop of a swirling vortex, amongst Daleks and the Tardis”.  BTW, Peter Capaldi seems to be leading the Internet speculation, even though everyone knows Tom Baker was the best Doctor.