Asia

Saudi Arabia opens bid for ‘utility scale’ solar project

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — Saudi Arabia invited bids on Tuesday for a “utility-scale” 300-megawatt solar project, a first for the world’s top oil exporter. “Today’s bid opening represents a significant milestone for the National Renewable Energy Program, and an important step on the way to diversifying Saudi Arabia’s domestic energy mix and building a cutting edge domestic renewable energy sector,” Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said. Bidders for the Sakaka solar energy project — to […]

North Korea accuses US of blocking development

UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — North Korea’s UN envoy accused the United States on Tuesday of working to block economic development and denounced sanctions imposed on poor countries as a bid to “destroy modern civilization.” Ambassador Ja Song Nam said North Korea will withstand the blow of sanctions and continue “along the road of building the socialist power by dint of the spirit of self-reliance and self-development.” Ja spoke at a debate at the […]

Kim Jong-Nam suffered extensive organ damage, trial hears

  by M Jegathesan Agence France Presse SHAH ALAM, Malaysia (AFP) — The half-brother of North Korea’s leader suffered extensive organ damage after being attacked with a nerve agent, a pathologist said Tuesday, as more chilling details emerged at the trial of his alleged killers. Vital organs, including his lungs and brain, swelled due to a build-up of fluid, testified Mohamad Shah Mahmood, who carried out the post-mortem on Kim Jong-Nam. Two women are on […]

At least 16 dead as suicide bombings hit Damascus police station

DAMASCUS, Syria (AFP) — A double suicide bomb attack hit a police station in Syria’s capital Damascus on Monday, state media said, with a monitor saying at least 16 people were killed. Damascus has been largely insulated from the worst of the violence during the country’s brutal six-year war, but several bomb attacks have shaken the city. Syria’s interior ministry said two suicide bombers had blown themselves up at the police station in the southern […]

Japan gov’t: No knowledge of whereabouts of Las Vegas shooter’s alleged girlfriend, Marilou Danley, in Tokyo

  The Japanese government on Tuesday (October 3) said it is unaware of any information at this point corroborating Las Vegas sheriffs comments earlier that the long-time girlfriend of Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock is in Tokyo. Marilou Danley, 62, is believed to be an Australian citizen born in the Philippines and possibly visiting relatives in the Philippines at the time of the shooting, though U.S. authorities now believe she could be in Tokyo. U.S. […]

Las Vegas police locate alleged roommate of concert attacker; says she is not involved in shooting incident

  (Eagle News) — The Las Vegas police have now located the alleged Asian companion or roommate of 64-year old gunman Stephen Paddock who killed at least 50 people and wounded 200 more when he opened fire at country music concert from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay, a hotel-casino next to the concert venue. Police released an undated photo of Marilou Danley, 4’11” about 111 lbs, who is is believed to be Paddock’s […]

Women on trial for Kim Jong-Nam murder plead not guilty

SHAH ALAM, Malaysia (AFP) – Two women pleaded not guilty Monday to murdering Kim Jong-Nam, the half-brother of North Korea’s leader, at the start of their trial in Malaysia over the Cold War-style assassination that shocked the world. Indonesian Siti Aisyah and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong entered their pleas through interpreters at Shah Alam High Court, outside the capital Kuala Lumpur. The murder charge was read first to Aisyah, 25, who was wearing traditional Malay dress, […]

Trial begins over assassination of N. Korea leader’s half-brother

by M Jegathesan Agence France-Presse SHAH ALAM, Malaysia (AFP) – Two women go on trial Monday accused of murdering the half-brother of North Korea’s leader, in an audacious assassination in Malaysia that stunned the world and sparked a diplomatic crisis. Indonesian Siti Aisyah and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong arrived at the heavily guarded court outside the capital Kuala Lumpur for the proceedings, handcuffed and wearing bulletproof vests. The defendants were arrested just days after the killing of […]

Italy orders N. Korea ambassador home over missiles

ROME, Italy (AFP) — Italy has ordered North Korea’s incoming new ambassador to leave the country in a protest over Kim Jong-Un’s missile launches and nuclear tests. Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano announced the move in an interview with Italian daily La Repubblica, published on Sunday. “We have taken the firm decision to interrupt the accreditation procedure. The ambassador will have to leave the country,” Alfano said. “We want to make Pyongyang understand that isolation is […]

Poll shows Tokyo governor Koike’s party threat to Abe

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s lead in next month’s election has shrunk as the popular Tokyo governor pushes to unite opposition forces, a survey by Japan’s top-selling daily indicated Saturday. Thirty-four percent of Japanese plan to vote for Abe’s conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) while 19 percent favor a party formed this week by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, according to the poll in the Yomiuri Shimbun. It also showed one quarter of […]

Indonesia volcano continues exhibiting signs of eruption: geologist

BALI, Indonesia (Reuters) — The chance of an eruption remained high as the Mount Agung volcano in Indonesia’s tourist island of Bali continues exhibiting signs of unrest, a geologist said on Friday. Gede Suantika, a geologist at the Mount Agung Observation Post, said the volcano has maintained a menacingly high level of seismic activity, with tremors shaking the mountain daily since volcanic activity began increasing on Sept. 18. “The condition of this volcano is still […]

Iraq forces attack IS-held town of Hawija: general

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AFP) — Iraqi forces on Friday launched an assault on the northern town of Hawija, one of the last bastions still held by the Islamic State group in the country, its commander said. “A huge military operation has begun to liberate Hawija and its surrounding areas,” Lieutenant General Abdel Amir Yarallah said in a statement. Iraqi forces began an operation to retake the jihadist enclave around Hawija on September 21, swiftly taking the […]