TOKYO, Japan (Reuters) – Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party suffered a historic defeat in an election in the Japanese capital on Sunday (July 2), signalling trouble ahead for the premier, who has suffered from slumping support because of a favouritism scandal. On the surface, the Tokyo Metropolitan assembly election was a referendum on Governor Yuriko Koike’s year in office, but the dismal showing for Abe’s party is also a stinging rebuke of his […]
Asia
Obama meets South Korean president in Seoul; discusses North Korea
SEOUL, South Korea (Reuters) – North Korea has a last chance to engage in dialogue with the outside world, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Monday (July 3) during a meeting with former United States president Barack Obama, Moon’s office said. Obama is visiting Seoul this week to speak at a forum hosted by South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo newspaper, where, earlier on Monday, he said North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons had “done nothing […]
Acid spill damages nature reserve in southern Israel
SOUTHERN Israel, Israel (Reuters) — Potash and fertilizer producer Israel Chemicals (ICL) said on Sunday (July 2) it cannot estimate the level of damage caused to the company or the environment by a spill at its fertilizer plant in Israel’s Negev desert. Large amounts of highly acidic wastewater poured into the desert on Friday (June 30) when a wall of an evaporation pool partially collapsed at the Rotem Amfert facility, according to Israel’s Ministry of […]
China heavy-lift carrier rocket launch fails
BEIJING, China (AFP) — China on Sunday announced the launch of a powerful rocket designed to carry communication satellites into orbit had been “unsuccessful”, in a glitch for the country’s ambitious space programme. The Long March-5 Y2, Beijing’s second heavy-lift rocket, blasted off at 7:23 pm (1123 GMT) Sunday from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in the tropical island province of Hainan “Abnormity was detected during the flight of the rocket,” the Xinhua news agency […]
US warship near S. China Sea island ‘provocation’: China
BEIJING, China (AFP) – The passage of a United States warship close to a disputed island in the South China Sea was a “serious political and military provocation,” Beijing said, one that could further strain relations between the superpowers The destroyer, the USS Stethem, sailed less than 12 nautical miles from tiny Triton Island in the Paracel Islands archipelago, which is claimed by China as well as Taiwan and Vietnam, a US official told AFP. […]
Rescue work continues as heavy rain triggers flood in parts of China
CHINA (Reuters) – Rescue work has been underway as heavy rain has triggered floods in parts of east, central and southern China and it continues to batter these areas. On Saturday, Xiushui County of east China’s Jiangxi Province was pummeled by rain and floods. Many roads were blocked and houses destroyed. Traffic police were working in waist-deep water to help recover partially submerged cars and rescue trapped residents. A landslide destroyed a road in Xiushui, […]
China’s Xi draws ‘red line’ in Hong Kong
by Aaron Tam, Michelle Yun and Elaine Yu HONG KONG, China (AFP) — China’s President Xi Jinping said Saturday Hong Kong was freer than ever before but laid down an uncrossable “red line” for any challenge to Beijing’s authority as the city marked 20 years since it was handed back by Britain. Xi spoke in a televised address after swearing in new Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam as pro and anti-Beijing protesters clashed close to the ceremony. Lam […]
Protests in Hong Kong as Xi swears in new leader
HONG KONG, China (AFP) — President Xi Jinping swore in new Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam Saturday as the politically divided city marked 20 years since it was handed back to China by Britain, with clashes between pro and anti-Beijing protesters close to the ceremony. Lam was selected by a pro-Beijing committee, as were her predecessors, and is already being cast by critics as a China stooge in a city where many are angry at […]
Beijing’s South China Sea outposts nearly set for missile deployment: report
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Three of Beijing’s outposts on contested South China Sea reefs are close to being ready for the deployment of military assets including mobile missile launchers, a United States think tank reported Thursday. Analyzing satellite photographs, the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative said Beijing’s Fiery Cross Reef base in the Spratly Islands now has 12 hardened shelters, four more than seen in February, with retractable roofs that can house missile launchers. At […]
China’s President Xi arrives in Hong Kong
by Aaron Tam, Michelle Yun and Elaine Yu Agence France Presse HONG KONG, China (AFP) — President Xi Jinping arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday to mark 20 years since its return to China by Britain, with activists under arrest as authorities sought to avoid embarrassment during anniversary celebrations. A huge security operation shut down large parts of the normally throbbing city, with thousands of police deployed to keep away demonstrators against what they said […]
Obama returns to Indonesia for family vacation
(Reuters) — From white water rafting in Bali to visiting ancient temples in central Java’s Borobudur, former United States President Barack Obama and his family were back this week in Indonesia, where he spent four years as a child, for a private holiday. Obama remains popular in the world’s most populous Muslim nation and his trip has been splashed across the media during an extended public holiday to mark the end of the fasting month […]
Mongolia changes presidential runoff date to July 7
ULAN BATOR, Mongolia (AFP) — Mongolia’s first-ever presidential runoff has been brought forward by two days to July 7 due to a traditional sporting festival, the country’s electoral authorities said Thursday. The three candidates in Monday’s first-round poll fell well short of the absolute majority needed to secure the presidency, extending the drama of an election marked by corruption scandals. Former judoka Khaltmaa Battulga of the opposition Democratic Party and speaker of the parliament Mieygombo Enkhbold of […]