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TOKYO, Japan (AFP) – A Japanese utility on Wednesday switched on a nuclear reactor, the latest to come back in service despite deep public opposition in the aftermath of the Fukushima crisis. Japan shut down all of its dozens of reactors after a powerful earthquake in March 2011 spawned a huge tsunami that led to meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear plant, causing the world’s worst such accident since Chernobyl in 1986. But only a handful […]
TOKYO, Japan (Reuters) — Kei Komuro, who is set to be engaged to Japanese princess Mako, spoke to reporters on Wednesday (May 17) morning after national broadcaster NHK reported their upcoming betrothal on the previous evening. The couple who are both 25, met about five years ago at an event about study abroad programs according to local media. Komuro told awaiting journalists that he will be able to “talk more when the time is right.” […]
by Carole Landry Agence France Presse UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — The United Nations Security Council met behind closed doors on Tuesday to discuss tightening sanctions on North Korea after it fired its latest ballistic missile. United States Ambassador Nikki Haley said the US was working with China, Pyongyang’s main ally, on a new sanctions resolution and warned that all countries must step up action against North Korea or face measures themselves. “We all […]
by Gokan GUNES Agence France-Presse ISTANBUL, Turkey (AFP) – Brandishing their javelins and letting out a bloodcurdling war cry, the Ottoman horsemen charge at a thunderous gallop. Suddenly one is hit and thrown from his horse — making dozens of children gasp as they film the scene on their smartphones. It may be 2017, but Istanbul rolled back the years last weekend with the Ethnic Sports Cultural Festival (EKF), which aims to promote the sports […]
BEIJING, China (AFP) — Russia has shown off President Vladimir Putin as action man — bare-chested horse rider, black-belt judoka and ice hockey player. Now meet Putin the piano man. The Russian leader played a couple of Soviet-era tunes on a grand piano while waiting to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Sunday. His impromptu performance was filmed and went viral on social media, earning mixed reviews. “It’s too bad that the piano […]
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) – South Korea’s left-leaning new leader Moon Jae-In will travel to the United States for a summit with President Donald Trump next month, Moon’s spokesperson said Tuesday, amid high tensions over the North’s nuclear ambitions. The summit will be held in Washington in late June, Yoon Young-Chan said, adding that details of the precise date and agenda would be decided later. Moon backs engagement with nuclear-armed North Korea to try to […]
SEOUL, South Korea (Reuters) — South Korean President Moon Jae-in visited a primary school in Seoul on Monday (May 15) where he announced a new government air pollution policy that includes shutting down coal-fired power plants that are over 30 years old in June to mitigate air pollution. The measure comes as coal-fired power plants are being criticized for contributing to deteriorating air quality in South Korea, Asia’s fourth-largest economy. Amid these concerns, new President […]
BEIJING, China (Reuters) — President Vladimir Putin said on Monday (May 15) that Russia saw no need to arm the Syrian Kurds, but said Moscow would maintain working contacts with them. Putin said the fact that the Kurds were engaged in the fight against Islamic State militants meant it made sense to maintain working contacts with them however “even if it’s only to avoid (accidental) clashes.” Putin also that intelligence services should be aware of […]
by Rob Lever / with Alice Tidey in London Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Security researchers on Monday reported signs of a potential North Korea link to the massive cyberattack campaign that sparked havoc in computer systems worldwide and opened fresh political rifts between Russia and the United States. After days of disruptions affecting networks worldwide, a top US official said the number of computers affected had reached 300,000, but that infection […]
SEOUL , South Korea (AFP) — North Korea Monday celebrated the launch of what appeared to be its longest-range ballistic missile yet tested in a bid to bring the United States mainland within reach, saying it was capable of carrying a “heavy nuclear warhead.” Leader Kim Jong-Un personally oversaw the test on Sunday, the official Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) said, and pictures by state media showed him gazing at the missile in a hangar […]
BEIJING, China — President Xi Jinping criticized protectionism on Monday at a summit positioning China as a champion of globalization, and secured a free trade commitment from almost 30 other world leaders as the meeting wound up. Xi addressed the leaders–including Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte—on the second day of the forum on his new Silk Road plan, a huge infrastructure project intended to revive ancient land and sea trade routes from Asia to Europe and […]
HONG KONG, China (AFP) – A group of refugees who sheltered fugitive whistleblower Edward Snowden in Hong Kong are facing deportation after the city’s authorities rejected their bid for protection, their lawyer said Monday. The Philippine and Sri Lankan refugees helped the former National Security Agency contractor evade authorities in 2013 by hiding him in their cramped homes after he initiated one of the largest data leaks in United States history. They have spent years, […]
