by Julien Girault, with Hwang Sunghee Agence France Presse BEIJING, China (AFP) — China vowed to remain a good neighbor to North Korea on Thursday, despite a rare and stinging critique in Pyongyang’s state media of its main diplomatic protector and economic benefactor. Beijing offered a measured response to a signed commentary carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), which lashed out at China and said it should be grateful to Pyongyang for its […]
Asia
Toddler and a blind man rescued from two different wells in China
SHANXI PROVINCE, China (CCTV) — A toddler and an elderly blind man were rescued from two different wells in China earlier this week. The toddler fell into a well in Shanxi province on Monday (May 1). Stuck down a hole roughly just 30 centimeters wide, rescue workers called to the scene chose the member with the slightest build to go headfirst into the hole and tie a rope around the child to bring them out. […]
Crane collapses in South Korea, kills five
GEOJE, South Korea (Reuters) – At least five people were killed in Geoje, South Korea on Monday (May 1) after a crane collapsed and fell onto a construction site, fire station authorities said. Samsung Heavy Industries’ 32-tonne crane toppled at around 2:50 p.m. (0550 GMT) injured 20 people. Six of them are in serious condition, authorities added. Geoje is a coastal city located about 400 km (250 miles) southeast of Seoul South Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries […]
China tunnel collapse kills 12
BIJIE, GUIZHOU PROVINCE, China (CCTV) — A tunnel collapse in Southern China’s Guizhou Province killed 12 and injured a further 12 state media reported on Wednesday (May 3). The tunnel, under construction, was intended for a new highspeed rail line, CCTV reported. It collapsed on Tuesday afternoon (May 2) following an explosion. The dead and injured were construction workers, CCTV added. Search and rescue operations concluded on Wednesday morning.
Abe announces plan to revise Japan’s pacifist charter
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday announced plans to seek the first-ever changes to Japan’s post-war pacifist constitution and said he wants the revisions to take effect in 2020. The changes, which would spell out the status of the nation’s “self-defense” military forces, were announced as Japan marked the 70th anniversary of the constitution written by American occupiers. The charter, which renounces Japan’s right to wage war, has been championed by […]
Blast in Afghan capital kills four
KABUL, Afghanistan (Reuters) — A suicide bombing near the U.S. embassy in Kabul on Wednesday (May 3) killed four people and wounded at least 22, Afghan officials said, in an attack on a convoy of armored personnel carriers used by the NATO-led Resolute Support mission. The blast hit the NATO coalition convoy during the morning rush hour in one of the busiest areas of Kabul. There was no immediate word on whether any foreign troops […]
China demands US halt missile shield in S. Korea
BEIJING, China (AFP) — China called Tuesday for the immediate suspension of a controversial missile defense system hours after Washington confirmed the shield was now operational in South Korea. “China’s position is clear-cut and firm. We oppose the deployment of the (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system in (South Korea) and urge relevant sides to immediately stop the deployment. We will firmly take necessary measures to uphold our interests,” foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at […]
S.Korea says U.S. strategic bombers flew over Korean peninsula in joint drill
OSAN, South Korea (Reuters) — Two U.S. B-1B bombers were deployed over the Korean peninsula on Monday (May 1) during a joint drill with South Korea’s air force, South Korea’s ministry said. South Korean Defence Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun told a briefing that the deployment of U.S. bombers was part of efforts to deter provocation by North Korea and respond to threats posed by the North’s nuclear and missile programs.
Merkel makes rare Russia visit as Putin backs warmer ties
by Jan Dörner Agence France Presse SOCHI, Russia (AFP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel will Tuesday meet President Vladimir Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi in her first visit to Russia since 2015, signalling renewed dialogue between Berlin and Moscow. The Russian and German leaders have scaled back links as Moscow’s ties with the European Union have plunged to a post-Cold War low. Merkel has strongly backed European Union sanctions on Moscow for seizing Crimea […]
US-led strikes against IS have killed 352 civilians: Pentagon
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — United States-led strikes aimed against the Islamic State group have “unintentionally” killed 352 civilians since the offensive began in 2014, according to the US military. The tally from the Combined Joint Task Force did not include findings from an investigation the coalition said it had launched into one allegedly particularly deadly strike on March 17 in west Mosul. US General Stephen Townsend had said coalition forces “probably had a role […]
N. Korea warns of nuclear test ‘at any time’
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea warned Monday that it will carry out a nuclear test “at any time and at any location” set by its leadership, in the latest rhetoric to fuel jitters in the region. Tensions on the Korean peninsula have been running high for weeks, with signs that the North might be preparing a long-range missile launch or a sixth nuclear test — and with Washington refusing to rule out a […]
Celebration and protest as Indonesian leader visits Hong Kong
by Elaine Yu Agence France Presse HONG KONG, China — Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo was greeted by a mixture of celebration and protest in Hong Kong Sunday with calls to improve working conditions for the city’s army of foreign maids. There are around 170,000 Indonesians living in Hong Kong, many of them employed as domestic helpers, and concern over exploitation is growing after a string of abuse cases. In a rock concert atmosphere, Widodo was […]