Asia

Chinese, Philippine presidents to exchange views on improving bilateral relations: FM

BEIJING, China (CCTV) — The presidents of China and the Philippines will exchange views on improving bilateral relations and deepening cooperation, said Geng Shuang, spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Beijing on Wednesday. Geng made the announcement at a daily briefing when asked about the upcoming state visit of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to China. Duterte’s state visit to China will last from Oct 18 to 21. “At the invitation of Chinese President […]

Power cut to 350,000 Tokyo homes in major blackout

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Tokyo was hit by a major blackout Wednesday that temporarily knocked out power to about 350,000 homes and some big office and government buildings, while two train lines were also brought to a halt. Officials said the power outage could be traced to a fire at a facility run by utility Tokyo Electric Power. The cause of the fire was not immediately known. Television footage showed plumes of black smoke billowing […]

Thai police sting nets alleged Golden Triangle drug kingpin

BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) – A controversial and colourful former guerilla fighter long accused of playing a key role in the Golden Triangle drugs trade was arrested during a sting operation Tuesday, Thai police said. Laota Seanlee, who is believed to be 79, was allegedly caught trying to sell 20 kilogrammes of crystal meth to undercover officers from his home in a village on Thailand’s border with Myanmar. The rugged hills of northern Thailand form part […]

S. Korea’s Park urges preparations for mass North defections

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — South Korean President Park Geun-Hye on Tuesday told her government to prepare for large-scale defections from North Korea, just days after direct appealing to its citizens to flee their country. A recent spate of high-profile North Korean defections have provided a propaganda windfall for Seoul, which has spun them into a narrative of a Pyongyang leadership in crisis and riven with descent. Notable defections have included the North’s deputy ambassador […]

China raps US interventions in Asia at regional forum

BEIJING, China (AFP) — Beijing rapped Washington Tuesday for its interventions in Asia, as tensions grow between the two powers over territorial disputes in the South China Sea and how to handle increasingly erratic North Korea. Speaking at the 7th annual Xiangshan regional defence forum in Beijing, Chang Wanguan, China’s defence minister, levied thinly veiled criticism at recent US involvement in Asia’s trouble spots. Washington has conducted freedom of navigation operations close to artificial islands […]

Saudi says $60 oil ‘not unthinkable’ by year-end

ISTANBUL, Turkey (AFP) — Saudi Arabia said on Monday it was “not unthinkable” that the price of crude oil could surge to $60 a barrel by the end of the year but warned against drastic production cuts that might shock markets. Speaking in the opening keynote speech at the World Energy Congress in Istanbul, Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih said that whatever the oil price the kingdom was in good shape to implement its reform […]

Taiwan calls for renewed talks with China

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AFP) — Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Monday called for a resumption of talks with China and pledged that “anything” can be on the table for discussion. Relations with Beijing have deteriorated under Taiwan’s first female president, whose China-sceptic Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) took office in May after a landslide victory over the Kuomintang party (KMT). Tsai has refused to accept the concept of “one China”, prompting Beijing to cut off all official […]

Putin in Turkey to push energy deals despite Syria crisis

by Stuart WILLIAMS ISTANBUL, Turkey (AFP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Turkey on Monday for talks with counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, pushing forward ambitious joint energy projects as the two sides try to overcome a crisis in ties. Only a few months ago, Putin and Erdogan were exchanging acrimonious accusations over Syria. But the pair are expected to reaffirm their commitment to the planned TurkStream gas pipeline to pump Russian gas under the Black […]

China house collapse buries more than 20: report

BEIJING, China (AFP) — More than 20 people were buried under rubble after four houses collapsed in China on Monday, a local government and state media reported. The buildings caved in during the early hours in Wenzhou in the eastern province of Zhejiang, the Lucheng district government said in a statement. The Xinhua news agency said on social media that an “initial estimate” was that more than 20 people had been buried. The Lucheng government […]

Car bomb attack kills 18 at Turkish military checkpoint

ANKARA, Turkey (AFP) — Eighteen people were killed Sunday when a van packed with five tonnes of explosives blew up in Turkey’s restive southeast, the prime minister said, in an attack blamed on Kurdish militants. The bombing, which killed 10 soldiers and eight civilians, was one of the deadliest attacks on Turkish security forces since the attempted coup of July 15 when a rogue military faction tried to oust President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. “The attack […]

Activity at N. Korea nuclear site fuels test fears

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — Analysis of recent satellite images of North Korea’s nuclear test site shows activity at all three of its tunnel complexes, fuelling speculation of another test ahead of a key political anniversary next week. North Korea has already conducted two nuclear tests this year — in January and September — and experts say it is capable of carrying out a third as soon as the order is given. Past nuclear tests, […]

Blast at Syria-Turkey border kills 20 rebels: monitor

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AFP) — At least 20 Syrian rebels were killed in a blast at a border crossing with Turkey on Thursday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The Britain-based monitoring group said it was unclear what caused the blast at the Atme crossing between Turkey and the northern Syrian province of Idlib, adding that around 20 people had also been wounded. Turkey’s state-run Anatolia news agency confirmed the blast left 20 people dead […]