Asia

Singapore expects Zika to spread as cases surpass 250

  SINGAPORE, Singapore (AFP) –The number of cases of the mosquito-borne Zika virus in Singapore reached 258 Monday, with health authorities warning it is no longer contained in one part of the city-state and likely to spread further. In a joint statement, the Ministry of Health and the National Environment Agency confirmed 16 new cases, four of which were not linked to existing cluster areas. “Over time, we expect Zika cases to emerge in more […]

Five things to take away from the G20 summit

HANGZHOU, China (AFP) — This year’s most exclusive and closely-watched diplomatic party –- the G20 summit –- saw presidents and prime ministers from countries representing 85 percent of the global economy gather in the Chinese city of Hangzhou. How did the first China-hosted G20 go? While analysts correctly foresaw little prospect of big economic breakthroughs, there were some notable moments –- and notable flops. As heads of state bid farewell to the scenic city, which […]

Third blast after 24 killed in Kabul carnage

KABUL, Afghanistan (AFP) – by Usman SHARIFI A third massive explosion shook central Kabul late Monday, hours after a Taliban double bombing killed at least 24 people and left 91 others wounded, in another day of carnage in the Afghan capital. Authorities said they were trying to pin down the location of the third blast and there was no immediate claim of responsibility from any militant group. It jolted the capital just hours after high-level […]

Twin Taliban suicide blasts in Kabul kill 24, wound 91

KABUL, Afghanistan (AFP) – by Usman SHARIFI At least 24 people were killed and 91 wounded Monday in a Taliban double suicide bombing in central Kabul during late afternoon rush hour, the latest assault on the Afghan capital. The carnage near the defence ministry came as the Taliban ramp up their nationwide summer offensive against the US-backed government. The two bombers on foot blew themselves up in rapid succession, in an assault apparently aimed at inflicting […]

Syria talks intrude as G20 tackles global economy

by Sarah STEWART HANGZHOU, China (AFP) — G20 leaders met Monday under pressure to reboot the world economy, but a stumbling push for a Syria ceasefire and Asia’s heated territorial disputes intruded on the summit in Hangzhou. There had been hopes of a breakthrough in stemming the Syria conflict after the US said it was close to a deal with Russia. But frantic diplomacy ended in failure, with Moscow accused of backtracking. A US official […]

Obama meets Putin on G20 sidelines: White House

HANGZHOU, China (AFP) — Presidents Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin met Monday on the margins of the G20 summit in China, the White House said, hours after their diplomats failed to reach a deal on Syria. “The President is taking part in a pull-aside with President Putin of Russia,” said National Security Council spokesman Ned Price. “We expect to provide additional details of their discussion later today.” © 1994-2016 Agence France-Presse

Philippines worried, says more Chinese boats spotted at disputed shoal

  (REUTERS) The Philippines expressed “grave concern” on Sunday and demanded an explanation from China’s ambassador over what it said was an increasing number of Chinese boats near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. A Philippines air force plane flew over the rocky outcrop on Saturday and spotted more boats than usual in a flotilla China has maintained since seizing the shoal after a tense standoff in 2012, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana […]

China’s Xi and Japan’s Abe to meet at G20

HANGZHOU, China (AFP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in China Monday, Tokyo said, their first meeting in more than a year with their nations divided by territorial disputes and recriminations over history. “There are difficult issues between Japan and China, and because of that, it is important that the leaders exchange honest opinions and make improvements,” chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters. The meeting will follow the […]

North Korea fires three ballistic missiles into sea: South Korea

  (REUTERS)  North Korea fired three ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast on Monday, said South Korea, as the leaders of the Group of 20 major economies held a summit in China, the North’s main diplomatic ally. The missiles were fired from a western region south of the capital Pyongyang, just after noon local time (0300 GMT), South Korea’s Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. The missile […]

Bangladesh hangs top financier of largest Islamist party

  DHAKA, Bangladesh (AFP) — Bangladesh hanged a wealthy tycoon and top financial backer of its largest Islamist party late Saturday for war crimes, dealing a massive blow to the group’s ambitions in the Muslim-majority nation. Mir Quasem Ali, a key leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was executed after being convicted by a controversial war crimes tribunal for offences committed during the 1971 independence conflict with Pakistan. The 63-year-old was hanged at the Kashimpur high […]

Hangzhou shuts down for G20

  (Reuters) — Hangzhou is looking like a ghost town, as authorities have closed down shops and ramped up security checks to ensure its first-ever G20 summit passes off perfectly As of Friday (September 3), highways around the G20 venue were virtually empty except for a few cars. Reuters journalists were warned by men who identified themselves as “neighbourhood watch volunteers” not to film in a residential area not far from the G20 venue. In […]

Islam Karimov: Ex-Soviet strongman who dominated Uzbekistan

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) – by Max DELANY Lambasted for brutally crushing dissent, Uzbekistan’s President Islam Karimov kept a stranglehold on power for over 25 years — even at the expense of his own daughter. The veteran leader, 78, whose death was officially announced on Friday several days after he suffered a stroke, played Russia, China and the West off against one other to avoid total isolation as he steered his strategic state out of the […]