PADANG, Indonesia (Reuters) — A massive quake struck on Wednesday (March 2) off the Indonesia island of Sumatra, leading to panic among residents. Residents of Padang, capital of west Sumatra province, left for higher ground seeking safety. Heavy traffic could be seen on the roads. The region was devastated by the 2004 Indian Ocean quake and tsunami, but initial fears of another region-wide disaster faded as tsunami warnings were cancelled. Indonesia and Australian authorities called […]
Asia
Powerful quake in western in Indonesia sparks panic
PADANG, Indonesia (AFP) — A powerful and shallow earthquake struck Wednesday off Indonesia’s Sumatra island, sending panicked residents rushing from their homes in a region hit hard by quakes and tsunamis in the past. Local authorities initially issued a tsunami warning but lifted it several hours later, and there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. The 7.8 magnitude undersea quake struck at a depth of 24 kilometres (15 miles) at about 6:50 pm […]
N. Korea fires short-range projectiles
Seoul, South Korea (AFP)—North Korea fired short-range projectiles into the sea off its eastern coast on Thursday, South Korea’s defense ministry said, hours after the United Nations Security Council imposed tough new sanctions on Pyongyang. The ministry said six projectiles with an apparent range of 100-150 kilometers (60-90 miles) were fired into the East Sea (Sea of Japan) at 10 a.m. (0100 GMT). Spokesperson Moon Sang-Gyun said the ministry was still analyzing whether they were […]
S. Korea’s Park says UN sanctions send strong message to North
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — South Korean President Park Geun-Hye on Thursday welcomed tough new UN sanctions on North Korea, saying they sent a powerful message to Pyongyang to discard its nuclear weapons ambitions. “I sincerely hope that the North will now abandon its nuclear development programme and embark on a path of change,” said Park, who has taken an increasingly hardline stance with Pyongyang following its nuclear test in January and last month’s […]
Dead German in drifting yacht had heart attack: Philippines police
MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — A German man whose mummified body was found on a yacht adrift off the southern Philippines had died of a heart attack about a week earlier, according to an autopsy report released Wednesday. Police earlier named the victim based on documents found on the yacht on Friday as Manfred Fritz Bajorat of Germany, but they have yet to establish where he had sailed from or where he was heading. “The […]
NATO commander warns of increased Russian activity in Ukraine, Syria
ARLINGTON, Virginia, United States (Reuters) — Russia’s military activity in eastern Ukraine has increased and broaden recently, NATO’s top commander said on Tuesday (March 1), warning that the risk of confrontation between Turkey and Russia over Syria remained high. U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove, the NATO supreme allied commander, said that Russia’s involvement in the conflict in Syria has “complicated the problem”. “Despite public pronouncements to the contrary, today Russia has done little to […]
Philippines asks China to respect tribunal ruling
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines asked China to be a responsible member of the international community by respect the ruling that will be laid down by the international arbitral tribunal regarding the disputed territories in the West Philippine Sea. China refused to acknowledge the case filed by the Philippines in the international court. (Eagle News Service Described by Jay Paul Carlos, Video Editing by Dexter Magno, Uploaded by MRFaith Bonalos)
Blizzard hits northern Japan
YOICHI and CHITOSE, Japan (Reuters) — Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido is in the midst of one of the worst snowstorm in years, the Japan Meteorological Agency said on Tuesday (March 1). The agency recorded winds of up to 40 meters (131 feet) per second or 144 kilometers (90 miles) per hour in the morning. Media reports said more than 40 centimeters (15 inches) of snow were expected by early Wednesday (March 2). Residents were […]
Hopes fade for Suu Kyi deal as Myanmar hastens presidential vote
NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar (AFP) — Myanmar’s parliament will bring forward a vote for the next president to March 10, it was announced Tuesday, leaving little time for Aung San Suu Kyi to strike a deal to let her take the top office. The democracy icon is currently banned from becoming president under the junta-era constitution. Since her National League for Democracy (NLD) party’s crushing victory at elections in November, Suu Kyi has been locked in negotiations with the […]
Indonesia beefs up security ahead of international summit
JAKARTA, Indonesia (Reuters) — About a thousand Indonesian military and police personnel gathered at the capital’s National Monument on Tuesday (March 1) for a security drill ahead of the 5th OIC (Organisation Of Islamic Cooperation) Extraordinary Summit which will be attended by leaders of 57 Islamic countries. Indonesian army commander, Gatot Nurmantyo, oversaw the drill and said around 10,150 security personnel will be ready for the event. “Do not tolerate and compromise on any suspicious […]
South Korean president says door not shut on dialog with the North
SEOUL, South Korea (Reuters) — Seoul will not shut the door to dialogue with North Korea, South Korean President Park Geun-hye said on Tuesday (March 1), but warned that Pyongyang, facing new U.N. sanctions, would be subject to even greater pressure as long as it stuck to its nuclear programme. The U.N. Security Council is expected to vote soon on a resolution drafted by the United States and backed by China, the North’s main ally, […]
North Korea must ‘pay price’ for latest nuclear test–South Korea’s Park
Seoul, South Korea (AFP)—North Korea must pay the price for its latest nuclear test and rocket launch, South Korean President Park Geun-Hye said Tuesday, vowing to pressure Pyongyang into accepting denuclearization as its only viable option for survival. In a televised speech to mark the anniversary of the 1919 independence movement against Japanese rule over the Korean peninsula, Park said failure to respond to the North’s “reckless provocations” would only result in further nuclear […]
