MAY 22 (Reuters) — A suicide bomber blew himself up at a Shi’ite mosque in eastern Saudi Arabia during Friday prayers, residents said, killing and wounding several people. A video filmed by someone at the scene showed a severed leg lying on the ground amongst debris scattered across the mosque’s carpet. One witness described a huge explosion at the Imam Ali mosque in the village of al-Qadeeh. He estimated there were at least 30 casualties […]
Asia
First Hello Kitty restaurant serving Chinese cuisine opens in Hong Kong
MAY 22 — Braving the rain, fans of Hello Kitty lined up in Hong Kong to eat in a Chinese-style restaurant dedicated to the Japanese cartoon. Though Hello Kitty-themed restaurants and cafes already exist around the world, and in Hong Kong, none are known to serve traditional Chinese cuisine. Man Kwong, the restaurant owner says his is a world f
U.S says South China Sea reclamations stoke instability
MAY 22 (Reuters) — China’s land reclamation around reefs in the disputed South China Sea is undermining freedom and stability, and risks provoking tension that could even lead to conflict, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken told a conference in Jakarta on Wednesday (May 20). China claims 90 percent of the South China Sea, which is believed to be rich in oil and gas, its claims overlapping with those of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, […]
Taiwanese man creates full body replica of Iron Man suit
Taiwanese Wu You-ting has taken Iron Man fandom to a whole new level. Wu, 28, had always considered himself a fan of millionaire-turned crime-fighting cyberborg comic hero Iron Man, but it was not until he saw the film’s third installment at a local theater that he was inspired to build his own suit of armor. “I really like Iron Man. Once I went to see the movie and saw the movie theater placing the (full […]
Robert De Niro opens luxury hotel in Manila
MAY 19 (Reuters) — Hollywood actor Robert De Niro and Japanese Chef Nobu Matsuhisa opened luxury hotel Nobu in a 1.3 billion USD gambling complex Manila on Monday (May 18). The Nobu Hotel is one of the three hotels being built in the Manila-based City of Dreams casino-resort, a joint venture of Melco Crown and local leisure firm Belle Corp, which features a posh night club and a Hollywood-style theme park. Co-owners Matsuhisa and de […]
Kerry calls for U.S. soldiers in South Korea to prepare for “every eventuality”
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday (May 18) asked American troops stationed in South Korea to prepare for possible provocation from North Korea. Kerry visited Yongsan Garrison in Seoul and delivered a speech to some of the U.S soldiers stationed there. “Here, particular in this part of the world, as we see (North Korean leader) Kim Jong Un engaging in these extraordinary provocative activities, building nuclear weapons against all of the UN […]
Kerry says North Korea remains far from steps needed for talks with U.S.
MAY 18 (Reuters) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday (May 18) North Korea has “not even come close” to taking the steps needed to rein in its nuclear weapons programme to initiate talks, adding the United States was considering further sanctions. Speaking in the South Korean capital, Kerry said Washington continued to offer the isolated North the chance for an improved relationship in return for signs of a genuine willingness to […]
U.S. Secretary of State Kerry meets Chinese President Xi Jinping
(Reuters) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Sunday (May 17). Kerry is on a two-day visit to China officially to advance U.S. priorities ahead of the Strategic and Economic dialogue in Washington later in the year and President Xi’s visit to Washington in September. On Saturday (May 16), Kerry met with senior Chinese officials including Premier Li Keqiang and his counterpart Foreign Minister Wang Yi. […]
Kerry tells China to reduce tension in disputed South China Sea
MAY 16 (Reuters) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has urged China to take action to reduce tension in the South China Sea and expressed concern about the pace and scope of Beijing’s land reclamation in the disputed area. Kerry, speaking at a joint news conference with China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, said China and the United States were committed to finalizing a deal that would block paths for Iran to obtain fissile material. […]
China is “seriously concerned” about Pentagon’s plan to send military aircraft to South China Sea
MAY 14 (Reuters) — The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday voiced China’s “serious concern” toward a U.S. official’s remarks on the Pentagon’s plan to send military aircraft and ships to the South China Sea. Spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a routine press briefing that the U.S. side should clarify relevant remarks. According to a Reuters report, a U.S. official said on Tuesday the Pentagon is considering sending U.S. military aircraft and ships to “assert freedom […]
Aftershocks in Nepal kills 70
MAY 13 — An aftershock affected Nepal, India and Tibet resulting in 70 deaths in Nepal, 17 in India and a women dying in a landslide in Tibet. (Kathmandu, Nepal)
Magnitude 6.8 earthquake hits Japan
MAY 13 — According to United States Geological Survey a magnitude 6.8 earthquake hit Japan, affecting various areas including Tokyo. No tsunami threat was issued. (Tokyo, Japan) (Eagle News Service Jay Paul Carlos, Jericho Morales, MRFaith Bonalos)
