Asia

Australia widens MH370 search following French satellite information

Australia has widened its search for a missing Malaysian Airlines flight after more airpower joined the effort. The move comes after French satellites spotted potential “floating debris” in the southern Indian Ocean.  Chinese and Japanese planes on Monday joined the renewed search effort for a Malaysian airliner that has been missing more than two weeks. Australian authorities have been scouring an area 2,500 kilometers (1,500 miles) southwest of Perth after several satellite sightings of potential […]

Thailand in limbo after election annulled; economy suffering

(Reuters) – Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Friday annulled last month’s general election, leaving the country in political limbo without a full government and further undermining a prime minister faced with impeachment over a failed rice subsidy scheme. Weakened by five months of unrest, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is expected to defend herself before an anti-corruption commission by March 31, and a decision to seek her impeachment could come soon after that, with the Senate expected […]

Japan Condemns Russia’s Move to Annex Crimea

International crisis in Ukraine continues to escalate as Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a treaty that returns Crimea to Russia. The Japanese government condemned Russia’s move, reiterating that this infringes Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that Japan would consult with Group of Seven allies and would look into on taking further steps against Russia.

Investigations into missing Malaysian jet appear deadlocked

(Reuters) – Investigations into the mystery of a missing Malaysian jet appeared to be at a deadlock on Wednesday, with no conclusive evidence of foul play and doubts whether nations would share military tracking data that could show where the plane may have headed. Eleven days have passed since Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 went missing, and 26 nations are struggling to search for the airliner over an area more than two-thirds the size of the […]

‘Good night’: Haunting final contact from missing Malaysian jet

(Reuters) – The last words from the cockpit of missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 – “all right, good night” – were uttered after someone on board had already begun disabling one of the plane’s automatic tracking systems, a senior Malaysian official said. Both the timing and informal nature of the phrase, spoken to air traffic controllers as the plane with 239 people aboard was leaving Malaysian-run airspace on a March 8 flight to Beijing, could […]