International

Japan protests to Russia over man detained on disputed island

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan on Monday lodged a diplomatic protest with Russia over the detention of a Japanese citizen visiting an island disputed by the two countries. Tokyo and Moscow are working to resolve decades of tensions over four islands occupied by the Soviet Union in the closing days of World War II and now controlled by Russia. The man, who has not been identified, was detained following baggage checks conducted ahead of his […]

Taiwan probes leading bank linked to Panama Papers

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AFP) — Taiwan is investigating a bank linked to the so-called Panama Papers scandal, in the wake of a $180 million fine levied by US authorities for “flagrant disregard” of anti-money laundering laws. American regulators last week said Taiwan’s Mega International Commercial Bank showed indifference towards transactions carried out through Panama, which it calls a “high-risk jurisdiction for money-laundering”. The US Department of Financial Services (DFS) said it had identified “suspicious transactions” between […]

‘IS child bomber’ kills at least 51 at Turkey wedding

by Ilyas Akengin with Raziye Akkoc in Ankara A suicide bomber as young as 12 killed at least 51 people at a wedding in Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday, pointing the finger at the Islamic State group. Erdogan said Saturday’s blast in Gaziantep near the Syria border “was the result of a suicide bomber aged between 12 and 14 who either detonated (the bomb) or others detonated it.” The explosion was the latest […]

Fireworks light up the sky at Olympics closing ceremony

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) — A blustery storm, a touch of melancholy and a sense of pride converged at the closing ceremony of the 2016 Olympics on Sunday (August 21) as Brazil breathed a collective sigh of relief at having pulled off South America’s first Games. Fireworks marked key moments during the evening and brought an end to over two weeks of sporting action. It was far from a perfect execution by Brazil, which […]

DOLE aims more labor staff in Saudi Arabia

Labor Secretary Sivestre Bello III is looking into adding more personnel to the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO) to help more OFWs, particuarly those who are jobless due to oil price drop. “Unang-una, we will recommend additional officers kasi dito lang sa Jeddah there are more than 300,000 migrant workers. Ilan lang ang tao dito, wala pa yatang 20. How can you cater the needs of our contract workers kung ganyan lang ang manpower mo?”, […]

Philippines remains committed to the United Nations – foreign minister

  (REUTERS)  The Philippine is not leaving the United Nations, the foreign minister said on Monday, a day after President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to quit the body after it called for an end to the wave of killings unleashed by his war on drugs. Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay said Duterte’s statement “is a statement expressing profound disappointment and frustration”. “We are committed to the U.N. despite our numerous frustrations with this international agency,” Yasay […]

Rio sends off Games with tropical tribute

  (Reuters)  A blustery storm, a touch of melancholy and a sense of pride converged at the closing ceremony of the 2016 Olympics on Sunday as Brazil breathed a collective sigh of relief at having pulled off South America’s first Games. It was far from a perfect execution by Brazil, which battled with empty seats, security scares and a mysterious green diving pool. But two late gold medals for the host country in its two […]

Landmark Hearst Castle closed as California wildfires bear down

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Firefighters in California said they are making progress slowing the advance of several devastating wildfires, but authorities ordered the temporary closure of a historic villa in the path of one dangerous inferno. The iconic Hearst Castle, also known as San Simeon, is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the state, drawing millions of visitors each year, according to local tourism officials. Administrators of the castle — a national […]

Germany to tell people to stockpile food and water in case of attacks: FAS

  (REUTERS)  For the first time since the end of the Cold War, the German government plans to tell citizens to stockpile food and water in case of an attack or catastrophe, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung newspaper reported on Sunday. Germany is currently on high alert after two Islamist attacks and a shooting rampage by a mentally unstable teenager last month. Berlin announced measures earlier this month to spend considerably more on its police and […]

Hundreds of flights grounded as typhoon nears Japan

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — A powerful typhoon was on course for a direct hit on Tokyo Monday, with nearly 400 flights grounded due to heavy rain and strong winds. Strong typhoon Mindulle was expected to make landfall around noon, moving upwards from the Japanese capital to the northern Tohoku region, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. Packing gusts up to 180 kilometers (110 miles) per hour, the storm was heading north at a speed of 25 […]

Lochte apologizes to Brazil on national TV

  (REUTERS)  U.S. gold medalist Ryan Lochte admitted to Brazil’s largest broadcaster Saturday night that he had exaggerated his story about being robbed at gunpoint in Rio – but insisted he did not lie. In an interview aired on Globo TV after the proud soccer country won its first Olympic gold in a penalty shootout, Lochte apologized to the nation. “I’m sorry,” one of America’s most decorated Olympic swimmers said. “Brazil doesn’t deserve that.” The […]

S. Korea-US military drill shadowed by N. Korea threats

by Giles HEWITT SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — Tens of thousands of South Korean and US troops began a military exercise simulating an all-out North Korean attack Monday, as Pyongyang threatened a pre-emptive strike on forces participating in the drill. The two-week annual Ulchi Freedom exercise is largely computer-simulated, but still involves 50,000 Korean and 30,000 US soldiers. The drill always triggers a spike in tensions on the divided Korean peninsula, and this year it […]