(REUTERS) China will offer its first regular civilian cruises to the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea by 2020, state media said on Wednesday, a move likely to irk other claimants to the disputed waters. China’s activities in the contested area, such as building artificial islands, airfields and other military facilities, have fueled tension in Southeast Asia, although it says most of the construction is for civilian purposes. The island province of Hainan […]
International
Brexit may impair UK’s capacity to fight terrorism: expert
(Courtesy CCTV) — The UK risks losing the opportunity for international cooperation in the fight against terrorism should it decide to leave the European Union, anti-terrorism expert Nigel Inkster said on Tuesday. Inkster is a former Director of Intelligence and Operations for MI6 and is now Director of Future Conflict and Cyber Security. He said staying with the EU will help Britain maintain its traditional relations with EU partners in intelligence sharing, especially for […]
China to launch cruises to disputed Spratly islands
BEIJING, China (AFP) — Chinese cruise ships will regularly bring tourists to the contested Spratly Islands in the South China Sea by 2020, reports said Wednesday, as tensions mount in the region. Beijing asserts sovereignty over almost all of the strategically vital South China Sea, despite rival claims from Southeast Asian neighbours, and has rapidly built reefs into artificial islands capable of hosting military planes. Chinese companies already operate cruises — for Chinese nationals only […]
Lightning kills at least 67 as monsoon sweeps India
NEW DELHI, India (AFP) — At least 67 people have been killed by lightning in India over the past two days, disaster management officials said Wednesday, as the annual monsoon rains sweep the country. Lightning strikes are relatively common in India during the June-October monsoon, which hit the southern coast earlier this month, but this week’s toll is particularly high. An overnight storm in the eastern state of Bihar killed at least 47 people and […]
South Korea denounces the North’s missile launch
South Korea on Wednesday (June 22) denounced North Korea’s ballistic missile launch, saying it is clearly an act of provocation. North Korea launched what appeared to be a second intermediate-range Musudan missile on Wednesday that flew about 400 km (250 miles), in what seemed to be its most effective test yet, hours after another launch failed, South Korea’s military said. “A launch of a projectile using ballistic missile technology violates U.N. resolutions. And it is […]
‘Fete de la Musique’ opens in Paris amid heightened security
The 35th ‘Fete de la Musique’, an annual one-day music festival that takes place across France, kicked off in Paris on Tuesday (June 21) amid heightened security for the Euro 2016 soccer tournament. The French tradition to welcome the summer brought musicians of all genres on to the streets of the capital for free concerts. Bands played in the streets as people sitting in cafes and bars looked on, while members of the police force […]
Storms rip through parts of New Jersey
Storms as well as a possible tornado slammed parts of New Jersey on Tuesday (June 21), leaving a trail of damage in neighborhoods in the southern part of the state. A tornado warning was in effect for Cape May County, local media said, citing the National Weather Service. Aerial images showed streets littered with debris and downed trees that proved no match for the powerful storm system. Thousands of homes were left without power and […]
Japan landslides, floods death toll rises to six
TOKYO, United States (AFP) — The death toll from landslides and floods in an earthquake-battered region of southern Japan has risen to six, an official said Wednesday, with all missing now accounted for. A man in his 80s and a 53-year-old woman were confirmed dead after being found Tuesday by rescuers where landslides hit in the southern prefecture of Kumamoto. “We found the last person who had been missing yesterday… the woman was confirmed dead,” […]
Two L.A.-area wildfires merge after forcing evacuations
Two rapidly growing wildfires merged in the parched foothills just northeast of Los Angeles on Tuesday (June 21), forcing the evacuation of more than 800 homes, officials said. The two fires erupted as California and other southwestern U.S. states baked in a heat wave. The so-called Fish Fire and the Reservoir Fire, which both broke out on Monday in the Angeles National Forest, and now jointly referred to by authorities as the San Gabriel Complex, […]
UK’s Leave and Remain campaigns clash in debate before EU referendum
UK’s Leave and Remain campaigners clashed in a televised debated on Tuesday (June 21) night in a last-ditched effort to persuade voters to stick with, or ditch, the European Union. On Thursday (June 23) Britons will vote to decide whether to quit the bloc they joined in 1973, a choice with far-reaching economic and political consequences for Britain and the whole of Europe. The Leave campaign, led by Conservative MP Boris Johnson, accused the opposition […]
Haitian lawmakers delay decision on extending interim president’s mandate
Haitian legislators on Tuesday (June 21) delayed a vote on whether to extend the mandate of interim President Jocelerme Privert. Dozens of demonstrators supporting the interim government of interim President Jocelerme Privert protested outside a heavily guarded National Assembly. Some reports indicated that some legislators could not reach the building because of the protesters. Other reports said legislators simply did not show up. The Caribbean nation held a first-round vote in October, but a second-round […]
Abe pledges to boost economy as upper house poll campaign begins
(REUTERS) Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe began an upper house election campaign on Wednesday with a pledge to rev-up the economy as surveys showed his ruling bloc ahead, despite doubts over Abe’s economic growth recipe. Abe’s coalition is in no danger of losing power in the election but he needs a solid win to keep his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lawmakers in line and perhaps stay on another three years after his tenure as […]
