Seoul, South Korea | AFP | North Korea announced Monday that its recent spate of missile launches were “tactical nuclear” drills that simulated striking airports and military facilities across the South. Leader Kim Jong Un personally oversaw the exercises, state media said, adding that they showed the country’s nuclear combat forces were “fully ready to hit and wipe out” the enemy. Here is what we know: What are tactical nukes? Tactical nuclear weapons are designed […]
Asia
Taiwan leader vows ‘no compromise’ on freedom, democracy
by Amber WANG Agence France-Presse TAIPEI, Taiwan (AFP) — Taiwan’s leader warned Beijing on Monday that the island would never give up its democratic way of life in a national day speech in which she drew parallels with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The self-ruled democracy’s 23 million people live under the constant threat of invasion by China’s Communist Party, and Moscow’s war in Ukraine has deepened fears that Beijing might attempt something similar with the […]
N. Korea says recent tests were ‘tactical nuclear’ drills, overseen by Kim
by Cat Barton and Sunghee Hwang Agence France-Presse SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea’s recent missile tests involved “tactical nuclear” drills to simulate hitting the South, and were overseen by leader Kim Jong Un in response to US-led joint military exercises in the region, state media said Monday. Kim made acquiring tactical nukes — smaller, lighter weapons designed for battlefield use — a top priority at a key party congress in January 2021, and […]
Tortured domestic worker seeks compensation in Hong Kong
Hong Kong, China | AFP | An Indonesian woman who suffered daily “torture” as a domestic worker in Hong Kong went to court Thursday to seek compensation from her employers over treatment that left her physically scarred and mentally traumatised. The abuse meted out to Kartika Puspitasari, 40, made headlines a decade ago and sparked protests over the treatment of foreign helpers in Hong Kong. Her employers, who were convicted and jailed, waged a two-year campaign […]
Philippine court dismisses tax case against Pacquiao
Manila, Philippines | AFP | Philippine boxing legend Manny Pacquiao on Friday won a years-long court battle to avoid paying tens of millions of dollars in extra taxes after an appeals court dismissed the case against him. “The Court finds that the subject assessment for deficiency income tax is void for violation of petitioners’ right to due process and for lack of sufficient factual basis,” the Court of Tax Appeals said in its ruling. Pacquiao […]
More than 1 million displaced since Myanmar coup: UN
Yangon, Myanmar (AFP) More than one million people have been displaced in Myanmar since the military coup last year, the United Nations children’s agency has said. The Southeast Asian nation has been in turmoil since the military ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s government last year, sparking widespread armed resistance. The junta has responded with a crackdown that rights groups say includes razing villages, mass extrajudicial killings and airstrikes on civilians. Since the coup and as […]
US, Philippines reinforce alliance with joint military drills
San Antonio, Philippines | AFP | by Mikhail FLORES US and Philippine marines stormed a beach near a disputed rocky outcrop in the South China Sea on Friday as part of joint military drills involving more than 3,500 troops. It is the first time the annual naval exercises have been held under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, who has expressed strong support for the decades-old alliance, after rocky relations under his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte. But Marcos told US […]
Families mourn Thai nursery dead ahead of king’s visit
by Montira Rungjirajittranon with Thanaporn Promyamyai in Bangkok Agence France-Presse NA KLANG, Thailand (AFP) — Weeping, grief-stricken families gathered Friday outside a Thai nursery where an ex-policeman murdered nearly two dozen children in one of the kingdom’s worst mass killings. Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha will later visit survivors of the attack that left at least 37 people dead, including the attacker’s wife and child. Overnight, coffins carrying the bodies of […]
Thai king to visit nursery shooting survivors
BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — The Thai king will on Friday visit survivors of a gun and knife attack on a nursery that left at least 37 people dead, most of them young children. King Maha Vajiralongkorn will meet families reeling from the tragedy in northeastern Nong Bua Lam Phu province, as will Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, a government spokesman said. Thailand has begun mourning one of its deadliest mass killings, with flags on government buildings […]
Gunman murders at least 37 in Thai nursery attack
Udon Thani, Thailand | AFP | by Montira Rungjirajittranon with Thanaporn Promyamyai in Bangkok A former police officer shot dead at least 37 people, most of them children, when he stormed a nursery in Thailand on Thursday in one of the kingdom’s deadliest mass killings. Following the attack, gunman Panya Khamrab went home and killed his wife and child before taking his own life, police said. Armed with a shotgun, pistol and knife, Panya opened fire […]
UPDATE: Gunman murders at least 30 in Thai nursery attack: police
Man behind Thurs's mass shooting at childcare centre in Nong Bua Lamphu which killed 30, many children, identified by police as former officer, pol sergeant Panya Kamrab. Assailant fled on a white pickup with Bangkok licence plate 6 กธ [Kor Tor]6499. #Thailand #กราดยิงหนองบัวลำภู pic.twitter.com/LrvjXFowzu — Khaosod English (@KhaosodEnglish) October 6, 2022 Bangkok, Thailand | AFP | A former police officer armed with a gun and a knife stormed a nursery in northeast Thailand on […]
DEVELOPING: At least 30 dead including children in Thailand nursery attack: police
BANGKOK, Oct 6, 2022 (AFP) – At least 30 people are dead including 23 children after a man armed with a gun and knife stormed a nursery in northeast Thailand on Thursday, police said. Police colonel Jakkapat Vijitraithaya from Nong Bua Lam Phu province said there were 23 child victims and the attacker, a former policeman, was still at large. Man behind Thurs's mass shooting at childcare centre in Nong Bua Lamphu which killed 30, […]
