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By Tomohiro OSAKI, Natsuko FUKUE TOKYO, March 8, 2024 (AFP) – The creator of Japan’s hugely popular and influential “Dragon Ball” comics and anime cartoons, Akira Toriyama, has died aged 68, his production team said Friday. First serialised in 1984, “Dragon Ball” is one of the best-selling manga franchises of all time and has spawned countless anime series, films and video games. Toriyama died on March 1 because of a blood clot on his […]
By Xinqi SU and Holmes CHAN HONG KONG, March 8, 2024 (AFP) – As Hong Kong fast-tracks a new national security law, the legislation and questions about its implementation have raised fears among the business community. The draft bill, introduced at the city’s legislature on Friday, includes major offences such as treason and insurrection, which could be punished with life imprisonment. The government has said it intends to pass the bill as soon as possible […]
BEIJING, March 8, 2024 (AFP) – China will adopt wide-ranging security laws in 2024 to “resolutely safeguard” its sovereignty, a top lawmaker vowed at a key legislative meeting Friday, as President Xi Jinping’s government seeks to eliminate perceived threats to its rule. The “Two Sessions” — parallel meetings of China’s rubber-stamp parliament and political consultative body — offer a rare glimpse into the strategy of the Communist Party-led government for the year ahead. Top legislator […]
HONG KONG, March 8, 2024 (AFP) – Hong Kong on Friday unveiled a new national security law draft bill that includes life sentences for offences such as treason and insurrection. The homegrown bill is set to become the city’s second national security law following the one Beijing imposed in 2020 after quashing huge and sometimes violent democracy protests. The “Safeguarding National Security Bill”, formally introduced Friday morning, lists five new categories of offences — treason, […]
By Katell Abiven with Luna Lin BEIJING, March 7, 2024 (AFP) – China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi lashed out against the United States and praised his country’s partnership with Russia on Thursday, in a wide-ranging press conference where he called the war in Gaza a “disgrace for civilisation”. Wang hit out at what he called efforts by Washington “to suppress China”, telling reporters that “the desire to heap blame under any pretext has reached an […]
HO CHI MINH CITY, March 5, 2024 (AFP) – A top Vietnamese property tycoon went on trial Tuesday along with dozens of others, accused of embezzling $12.5 billion in the country’s biggest ever fraud case. Truong My Lan, chair of major developer Van Thinh Phat, is said to have swindled the cash from Saigon Commercial Bank (SCB) over the course of a decade, leaving unsuspecting investors out of pocket. Eighty-five others are also on trial […]
SEOUL, March 5, 2024 (AFP) – North Korea on Tuesday said Seoul and Washington would pay a “dear price” over large-scale military exercises that started this week, urging the allies to cease “frantic war drills”. So far this year, Pyongyang has declared South Korea its “principal enemy”, jettisoned agencies dedicated to reunification and outreach, and threatened war over “even 0.001 mm” of territorial infringement. Washington and Seoul started their annual spring military exercises Monday with […]
SEOUL, March 5, 2024 (AFP) – South Korea said Tuesday it would start notifying striking trainee doctors that their medical licences would be suspended, as it moves to punish medics who have quit hospitals in protest at training reforms. Thousands of junior doctors handed in their resignation notice and stopped working two weeks ago to protest against an increase in medical school admissions from next year which the government says is meant to help combat […]
MELBOURNE, March 5, 2024 (AFP) – Australia unveiled plans to ramp up investment in Southeast Asia on Tuesday, setting aside US$1.3 billion to bolster trade in a region of rising economic might. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the funding as leaders from the 10-nation ASEAN forum met in Melbourne for a three-day summit. “The government I lead has made it clear. More than any other region, Southeast Asia is where Australia’s future lies,” Albanese told […]
MALÉ, Maldives, March 5, 2024 (AFP) – The Maldives has signed a “military assistance” deal with China after ordering Indian troops deployed in the small but strategically-placed archipelago to leave, officials said Tuesday. Some 89 Indian military personnel in the country will be gone by May 10 after having been previously ordered out by pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu, who came to power last year on an anti-Indian platform. The Maldivian defence ministry said they signed […]
MELBOURNE, March 5, 2024 (AFP) – Australia unveiled plans to ramp up investment in Southeast Asia on Tuesday, setting aside US$1.3 billion to bolster trade in a region of rising economic might. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the funding as leaders from the 10-nation ASEAN forum met in Melbourne for a three-day summit. “The government I lead has made it clear. More than any other region, Southeast Asia is where Australia’s future lies,” Albanese told […]
MANILA, March 5, 2024 (AFP) – The Philippine Coast Guard said one of its ships was damaged Tuesday in a collision with a China Coast Guard vessel during a resupply mission to Filipino troops on a remote outpost in the South China Sea. It is the latest incident in waters around Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands where the countries have contesting maritime claims. Chinese coast guard and other vessels undertook “dangerous manoeuvres […]
