Asia

Russian govt in shock resignation after Putin calls for reforms

  by Michael MAINVILLE Agence France Presse MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Russia’s government resigned on Wednesday after President Vladimir Putin proposed a shake-up of the constitution, in a shock announcement that fuelled speculation about Putin’s future plans. The resignation of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev — a longtime Putin ally — came after the president used his annual state of the nation address to propose a package of constitutional reforms that would strengthen parliament’s role. Speculation […]

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Iran floods kill at least three: reports

TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — Flooding in southern Iran has killed at least three people and left hundreds of villages cut off following days of heavy rainfall, official media reported on Tuesday. “So far three people have been confirmed dead and one has been reported missing,” Press TV, the English-language service of state television, reported on its website. Rescue teams used boats and helicopters to provide relief after floodwaters cut off road access to urban areas […]

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New protests as Iran makes first arrests over downed airliner

by David Vujanovic TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — Iran announced Tuesday its first arrests over the accidental shooting down of a Ukrainian passenger jet, as protesters vented their anger over the catastrophic blunder for a fourth consecutive day. Nearly two weeks after the US killed a top Iranian commander in Iraq, tensions with the West increased further as EU countries on Tuesday launched an arbitration process charging Tehran with failing to observe commitments in the 2015 […]

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Huge sinkhole swallows bus, kills six in China

BEIJING, China (AFP) — An enormous sinkhole swallowed a bus and pedestrians in China, sparking an explosion, killing six people and leaving 10 more missing, state media said Tuesday. Footage showed people at a bus stop running from the collapsing road, as the bus — jutting into the air — sank halfway into the ground. Several people disappeared into the sinkhole as it spread, including what appeared to be a child. The incident, outside a […]

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China defends barring Human Rights Watch head from Hong Kong

by Jing Xuan TENG BEIJING, China (AFP) — China on Monday defended barring the head of Human Rights Watch from entering Hong Kong, saying non-governmental organizations were responsible for political unrest in the city and should “pay the proper price”. Kenneth Roth was supposed to give a press conference in Hong Kong this week to unveil the New York-based rights group’s latest global survey, which accuses China of prosecuting “an intensive attack” on international human […]

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Iran denies ‘cover-up’ as anger mounts over downed airliner

by David Vujanovic TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — Iran denied a “cover-up” Monday after taking days to reveal an airliner was accidentally shot down last week, a disaster that sparked demonstrations and calls for a fully transparent investigation. The Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 was brought down by a missile shortly after taking off Wednesday from Tehran, killing all 176 passengers and crew on board. On the diplomatic front, Iran warned Britain against “interference” in its […]

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Before Taal Volcano eruption, Japan’s Mt. Shintake and Mexico’s Popocatepetl volcano also spew ash, rocks

  Before Taal volcano in the Philippines erupted with steam and huge columns of ash on Sunday, Jan. 12, Japan’s Mount Shintake had also erupted on Saturday, Jan. 11, while Mexico’s Popocatepetl volcano had also dramatically spewed a fiery cloud of ash and rock into the sky on Thursday, Jan. 9. In a span of four days, these three volcanoes spewed ash and steam, although there was no evacuation order issued in Japan and Mexico […]

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Iran agrees de-escalation ‘only solution’ to solve crisis with US

  by David Vujanovic Agence France-Presse TEHRAN, Iran  (AFP) — Iran has signaled it favors a de-escalation after 10 days of heightened tensions with the United States during which both sides fired missiles and Tehran accidentally shot down a passenger aircraft. Security was stepped up in Iran’s capital Sunday after a vigil the previous night for those killed in the air disaster turned into an angry protest and police temporarily arrested the British ambassador for […]

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Japan’s Abe warns conflict with Iran impacts entire world

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has warned that military confrontation with Iran will impact global peace and stability, as he visits the Middle East hoping to ease tensions spiked by the US killing of a top Iranian general. His comments came at the start of a five-day Gulf tour that had been thrown into doubt after Tehran responded to the attack on Qasem Soleimani by launching a barrage of missiles […]

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Iraq warns of ‘collapse’ if Trump blocks oil cash

by Maya Gebeily BAGHDAD, Iraq (AFP) — Iraqi officials fear economic “collapse” if Washington imposes threatened sanctions, including blocking access to a US-based account where Baghdad keeps oil revenues that feed 90 percent of the national budget. US President Donald Trump was outraged by the Iraqi parliament voting on January 5 to oust foreign forces, including some 5,200 American troops, who have helped local soldiers beat back jihadists since 2014. If troops were asked to […]

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Human Rights Watch chief says he had been barred from entering Hong Kong

HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Human Rights Watch chief Kenneth Roth said Sunday he had been denied entry into Hong Kong, where he had arrived to launch the watchdog’s annual report after months of civil unrest in the city. Hong Kong has been battered by nearly seven months of occasionally violent protests, its biggest political crisis in decades. Millions have turned out on the streets of the semi-autonomous financial hub to demand greater democratic freedoms. […]

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US condemns latest missile attack on Iraqi base

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday he was “outraged” by another missile attack on an Iraqi airbase where US forces have been stationed, as neighboring Iran signalled a wish to de-escalate tensions. “Outraged by reports of another rocket attack on an Iraqi airbase,” Pompeo tweeted. “These continued violations of Iraq’s sovereignty by groups not loyal to the Iraqi government must end.” There was no immediate claim of responsibility […]

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