SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — The acting Pentagon chief confirmed Sunday that the White House had requested the hiding of a warship bearing the name of late Senator John McCain during a visit by Donald Trump to Japan. In Washington, White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said the request probably was made by somebody on the president’s advance team but no one would fired for it. US media reported that efforts were made […]
Asia
Japan PM to meet Iran’s Khamenei to mediate with US: report
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will meet Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei later this month with Tokyo hoping to mediate between Washington and Tehran, a report said Sunday. As tensions intensify between Iran and Japan’s key ally the United States, Abe has reportedly proposed serving as a go-between and is said to be weighing up a state visit to Iran. According to the Mainichi Shimbun report, Abe’s planned meeting with […]
US warns China on behavior towards its Asian neighbors
by Martin ABBUGAO Agence France Presse SINGAPORE (AFP) — The United States warned China on Saturday against threatening its neighbours’ sovereignty and said Washington is investing in new military technology to defend its Asian allies. Washington and Beijing have been vying for influence in the region, which hosts potential flashpoints such as the South China Sea, the Korean Peninsula and the Taiwan Strait. Ties between the two powers are once again taking centre stage […]
N.Korea ‘executed’ officials after failed Trump summit: report
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea executed its special envoy to the United States following the collapse of the second summit between leader Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump, a South Korean newspaper reported Friday. The Chosun Ilbo said Kim Hyok Chol, who laid the groundwork for the Hanoi meeting and accompanied Kim on his private train, was executed by firing squad for “betraying the supreme leader” after he was turned by the […]
India’s Modi sworn in, set to name new government
by Abhaya SRIVASTAVA NEW DELHI, India (AFP) — India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched his historic second term at a solemn ceremony in front of cheering supporters Thursday ahead of unveiling a revamped Hindu nationalist government. Modi was the first of more than 50 cabinet ministers and deputy ministers to be sworn in at the presidential palace in front of 8,000 people including South Asian leaders, Bollywood stars and leading political figures. Presidents and prime […]
Saudi king calls on Gulf states to tackle Iran’s ‘criminal’ acts
by Mohamad Ali Harissi MECCA, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — Saudi Arabia’s King Salman on Thursday ratcheted up the rhetoric against arch-nemesis Iran, calling on Gulf Arab states to confront its “criminal” actions after a series of attacks sparked fears of a regional conflagration. The king’s remarks at the start of an emergency Gulf summit in the holy city of Mecca came a day after hawkish US National Security Advisor John Bolton said Iran was almost […]
Mahathir says escalating US-China trade war not good for the world
(Eagle News) – Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said that the escalating US-China trade war is affecting other nations, as he urged more dialogue between the two superpowers. Mahathir was the keynote speaker in the opening of the 25th Future of Asia conference in Tokyo on Thursday, May 30, which is sponsored by Nikkei. The 93-year old Southeast Asian leader said that the US-China trade war is creating instability and uncertainty in the world. […]
Israel to hold election rerun after coalition deadlock
by Mike Smith JERUSALEM, Undefined (AFP) — Israel’s parliament voted early Thursday to hold new elections only months after April polls in an unprecedented move provoked by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s attempts to remain in power despite failing to form a coalition. Parliament voted 74-45 in favour of dissolving itself and setting elections for September 17. It came as the deadline for Netanyahu to form a coalition expired and followed raucous moments in parliament that […]
Japan police search home of stabbing attacker
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japanese police on Wednesday searched the home of the man behind a stabbing rampage in the town of Kawasaki a day earlier that killed two people, including a child. The 51-year-old attacker, identified by police as Ryuichi Iwasaki, died after stabbing himself during the rampage, and his motives for the horrifying assault remain unclear. On Wednesday morning, police searched his home, not far from the scene of the morning attack, seizing […]
Huawei to ask US court to throw out federal ban
SHENZHEN, China (AFP) –Huawei said Wednesday the tech giant will ask a US court to throw out US legislation that bars federal agencies from buying its products. The company was due to file the motion for summary judgment on Tuesday (Wednesday in China), said Song Liuping, the firm’s legal officer, in a statement carried by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. “The bill directly determines that Huawei is guilty and imposed a large number of restrictions on […]
Everest logjam fails to thwart climber’s record 14-peak bid
by Paavan MATHEMA KATHMANDU, Nepal (AFP) — Former Gurkha soldier Nirmal Purja remains on target to conquer the world’s 14 highest mountains in a record-breaking seven months despite death-defying queues on the biggest peak of them all. Waiting for more than seven hours last week to get to the top of Everest and then back to the safety of his camp — in a pile-up that he documented in a photo that has gone viral […]
Abe voices ‘strong anger’ over ‘harrowing’ Japan stabbing
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe voiced “strong anger” over what he described as a “harrowing” attack, after a knifeman on Tuesday stabbed two people to death, including a 12-year-old. “It is a very harrowing case. I feel strong anger. I offer my heartfelt condolences to the victims and hope the injured recover quickly,” Abe said in a televised reaction, his first since the attack. © Agence France-Presse





