Asia

‘Not partners’: Abe, Putin on collision course over islands

by Richard Carter with Ola Cichowlas in Moscow Agence France Presse TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — The leaders of Japan and Russia hold crunch summit talks on Tuesday, with the two countries locked in an undiplomatic war of words over a set of disputed islands. Simmering tension between Moscow and Tokyo over the islands has ramped up in recent weeks, with Russia angrily accusing Japan of whipping up tension ahead of the summit and failing to […]

Three Filipinas nabbed in Thailand for raising funds allegedly for children’s charity — DFA

(Eagle News) — Three Filipinas were arrested in Thailand for raising funds allegedly for a children’s charity, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. In a statement, the DFA, without naming names, said the women, who claimed to represent the Children’s Joy Foundation, were nabbed in front of a restaurant in Phettrakul in Bang Lamung district in Pattaya. “Ambassador to Thailand Mary Jo Aragon said the Philippine Embassy in Bangkok has already reached out to the […]

Volcano erupts on small Japan island: agency

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — A volcano erupted on a small island in southern Japan on Thursday, the country’s meteorological agency said, spewing ash and smoke into the air over the sparsely-inhabited area. Public broadcaster NHK said there were no reports of injuries or damage yet from the eruption of the volcano on Kuchinoerabu island in the far south of Japan. The agency said the eruption occurred at 9:19am local time (0019GMT), shortly after it issued […]

Deadly IS-claimed suicide attack hits US forces in north Syria

by Delil Souleiman with Tony Gamal-Gabriel in Beirut Agence France Presse QAMISHLI, Syria (AFP) — A suicide attack killed four US personnel in northern Syria Wednesday, costing Washington its worst combat losses in the war-torn country since 2014 as it prepares to withdraw. The bombing, claimed by the Islamic State group, comes after US President Donald Trump’s shock announcement last month that he was ordering a full troop withdrawal from Syria because the jihadists had […]

Japan sees record 31 million tourists in 2018

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan welcomed a record 31 million foreign visitors in 2018, official data showed Wednesday, as the country gears up to host the Rugby World Cup this year and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The world’s third largest economy, also known for its ancient temples and vibrant pop culture, welcomed 31.2 million visitors in 2018, up 8.7 percent from the previous year, according to the Japan National Tourism Organisation. Fellow Asian countries dominated […]

DFA asks Indonesia for help in locating missing Filipina tourist

(Eagle News) — The Department of Foreign Affairs has asked the assistance of Indonesian authorities after the family of a Filipina who had only gone on vacation in Bali was reported missing by her family. In a statement, the DFA said the embassy in Indonesia filed a missing persons report for Ella Balmaceda Paaño, a resort worker at Coron. Earlier, Paaño’s sisters traveled to Manila from Camarines Sur  to ask the DFA to help them locate […]

Huawei founder denies spying for China in rare interview

BEIJING, China (AFP) — Huawei’s reclusive founder Ren Zhengfei stepped out of the shadows Tuesday to give a rare media interview, forcefully denying accusations that his firm engaged in espionage on behalf of the Chinese government. The company he founded more than 20 years ago has been under fire in recent months with the arrest of Ren’s daughter and Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou in Canada, the arrest of an employee on spying charges in Poland, […]

Canada asks China clemency for convicted drug trafficker

MONTREAL, United States (AFP) — Canada urged Beijing on Tuesday to grant clemency to a Canadian sentenced to death for drug trafficking, after his sentence reignited a diplomatic dispute that began last month. Ottawa has warned its citizens about the risk of “arbitrary enforcement” of laws in China following a court’s sentencing of Robert Lloyd Schellenberg, 36, to death on Monday, increasing a previous 15-year prison term. The sentence came during a clash between Ottawa […]

Winter weather killed 15 displaced children in Syria: UN

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AFP) — Freezing temperatures and the lack of medical care have killed at least 15 displaced Syrian children in recent weeks, the United Nations reported on Tuesday. The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said eight of them had died as a result of the cold in the Rukban camp in southeastern Syria and seven others during the displacement from the jihadist bastion of Hajin, further north. “Freezing temperatures and harsh living conditions in Rukban… […]

Japan Olympic chief denies corruption allegations

  by Natsuko Fukue Agence France Presse TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — The head of Japan’s Olympic Committee Tuesday denied involvement in a suspect payment made before Tokyo was awarded the 2020 Games, while apologizing for any possible impact on the hosting of the event. French investigating magistrates have indicted Tsunekazu Takeda as they probe two payments of 2.8 million Singapore dollars ($2.1 million) made before the Japanese capital was chosen to host the Olympics. During […]

Winter weather killed 15 displaced children in Syria: UN

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AFP) — Freezing temperatures and the lack of medical care have killed at least 15 displaced Syrian children in recent weeks, the United Nations reported on Tuesday. The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said eight of them had died as a result of the cold in the Rukban camp in southeastern Syria and seven others during the displacement from the jihadist bastion of Hajin, further north. “Freezing temperatures and harsh living conditions in Rukban… […]