Asia

5,000 believed missing in two hard-hit Indonesian quake zones: official

  JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — As many as 5,000 people are believed missing from the quake and tsunami that struck Indonesia’s Palu city, an official said Sunday, an indication that far more may have perished in the twin disaster than the current toll suggests. Indonesia’s disaster agency say they have recovered 1,763 bodies so far from the 7.5-magnitude and subsequent tsunami that struck Sulawesi on September 28. But there are fears that two of the […]

Two dead, one missing as Typhoon Kong-Rey hits South Korea

  SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — Two people died and one person is missing in South Korea as powerful typhoon Kong-Rey hit the country on Saturday, the government said. A 66-year-old man died while crossing a bridge in the city of Gwangju, south of Seoul, the national disaster management agency said without elaborating on the cause of the death. Another man, aged 83, was found dead after being washed away by a river in a […]

Disease fears as more bodies found in Indonesia disaster

  by Andrew Beatty Agence France Presse PALU, Indonesia (AFP) — Rescuers picking through the grim aftermath of Indonesia’s quake-tsunami issued a fresh public health warning Saturday as more decaying corpses were unearthed from beneath the ruined city of Palu. More than a thousand people may still be missing in the seaside city on Sulawesi island, officials said, after the region was hit by a powerful quake and a wall of water, with the official […]

Chinese Interpol boss goes missing

  PARIS, France (AFP) — French police said Fridaythey were probing the disappearance of the Chinese head of Interpol, who has reportedly been detained for questioning in his home country. Meng Hongwei, 64, was last seen leaving for China from the international police organisation’s headquarters in Lyon, southeast France, in late September, a source close to the enquiry told AFP. His wife has since reported him missing. “He did not disappear in France” where he […]

Crew recount terror of tsunami that dumped ferry in village

  By Stephen Wright Associated Press WANI, Indonesia (AP) — The captain and crew sailing the Sabuk Nusantara ferry to new owners on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi got the task done and then some. The hulking red and yellow ship was bounced like a basketball as a massive earthquake rocked the region and it landed in front of a row of houses in the village of Wani, dumped by tsunami waves that the crew […]

India signs $5 billion deal for Russian air defense systems

  By Ashok Sharma and Emily Schmall Associated Press NEW DELHI (AP) — India signed a $5 billion deal to buy five Russian S-400 air defense systems on Friday despite a looming threat of U.S. sanctions on countries that trade with Russia’s defense and intelligence sectors. The deal was signed in New Delhi during a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss nuclear energy, space exploration […]

Fears grow that more than 1,000 still missing in Indonesia disaster

  by Andrew Beatty Agence France Presse PALU, Indonesia (AFP) — More than a thousand people could still be missing after Indonesia’s devastating quake-tsunami, officials said Friday, drastically upping the number of people unaccounted for a week after the disaster. Palu city on Sulawesi island has been left in ruins after it was hit by a powerful quake and a wall of water which flattened houses and flipped over cars, with the official death toll […]

S. Korea court releases Lotte chairman from jail

  SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — The chairman of South Korean retail giant Lotte Group was released from jail on Friday after an appeals court suspended four years his sentence in a massive corruption scandal that brought down former president Park Geun-hye. Shin Dong-bin, 63, was jailed for 30 months in February for providing seven billion won ($6.2 million) to a foundation controlled by Park’s secret confidante in return for state favours regarding Lotte’s duty-free […]

S. Korea ex-president Lee jailed for 15 years over corruption

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — Former South Korean president Lee Myung-bak was jailed for 15 years for corruption Friday, becoming the latest of the country’s ex-leaders to be sent to prison. The 76-year-old CEO-turned-president, who served from 2008 to 2013, was found guilty on charges including bribery and embezzlement and ordered to pay a fine of 13 billion won ($11.5 million) by the Seoul Central District Court. “Bringing everything into consideration, heavy punishment for the […]

More than 1,000 may still be missing in Indonesia disaster: official

by Andrew Beatty Agence France-Presse PALU, Indonesia (AFP) — More than a thousand people could still be missing after Indonesia’s devastating quake-tsunami, officials said Friday, drastically upping the total number of people unaccounted for a week after the disaster. Palu city on Sulawesi island has been left in ruins after it was hit by a powerful quake and a wall of water which flattened houses and flipped over cars, with the confirmed death toll now […]

No signs of life in hotel rubble, week after Indonesia quake

  PALU, Indonesia (AP) — French rescuers on Friday were unable to find the possible sign of life they detected a day earlier under hotel rubble, a week after the destructive earthquake and tsunami struck Indonesia’s Sulawesi island, killing more than 1,550 people and burying hundreds in mud and debris. The five-member International Emergency Firefighters team said late Thursday its sensor “detected the presence of a victim” under thick concrete in the wreckage of the […]

Putin talks arms, nuclear deals in India

NEW DELHI, India (AFP) — President Vladimir Putin was expected Friday to sign a deal in India worth more than $5 billion for the S-400 air defense system, despite US warnings of sanctions against countries buying Russian military hardware. Putin, who arrived in New Delhi late Thursday, was also set to discuss with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi further agreements worth some $3 billion for Russian naval ships and military helicopters. Russia building its second […]