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PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AFP) — US travel sanctions targeting Cambodian officials are “useless”, a ruling party spokesman said Thursday, as the kingdom shrugs off international criticism of a one-sided election win. The Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) led by strongman Hun Sen won all 125 seats in parliament during last month’s poll. The main opposition did not contest the vote after a court dissolved the party, clearing the way for a landslide victory for the CPP. […]
by M. Jegathesan Agence France-Presse SHAH ALAM, Malaysia (AFP) — A Malaysian court ruled Thursday the murder trial of two women accused of assassinating the half-brother of North Korea’s leader can proceed — in a blow to their families who insist the pair were tricked into carrying out the dramatic hit. After hearing prosecutors’ case, Judge Azmi Ariffin said there was sufficient evidence to support a murder charge against Siti Aisyah from Indonesia and Doan […]
by Jung Hawon Agence France-Presse SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — The first reunions in years of families divided by the Korean War evoke bittersweet memories for Kim Jong-gyu, whose few hours with her brother in 2014 -– under the watchful eyes of the North’s agents -– were probably their last ever together. “I felt so lucky and so happy to see that my brother was alive,” said the 83-year-old. “But seeing him for only a […]
BEIJING, China (AFP) — China will send a top negotiator to the United States in late August to resume trade talks, the commerce ministry said Thursday, the first public meeting on the subject in weeks as the trade conflict intensifies. Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen, the deputy representative on international trade negotiations, will meet with a senior US treasury official, David Malpass, at the invitation of the United States, the ministry said in a statement. […]
by M. Jegathesan Agence France-Presse SHAH ALAM, Malaysia (AFP) — A Malaysian judge will Thursday deliver a key ruling in the trial of two women accused of the assassination of the half-brother of North Korea’s leader, with their families insisting they are innocent and should be set free. The court will decide whether there is sufficient evidence to support a murder charge against Siti Aisyah from Indonesia and Doan Thi Huong from Vietnam, who allegedly […]
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Wednesday his visit to Pyongyang next month will be a “bold step” towards formally ending the decades-old war with the nuclear-armed North. The two Koreas agreed earlier this week to hold a third meeting between Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in September as a rapid diplomatic thaw builds on the peninsula following their first summit in April. Moon’s trip to the […]
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un “at an early date”, the North’s state media reported Wednesday, amid a rapid diplomatic thaw on the peninsula. Putin invited Kim and the South’s President Moon Jae-in in June to an economic forum in Vladivostok next month although it is not known whether the North Korean leader responded to the invitation. In a message to […]
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – US talks with North Korea on denuclearization are making progress “in the right direction,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Tuesday. Nauert said behind-the-scenes discussions with Pyongyang have normalized in the wake of President Donald Trump’s June summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and subsequent meetings between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other top Pyongyang officials. “We consider meetings, negotiations, conversations as we move forward behind […]
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AFP) — Taiwan’s president has given a speech in the United States — the first time in 15 years that a leader of the island has spoken publicly on American soil — in a move likely to anger Beijing. During a stopover en route to Paraguay, Tsai Ing-wen, whose government refuses to endorse Beijing’s view that Taiwan is part of China, vowed to defend democratic values. “We will keep our pledge that we […]
by Talek Harris © Agence France-Presse JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Thousands of athletes are flying in as Indonesia makes final preparations to host the Asian Games — the world’s second biggest multi-sports event, taking place against a backdrop of terrorism fears, environmental concerns and logistical headaches. Organisers are making reassuring noises about their arrangements but Indonesia has never hosted a sports event on this scale, with 16,000 competitors and officials descending on Jakarta and Palembang, […]
SAADA, Yemen (AFP) — Thousands of Yemenis vented anger against Riyadh and Washington on Monday as they took part in a mass funeral for children killed in an air strike by the Saudi-led coalition. At least 29 children were among those killed in the air raid Thursday on a bus in a crowded market in Dahyan, Saada province, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross. The mass funeral was held in Saada […]
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — The death toll from an earthquake on the Indonesian island of Lombok has topped 400, authorities said Monday, as bodies were still being recovered from the ruins of destroyed buildings. The shallow 6.9-magnitude quake on August 5 levelled tens of thousands of homes, mosques and businesses across Lombok, just a week after another tremor surged through the island and killed 17. “Search and rescue teams are still removing victims who […]
