Asia

North Korea fires ‘unidentified projectile’: Seoul

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea fired off an “unidentified projectile” Sunday according to South Korean defense officials, a week after its latest missile launch. “North Korea fired an unidentified projectile at Pukchang, South Pyongan province in the afternoon today,” the South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. There was no further information given about the nature of the projectile. Last week Pyongyang launched an intermediate-range missile named the Hwasong-12 its longest-range […]

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Chinese military planes intercept US aircraft: reports

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Two Chinese fighter jets intercepted an American military plane over the East China Sea, media in the United States reported Thursday, citing US officials. NBC News reported that the US aircraft, a WC-135 Constant Phoenix, was conducting a routine mission in international airspace Wednesday when it was intercepted over the East China Sea by two Chinese Sukhoi Su-30 fighter aircraft. The WC-135 is a so-called “sniffer plane” designed to scan […]

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Singapore car ‘vending machine’ dispenses with tradition

SINGAPORE, Singapore (AFP) — A vending machine that dispenses luxury cars to well-heeled buyers is the latest space-saving innovation in land-starved Singapore — just don’t try to shake it if it gets stuck. Used car dealer Gary Hong has taken to displaying his wares in a glass-fronted, 15-storey building. Like choosing a chocolate bar, the buyer can see everything on display, before pressing some buttons and having their choice delivered. Hong, 45, said he got […]

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Japan cabinet approves bill allowing emperor’s abdication

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — The Japanese government on Friday approved a one-off bill allowing ageing Emperor Akihito to step down from the Chrysanthemum Throne, in the first such abdication in two centuries. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet signed off on the legislation, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters. It will now be sent to parliament for debate and final approval. Reports of the 83-year-old Akihito’s desire to retire surprised Japan when they emerged last July. […]

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China urges S.Korea to ‘remove obstacles’ to good ties

BEIJING, China (AFP) — China’s foreign minister urged South Korea’s new government on Thursday to remove “obstacles” to good relations amid Chinese anger at the United States’ deployment of an anti-missile system on the Korean peninsula. Greeting South Korean presidential envoy Lee Hae-Chan in Beijing, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said bilateral relations have made immense progress over the years. “But this year we’ve had some undeserved setbacks,” Wang said, likely in a veiled reference to […]

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US-led warplanes hit Syria forces

by Rouba El Husseini Agence France Presse BEIRUT, Lebanon (AFP) — United States-led warplanes hit a pro-regime convoy in Syria that ignored warning shots, weeks after President Donald Trump’s administration launched America’s first strikes against Damascus forces in the war-torn country. The strike by the coalition fighting the Islamic State group happened on the same day IS jihadists killed more than 50 people in attacks on two government-held villages elsewhere in the country. It came […]

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China and Argentina to expand energy collaboration

BEIJING, China (Reuters) — Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang met with Argentina’s president Mauricio Macri in Beijing on Wednesday (May 17), as the two countries agreed to expand collaborations in areas including hydropower, nuclear and railways. Xi greeted Macri with an honor guard welcome before sitting down for bilateral talks and a signing ceremony. Li also met Macri with handshakes and bilateral talks. The bilateral meeting followed Argentina’s attendance at a summit hosted […]

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Japan restarts another reactor

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) – A Japanese utility on Wednesday switched on a nuclear reactor, the latest to come back in service despite deep public opposition in the aftermath of the Fukushima crisis. Japan shut down all of its dozens of reactors after a powerful earthquake in March 2011 spawned a huge tsunami that led to meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear plant, causing the world’s worst such accident since Chernobyl in 1986. But only a handful […]

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Media reports say Japanese princess Mako to be engaged

TOKYO, Japan (Reuters) — Kei Komuro, who is set to be engaged to Japanese princess Mako, spoke to reporters on Wednesday (May 17) morning after national broadcaster NHK reported their upcoming betrothal on the previous evening. The couple who are both 25, met about five years ago at an event about study abroad programs according to local media. Komuro told awaiting journalists that he will be able to “talk more when the time is right.” […]

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UN Security Council weighs tightening sanctions on North Korea

by Carole Landry Agence France Presse UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — The United Nations Security Council met behind closed doors on Tuesday to discuss tightening sanctions on North Korea after it fired its latest ballistic missile. United States Ambassador Nikki Haley said the US was working with China, Pyongyang’s main ally, on a new sanctions resolution and warned that all countries must step up action against North Korea or face measures themselves. “We all […]

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Turkey brings back Ottoman sports to revive past glory

by Gokan GUNES Agence France-Presse ISTANBUL, Turkey (AFP) – Brandishing their javelins and letting out a bloodcurdling war cry, the Ottoman horsemen charge at a thunderous gallop. Suddenly one is hit and thrown from his horse — making dozens of children gasp as they film the scene on their smartphones. It may be 2017, but Istanbul rolled back the years last weekend with the Ethnic Sports Cultural Festival (EKF), which aims to promote the sports […]

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Putin the piano man plays Soviet-era tunes in Beijing

BEIJING, China (AFP) — Russia has shown off President Vladimir Putin as action man — bare-chested horse rider, black-belt judoka and ice hockey player. Now meet Putin the piano man. The Russian leader played a couple of Soviet-era tunes on a grand piano while waiting to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Sunday. His impromptu performance was filmed and went viral on social media, earning mixed reviews. “It’s too bad that the piano […]

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