International

South Korea, US, Japan hold first joint air drills

SEOUL, Oct 23, 2023 (AFP) – South Korea, the United States and Japan carried out their first joint aerial drills on Sunday, Seoul’s military said. The exercise, which involved a US nuclear-weapons-capable B-52 bomber, comes as Seoul, Washington and Tokyo beef up their defence cooperation against growing missile and nuclear threats from North Korea. The US bomber landed at a South Korean airbase on Tuesday after a flyover at the country’s largest defence exhibition. B-52s, […]

US police: No Indication of anti-semitism in synagogue president’s murder

DETROIT, Oct 22, 2023 (AFP) – Police probing the stabbing death of the president of a US synagogue said Sunday that no evidence has emerged of anti-Semitism as a motive. Detroit police chief James White said in a brief statement that his force is interviewing “individuals with information that may further the investigation” into the death Saturday of Samantha Woll. He gave no details. “No evidence has surfaced suggesting that this crime was motivated by […]

Japan PM promises focus on ‘economy, economy, economy’

TOKYO, Oct 23, 2023 (AFP) – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida promised on Monday tax cuts as part of a new economic programme that he hopes will shore up his sagging popularity. Kishida has seen his ratings plummet to the lowest levels since he took office two years ago, and over the weekend his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lost a by-election. In a legislative policy address to parliament, Kishida listed his economic achievements and […]

Manila says Chinese vessels ‘intentionally’ hit Philippine boats

MANILA, Oct 23, 2023 (AFP) – Manila said Monday that Chinese vessels “intentionally hit” Philippine boats at the weekend, escalating a diplomatic row over two collisions in the South China Sea. The countries have traded blame over Sunday’s incidents near Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, with both sides filing diplomatic protests and releasing videos to support their accusations. The two collisions happened during a Philippine resupply mission to troops stationed on a navy […]

Gulf-ASEAN summit calls for permanent ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza

(AFP) – Gulf and Southeast Asian leaders on Friday condemned attacks on civilians in the Gaza Strip and called for a permanent ceasefire, according to a statement published after a summit meeting. The six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) also called for the release of some 200 hostages held by Hamas militants, as well as the restoration of basic services for Palestinians and the delivery of humanitarian […]

Maritime spat escalates: Philippines and China lodge protests after South China Sea collisions

By Pam Castro with Peter Catterall in Beijing MANILA, Oct 23, 2023 (AFP) – Manila summoned Beijing’s ambassador and China lodged a complaint on Monday in a growing spat over two collisions between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the disputed South China Sea. The countries have traded blame over Sunday’s incidents near Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, with both sides filing diplomatic protests and releasing videos to support their accusations. The two collisions […]

President Biden holds talks with western allies on Israel-Hamas conflict, stresses humanitarian concerns

WASHINGTON, Oct 23, 2023 (AFP) – US President Joe Biden discussed the Israel-Hamas war Sunday with leaders of major Western powers, the White House said, as Israel intensified its attacks on Gaza. Biden spoke with the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany and Italy, the White House said. “The leaders reiterated their support for Israel and its right to defend itself against terrorism and called for adherence to international humanitarian law, including the protection of […]

China and Philippines point fingers over South China Sea collisions

By Cecil Morella with Sebastien Ricci in Beijing MANILA, Oct 22, 2023 (AFP) – Beijing and Manila traded blame for two collisions Sunday between Chinese vessels and Philippine boats on a resupply mission to Filipino troops on a remote outpost in the disputed South China Sea. The incidents happened near Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, a hotly contested region where Beijing deploys ships to assert its claims over almost the entire sea. A […]

Washington warns against escalation as US bolsters military presence in the Middle East

WASHINGTON, Oct 22, 2023 (AFP) – The United States warned Iran or its allies against any escalation in the wake of Israel’s war with Hamas, two top US officials said Sunday, hours after the Pentagon moved to step up military readiness in the region. With tensions mounting, Washington also announced Sunday it had ordered non-emergency staff to leave its embassy in Iraq. “We are concerned at the possibility of Iranian proxies escalating their attacks against […]

Republicans fail yet again to pick US House speaker

By Frankie TAGGART WASHINGTON, Oct 20, 2023 (AFP) – A damaging, weeks-long Republican leadership crisis deepened further Friday, leaving the paralyzed US legislature unable to perform even basic functions like funding the government and addressing growing national security concerns. In the 17 days since US House speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted in a rebellion by right-wing hard-liners from within his own party, no other Republican has been able to muster enough votes to replace him, […]

Pres. Biden ‘overjoyed’ after Hamas frees two US hostages

WASHINGTON, Oct 20, 2023 (AFP) – US President Joe Biden said Friday he was “overjoyed” after Hamas released two American hostages abducted during the militant group’s surprise attack from Gaza on Israel. Biden spoke by phone to the two women after they were freed and promised they would have the government’s support “as they recover from this terrible ordeal,” the White House said. “Today, we have secured the release of two Americans taken hostage by […]