Beijing and much of industrial northern China are in the midst of a “red alert,” the highest level in China’s… . A man wearing a mask for protection against air pollution pushes his luggage at the Beijing Capital International Airport as the capital of China is shrouded by heavy smog on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2016.
Category: Asia
BRIEF-Skanska sells office building in Budapest for 67 mln euro
SEOUL, Dec 21 Daily net trading in shares on South Korea’s main stock exchange by three major categories of investors as of 0720 GMT, in billions of South Korean won : FOREIGNERS INSTITUTIONS RETAIL December 21 *78.1 -69.4 -7.7 ^December 20 60.6 -29.1 -33.5 December 19 5.0 -79.5 78.8 December 16
VW agrees new U.S. settlement, Actelion still in focus. For more see…
SEOUL, Dec 21 Daily net trading in shares on South Korea’s main stock exchange by three major categories of investors as of 0720 GMT, in billions of South Korean won : FOREIGNERS INSTITUTIONS RETAIL December 21 *78.1 -69.4 -7.7 ^December 20 60.6 -29.1 -33.5 December 19 5.0 -79.5 78.8 December 16 * Said on Tuesday had acquired a commercial property portfolio, the transition of benefits and burdens is planned for the second quarter of 2017
BRIEF-SocGen selling Splitska Banka to OTP Bank, deal to boost its capital ratios
Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: MUMBAI, Dec 21 Tata Sons’ ousted chairman Cyrus Mistry, in his first legal salvo against the conglomerate, has appealed to a quasi-judicial body to either replace the company’s current board of directors or appoint a retired Supreme Court judge as its non-executive chairman.
BRIEF-John Laing Infrastructure buys stake in Intercity Express Programme
Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: MUMBAI, Dec 21 Tata Sons’ ousted chairman Cyrus Mistry, in his first legal salvo against the conglomerate, has appealed to a quasi-judicial body to either replace the company’s current board of directors or appoint a retired Supreme Court judge as its non-executive chairman.
BRIEF-OTP signs deal to buy Societe Generale’s Croatian unit Splitska Banka
SEOUL, Dec 21 Daily net trading in shares on South Korea’s main stock exchange by three major categories of investors as of 0720 GMT, in billions of South Korean won : FOREIGNERS INSTITUTIONS RETAIL December 21 *78.1 -69.4 -7.7 ^December 20 60.6 -29.1 -33.5 December 19 5.0 -79.5 78.8 December 16
BRIEF-Telford Homes announces Redclyffe Road property sale
SEOUL, Dec 21 Daily net trading in shares on South Korea’s main stock exchange by three major categories of investors as of 0720 GMT, in billions of South Korean won : FOREIGNERS INSTITUTIONS RETAIL December 21 *78.1 -69.4 -7.7 ^December 20 60.6 -29.1 -33.5 December 19 5.0 -79.5 78.8 December 16
At least one China state lender provided liquidity to fund houses on Wed – sources
Dec 21 At least one Chinese state lender provided liquidity support worth over several billion yuan to fund management firms via bond repurchase agreements on Wednesday, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The move is an indication that it was getting easier for non-financial institutions to obtain liquidity in the market.
American-Canadian Couple Appears in Taliban Hostage Video
A still image from a video posted by the Taliban on social media on Dec. 19, 2016, shows American Caitlan Coleman speaking next to her Canadian husband, Joshua Boyle, and their two sons. The Canadian government is calling for the release of a couple who has been held in captivity in northern Afghanistan for four years, after captors released a video of the pair.
Powerful Quake Hits Off Eastern Indonesia, No Alert For Tsunami
An earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale jolted Maluku in eastern parts of Indonesia earlier Wednesday, but there were no tsunami alert issued and a report of casualty, China’s Xinhua news agency reported quoting officials. The quake rocked at 0017 GMT with epicenter at 184 km northeast Maluku Barat Daya and the depth at 173 km under sea bed, an official of meteorology and geophysics agency said.
Bangladesh signs $7.5 bln railway deal with British company
Bangladesh signed a deal with Britain’s DP Rail on Tuesday to develop a $7.5 billion rail track, the biggest ever railway project in the country. The 240 kilometer rail track will be developed between Dhaka and Payra port, a new deep sea port which is under construction.
Shocking picture! Pakistan International Airlines staff sacrifices…
Islamabad: Seeking “divine intervention”, staff of Pakistan’s national carrier Pakistan International Airlines or PIA sacrificed a black goat at the airport tarmac in Islamabad before an ATR-42 aircraft took off nearly a week after the French-built turboprop planes were grounded following a crash that killed 47 people. “The officials sacrificed a goat yesterday as a gesture of gratitude as the ATR aircraft resumed flight operations,” a PIA official was quoted as saying by local media.
Agni Foundation takes lead in getting Chennai back on feet post Cyclone Vardha1 day ago
Chennai, Dec.19: Post-Cyclone Vardha, Tamil Nadu capital Chennai and other areas of the state are striving hard to get back to normal. Cyclone Vardah left Chennai in ruins.
A photographer’s harrowing account of capturing today’s assassination
Associated Press photographer Burhan Ozbilici was attending a photo exhibition Monday when a Turkish policeman opened fire , killing Russia’s ambassador to Turkey. ANKARA, Turkey – The event seemed routine, the opening of an exhibit of photographs of Russia.
Lost in Terror: Voices of many women, penned by one
New Delhi, Dec 19 : Kashmir is on the boil; the “Azadi” chant reverberates from every corner; normal life is at a halt. A young, educated, career-oriented woman’s life gets entangled amidst all this.
Pathankot Attack: Chargesheet filed based on
New Delhi, Dec. 19 : National Investigation Agency inspector general Alok Mittal on Monday asserted that the chargesheet filed against Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar and others JeM commander in the Pathankot attack probe are on the basis of irrefutable, digital, technical, oral and documentary evidences that has been collected through detail scientific investigation. [NK India] “After a very detail through scientific investigation, today we have filed a charge-sheet against t Jaish chief Masood Azhar name, his brother and two handlers Latif and Kashif Jan are there in the special NIA court Mohali.
PM awards HAL for national apprenticeship programme
Kanpur, Dec 19 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday awarded HAL with a cheque for playing a constructive role under the Government’s National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme , a press release said. [NK India] Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited T. Suvarna Raju received the cheque worth Rs 82,19,368 on behalf of his company for playing a constructive role under the NAPS at the ‘Kaushal Mahotsava’ programme organised by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
Friend of South Korea’s Park denies charges on first day of trial
Choi Soon-sil, a long-time friend of South Korean President Park Geun-hye who is at the center of the South Korean political scandal involving Park, arrives for her first court hearing in Seoul, South Korea, December 19, 2016. Korea Pool/via Choi Soon-sil , a long-time friend of South Korean President Park Geun-hye who is at the center of the South Korean political scandal involving Park, arrives for her first court hearing in Seoul, South Korea, December 19, 2016.
Russian military plane crashes in Siberia, 23 hospitalized: agencies
The Russian Defence Ministry said on Monday that one of its planes had crashed in northeast Siberia, but that nobody had been killed in the accident, Russian news agencies reported. The Defence Ministry Ilyushin Il-18 aircraft made an emergency landing 30 kilometers from an airfield near the town of Tiksi in the Sakha Republic at 4:45 a.m. local time, the TASS news agency reported.
Russian Il-18 Plane With 39 on Board Crashes in Siberia
An Il-18 plane has crashed in Russia’s Sakha Republic on Monday. The plane had 39 individuals on board.
Local Taliban Commander Killed In Afghan Checkpoint Clash
The Afghan police repelled a Taliban attack on security checkpoint in the eastern province of Laghman on Monday, killing three militant, China’s Xinhua news agency reported quoting the provincial government. “Armed militants stormed an Afghan Local Police post in Dawlat Shahi district roughly at 1.30 am local time and the ALP fought back the attack after three hours exchange of firing, killing three militants,” it said in a statement.
57 journalists killed worldwide in 2016: rights group
At least 57 journalists have been killed around the world in 2016 while doing their job, Reporters Without Borders said on Monday. The press freedom group said 19 were killed in Syria alone, followed by 10 in Afghanistan, nine in Mexico and five in Iraq.
S. Korea to begin trial of impeached president’s confidante
The jailed confida… . FILE – In this Oct. 31, 2016 file photo, Choi Soon-sil, wearing a black cap at center, a longtime friend of South Korean President Park Geun-hye, is questioned by media upon her arrival at the Seoul Central District Prosec… .
Chinese city cancels flights in 2nd day of smog alert
Electric bike riders wearing mask to protect themselves from exhaust gas wait at a traffic lights junction during a heavily polluted day in Beijing, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016. China’s capital and other northern cities have banned half of all vehicles from city streets and ordered factories, schools and construction sites closed in response to a five-day smog red alert.
NCO killed in Afghanistan posthumously promoted, awarded Bronze Star
Sgt. John Perry, 30, was posthumously promoted to staff sergeant and awarded the Bronze Star after being killed in a suicide bombing at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. Perry, 30, of Stockton, California, and Pfc.
South Korea Leader’s Supporters, Opponents Clash in Seoul Rallies
Supporters of South Korean President Park Geun-hye attend a protest opposing her impeachment near the constitutional court in Seoul, South Korea, Dec. 17, 2016. Tensions were high as supporters of impeached South Korean President Park Geun-hye and opponents of Park, who had gathered in much larger numbers, rallied in Seoul on Saturday.
Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro postpones currency move after chaos, protests
Caracas: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has suspended the elimination of the country’s largest denomination bill, which had sparked cash shortages and nationwide unrest, saying the measure would be postponed until early January. The surprise pulling of the 100-bolivar note from circulation this week – before new larger bills were available – led to vast lines at banks, looting at scores of shops, anti-government protests and at least one death.
Supporters, opponents of embattled Park stage big rallies in Seoul
Supporters of South Korean President Pak Geun-hye rallied on Saturday for her reinstatement while opponents gathered to repeat their demands that the leader impeached over a corruption scandal step down immediately. A banner bearing images of South Korean President Park Geun-hye and her father, the late South Korean former military dictator Park Chung-hee, is seen as they attend a protest opposing her impeachment near the constitutional court in Seoul A woman cries while praying for the South Korean President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment to be accepted, in front of the constitutional court in Seoul, South Korea, December 17, 2016.
Celebratory firing leaves a bloody wedding trail in India
In the last 10 days, three people, including a 10-year-old boy, have been killed in ‘celebratory firing’ at weddings in north India. In the past 10 days, three people, including a 10-year-old boy, have been killed in “celebratory firing” at weddings in north India.
Budding designers, here’s where you can make a fashion statement
New Delhi, Dec. 17 : For those wanting to make it big in the fashion world, head to LIVA Protege, a nationwide search that seeks to recognise and reward rising stars. [NK India] This annual, pan-India search for budding couturiers is open to final year fashion designing students.
Election Commission extends ‘Every Indian Vote counts’ deadline till Dec.31
New Delhi, Dec. 17 : In view of increasing participation by respondents to the Election Commission of India’s online creative competition for Overseas Indian Citizens on the topic ‘Every Indian Vote Counts’, the last date for submitting entries has now been extended to December 31. [NK India] The winner of the competition shall get return air tickets for two to India sponsored by national carrier Air India. The Online Survey and Competition for Overseas Indian Citizens developed in collaboration with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences , was launched on October 20, 2016.
‘Shameless’ Rahul crossing limits of morality: Ravi Shankar Prasad
New Delhi, Dec.17 : Chiding Rahul Gandhi for attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi on demonetisation yet again, Union Minister of Law and Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday said the Congress vice president is crossing all limits of morality by speaking in such a shameless fashion. [NK India] “Rahul Gandhi is crossing limits of dignitiy.
Baloch cry for Bangla support
Dec 16: Around December 16 festivities to celebrate Bangladesh’s victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war of independence, two exiled Baloch leaders are participating in seminars in Dhaka and meeting prominent members of the civil society to seek support for their struggle for an independent Balochistan. Mir Suleman Dawood Jan Ahmedzai, the Khan of Kalat, a title meant for former rulers of Kalat which is part of Balochistan, said from Dhaka that he wanted to remind the people that Pakistan’s action in Balochistan was similar to what Bangladesh had to face before its independence.
Kiwis’ lives as full-time travellers: How a couple quit their jobs to see the world
Watching the sunset from the crater of a live volcano off the coast of Sicily, swimming in a geothermal waterfall in Tuscany before being offered dinner by Jamie Oliver and swimming with giant Manta Rays in the Maldives are all in an day’s work for Brook Sabin and Radha Engling; a Kiwi couple who have made world travel both a business and a lifestyle. The couple, both originally from Northland, were just a few days away from buying a house when, after a particularly poignant late-night soul-searching session, they did a complete u-turn.
Former U.N. chief Ban unaware of details of U.S. bribery charges against relatives: spokesman
Former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is unaware of the circumstances surrounding bribery charges laid by U.S. prosecutors against two of his relatives, Ban’s spokesman Lee Do-woon told reporters on Wednesday. Ban’s brother and nephew have been indicted on U.S. charges that they engaged in a scheme to bribe a Middle Eastern official in connection with the attempted $800 million sale of a building complex in Vietnam.
Caroline Kennedy leaves Japan after 3 years as US ambassador
In this Feb. 12, 2014, file photo, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy, left, shakes hands with Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima after she handed a copy of visa application form of her father President John F. Kennedy, which was issued when he visited Japan, at Okinawa Prefectural Government in Naha, Okinawa.