A drug gang near the China-Myanmar border threw grenades at law enforcement officers during a major anti-trafficking operation on Lunar New Year. Crossfire broke out when a vehicle believed to be ferrying drugs was stopped near the border between Myanmar and China in Yunan province by police on the morning of January 28, Xinhua reported.
Category: Asia
US Defense Secretary Mattis: Only North Korea need fear missile defense
There’s only one reason the US will deploy the THAAD missile defense system in South Korea, Defense Secretary James Mattis said Thursday as he arrived in the country on his first overseas trip as Pentagon chief. “THAAD is for defense of our allies’ people, of our troops who are committed to their defense and were it not for the provocative behavior of North Korea we would have no need for THAAD out here,” Mattis said, referring to the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-missile system.
Correction: India-US-Tech Visas story
In a story Jan. 31 about H-1B visas, The Associated Press reported erroneously that proposed legislation could require more companies to prove that they have tried to hire U.S. workers before hiring foreign workers on H-1B visas. The change would actually force more companies to make a good faith effort to hire U.S. workers before considering foreign workers.
Samsung to launch web payments service for Android phones in South Korea
Tech giant Samsung Electronics Co Ltd said on Thursday it will launch a mobile web payments service for all smartphones powered by Google Inc’s Android mobile operating system in South Korea in the first quarter. The logo of Samsung Electronic is seen at its headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, July 4, 2016.
Kazakhstan: Authorities Using Intimidation to Quell Labor Unrest
For all the oil riches that abound in the surrounding region, Aktau is not a prosperous or beautiful city. Grey Soviet apartment blocks exude an air of decay, and the more recent high-rise buildings are already aging poorly.
Ban Ki-moon abandons S. Korea presidency bid
Former United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon announces an end to his attempt to seek South Korea’s presidency at the National Assembly in Seoul on February 1, 2017. Photo: AFP Former United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon abruptly ended his attempt to seek South Korea’s presidency Wednesday, dropping a lifetime of diplomacy to denounce his country’s political establishment.
Palestinian President Abbas arrives in Dhaka
A red carpet was rolled out as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Dhaka today on a three-day official visit at the invitation of his Bangladesh counterpart Abdul Hamid. President Hamid received the Palestinian President near the VVIP Tarmac of Hazarat Shahjalal International Airport amid a 21-gun salute, while President Hamid’s two grandson and granddaughter – Namira and Jim – presented him a bouquet.
Ekushey book fair kicks off
The much-awaited month-long book fair “Amar Ekushey Granthamela” begins on the Bangla Academy premises and extending into the Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka on Wednesday, February 1, 2017. Photo: Prabir Das The much-awaited month-long book fair “Amar Ekushey Granthamela” begins on the Bangla Academy premises and extending into the Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka today.
Sri Lanka arrest astrologer who predicted president’s death
Most Sri Lankans follow advises of astrologers for making decisions, and the suspect, astrologer Vijitha Rohana Wijemuni, is a former navy sailor convicted of attempting to assassinate India’s then-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi by assaulting him when he visited the island in 1989. The Police Media Division said Wijemuni was arrested Tuesday evening on the charges of making false predictions and comments that could mislead people.
Tomorrow Group founder abducted in Hong Kong
Chinese billionaire protected by all-female bodyguards is feared to have been abducted from Hong Kong amid rumours he has been kidnapped by Beijing agents A Chinese billionaire, who was supposedly protected by eight female bodyguards, has vanished in Hong Kong, amid speculation he has been abducted by agents of Beijing. Xiao Jianhua, a former student leader turned financier who founded the Tomorrow Group, had been living at Hong Kong’s luxury Four Seasons Hotel.
17:30 Ulaanbaatar Traffic Police provided with smoke masks
Traffic police in the smog-covered Mongolian capital, are now wearing protective face masks while on duty, reports news.mn. According to the MNS 4585:2016 standard, the nitrogen dioxide NO2 level should be 50mkg/m3 in the air; however, traffic police officers inhale more than three to four times this amount of NO2 .
Man on a sinking car desperately throws infant to stranger on dry land
What do you do when you’re standing on a sinking car with your child, and have no way to get on land easily? The minute-long video shared on Miaopai showed a family attempting to escape from their sinking SUV, which fell off a pier into a lake in Hunan, south-eastern China. KellysSimpleLife said: “I was very shocked watching this, it’s very lucky that the kid is fine.
4 reasons N. Korea looms over US defense chiefa s Asia trip
North Korea will be casting a dark – and nuclear – shadow over U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis’ first foray abroad. When Mattis calls on South Korea and Japan from Wednesday he will be visiting Washington’s two staunchest allies in Asia.
Gong hey fat choy! Tanya Louise Hill, ilford ursuline academy
I am writing this article as I attend the Chinese New Year celebrations in London today – Sunday 29 January 2017. A full day of Chinese cultural activities stretching from Gerrard Street to Trafalgar Square organised by London Chinatown Chinese Association and supported by the Mayor of London .
Standoff between Prachanda, Madhesis continues in Nepal
Kathmandu, Jan 30 – Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ held another round of inconclusive talks with the Nepali Congress and the Madhesi Morcha on Monday as the Morcha said a firm no to local body polls before broad-based constitutional amendments. The Morcha alleges that the Prime Minister has repeatedly failed to keep his promises made to them while assuming office in August last year.
5 Indian soldiers die 3 days after rescue from Kashmir snow
The Indian army says five soldiers rescued last week from snow that caved in on them as they patrolled along the highly militarized Line of Control that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan have died. Indian army spokesman Col.
Man mauled to death by tiger at Chinese zoo
A zoo in China was evacuated and closed Sunday after a man scaling a wall fell into a tiger enclosure and was mauled to death. Officials at the Youngor Wildlife Park in Ningbo spent an hour Sunday rescuing a man who fell into the tiger enclosure while scaling the zoo’s wall in an attempt to avoid paying the admission fee.
‘The Bear and the Nightingale’ charms with a tale set in in 14th-century Rus
Katherine Arden’s debut novel features a clever, stalwart protagonist, determined to forge her own path in a time when women had few choices. One night in northern Russia, a nobleman’s family sits down around the massive clay oven that warms the house.
Most of 31 on board missing Malaysian boat reported rescued
More than two dozen people were rescued Sunday more than a day after a boat carrying Chinese tourists disappeared in Malaysian waters, officials and local media said. The captain and a crew member made it to safety earlier Sunday while authorities said others may be drifting in the water waiting to be rescued.
China auditor says 17.6 billion yuan of funds to fight water pollution misused: Xinhua
China’s audit office found that 17.6 billion yuan earmarked for water pollution prevention work in 2016 was not effectively used, Xinhua reported Sunday. The funds were meant to go toward 397 projects in 18 provinces, with some regions seeing serious failings in enforcing environmental protection laws, said the report.
In pics: Scenery of springs in E China
Photo taken on Jan. 29, 2017 shows the scenery of Heihu Spring in Jinan, capital of east China’s Shandong Province. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)
Boat with 31 mostly Chinese tourists missing in Malaysia
Chinese state media say a boat carrying 31 people, including more than 20 Chinese tourists, is missing after sailing out from an eastern Malaysian city. The official Xinhua News Agency cited the Chinese Consulate General in Kota Kinabalu in the Malaysian state of Sabah as saying Sunday that the boat lost contact after sailing out on Saturday.
Trump and Putin Talked About Stabilizing Ties, Kremlin Says
JANUARY 28: President Donald Trump speaks on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Oval Office of the White House, January 28, 2017 in Washington, DC. Also pictured, from left, White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, Vice President Mike Pence, White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon, and Press Secretary Sean Spicer.
China marks Lunar New Year with prayers, incense, fireworks
North Korean refugees and their family members bow to respect their ancestors in North Korea as they celebrate the Lunar New Year at the Imjingak Pavilion, near the demilitarized zone of Panmunjom, in Paju, South Korea, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017. Millions of South Koreans visit their hometowns during the four-day holiday that began Friday.
Study indicates air-polluting chemicals can travel far
A new study indicates that tiny floating particles can grow semi-solid around pollutants, allowing them to last longer and travel much farther than what previous global climate models predicted. Pollutants from fossil fuel burning, forest fires and biofuel consumption include air-polluting chemicals known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs.
Russia appears to now be helping out the Taliban
In this Nov. 4, 2016 photo, Afghan villagers gather around several victims’ bodies who were killed during clashes between Taliban and Afghan security forces in the Taliban-controlled, Buz-e Kandahari village in Kunduz province, Afghanistan. less In this Nov. 4, 2016 photo, Afghan villagers gather around several victims’ bodies who were killed during clashes between Taliban and Afghan security forces in the Taliban-controlled, Buz-e Kandahari village in … more Back in the 1980s, the US supported Afghan “freedom fighters” against the Soviet Union.
There was a time when Barelvis used to assert themselves peacefully
Governor Taseer’s son, Shaan Taseer, has been speaking out on social media against the persecution of non-Muslims in the name of blasphemy. In the first week of 2017, Lahore was paralysed by roadblocks set up by the government to deny entry to mobs opposed to the observance of the day Punjab Governor Salman Taseer was killed in 2011 by his police guard.
Srinagar cut off, no air tickets left for Delhi, Mumbai flights over the weekend
EARLY FRIDAY, the cheapest air ticket from New York to Mumbai for Saturday came at a cost of Rs 38,379. At the same time, the cheapest ticket from Srinagar to Mumbai was going for Rs 73,647.
Now it’s 10+6: Govt names more BJP members to PSU boards
A fresh list of independent director-appointees to central public sector enterprises, released Friday by the Department of Personnel and Training , comprises at least six more members of the BJP. This comes a day after The Indian Express reported that the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet had on January 24 approved at least 10 BJP members to be on the boards of state-owned companies.
Danes want more information before deciding on extradition
” A Danish prosecutor has asked South Korea for additional information before deciding whether to meet a South Korean extradition request for the daughter of the former confidante of South Korea’s president, as part of a corruption investigation. He says that until that information is received, “we cannot reach a decision” regarding Yoora Chung.
Toronto: Consulate General of India celebrates Republic Day
Toronto, Jan 27 : Consulate General of India in Toronto, Canada, observed India’s 68th Republic Day with due honours on Thursday. Consul General Dinesh Bhatia and his wife Seema Bhatia hoisted the Indian Tri-colour to mark the celebration.
U.S. beef exports to Korea reach new heights; poised for further growth in 2017
Just a few years ago, the thought that Korea would be a $1 billion market for U.S. beef seemed unreachable. What a difference some good marketing makes.
South Korean, U.S. Marines tussle in snow in what North brands “madcap” drill
South Korean and U.S. Marines react as they participate in a winter military drill in Pyeongchang, South Korea, January 24, 2017. South Korean and U.S. Marines demonstrate their martial arts skills in a winter military drill in Pyeongchang, South Korea, January 24, 2017.
Raytheon Leaves Leonardo in the Lurch on T-X Competition |…
Textron Systems has been contracted by the USAF to provide maintenance training for the Afghan Air Force. The $9.3 million deal orders the provision of maintenance training to Afghan crew and includes logistics support for 24 aircraft operated by Kabul.
A New Obstacle to Asian Security
Highly regrettable actions in South Korea threaten not only a historic agreement with Japan but also our hard-earned friendship. On Dec. 28, 2015, Japan reached a historic agreement with the Republic of Korea on the comfort-women issue, in which the honor and dignity of many women were at stake.
China’s New List of Items Banned for Export to N. Korea
China has released a new list of items banned for export to North Korea , ranging from wind tunnels to plutonium, following a new round of United Nations sanctions and complaints from U.S. President Donald Trump that Beijing was not doing enough to pressure its communist neighbor. The step was seen by one leading expert on North Korea as an attempt to show that China is fully meeting its commitments, and to pre-empt any moves by the U.S. to punish Chinese companies that deal with the North.
Andrei Piontkovskiy: Situation In Belarus Appears One Of Thrilling Plots In 2017
The situation in Belarus remains very serious now. In the opinion of famous Russian political analyst Andrei Piontkovskiy , and attempt of a hybrid overturn and the divestment Aliaksandr Lukashenka off power is ongoing.
Amazon has an India problem
After pouring more than $5 billion dollars into India over the past three years, the company has run into trouble in recent weeks for selling products that have angered many Indians. Two weeks ago, Amazon was forced into a hasty apology for selling a doormat bearing the Indian flag.
Circus performer can fold herself inside a BOTTLE
She makes it look easy squeezy! Circus contortionist touring Britain is so flexible she can fold herself into a BOTTLE Many of us are happy if we can touch our toes, and even the most enthusiastic yoga devotee draws the line at an elaborate back bend. The contortionist, known only as Odka, has spent more than a decade training to squeeze herself into impossibly small spaces.
NSG’s ‘Black cats’ debut at Republic Day parade
In a first, ‘black cat’ commandos of elite counter-terror force National Security Guard participated in the Republic Day parade at Rajpath in New Delhi. A contingent of about 140 personnel in black overalls, balaclava headgear and carrying special assault rifle MP-5 added dashing sheen to the parade.