Simona Botviciute, Editor (Asia - Far East) XINHE – At least twelve people were killed in anti-terror raids in a northwest Chinese province. The police operations were targeting alleged terrorists in Xinjiang province in attempt to arrest them. Six suspects were shot fatally by the police officers and six more died when explosions went off. Three blasts went off in a hair salon, market and a vehicle that exploded as soon as it got surrounded […]
Simona Botviciute, Editor (Asia - Far East) SEOUL – Last Sunday, South Korea and the United States have agreed to share the cost of the US military presence in the country. The officials of both countries have struck a five-year cost sharing plan which includes South Korea paying 920 billion ($866.86 million) in 2014 – a rise of 5.8 per cent from the previously agreed figure of 2012. Such a deal stands for a military […]
Layanne Malluhi, Correspondent (Asia — Far East) SUMATRA – Indonesia is home to dozens of active volcanoes, all of which lie on a major tectonic fault line called the Ring of Fire. Mount Sinabung is one of them. It erupted in 2010 after many centuries of being dormant, and recently, it came to life again. This volcano in North Sumatra proved to be quite threatening when it began erupting in September. Many residents have […]
Antonia Velikova, Correspondent (Asia: Far East) BANGKOK – Despite intense pressure from the opposition, Prime Minister of Thailand Yingluck Shinawatra announced that elections in less than two weeks would not be postponed. The statement was issued after news of an overnight shooting in an act of anti-governmental protest in Bangkok. The Prime Minister has offered a meeting on Wednesday so that a possible delay of the Feb 2 ballot could be discussed by the […]
Anthony Segaert, Correspondent (Asia) At least sixteen people have been killed in a shoe making factory in eastern China, state media is reporting. While it is currently unknown how the blaze in the eastern city of Wenling in the province of Zhejiang started, state broadcaster CCTV says that factories usually hold high levels of highly flammable chemicals. Firefighters put the fire out three hours after arrival, and reduced around 20 people from the burning building. It is […]
Simona Botviciute, Editor (Asia — Far East) BANGKOK – Political crisis in Thailand has been ongoing since November 2013, after lower house passed a amnesty bill, which could potentially facilitate the former leader’s Thaksin Shinawatra’s return without him having to serve time in jail on a corruption conviction. The Senate has rejected the amnesty bill, however such controversy has caused major protests against his sister, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. The continuing demonstrations are being […]
Layanne Malluhi, Correspondent (Asia — Far East) XINJIANG — On December 15, 2012, in Xinjiang province, in a village near the old Silk Road city of Kashgar, a mob erupted when the police went to arrest “criminal suspects.” They wielded knives and explosive devices, and that led to quite the brawl. The police shot down 14 of the mobsters, and two policemen were killed. The government gave a brief statement, claiming that this was […]
Maria Andreivna, Correspondent (Asia Far East) PYONGYANG — On December 13, the KCNA (North Korea Central News Agency) announced that Kim Jong-un’s uncle, Chang Song-thaek, had been executed. Chang Song-thaek is known to have secured the transition of power to Kim Jong-un and guided the young leader. However, following the execution, the KCNA has accused him of factionalism and of organising a coup. Many North Koreans on the other hand, see him as a scapegoat for […]
Simona Botviciute, Editor (Asia-Far East) MIURA – Two out of four crew members were injured after a navy Knighthawk helicopter crashed in Kanagawa Perfecture last Monday. According to the military officials, the aircraft’s crew sent a distress signal at 3:31 pm local time before failed emergency landing near the Yokosuka Naval Base. One of the crew members reported to the local authorities that the accident happened because of the transmission problem. According to the […]
Simona Botviciute, Editor (Asia-Far East) MANILA – Labangan Mayor Ukol Talumpa was declared dead on arrival at the hospital shortly after the shootings at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Three other people, including his wife, his niece and a less than two-year-old boy, were shot fatally. Among five others injured was a three-year-old girl who suffered a head wound. The shootings blasted at Terminal 3, 11:20AM local time, shortly after Mr. Talumpa arrived from Zamboanga […]
