Japan, China to boost financial ties amid protectionist, N.Korean tensions
Japan and China has agreed to bolster economic and financial cooperation, Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said, as US President Donald Trump’s protectionist stance and tension over North Korea weigh…
Greek court blocks extradition of Turkish soldiers again, Ankara angry
ATHENS – A Greek court has blocked a second extradition request by Turkey for the final two soldiers among a group of eight who fled to Greece following a failed coup…
UK’s Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth’s husband, to step down from royal duties
LONDON – Prince Philip, the 95-year-old husband of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, is to retire from carrying out royal engagements later this year, Buckingham Palace announced today. The prince, also known…
Dust storm envelops swathe of China, dragging air quality down
BEIJING – A dust storm has enveloped a swathe of northern China, dragging down air quality and visibility and prompting warnings for children and old people to stay indoors. Spring…
FBI’s Comey defends Clinton email probe announcement, but feels ‘nauseous’
WASHINGTON – FBI Director James Comey has said it makes him “mildly nauseous” to think his announcement of the reopening of an investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails affected the 2016…
Thai rights lawyer faces up to 150 years in prison for royal insult
BANGKOK – A prominent Thai human rights lawyer faces a prison term of up to 150 years if convicted on 10 counts of royal defamation under Thailand’s harsh royal insult…
HK’s next leader pledges to heal divisions, put city back on “normal course”
Hong Kong’s next leader, Carrie Lam, has vowed to heal political and social divides, pledging to return the global financial hub to its “normal course of development”. Lam takes office…
Facebook tries to fix violent video problem with 3,000 new workers
SAN FRANCISCO – Facebook Inc will hire 3,000 more people over the next year to speed up the removal of videos showing murder, suicide and other violent acts, in its…
VOA suspends reporters over live stream of Chinese tycoon’s graft accusations
BEIJING – US government-backed Voice of America (VOA) has suspended its Mandarin-language service chief and four other staff involved in interviewing Guo Wengui, a US-based Chinese businessman wanted by the…
Suicide attack on NATO convoy in Kabul kills eight civilians
KABUL – A suicide bombing in the Afghan capital Kabul has killed eight people and wounded at least 28, officials said, in an attack on a convoy of armoured personnel…
