By TASSANEE VEJPONGSA and KAWEEWIT KAEWJINDA Associated Press CHIANG RAI, Thailand (AP) — The 12 boys and their soccer coach rescued from a cave in northern Thailand left the hospital where they had been recuperating and appeared at a news conference on July 18, saying the ordeal made them stronger and taught them not to […]
Tesla announces deal for Shanghai factory
By JOE McDONALD AP Business Writer BEIJING (AP) — Electric car producer Tesla will build its first factory outside the United States in Shanghai under an agreement signed on July 10, becoming the first wholly foreign-owned automaker in China. Tesla Inc.’s announcement comes amid mounting U.S.-Chinese tension over technology and follows Beijing’s April promise to […]
China files WTO challenge to US $200B tariff plan
By JOE McDONALD AP Business Writer BEIJING (AP) — China announced it filed a World Trade Organization challenge on July 16 to President Donald Trump’s latest tariff threat, stepping up its diplomatic efforts to counter U.S. pressure in a spiraling technology dispute. The Trump administration has criticized the WTO as unable to deal with the […]
Boulder falls on people bathing at Kashmir waterfall
SRINAGAR, India (AP) — At least seven people were killed and 22 others injured in Indian-controlled Kashmir on July 15 when a boulder rolled down from a mountain and fell on local tourists bathing at a waterfall. The loose boulder brought down small rocks and mud and trapped about three dozen people at the waterfall […]
Malaysian lawmakers take oath, including indicted ex-leader
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysian lawmakers took their oath in Parliament on July 16, including former Prime Minister Najib Razak, who has been charged in a massive corruption scandal that led to his coalition’s electoral defeat. The swearing-in ceremony of 221 lawmakers opened the first Parliament session after Najib’s long-ruling coalition was ousted in […]
Chairman of China’s HNA Group dies in accident in France
The Associated Press BEIJING (AP) — The co-chairman of HNA Group, a conglomerate that operates Hainan Airlines, China’s fourth-largest airline, and racked up tens of billions of dollars in debt as it went on a global buying spree, died in an accident while on a business trip in France, the company said. Wang Jian, a […]
Bishops call for 3-day fasting after Duterte says God is “stupid”
By JIM GOMEZ Associated Press MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine Catholic bishops on July 9 called for fasting and prayers after President Rodrigo Duterte called God “stupid” and questioned God’s existence in profane remarks that set the foul-mouthed leader on a collision course with Asia’s largest Catholic church. Archbishop Romulo Valles and the association of […]
After daring rescue, entire Thai soccer team out of cave
By KAWEEWIT KAEWJINDA and STEPHEN WRIGHT Associated Press MAE SAI, Thailand (AP) — A daring rescue mission in the treacherous confines of a flooded cave in northern Thailand has saved all 12 boys and their soccer coach who were trapped deep within the labyrinth, ending a grueling 18-day ordeal that claimed the life of an […]
China blocks John Oliver on social media after scathing show
BEIJING (AP) — A popular Chinese social media site is censoring discussion of “Last Week Tonight’’ and its HBO host John Oliver after he mocked Chinese President Xi Jinping, his apparent sensitivity about being compared to Winnie the Pooh and his country’s crackdown on human rights. Attempts to send posts with either the terms “John […]
Men who investigated Ivanka Trump’s China suppliers off bail
By ERIKA KINETZ Associated Press SHANGHAI (AP) — Three China Labor Watch activists arrested last year while investigating abuses at Chinese suppliers for Ivanka Trump’s fashion brand were released from bail on June 26, the New York non-profit group said, but questions remain about their ability to live and work freely in China. “Of course […]