By Sophia Stephens NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY After the April 20th peace summit between North and South Korean leaders Kim Jong-Un (N) and President Moon Jae-in, Seattle-area Koreans and Korean Americans are tentatively hopeful for improved socio-political relations and potential reunification of the Korean Peninsula. The promises between the two leaders included removal of all nuclear […]
Campaigning starts in Malaysia’s May 9 election race
By EILEEN NG Associated Press KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Campaigning has formally started for Malaysia’s May 9 general elections that will determine if scandal-plagued Prime Minister Najib Razak’s coalition can extend nearly 61 years of unbroken rule against an unprecedented challenge led by nonagenarian former strongman Mahathir Mohamad. Scores of election candidates submitted nomination […]
Beijing Auto show highlights e-cars designed for China
By JOE McDONALD AP Business Writer BEIJING (AP) — Volkswagen and Nissan have unveiled electric cars designed for China at a Beijing auto show that highlights the growing importance of Chinese buyers for a technology seen as a key part of the global industry’s future. General Motors displayed five all-electric models on April 25 including […]
Tourists enjoy final day at beach before Boracay closure
By JOEAL CALUPITAN Associated Press BORACAY, Philippines (AP) — Tourists are spending their final hours on Boracay, enjoying the Philippine island’s famed white-sand beaches before it closes for up to six months to recover from overcrowding and development. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte described the waters off Boracay as a “cesspool’’ before ordering the closure. But […]
N. Korea glorifies summit with South; analysts less sure
By FOSTER KLUG and KIM TONG-HYUNG Associated Press GOYANG, South Korea (AP) — North Korea’s state media trumpeted leader Kim Jong Un’s “immortal achievement’’ a day after he met South Korean President Moon Jae-in and repeated past vows to remove nuclear weapons from the peninsula and work toward a formal end to the Korean War. […]
Air China flight diverted after man holds attendant hostage
BEIJING (AP) — An Air China flight bound for Beijing was diverted to central China on April 15 after a passenger held a flight attendant hostage using a pen as a weapon, authorities said. All passengers and crew on Flight 1350 made it safely off the plane after it landed in Zhengzhou city at 10 […]
Oldest man likes soaking in Japan hot springs, eating sweets
By MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — Masazo Nonaka has enjoyed soaking in northern Japan’s hot springs for many years — probably longer than most people. The supercentenarian, whose family has run a hot springs inn for four generations, was certified on April 10 as the world’s oldest living man, at age 112 years, […]
Japanese arrested for reportedly caging son for 20 years
By MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — Japanese police have arrested a 73-year-old man who reportedly kept his disabled son locked in a small wooden cage for more than 20 years. Hyogo prefectural police said Yoshitane Yamasaki was arrested on April 7 and handed over to prosecutors on April 9 for further investigation. Yamasaki […]
Singapore court imposes hefty fines for Airbnb rentals
SINGAPORE (AP) — A court in Singapore on April 2 fined two men $45,800 each for breaching laws banning short-term rentals by renting out condominium units through online services such as Airbnb, Craigslist and HomeAway. Terence Tan En Wei and Yao Songlaing had pleaded guilty at the State Court in February to four charges of […]
Jailed Chinese pastor’s US family seeks mercy
By YANAN WANG Associated Press BEIJING (AP) — The Rev. John Sanqiang Cao paid no more than three dollars for the trip that would end up costing him his freedom. For years, he and fellow Chinese Christian teachers would cross the river on a narrow bamboo raft from a tree-shrouded bank in southern China into […]