MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered government agencies to ensure free access to contraceptives for 6 million women who cannot obtain them, officials said on Jan. 11, in a move expected to be opposed by the dominant Roman Catholic church. Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said the intensified drive to make […]
Zhou Youguang, father of Chinese Romanization, dies at 111
BEIJING (AP) — Zhou Youguang, a linguist considered the father of modern China’s Pinyin Romanization system, died on Jan. 14 at the age of 111. Born in 1906 during China’s last imperial dynasty, the Qing, Zhou died at his home in Beijing, one day after celebrating his birthday, according to state broadcaster Chinese Central Television […]
Scientists claim new gibbon species — name it Skywalker
LONDON (AP) — Researchers in China claim they have identified a new species of gibbon in the remote forests along its border with Burma — and have named it after Star Wars character Luke Skywalker. Scientists studying hoolock gibbons on China’s Mount Gaoligong concluded there were two, not one, species based on both the primate’s […]
Honda adds 772,000 vehicles to ongoing air bag recall
TOKYO (AP) — Honda Motor Co. says it is recalling 772,000 additional Honda and Acura vehicles in the U.S. for defective front passenger seat air bag inflators made by Japanese supplier Takata Corp. The vehicles, announced in a recall on Jan. 10 by Honda in the U.S., are part of an expanded recall of 1.29 […]
Study: Few Asian-Americans hold top legal jobs
By Sudhin Thanawala Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — When Goodwin Liu joined the seven-member California Supreme Court in 2011, he became its fourth sitting member of Asian descent. The number is remarkable. The other state supreme courts in the U.S. combined have a handful of Asian-American justices. And Asian-American representation on other state courts, […]
Lin still out for Nets as they give away his bobblehead
By Brian Mahoney AP Basketball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Jeremy Lin remained sidelined for the Brooklyn Nets on the night they gave away his bobblehead. Lin has battled a strained left hamstring almost all season and has been limited to 12 games in his first season with the Nets. The giveaway on Jan. 15 […]
Ex-wife of former Chinese official to forfeit millions
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The ex-wife of a former Chinese official will forfeit nearly $30 million worth of California property after pleading guilty to defrauding immigration officials as part of a scheme to escape to the U.S. with stolen public funds from China. The U.S. attorney’s office announced on Jan. 11 that Shilan Zhao, 53, […]
No sign of Japan-related radiation found in Alaska waters
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — State officials have announced that tests of Alaska seafood continue to show no detectable amounts of radiation, five years after a deadly earthquake and tsunami set off a nuclear disaster at a Japanese power plant. More than 16,000 people were killed in 2011 after Japan’s 9.1-magnitude earthquake, which led to nuclear […]
Man who killed Anna Bui, 2 others at party near Seattle, gets life in prison
EVERETT, Wash. (AP) — A young man accused of shooting and killing three people at a house party in July near Seattle has been sentenced to life in prison without parole. Allen Ivanov pleaded guilty last month to three counts of aggravated first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder for wounding two other victims. […]
“Hidden Figures” no longer hidden
For the last few months, you may have seen previews for a comedy biopic based on the book, Hidden Figures, written Margot Lee Shetterly.