By Mari Yamaguchi Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — In 1944, the two men were in northeastern India as foes, fighting one of the harshest battles of World War II between Japan and Britain. More than 70 years later, they shook hands and sipped tea in Tokyo earlier this month. Roy Welland, 94, a former British […]
Pentagon chief criticizes Beijing’s South China Sea moves
By Lolita C. Baldor and Matthew Pennington Associated Press SINGAPORE (AP) — China’s land reclamation in the South China Sea is out of step with international rules, and turning underwater land into airfields won’t expand its sovereignty, Defense Secretary Ash Carter told an international security conference Saturday, stepping up America’s condemnation of the communist giant […]
McCain: Allow sale of defensive weapons to Vietnam
By Lolita C. Baldor Associated Press SINGAPORE (AP) — America needs to provide Vietnam with more defensive weapons, U.S. Sen. John McCain said Saturday as tensions in the Asia Pacific region heightened over China’s expanding land reclamation projects in the South China Sea. But U.S. efforts so far are focused on delivering some of the […]
China activist more determined after lockup
By Didi Tang and Jack Chang Associated Press BEIJING (AP) — The most prominent of five recently released Chinese feminists feels her dedication to activism has grown only stronger after spending 37 days in detention with interrogators who blew smoke onto her face and insulted her sexual orientation, her girlfriend, and her, her lawyer said. […]
Bangladesh orders N. Korean diplomat out for smuggling gold
By Julhas Alam Associated Press DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh’s government has ordered a North Korean diplomat to leave the country after discovering $1.4 million of unauthorized gold in his bag when he arrived at Dhaka’s airport, a Foreign Ministry official said Monday. The ministry summoned North Korean Ambassador Ri Song Hyon on Monday and […]
Japan’s leader says he will express remorse for World War II
By Ken Moritsugu Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — In a year that marks the 70th anniversary of World War II’s end, a question weighs on the minds of policymakers in Asia and as far away as Washington, D.C.: What will Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe say about his country’s role in the war?
China and Japan agree to resume dialogue
By Christopher Bodeen Associated Press BEIJING (AP) — China and Japan reached agreement to ramp up high-level contacts, the strongest indication yet of a possible meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at next week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
Review confirms basis of Japan’s sex slave apology
By Mari Yamaguchi Associated Press TOKYO (AP) – A Japanese panel confirmed the validity of a study that led to Japan’s landmark 1993 apology for forcing Asian women into wartime prostitution, even as South Korea blasted the review as a move that “picks again at the painful wounds” of victims.
A-pop! June — Some dictators just can’t take a joke. Meanwhile, Glenn’s Soso brightens up OITNB
By Vivian Nguyen Northwest Asian Weekly Hollywood takes on North Korea A new movie poster and trailer for the irreverent comedy “The Interview” came out this past month to mixed reviews from the public. “The Interview” stars buddy comedians James Franco and Seth Rogen as media journalists who land an exclusive interview with a fictionalized […]
Mourning, tight security on anniversary of Tiananmen crackdown
By Gillian Wong Associated Press BEIJING (AP) – Yin Min held the ashes of her son and wept, she said, as she marked 25 years since he was killed in the crackdown by Chinese tanks and troops on protests at Tiananmen Square. Outside, guards kept a close eye on her home while police blanketed central […]