Asia

South Korea to scrap intelligence-sharing pact with Japan amid history feud

Editorial Bureau August 22, 2019

SEOUL – South Korea said on Thursday it will scrap an intelligence-sharing pact with Japan, a decision that could further escalate a dispute over history and trade and undercut security cooperation on North Korea. The decision was announced after an hours-long debate within the

Asia

Indonesia blocks internet in Papua to help curb violent protests

Editorial Bureau August 22, 2019

JAKARTA – Indonesia has cut off internet access in eastern Papua to prevent provocative posts online from fuelling violence, after protesters torched buildings, a market and a prison over mistreatment of students and perceived ethnic discrimination. Police have flown in 1,200 additional officers to Papua to quell sometimes violent protests since Monday in several

Asia

Banks in Hong Kong condemn violence, urge restoration of ‘harmony’

Editorial Bureau August 22, 2019

HONG KONG – Some of Hong Kong’s biggest banks published full-page newspaper advertisements on Thursday calling for the preservation of law and order in the Chinese territory and condemning violence, as weeks of pro-democracy protests show no sign of abating. HSBC, Standard Chartered and Bank of East Asia, which published the advertisements in major newspapers

Asia

Former Indian finance minister Chidambaram arrested in corruption case

Editorial Bureau August 22, 2019

NEW DELHI – Police arrested former Indian finance minister P. Chidambaram late on Wednesday in relation to alleged corruption and money laundering, a day after the Delhi High Court rejected his application to seek exemption from arrest. Chidambaram was arrested by federal police on a warrant issued by a competent court, a spokesman for the […]

Asia

Indian PM raises Kashmir protests with British counterpart

Editorial Bureau August 21, 2019

NEW DELHI – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to his British counterpart, Boris Johnson, about violent demonstrations over Kashmir outside the Indian embassy in London, the foreign ministry said. Thousands of people, many waving Pakistani and Kashmiri flags, protested outside the embassy last week, on India’s Independence Day, against Modi’s

Asia

Don’t ‘mess up Macau’ – gambling hub set to choose Beijing-backed leader

Editorial Bureau August 21, 2019

HONG KONG – The Chinese territory of Macau is set to elect as leader the only candidate for which it is allowed to vote: a Beijing-backed former legislator who is expected to cement China’s control over the special administrative region and distance it from escalating protests in neighbouring Hong Kong. The selection of former legislature […]

Asia

Hong Kong protests planned for mob-attack subway as bank warns of economic fallout

Editorial Bureau August 21, 2019

HONG KONG – A major bank warned on Wednesday that weeks of protests in Hong Kong could hit the economies of the Chinese-ruled city and mainland China itself as demonstrators headed for a sit-in at the subway site of a mid-summer mob attack. Hong Kong-based Bank of East Asia Ltd (BEA) posted a 75% slump […]

Asia

Japan, South Korea agree on need for dialogue to resolve feud on wartime labour

Editorial Bureau August 21, 2019

TOKYO/SEOUL – Japan and South Korea on Wednesday agreed on the need for dialogue to resolve a feud over compensating Korean wartime workers that has spilled into trade, and put a deep chill on ties between Washington’s two biggest Asian allies. Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, speaking after talks with South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung-wha, […]

Asia

Britain extremely concerned by reports HK consulate worker held in China

Editorial Bureau August 21, 2019

HONG KONG – Britain said on Tuesday it was “extremely concerned” by reports that a staff member at the consulate in its former colony of Hong Kong had been detained in mainland China. Simon Cheng did not return to work on Aug. 9 after visiting the neighbouring mainland city of Shenzhen the previous day, Hong […]

Asia

Hong Kong leader says dialogue and ‘mutual respect’ offer way out of chaos

Editorial Bureau August 20, 2019

HONG KONG – Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said on Tuesday she hoped a peaceful weekend anti-government protest was the start of efforts to restore calm and that talks with non-violent protesters would provide “a way out” for the Chinese-ruled city. Hundreds of thousands of protesters rallied peacefully in torrential rain on Sunday in the […]