Browsing Tag

United States

Russia alert for signs of eroding Western unity on Ukraine

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 21, 2022

Russian president settled deep into his armchair, wearing an expression of bored nonchalance. In a matter-of-fact tone, he likened himself to a modern-day Peter the Great, the empire-building Russian czar, and suggested that the conquest of…

UK allows WikiLeaks founder Assange to be extradited to US

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 17, 2022

British interior minister Priti Patel on Friday approved the extradition of WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange to the United States to face criminal charges, bringing his long-running legal saga closer to a conclusion.

US condemns remarks on Prophet by suspended BJP leaders

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 17, 2022

United States on Thursday condemned remarks by Indian ruling party officials about the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that have sparked an uproar in Muslim countries.

Oil prices fall after rate hikes, but tight supply limited losses

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 16, 2022

Oil prices erased early gains to fall to two-week lows on Thursday on the back of inflation concerns highlighted by interest rate hikes in the United States, Britain and Switzerland, though tight oil supply limited losses.

IFRC, C40 Cities urge cities, residents to prepare for more deadly heatwaves

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 14, 2022

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFCR) is mobilizing branches and partners in more than 50 cities around the world Tuesday to raise awareness about ways to reduce the severe effects of extreme heat.

Turkish leader writes on ‘risks’ of Sweden, Finland in NATO

THE ASIA LIVE May 31, 2022

Turkey’s president highlighted the activities of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party as part of his country’s objections to Sweden and Finland joining NATO and said both nations doing so would carry security risks for Turkey.

A not quite fine balance

THE ASIA LIVE May 20, 2022

Russia’s brutal invasion into Ukraine, which has led to the death and displacement of millions, has not come without a cost. As Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine border towns and Western powers began to apply economic sanctions in the hopes…

How gas interests slowed Chile’s clean energy transition

THE ASIA LIVE May 19, 2022

Chile holds itself out as a global leader on climate change. Nearly 22% of Chile’s electricity is generated by solar and wind farms, putting it far ahead of both the global average, 10%, and the United States, at 13%. It was one of the…

Abu Dhabi crown prince receives US CENTCOM commander

THE ASIA LIVE May 13, 2022

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed received Gen. Michael E. Kurilla, the commander of the US Central Command in the Middle East (CENTCOM), state news agency WAM reported

Biden hosts ASEAN as he looks to show Pacific commitment

THE ASIA LIVE May 12, 2022

Joe Biden is hosting leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as his administration makes an extended effort to demonstrate that the United States

Russian officials charged in years-old energy sector hacks

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 25, 2022

Russian officials, including hackers with a government intelligence agency, have been charged in malicious intrusions that targeted

N. Korea says it test-fired biggest ICBM, US adds sanctions

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 25, 2022

North Korea said Friday it test-fired its biggest-yet intercontinental ballistic missile under the orders of leader Kim Jong Un, who vowed

Poland’s Fraught Offer: Fighter Jets for Ukraine, but Only Through U.S. Hands

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 11, 2022

United States from engaging in direct combat with Russian forces faced an unexpected test this week, when Poland surprised U.S.

Russia demands U.S. explain biological programme in Ukraine

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 9, 2022

Russia demanded on Wednesday that the United States explain to the world why it had supported what Moscow cast as a military

Foreign policy experts call for ‘limited no-fly zone’ over Ukraine

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 8, 2022

foreign policy experts have called for the United States and NATO to institute a partial no-fly zone over Ukraine, which would serve

What is the US doing to help Ukraine refugees?

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 7, 2022

Ukraine has set off the largest mass migration in Europe in decades, with more than 1.5 million people having crossed from Ukraine

Fears grow that time is running out to deliver Ukraine aid

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 6, 2022

United States and other NATO allies, Ukrainian forces have defied all expectations, mounting a fierce resistance to the superior forces

New York protest, thousands call for Western intervention in Ukraine

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 6, 2022

Times Square in New York in support of Ukraine, demanding the United States, NATO or the European Union intervene to stop the unfolding war.

Ukraine can win war against Russia – Blinken

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 5, 2022

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has told he is convinced Ukraine can win its war with Russia.

Russian ‘invasion’ stalled in Ukraine’s North, progress in South: US

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 4, 2022

Russian "invasion" prong aimed at the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv appears to be stalled while fighting rages in Kharkiv

Son testifies against father in US Capitol attack trial

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 4, 2022

US Capitol delivered emotional testimony against his father on Thursday at the first trial stemming from the January 6 attack

White House asks Congress for $10 billion in aid for Ukraine

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 3, 2022

$10 billion in US aid Thursday to help Ukraine with humanitarian efforts. ‘I urge the Congress to address these critical and urgent needs,

US to invite ‘non-political’ Myanmar representative to summit with Asean

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 3, 2022

ASEAN inviting a non-political representative from military-ruled Myanmar to a summit 10-country bloc Washington

Putin will pay ‘over the long run’ for Ukraine invasion in State of the Union speech,…

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 2, 2022

Putin will pay over the long run even if he makes gains on the battlefield in Ukraine

Abortion rights bill fails to pass procedural vote, dies in US Senate

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 1, 2022

US died in the Senate yesterday after it failed to garner enough Republican support to pass a procedural vote.

Ukraine calls for no-fly zone to stop Russian bombardment

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 1, 2022

Russian aircraft over Ukraine yesterday after Moscow bombarded the country’s second-largest city, drawing new sanctions by the United States and its allies.

Iran says key issues still unresolved in nuclear talks

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 1, 2022

Iran identified the remaining issues as the extent to which sanctions would be rolled back, providing guarantees that the United States

US downplays Putin’s nuclear mobilisation

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 1, 2022

US officials played down the threat of Russia’s “dangerous” nuclear mobilisation yesterday as the war in Ukraine

Trump favourite for president- at US conservative confab

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 28, 2022

rump does not run, 61 per cent of respondents said they would back DeSantis in the party’s presidential primary, far ahead of ex-secretary of state Mike Pompeo

Russian forces appear to shift to siege warfare in Ukraine, says US official

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 28, 2022

Vladimir Putin raises the risk of a catastrophic miscalculation by putting nuclear forces on heightened alert

Biden approves US$350 million in military aid for Ukraine

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 27, 2022

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Biden directed that US$350 million allocated through the Foreign Assistance Act be designated for Ukraine’s defense.

North Korea fires possible ballistic missile for first time in a month

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 27, 2022

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was overseeing an increase in missile tests as talks with the United States and its allies remain stalled.

Russian invaders ‘frustrated’ by stiff Ukraine resistance, says Pentagon

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 27, 2022

United States and Western allies are still able to deliver arms into the country to bolster the Ukraine military, and Washington plans to send more in the coming days to help them fight both Russian armour on the ground and assaults from…

Russia vetoes UN resolution deploring ‘aggression’ in Ukraine

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 26, 2022

UN Security Council resolution yesterday that deplored “in the strongest terms” the country’s “aggression” against Ukraine

‘Punish Russia’: Sanctions imposed on Moscow over Ukraine invasion

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 26, 2022

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has prompted a wave of sanctions as global leaders seek to ramp up pressure on the Kremlin.

Biden meets with G7, addresses US on response to Russia

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 24, 2022

U.S. President Joe Biden met with his counterparts from the Group of Seven allies on Thursday morning to map out more severe measures

Biden’s full plate: Ukraine, inflation, low public approval

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 23, 2022

US President Joe Biden finds himself in a splitscreen presidency as Russia starts to invade Ukraine

Punishing Putin: How Biden could cut Russia off from world tech

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 23, 2022

The Biden administration has been vowing to hit Moscow with a potent cocktail of banking sanctions and export controls for weeks, in response to a massing of hundreds of thousands of Russian troops along Ukraine's borders.

Russia-Ukraine crisis: Biden, Putin signal bigger confrontation ahead over Ukraine

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 23, 2022

Russia Ukraine Conflict Live News, Russia Ukraine War Crisis News Today: The White House is now referring to Russian troop deployments in eastern Ukraine as an “invasion” after initially hesitating to use the term.

Iran urges ‘restraint’ in Ukraine crisis, blames West

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 22, 2022

Iran calls on all parties to exercise restraint and avoid any action that could aggravate tensions,” a foreign ministry statement said.

US Orders Sanctions On Russia-Backed Ukraine Regions, Says Open To Talks

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 22, 2022

Russia-Ukraine Crisis: President Joe Biden imposed sanctions on the two Russian-backed areas in eastern Ukraine's Donbass region.

Shellfire as Putin turns up heat on Ukraine and West

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 18, 2022

All eyes were on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s next move as Moscow announced he will oversee a weekend drill of “strategic forces” — ballistic and cruise missiles.

What is Israel’s Strategy in Middle East?

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 18, 2022

Middle East has emboldened Iran, which is posing a growing threat to Israel and other nations throughout the region. For Jerusalem, this new reality holds large perils but also significant promise.

Which countries’ citizens can travel to the U.S. without a visa?

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 18, 2022

39 Visa Waiver countries that as of January 12, 2009, require an approved ESTA Travel Authorization to visit the United States via air or sea.

US State Department: Russia expels US’s second highest official at embassy in Moscow

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 18, 2022

WASHINGTON Russia has expelled the US deputy chief of mission to Russia, Bart Gorman, a State Department spokesperson said today, warning of a US response amid heightened fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. “Russia’s action…

Russia announces end of Crimea military drills, troops leaving

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 16, 2022

Russian defence ministry Wednesday announced the end of Crimea military drills, reported news agency AFP. The Russian defence ministry shared a video of Russian military equipment and forces leaving Crimea. The move comes after Moscow said…

50 years later, some question value of US-China ‘panda diplomacy’

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 14, 2022

Fifty years ago this month, Chairman Mao Zedong made President Richard Nixon a promise: He would send two giant pandas to the United States. Mao made this proclamation in February 1972, when Nixon visited China to begin a historic…

Nancy Pelosi set to visit Israel on Wednesday

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 14, 2022

United States Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi will visit Israel on Wednesday, Israeli media reported Sunday. She will visit the Knesset, where lawmakers will welcome her at an official ceremony before observing the proceedings in the…

Ukraine sees no point closing airspace amid Russia tension, says official

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 13, 2022

KYIV Ukraine sees no point in closing its airspace amid an escalation with Russia, a senior Ukrainian official said on Sunday (Feb 13), after the United States warned that Russian troops could invade the eastern European nation at any…

US denies it carried out operations in Russian territorial waters

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 13, 2022

WASHINGTON The United States yesterday denied that it had carried out military operations in Russian territorial waters, after Moscow said a Russian naval vessel chased away a US submarine in Russian waters in the Pacific. Russia…

US pulls out most staff from Ukraine embassy over fears of Russian invasion

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 12, 2022

KYIV The United States said on Saturday (Feb 12) it was ordering most staff at its embassy in Kyiv to leave Ukraine immediately due to the threat of an invasion by Russia. An updated travel advisory said the State Department had…

China warns US against USD 100mn weapons deal with Taiwan

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 8, 2022

BEIJING China on Tuesday warned the United States against a USD 100 million deal on weapons supply to Taiwan and said that Beijing will take necessary actions to protect its sovereignty. The United States has approved a possible USD…

Bipartisan bill would create push alert for active shooter incidents

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 6, 2022

A new bill proposed this week would develop a federal alert system for active shooter situations, which have increased by over 1200% between 2000 and 2020. The FBI defines an active shooter as "an individual actively engaged in killing…

Russia and China tell NATO to stop expansion, Moscow backs Beijing on Taiwan

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 4, 2022

MOSCOW Russia and China called in a joint statement on Friday (Feb 4) for NATO to halt its expansion while Moscow said it fully supported Beijing's stance on Taiwan and opposed Taiwanese independence in any form. The joint statement,…

Inside US raid on Islamic State leader: Months of preparation, then a deadly blast

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 4, 2022

WASHINGTON United States forces rehearsed the helicopter raid over and over, hoping to capture Islamic State's leader on the third floor of a residential building in a Syrian town on the Turkish border, where he was holed up with his…

China, Russia ‘coordinated positions’ on Ukraine, says Chinese foreign ministry

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 4, 2022

BEIJING China and Russia coordinated their positions on Ukraine during a meeting between both countries' foreign ministers in Beijing on Thursday, according to a statement by the Chinese foreign ministry. Ukraine says Russia has…

7 of the most-vaccinated places you can travel in the U.S.

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 3, 2022

If trying to maintain a low risk of exposure to the coronavirus is on your list of travel musts, you may find yourself buried in tracking data before you purchase a plane ticket. Over 63% of the U.S. population was fully vaccinated…

U.S. aircraft carrier runs drills in Adriatic amid Russia-Ukraine tension

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 3, 2022

ABOARD THE USS HARRY S TRUMAN The U.S. admiral leading the Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier strike group wouldn't speculate on Wednesday about what comes next after exercises in the Adriatic Sea end in the coming days. Navy rules…

U.S.’s righteous response to Russian aggression toward Ukraine

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 2, 2022

As the United Nations Security Council gathered Monday to discuss Ukraine, it remained uncertain whether Russian troops massed along the border of that country would actually launch an invasion. Russia has denied that it is planning an…

The next winter storm spans New Mexico to Maine and 90 million people are in its path

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 2, 2022

A large, sprawling storm will deliver a messy mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain to a large swath of the central and eastern USA over the next few days, forecasters warned Tuesday. More than 90 million people in 21 states were under…

Georgia prosecutor asks for FBI protection after Trump rails against probe

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 1, 2022

he Georgia prosecutor looking into former President Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election results is asking the FBI for protection after Trump called for protests of the “racist prosecutors” investigating him. Fulton…

Ukrainian ambassador: ‘Nobody’s safe’ if Russia invades

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 31, 2022

The Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. warned on Sunday that Russia would not stop if it decides to invade its western neighbor. While appearing on CBS's "Face the Nation," Oksana Markarova noted Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea. "The…

US orders departure of Ukraine embassy staff family members

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 24, 2022

The United States on Sunday ordered the departure of family members of staff at its embassy in Ukraine, citing the continuing threat of military action from Russia. The US State Department also authorized the voluntary departure of US…

Russia, US hold working dinner to open Geneva talks

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 10, 2022

GENEVA A top Russian diplomat predicted “difficult” talks with the United States this week after attending a working dinner with U.S. officials in Geneva on Sunday as part of the kickoff to a string of meetings in three European cities…

Prospects dim as US, Russia prepare to meet over Ukraine

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 10, 2022

WASHINGTON With the fate of Ukraine and potentially broader post-Cold War European stability at stake, the United States and Russia are holding critical strategic talks that could shape the future of not only their relationship but the…

Why Do American Expats Leave Costa Rica?

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 26, 2021

some American and Canadian expats are leaving because of Costa Rica’s vaccine mandate. But people have been throwing in the towel and moving home way before Covid-19. So why do some expats, after falling in love with Costa Rica, suddenly…

Trump sues New York attorney general, seeking to end civil probe

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 21, 2021

NEW YORK Former President Donald Trump sued New York Attorney General Letitia James on Monday, seeking to end a yearslong civil investigation into his business practices that he alleges is purely political. In the lawsuit, filed two…

North Korea calls for unity on anniversary of Kim Jong Il’s death

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 17, 2021

North Korea on Friday commemorated the 10th anniversary of former leader Kim Jong Il’s death with calls for greater public loyalty toward his son and current leader Kim Jong Un, who is struggling to navigate the country out of deepening…

Venezuela violated jurist’s rights, says UN Human Rights Committee

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 17, 2021

NEW YORK Venezuela violated a jurist's right to be tried by an independent tribunal and his right to the presumption of innocence, the UN Human Rights Committee said on Wednesday. In the decision, the Committee requested that…

Myanmar public urges gas sanctions to stop military funding

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 15, 2021

The young woman in Myanmar decided to speak out when she realized that money from the company she loved was now in the hands of the military leaders she hated. She and her parents had long worked for Total Energies, the French company…

Taliban’s Afghanistan, Haqqani Network is the new kingmaker: Report

THE ASIA LIVE Nov 18, 2021

Washington Three months since the Taliban take over of Afghanistan, the Haqqani Network --- which was often responsible for the deadliest and highest-profile terrorist attacks on US forces -- has now emerged as kingmakers in Kabul.…

U.S. asks Japan, China, others to consider tapping oil reserves

THE ASIA LIVE Nov 18, 2021

WASHINGTON The Biden administration has asked some of the world's largest oil consuming nations - including China, India and Japan - to consider releasing crude stockpiles in a coordinated effort to lower global energy prices, according…

US-China clash is not possible without destroying humanity

THE ASIA LIVE Nov 17, 2021

The United States and China view each other as technological and economic competitors, both sides must realise that a victor is not possible without risking the destruction of humanity. They must move away from this posture towards…

United States bans China Telecom

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 27, 2021

WASHINGTON US regulators on Tuesday terminated the authorization for China Telecom's American subsidiary to behavior enterprise in the United States, citing "significant" national security risks. The Federal Communications Commission…

US bans Malaysian firm’s gloves over forced labour

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 21, 2021

The United States has barred imports from a Malaysian latex glove maker over alleged labour abuses, the latest firm from the country to face such a ban. The relatively affluent Southeast Asian nation is home to millions of migrant…

How China flights near Taiwan inflame tensions

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 9, 2021

A recent spate of Chinese military flights off southwestern Taiwan has prompted alarm from the island, which Beijing claims as its own, and is increasing tensions in a region already on edge. The flights are one piece of a complex puzzle…

US hold first in-person talks with Taliban since Afghan withdrawal

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 9, 2021

WASHINGTON The United States and the Taliban will hold their first in-person talks because of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan starting today, the State Department said. The US delegation will meet today and tomorrow in the Qatari…

Biden promised Japan to defend disputed islands, says Japan PM Fumio Kishida

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 5, 2021

TOKYO New Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said today that he received a “strong” message from President Joe Biden about the United States' commitment to defending the disputed East China Sea islets known as the Senkaku Islands in…

Needs to be on alert to ‘over the top’ China, says Taiwan

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 5, 2021

TAIPEI Taiwan needs to be on alert for China's “over the top” military activities which are violating regional peace, Premier Su Tseng-chang said today, after 56 Chinese aircraft flew into Taiwan's air defense area yesterday, the very…

Thousands march for abortion rights in US

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 3, 2021

WASHINGTON Wearing pink hats and T-shirts and shouting "Hands off my body," tens of thousands of females took to the streets across the United States on Saturday in nationwide protests aimed at countering a conservative drive to restrict…

Russia says it’s in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 26, 2021

UNITED NATIONS Russia, China, Pakistan, and also the united states are working together to make sure that Afghanistan’s new Taliban rulers keep their promises, especially to make a genuinely representative government and stop extremism…

US welcomes China end to coal funding

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 23, 2021

UNITED NATIONS The United States on Wednesday welcomed China's promise to end funding for coal projects overseas but voiced hope the world's largest emitter would also do more at home on climate change. President Xi Jinping told the…

UN: Afghanistan’s Taliban want to deal with General Assembly

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 22, 2021

UNITED NATIONS Who should represent Afghanistan at the United Nations this month? It’s a complex question with plenty of political implications. The Taliban, the country’s new rulers for a matter of weeks, are challenging the…

US travel restrictions on fully vaccinated foreign visitors from November

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 20, 2021

Washington The united states on Monday (local time) announced that it'll ease travel restrictions on foreign visitors who are fully vaccinated against COVD-19 from November, US media reported. "Beginning in early November, foreign…

President Biden has ‘complete confidence’ in Milley, says White House

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 15, 2021

WASHINGTON President Biden has "complete confidence" in Gen. Mark Milley to hold on as chairman of the joint chiefs of staff after a forthcoming book reported extraordinary measures Milley took at the top of the Trump administration to…

Australian ministers will embark on joint visits to Indonesia, India, South Korea, US

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 8, 2021

Canberra, Australia Australia's Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Defence Minister Peter Dutton will be visiting Indonesia, India, South Korea, and the United States, Australia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. This…

Afghanistan’s neighbors wary as US seeks nearby staging area

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 15, 2021

ELLEN KNICKMEYER American diplomats are escalating a charm offensive with Central Asian leaders this week as they work to secure a close-by spot to respond to any resurgence of outside militants in Afghanistan after the U.S. military…

Growing strategic competition in Black Sea and threat of war

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 12, 2021

Giray Saynur Derman The Black Sea has been home to countless civilizations and tribes in every period of history, becoming a region of geopolitical and geostrategic importance in many aspects, particularly economy, trade, and…

Iran’s New President: What Does That Mean for the Nuclear Deal?

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 24, 2021

Ray Takeyh | Will Ebrahim Raisi’s election make a difference in negotiations on bringing the United States and Iran back into compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal? Iran’s large conservative faction has been highly critical of…

Mexico to use US vaccines mainly on border, at resorts

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 4, 2021

MEXICO CITY Mexican officials said Thursday the United States is donating a million doses of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine that will be used mainly along the border and at resorts frequented by Americans. President…

23 Facts ‘normal’ in the US but rest of the world weird

THE ASIA LIVE May 22, 2021

Sometimes people in the US forget that the way we do things isn’t necessarily the way it’s done everywhere else. That doesn’t mean these American customs are bad — it just means that what we believe is common is actually not. Here…

China defiant after EU warning over trade agreement

THE ASIA LIVE May 21, 2021

BEIJING China on Friday rejected European Parliament demands that it lift sanctions against European Union legislators in order to save a trade deal between the two sides. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said the sanctions…

Renewed Violence Over Gaza Despite Ceasefire Moves Gaining Speed

THE ASIA LIVE May 20, 2021

GAZA Diplomatic moves towards a ceasefire in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict gathered pace on Thursday after U.S. President Joe Biden called for a de-escalation, but Israel threatened to step up strikes on Gaza as Hamas rocket fire…

China urges US to play constructive role in Gaza diplomacy

THE ASIA LIVE May 17, 2021

BEIJING China on Monday renewed calls for the U.S. to play a constructive role in ending the conflict in Gaza and stop blocking efforts at the United Nations to demand an end to the bloodshed. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian…

Israel pounds Gaza with fresh round of strikes as diplomatic stalemate goes on

THE ASIA LIVE May 17, 2021

Israeli air strikes hammered the Gaza Strip Monday after a week of violence that has left nearly 200 people dead, the large majority Palestinian, many of them children, despite international calls for de-escalation. Before dawn, in the…

US calls reports of migrant children kept overnight in buses ‘unacceptable’

THE ASIA LIVE May 15, 2021

Reports of unaccompanied migrant children being forced to stay overnight in parked buses at the Dallas convention center are “completely unacceptable” if true, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said Friday. Dr. Amy…

Diplomatic efforts under way to de-escalate outbreak of violence in the Middle East

THE ASIA LIVE May 13, 2021

The US spearheaded diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the violence in the Middle East on Wednesday, with President Joe Biden speaking to Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling Palestinian…

China denounces US appeal for Taiwan to join WHO meeting

THE ASIA LIVE May 10, 2021

BEIJING China’s government criticized U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday for urging the World Health Organization to invite Taiwan, the island democracy claimed by Beijing as part of its territory, to participate in a…

Talks ‘intensify’ on bringing US back to Iran nuclear deal

THE ASIA LIVE May 7, 2021

VIENNA World powers held a fourth round of high-level talks Friday in Austria aimed at bringing the United States back into the nuclear deal with Iran, with both sides signaling a willingness to work out the major stumbling blocks.…

North Korea’s dwindling relations with Southeast Asia

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 24, 2021

Liang Tuang Nah For much of its history, North Korea has not only lived up to its reputation as a rogue state but also appeared able to commit misdeeds with impunity. Numerous South Korean and Japanese citizens have been abducted by…

U.S. deepens emissions target at climate summit, goal called ‘game changing’

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 22, 2021

The Biden administration on Thursday pledged at a U.S. climate summit attended by world leaders to slash U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030, a target it hopes will spur other big countries to raise their ambition to combat global…

Saudi Arabia, Iran hold talks to ease tensions: report

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 19, 2021

Riyadh Saudi and Iranian officials held direct talks this month in a bid to ease tensions between the two countries, a senior Iranian official and two regional sources said, as Washington works to revive a 2015 nuclear pact with Tehran…

US warns of ‘consequences’ if Putin critic Navalny dies

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 18, 2021

Washington US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan warned Sunday that Russia will face "consequences" if hunger-striking Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny dies. Jailed opposition leader Navalny, President Vladimir Putin's most…

Biden urges Putin to lower tensions on Ukraine border

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 13, 2021

WASHINGTON US President Joe Biden on Tuesday expressed concerns about Russia's military build-up on the Ukrainian border during a telephone call with his Russian counterpart, according to the White House. "The President voiced our…

China taps ex-ambassador to Britain Liu as special envoy for North Korea

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 12, 2021

BEIJING China has appointed former Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming as the country's special representative for Korean Peninsula affairs, the Foreign Ministry said Monday. The move comes as Beijing and Pyongyang have pledged to…

CTA Election, Mounting American Persuade and Impact on Nepal-China Relation

bidhur dhakal Apr 10, 2021

On Sunday, Tibetan refugees are voting to elect the leadership of their government. The final phase of the election, to be held on April 11 in Dharamshala and other cities around the world will elect the next Sikyong (President). The final…

Can ASEAN offer a way out of the US–China choice?

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 9, 2021

Joel Ng The first Quad summit, held in March 2021, signals that a contest for both influence and methods is underway in the Indo-Pacific between China and the United States. The Quad’s alliance of major power democracies presents the…

Looking beyond the North in South Korean foreign policy

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 5, 2021

Chung Min Lee And Carnegie Endowment As President Joe Biden begins to recalibrate the United States’ role and place in the world after Trump’s tumultuous presidency, South Korean President Moon Jae-in enters his last year in power. How…

Trump’s top diplomat calls WHO Covid report ‘a sham’

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 30, 2021

Washington Former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo, a strident critic of China, on Tuesday alleged that an international report into Covid's origins was a cover-up backed by Beijing. The long-awaited report by experts appointed by…

Myanmar anti-coup activists plan new street protests after paralyzing strike

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 25, 2021

Myanmar pro-democracy activists plan to resume street demonstrations on Thursday, a day after a nationwide silent strike saw businesses shut and people stay at home in protest against military rule in the Southeast Asian country. In a…

China’s Taiwan invasion may be “closer” than expected: US admiral

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 24, 2021

Washington Adm. John Aquilino, nominated to lead the US Indo-Pacific Command, warned Tuesday that the threat of China's aggression toward Taiwan may be more imminent than expected, while stressing the importance of the US-Japan alliance…

China plans to invite Palestinians and Israelis for talks

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 24, 2021

Beijing, China The Chinese government plans to invite Israelis and Palestinians to hold talks in China, Al-Arabiya TV channel cited on Wednesday Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as saying in an interview. Wang, who started this week a…

Protests in Myanmar continue on smaller scale after Sunday crackdown

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 2, 2021

YANGON Protests against the Feb. 1 military coup in Myanmar continued Tuesday, but on a smaller scale than those in previous days following the crackdown Sunday by security forces that killed at least 18 demonstrators and wounded over 30…

US to impose sanctions on Russia for Navalny poisoning: report

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 2, 2021

Washington US President Joe Biden's administration is preparing to impose sanctions on Russia for the poisoning and imprisonment of Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny, CNN reported Monday. Citing two administration officials, CNN wrote…

Prince Harry ‘worried about history repeating itself’

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 1, 2021

Los Angeles Britain's Prince Harry, who has blamed press intrusion for contributing to his mother Princess Diana's death in 1997, has told US chat show host Oprah Winfrey he was worried about history repeating itself. Harry and his…

Saudi Arabia says Huthi missile attack on Riyadh thwarted

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 28, 2021

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Loud explosions shook Riyadh on Saturday as a Saudi-led military coalition said it thwarted a missile attack launched by Yemen's Huthi rebels, which sent debris raining down on civilian homes. The Iran-backed…

Iran accused of being behind explosion on Israeli-owned ship

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 28, 2021

Jerusalem Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz said on Saturday his "initial assessment" was that Iran was responsible for an explosion on an Israeli-owned ship in the Gulf of Oman. "Iran is looking to hit Israeli infrastructure and…

US approves first one-dose coronavirus vaccine

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 28, 2021

Washington The US drug regulator on Saturday granted emergency use authorization for Johnson & Johnson's coronavirus vaccine, the third such vaccine it has approved and the first to offer protection with just one shot. The vaccine…

US in delicate balancing act as Saudi prince spared sanctions

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 27, 2021

Riyadh US President Joe Biden's decision not to sanction Saudi Arabia's crown prince over journalist Jamal Khashoggi's murder has frustrated campaigners, underscoring Washington's delicate balancing act as it seeks to avoid a diplomatic…

Biden, Saudi king speak ahead of Khashoggi murder report

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 26, 2021

Washington President Joe Biden held a long-delayed first phone call Thursday with Saudi King Salman ahead of an imminent US intelligence report expected to link the Arab kingdom's powerful crown prince to the killing of dissident…

Senate starts 2nd impeachment trial of Trump in wake of Capitol riot

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 10, 2021

WASHINGTON The second impeachment trial of Donald Trump started Tuesday in the Senate, with the former U.S. president facing a charge of inciting a deadly attack on the Capitol last month amid his refusal to concede defeat in his bid for…

US warns of response after military detains Suu Kyi, other officials

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 1, 2021

Washington, United States The United States on Sunday urged Myanmar's military to release detained officials, including de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and warned of a response from Washington. "The United States opposes any attempt…

Woman with Taiwan roots in US administration

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 25, 2021

Jose Kalathil New Delhi,India: The newly-installed Joe Biden administration has given a major boost to Washington's policy towards Taiwan by making the policy vis-a-vis China clear. Perhaps more importantly, a woman cherishing democracy…

Inauguration Day: 1961 vs 2021

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 20, 2021

Today, Joseph Biden will be inaugurated as the 46th president of the United States. He takes up the leadership at a particularly difficult time, following a tumultuous Trump presidency, four years that have left the US struggling with a…

The misplaced optimism of America’s Korea policy

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 17, 2021

The US legislature, whose responsibilities include overseeing the State Department and determining budgets for foreign policy activities, is devoting a notable amount of energy to strengthening the South Korea–US alliance. US legislators…

China tech giant Xiaomi dives 11% after US blacklisting

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 15, 2021

Hong Kong Shares in Chinese technology giant Xiaomi collapsed more than 11 percent in Hong Kong trade Friday after the US put it on a blacklist banning Americans from investing in it, as the Trump administration ramps up its battle with…

UN official: Terrorists using pandemic to stoke extremism

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 13, 2021

UNITED NATIONS The U.N. counter-terrorism chief warned Tuesday that terrorists are exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic and appealing to new “racially, ethnically and politically motivated violent extremist groups.” Vladimir Voronkov…

South Asian litmus test for Biden foreign policy strategy

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 11, 2021

Last week’s insurrection at the Capitol in Washington DC was a jarring reminder of what Joe Biden will inherit when he takes over the US presidency on 20 January. Mr Trump’s legacy, apart from the personal and national shame of his egging…

Islamabad tells Washington: Reserve your concern for Indian terrorism

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 11, 2021

ISLAMABAD In a rare rebuke to the US Department of State, the Foreign Office Sunday reminded it that Pakistan was fully abiding by its own statutes and fulfilling international obligations. “The State Department is encouraged to…

North Korea threatens to build more nukes, cites US hostility

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 9, 2021

SEOUL, South Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong Un threatened to expand his nuclear arsenal as he disclosed a list of high-tech weapons systems under development, saying the fate of relations with the United States depends on whether it…

US: Nancy Pelosi reelected speaker of House

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 4, 2021

Washington Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California was reelected speaker of the US House of Representatives for the 117th Congress on Sunday. Pelosi received 216 out of 427 votes to secure the speakership for a fourth term.…

US blames ‘Iran-backed’ group for Green Zone attack

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 24, 2020

The US army said a rocket attack on Sunday against Baghdad's fortified Green Zone, where the US Embassy is located, was carried out "almost certainly" by an Iran-backed group. "The Dec. 20, 2020 rocket attack on the Green Zone in Iraq…

Iraq denounces US pardons to agents in Iraqis murders

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 24, 2020

Iraq denounced Wednesday a decision by US President Donald Trump to grant clemency to four US security contractors who were convicted of killing Iraqi civilians in 2007. "The Ministry sees that this decision didn't take into…

Singapore, US sign trade, finance deal

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 16, 2020

JAKARTA, Indonesia Singapore and the US on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen economic cooperation and expand trade finance. The MoU also aims to provide investment support for companies in the two…

TikTok appeals to overturn Trump’s ban before deadline

THE ASIA LIVE Nov 11, 2020

Chinese video-sharing application TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, has filed a legal appeal to overturn US President Donald Trump's ban set to take effect Thursday. The company asked the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on…

Kamala Harris: First US woman vice president-elect

THE ASIA LIVE Nov 9, 2020

With Joe Biden the projected winner of the 2020 White House race, his running mate, Kamala Harris, is set to mark several firsts in Americas' political history despite being the first woman vice president-elect. Harris, 56, also makes…

Future US participation in Paris Agreement rests on election

THE ASIA LIVE Nov 4, 2020

Whatever the outcome of the presidential election, the United States will leave the Paris accord on Wednesday, becoming the first country to ever withdraw from an international climate change pact. It may prove to be a temporary blip…

China’s Xi takes jabs at US in Korean War commemoration

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 23, 2020

BEIJING Chinese leader Xi Jinping condemned “unilateralism, protectionism and extreme egoism” in a jab at the United States made during a rally Friday to mark the 70th anniversary of China’s entry into the 1950-53 Korean War. China refers…

Trump, Biden fight over the raging virus, climate and race

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 23, 2020

NASHVILLE, Tenn. President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden fought over how to tame the raging coronavirus during the campaign’s closing debate, largely shelving the rancor that overshadowed their previous face-off in favor…

Trump says will accept peaceful transfer after balking

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 16, 2020

WASHINGTON US President Donald Trump said Thursday he will accept a peaceful transfer of power if his Democratic rival wins the presidency on Nov. 3 but insisted he wants to see "an honest election." "They try to take down a…

Libyan conflict must be resolved via diplomacy: Lavrov

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 15, 2020

The conflict in Libya can only be resolved through diplomacy, and all efforts to find a solution should go in the same direction, Russia’s top diplomat said Wednesday. Speaking at a joint news conference with his Italian counterpart…

U.S. Supreme Court nominee Barrett pledges to follow law, not personal views

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 12, 2020

WASHINGTON Amy Coney Barrett, President Donald Trump’s pick for a U.S. Supreme Court vacancy, said she will rule based on the law, not her personal views, in prepared remarks issued on Sunday ahead of her Senate confirmation hearing this…

Facebook braces for contested election, voter intimidation

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 8, 2020

OAKLAND, Calif. Facebook said it’s readied new safeguards for the 2020 U.S. elections that have it better prepared to deal with candidates who prematurely declare victory or contest official results and the possibility of voter…

US, Australia, India, Japan discuss China’s growing power

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 6, 2020

TOKYO Japan’s new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Tuesday at a meeting with the U.S. and other diplomats that their “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” initiative, a concept to counter China’s growing assertiveness, is more important than ever…

Angry opening: Trump, Biden lash, interrupt each other

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 30, 2020

CLEVELAND Marked by angry interruptions and bitter accusations, the first debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden erupted in contentious exchanges Tuesday night over the coronavirus pandemic, job losses…

Dollar near two-month high as investors look to more data, U.S. political developments

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 28, 2020

TOKYO The dollar hovered near a two-month peak against at a basket of currencies on Monday as investors look to a barrage of upcoming economic data and political developments in the United States before making any fresh bets on the U.S.…

Japanese chipmaker Kioxia postpones $3.2 billion IPO plan amid U.S.-China tensions

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 28, 2020

TOKYO Kioxia Holdings Corp, the world’s second-largest maker of flash memory chips, on Monday postponed plans for what would have been Japan’s largest initial public offering (IPO) this year, as U.S-China tensions cloud the global chip…

Federal judge postpones Trump ban on popular app TikTok

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 28, 2020

NEW YORK A federal judge on Sunday postponed a Trump administration order that would have banned the popular video sharing app TikTok from U.S. smartphone app stores around midnight. A more comprehensive ban remains scheduled for…

Trump paid $750 in US income taxes in 2016, 2017

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 28, 2020

President Donald Trump paid just $750 in federal income taxes the year he ran for president and in his first year in the White House, according to a report Sunday in The New York Times. Trump, who has fiercely guarded his tax filings and…

Trump camp hopes Mideast pacts translate to Jewish support

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 25, 2020

Jewish American voters have leaned Democratic for decades, but Republicans are hoping the recent steps toward normalized relations between Gulf states and Israel — which Trump vigorously touted earlier this month — bolster his appeal to…

Iran’s oil exports jump in September defying sanctions: TankerTrackers

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 25, 2020

LONDON Iranian oil exports have risen sharply in September in defiance of U.S. sanctions, three assessments based on tanker tracking showed, throwing a lifeline to the Islamic Republic and its collapsing economy. The country’s exports…

Putin says Russia and U.S. should agree not to meddle in each other’s elections

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 25, 2020

MOSCOW President Vladimir Putin called on Friday for an agreement between Russia and the United States to guarantee not to engage in cyber-meddling in each other’s elections. In a statement ahead of the U.S. presidential election on Nov.…

Chinese company says coronavirus vaccine ready by early 2021

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 25, 2020

BEIJING A Chinese pharmaceutical company said Thursday the coronavirus vaccine it is developing should be ready by early 2021 for distribution worldwide, including the United States. Yin Weidong, the CEO of SinoVac, vowed to apply to the…

At UN, China, Russia and US clash over pandemic responses

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 25, 2020

UNITED NATIONS The United States butted heads with China and Russia at the United Nations on Thursday over responsibility for the pandemic that has interrupted the world, trading allegations about who mishandled and politicized the virus…

Trump aims to use UN address to send strong message to China

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 22, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump, who prefers speaking to boisterous crowds, is set to give a prerecorded address to the U.N. General Assembly as he grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, chilly relations between the U.S. and China and…

Nepali banks, companies act as channels for Iran and China to deceive US sanctions: Report

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 21, 2020

Kathmandu,Nepal Some banks and companies in Nepal are allegedly involved in transferring money obtained suspiciously from oversees, an investigation made by the Center for Investigative Journalism (CIJ), Nepal along with the International…

India records nearly 87,000 new virus cases

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 21, 2020

NEW DELHI India has recorded nearly 87,000 new cases of the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, with another 1,130 deaths. With the Health Ministry announcement Monday, India now has more than 5.4 million reported cases since the pandemic…

Japan’s PM Suga says agreed to coordinate closely with Trump after first talks

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 20, 2020

TOKYO Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed the importance of their countries’ alliance in phone talks on Sunday, their first since Suga took over as Japan’s new leader. Suga said Trump told…

What does banning TikTok and WeChat mean for users?

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 20, 2020

The U.S. government is cracking down on the Chinese apps TikTok and WeChat, starting by barring them from app stores on Sunday. President Donald Trump has cited concerns about Chinese government snooping as his administration prepares to…

US says all UN sanctions on Iran restored, but world yawns

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 20, 2020

WASHINGTON The Trump administration declared Saturday that all U.N. sanctions against Iran have been restored, a move most of the rest of the world rejects as illegal and sets the stage for an ugly showdown at the world body ahead of its…

US bans WeChat, TikTok from app stores, threatens shutdowns

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 19, 2020

The U.S. Commerce Department said Friday it will ban Chinese-owned TikTok and WeChat from U.S. app stores on Sunday and will bar the apps from accessing essential internet services in the U.S. — a move that could effectively wreck the…

Biden would push for less US reliance on nukes for defense

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 19, 2020

WASHINGTON Democrat Joe Biden leaves little doubt that if elected he would try to scale back President Donald Trump’s buildup in nuclear weapons spending. And although the former vice president has not fully detailed his nuclear…

China flies 18 warplanes near Taiwan during US envoy’s visit

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 18, 2020

TAIPEI, Taiwan China’s military sent 18 planes including fighter jets over the Taiwan Strait in an unusually large show of force Friday as a U.S. envoy held a day of closed-door meetings on the self-governing island claimed by China.…

Negotiators search for TikTok deal structure as Trump’s deadline looms

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 18, 2020

WASHINGTON Amid a deadline on their heads set by President Donald Trump, negotiators struggled to formulate a new ownership plan for TikTok. A deal appeared to be taking shape this week that would allow Silicon Valley-based Oracle to…

Top US official’s Taiwan visit irks China

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 18, 2020

The second consecutive visit by a top US official to Taiwan has left Beijing seething with anger as the Chinese army kick-started yet another military drill in the Taiwan Strait. US Under-Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and…

Belarus president closes some borders, puts army on alert

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 18, 2020

KYIV, Ukraine Belarus’ president, beleaguered by six weeks of mass protests demanding his resignation, on Thursday announced he was putting troops on high alert and closing the country’s borders with Poland and Lithuania. President…

Sony to launch much anticipated PlayStation 5 in November

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 17, 2020

SAN FRANCISCO As video gameplay booms during the pandemic, Sony’s much anticipated PlayStation 5 will be rolled out in November, taking on a new offering by console rival Xbox. A streamed event showcasing games tailored for PS5 ended…

What are the rules on masks in schools?

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 17, 2020

Whether students have to wear masks, and the trouble they could face if they don’t, depends on where they go to school. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourages masks for most students, especially when they are less…

Showdown set as US to declare UN sanctions on Iran are back

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 17, 2020

WASHINGTON In defiance of overwhelming opposition, the United States is preparing to declare that all international sanctions against Iran have been restored. Few countries believe the move is legal, and such action could provoke a…

‘Nothing left in the bucket’: Wildfire resources run thin

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 17, 2020

Justin Silvera came off the fire lines in Northern California after a grueling 36 straight days battling wildfires and evacuating residents ahead of the flames. Before that, he and his crew had worked for 20 days, followed by a three-day…

Wildfire smoke brings haze, vivid sunsets to East Coast

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 17, 2020

The smoke from dozens of wildfires in the western United States is stretching clear across the country — and even pushing into Mexico, Canada and Europe. While the dangerous plumes are forcing people inside along the West Coast, residents…

US charges 5 Chinese citizens in global hacking campaign

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 17, 2020

WASHINGTON The Justice Department has charged five Chinese citizens with hacks targeting more than 100 companies and institutions in the United States and abroad, including social media and video game companies as well as universities…

UN: World lost 100m hectares of forest in two decades

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 16, 2020

The world has lost nearly 100 million hectares of forests in two decades, marking a steady decline though at a slower pace than before, a UN agency reported Tuesday. The proportion of forest to total land area fell from 31.9% in 2000 to…

North Korea may conduct underwater-launched missile test

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 16, 2020

SEOUL, South Korea North Korea may soon conduct its first underwater-launched ballistic missile test in about a year, a top South Korean military official said Wednesday, amid long-stalled nuclear talks between the North and the United…

Trump warns Iran of severe retaliation if US attacked

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 15, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump threatened late Monday to deliver a devastating response to any attack by Iran against the US. "Any attack by Iran, in any form, against the United States will be met with an attack on Iran that will…

Court: Trump can end temporary legal status for 4 countries

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 15, 2020

SAN DIEGO The Trump administration can end humanitarian protections that have allowed hundreds of thousands of people from El Salvador, Nicaragua, Haiti and Sudan to remain in the United States, a divided appeals court ruled Monday.…

Trump spurns science on climate: ‘Don’t think science knows’

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 15, 2020

SACRAMENTO, Calif. With the smell of California wildfires in the air, President Donald Trump on Monday ignored the scientific consensus that climate change is playing a central role in historic West Coast infernos and renewed his…

Regulators to examine pilot training for Boeing 737 Max jets

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 12, 2020

Aviation regulators and pilots from several countries will begin next week reviewing Boeing’s proposal for training pilots to fly the revamped 737 Max, a sign that the grounded plane is moving closer to returning to service. The Federal…

UN assembly approves pandemic resolution; US, Israel object

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 12, 2020

UNITED NATIONS The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a wide-ranging resolution on tackling the coronavirus pandemic Friday over objections from the United States and Israel, which protested a successful last-minute Cuban…

10 dead as California fire becomes deadliest of year

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 11, 2020

GRIDLEY, Calif. A Northern California wildfire that destroyed a foothill hamlet has become the state’s deadliest blaze of the year with 10 people confirmed dead — and the toll could climb as searchers look for 16 missing people. The…

Global stocks mixed after Wall Street rebounds from slump

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 10, 2020

BEIJING Global stock markets were mixed Thursday after Wall Street rebounded from a three-day slump for tech stocks. London opened lower while Tokyo and Frankfurt advanced. Shanghai and Paris declined. U.S. futures were lower after…

Stocks push higher in Europe, US trading closed for holiday

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 7, 2020

BEIJING European stocks rose on Monday after a mixed close in Asia, while Wall Street was set to remain closed for Labor Day after turning in its biggest weekly decline in more than two months. Investors have been encouraged by hopes…

Refugee families face unique struggles with online school

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 6, 2020

PHOENIX Samuel Lavi knew he’d have to find unique ways to stay connected to refugee families when the coronavirus pandemic shut down Valencia Newcomer School. Parents and students speak more than a dozen languages, and they’d need help…

VIRUS DIARY: In Hawaii, pandemic, pregnancy and plumerias

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 4, 2020

JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER HONOLULU: I remember setting out for a late afternoon run and the overpowering perfume of plumerias from the tree outside my house. That’s the moment I knew something was up. Normally, for me, getting a whiff of…

US imposes fresh restrictions on Chinese diplomats

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 3, 2020

WASHINGTON The United States on Thursday imposed fresh restrictions on Chinese diplomats in Washington, barring then from visiting university campuses or meeting with local government officials without approval from the State Department.…

Report: Mexico leads in health worker deaths from COVID-19

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 3, 2020

MEXICO CITY Mexico leads the world in coronavirus deaths among its health care workers, Amnesty International said in a new report Wednesday. It said Mexico has reported 1,320 confirmed deaths from COVIID-19 so far, surpassing the United…

5 things to know about Japan’s World War II surrender

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 2, 2020

TOKYO World War II ended 75 years ago, but not all countries commemorate it on the same day. Wednesday is the anniversary of the formal Sept. 2, 1945, surrender of Japan to the United States, when documents were signed officially ending…

Oil companies accused of wanting to dump plastics in Africa

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 1, 2020

NAIROBI, Kenya The oil industry has asked the United States to pressure Kenya to change its world-leading stance against the plastic waste that litters Africa, according to environmentalists who fear the continent will be used as a dumping…

US demands restoration of UN sanctions against Iran

THE ASIA LIVE Aug 21, 2020

UNITED NATIONS The Trump administration on Thursday formally notified the United Nations of its demand for all U.N. sanctions on Iran to be restored, setting off an immediate confrontation with Russia and other Security Council members,…

North Korea to hold key party meeting amid economic woes

THE ASIA LIVE Aug 18, 2020

SEOUL, South Korea North Korea will open a high-profile political conference on Wednesday to discuss unspecified “crucial” issues as it struggles to keep afloat a sanctions-ravaged economy hit further by its anti-virus efforts and…

Trump orders Chinese owner of TikTok to sell US assets

THE ASIA LIVE Aug 15, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Friday gave the Chinese company ByteDance 90 days to divest itself of any assets used to support the popular TikTok app in the United States. Trump’s executive order said there is “credible evidence…

Pompeo opens anti-China, anti-Russia tour in Czech Republic

THE ASIA LIVE Aug 11, 2020

PRAGUE U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in the Czech Republic at the start of a four-nation tour of central and eastern Europe expected to focus on threats to the region posed by Russia and China. Amid post-election violence and…

Azar meets with Taiwan President Tsai on breakthrough visit

THE ASIA LIVE Aug 10, 2020

TAIPEI, Taiwan U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Monday during the highest-level visit by an American Cabinet official since the break in formal diplomatic ties between…

Why the fuss? The US, Taiwan and China -a guide

THE ASIA LIVE Aug 6, 2020

Washington Why has the announcement by the United States of its highest-level visit to Taiwan for four decades sparked such anger from Beijing? Here is a recap of the key issues surrounding the delicate relations between the US, China and…

Is it safe for schools to reopen during the pandemic?

THE ASIA LIVE Aug 6, 2020

It depends on how widespread COVID-19 infections are in the community and the safety measures the school takes. In areas where the virus is poorly controlled, public health experts say in-person education would be too risky. In areas where…

US talks tougher on Chinese tech, but offers few specifics

THE ASIA LIVE Aug 6, 2020

NEW YORK U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday called for a big expansion of U.S. government curbs on Chinese technology, saying that it wants to see “untrusted Chinese apps” pulled from the Google and Apple app stores. Outside…

US trade deficit drops in June on record rise in exports

THE ASIA LIVE Aug 5, 2020

WASHINGTON The U.S. trade deficit fell in June for the first time since February as exports posted a record increase, rising twice as fast as imports. The Commerce Department said Wednesday that the gap between the value of what the…

Microsoft confirms talks seeking to buy US arm of TikTok

THE ASIA LIVE Aug 3, 2020

NEW YORK Microsoft confirmed Sunday it is in talks with Chinese company ByteDance to acquire the U.S. arm of its popular video app TikTok and has discussed with President Donald Trump his concerns about security and censorship surrounding…

Iran imposes sanctions on ex-US Security Council member

THE ASIA LIVE Aug 3, 2020

Iran announced Sunday that it has imposed economic sanctions on a former US expert for playing an active role in Washington’s “economic terrorism against the interests of the Islamic Republic and its citizens.” Richard Goldberg, a former…

US officials seek limits on “habitat” for imperiled species

THE ASIA LIVE Aug 1, 2020

BILLINGS, Mont. The Trump administration is moving to restrict what land and water areas can be declared as “habitat” for imperiled plants and animals — potentially excluding locations that species could use in the future as climate change…

Trump says he’ll act to ban TikTok in US as soon as Saturday

THE ASIA LIVE Aug 1, 2020

NEW YORK President Donald Trump said he will take action as soon as Saturday to ban TikTok, a popular Chinese-owned video app that has been a source of national security and censorship concerns. Trump’s comments came after published…

Magnitude 4.2 earthquake shakes southern California

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 30, 2020

LOS ANGELES A magnitude 4.2 earthquake centered in the Los Angeles area shook southern California on Thursday morning. The quake happened around 4:30 a.m. near Pacoima, news outlets reported citing the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake,…

Global markets sink after Fed virus warning

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 30, 2020

BEIJING Global markets and U.S. stock futures declined Thursday after the Federal Reserve warned the coronavirus pandemic might threaten the modest economic recovery and kept interest rates near zero. London and Frankfurt opened lower.…

Iran launches underground ballistic missiles during exercise

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 29, 2020

TEHRAN, Iran Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard launched underground ballistic missiles as part of an exercise involving a fake aircraft carrier in the Strait of Hormuz, state television reported Wednesday, the latest barrage in a…

US-China spats rattle world, prompting calls for unity

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 28, 2020

BEIJING Antagonisms between the U.S. and China are rattling governments around the world, prompting a German official to warn of “Cold War 2.0” and Kenya’s president to appeal for unity to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Global trade…

Trade, technology and security at risk in US-China feud

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 27, 2020

BEIJING They have the largest economies in the world. They spend more than anyone else on their militaries. From high-tech chips to control of the high seas, their interests are closely intertwined. The ongoing sharp deterioration in…

Virus vaccine put to final test in thousands of volunteers

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 27, 2020

The world’s biggest COVID-19 vaccine study got underway Monday with the first of 30,000 planned volunteers helping to test shots created by the U.S. government -- one of several candidates in the final stretch of the global vaccine race.…

Police corral crowds as movers leave US Consulate in China

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 26, 2020

CHENGDU, China Moving trucks and vehicles with diplomatic plates pulled out of a U.S. Consulate in southwest China on Sunday, as its impending closure over rising bilateral tensions drew a steady stream of onlookers for the second straight…

2020’s 1st Atlantic hurricane lashes Texas; floods expected

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 26, 2020

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas Hurricane Hanna roared ashore onto the Texas Gulf Coast on Saturday, bringing winds that lashed the shoreline with rain and storm surge, and even threatening to bring possible tornadoes to a part of the country trying…

Kuwait emir, 91, flies to US for medical care after surgery

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 23, 2020

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Kuwait’s 91-year-old ruling emir left Thursday morning for the United States to seek further medical care after recently undergoing surgery, its state-run news agency reported. Kuwait has yet to elaborate on…

US wildlife agency rejects protections for rare fish species

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 22, 2020

BILLINGS, Mont. U.S. wildlife officials on Wednesday plan to reject special protections for a rare, freshwater fish species that’s been at the center of a long-running legal dispute. Obtained details of the decision not to protect Arctic…

China says US orders it to close its consulate in Houston

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 22, 2020

BEIJING China said Wednesday that the U.S. has ordered it to close its consulate in Houston in what an official called an outrageous and unjustified move that will sabotage China-U.S. relations. Foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin…

Esper says US considering troop ‘adjustments’ in South Korea

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 21, 2020

WASHINGTON The Pentagon is considering “adjustments” to its military presence in South Korea and around the globe as it shifts from years of countering insurgencies and militants in the greater Middle East to focusing on China, Defense…

Stocks climb on Wall Street after Europe agrees on virus aid

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 21, 2020

Energy companies and banks are leading stocks broadly higher on Wall Street in early trading Tuesday, extending the market’s recent run of gains. The S&P 500 was up 0.6%. The gains followed strength in markets overseas as investors…

Iran executes man convicted of spying on US-slain general

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 20, 2020

TEHRAN, Iran Iran executed a man convicted of providing information to the United States and Israel about a prominent Revolutionary Guard general later killed by a U.S. drone strike, state TV reported on Monday. The report said the…

US Ambassador to India meets representatives of Dalai Lama

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 18, 2020

New Delhi,India US Ambassador to India, Ken Juster, on Saturday said he met Ngodup-la, Representative of Tibetan Spiritual leader Dalai Lama in Delhi and Secretary Gyalpo. "Our close cooperation with the Office of HH the Dalai Lama…

Breathtaking virus numbers show normal life still far away

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 18, 2020

JOHANNESBURG South Africa was poised on Saturday to join the top five countries most affected by the coronavirus, while breathtaking numbers around the world were a reminder a return to normal life is still far from sight. Confirmed virus…

China says it’s not trying to replace US, won’t be bullied

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 17, 2020

BEIJING China isn’t seeking to confront or replace the United States as the world’s top technological power, but will fight back against “malicious slander” and attacks from Washington, a foreign ministry spokesperson said Friday,…

China accuses US of sowing discord in South China Sea

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 14, 2020

BEIJING The Trump administration’s rejection of broad Chinese claims to much of the South China Sea came across in Asia as an election-year political move, with some appealing for calm amid fears of greater tensions. China accused the…

Kim’s sister says ‘no need’ for another US-North Korea summit

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 10, 2020

Seoul, South Korea The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Friday there was "no need" for another summit with the United States unless Washington offered a "decisive change" in approach. Kim and US President Donald…

Global stocks mixed after Wall St slips on economy worries

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 10, 2020

BEIJING European stock markets opened higher Friday while Asian prices followed Wall Street lower on worries economic recoveries might fade as coronavirus cases increase in the United States and some other countries. London and Frankfurt…

US sees importance of North Korea talks despite tension, South says

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 9, 2020

Seoul, South Korea The United States has stressed the importance of resuming talks with North Korea, South Korea said on Thursday, even though North Korea has said it has no intention of returning to the negotiating table. US Deputy…

Wall Street glides, S&P 500 on pace for 6th gain in 7 days

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 8, 2020

NEW YORK U.S. stocks are gliding higher in early Wednesday trading, as more gains for big technology companies help Wall Street return to its upswing. The S&P 500 was 0.8% higher after the first 30 minutes of trading, following a…

US envoy meets officials in Seoul as Kim honors grandfather

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 8, 2020

SEOUL, South Korea President Donald Trump’s point man to North Korea met with South Korean officials on Wednesday for discussions on stalled nuclear diplomacy amid the North’s repeated claims that it has no immediate intent to resume…

US hits Chinese officials with visa bans over Tibet access

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 8, 2020

WASHINGTON The Trump administration fired a new shot in its diplomatic war with China on Tuesday by imposing travel bans on Chinese officials it says are restricting foreigners’ access to Tibet. While waging concurrent battles over…

Trump pushes state, local leaders to reopen schools in fall

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 8, 2020

President Donald Trump on Tuesday launched an all-out effort pressing state and local officials to reopen schools this fall, arguing that some are keeping schools closed not because of the risks from the coronavirus pandemic but for…

North Korea rejects talks as US envoy arrives in Seoul

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 7, 2020

SEOUL, South Korea North Korea on Tuesday said it has no immediate intent to resume a dialogue with the United States as U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun arrived in South Korea for discussions on stalled nuclear diplomacy. In…

Governor warns California officials to enforce health rules

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 4, 2020

LOS ANGELES California Gov. Gavin Newsom warned local elected officials on Friday they risk state sanctions if they don’t enforce health orders as the coronavirus pandemic worsens, while about 200 state inspectors fanned out to look for…

North Korea says it has no plans for talks with US

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 4, 2020

SEOUL, South Korea North Korea on Saturday reiterated it has no immediate plans to resume nuclear negotiations with the United States unless Washington discards what it describes as “hostile” polices toward Pyongyang. The statement by…

US Congress urges Trump administration to get tougher on China’s Xinjiang crackdown

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 3, 2020

Washington, United States More than 75 US senators and House members on Thursday urged the Trump administration to take a tougher stance on China over its crackdown in that country's Xinjiang province and make a formal determination…

US trade deficit rises 9.7% in May to $54.6 billion

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 2, 2020

WASHINGTON The U.S. trade deficit rose for the third straight month in May. Both exports and imports fell as the coronavirus outbreak continued to take a toll on world commerce. The Commerce Department said Thursday that the gap between…

China: US ‘oppressing Chinese companies’ in new Huawei move

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 1, 2020

BEIJING China on Wednesday demanded Washington stop “oppressing Chinese companies” after U.S. regulators declared telecom equipment suppliers Huawei and ZTE to be national security threats. The Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday…

Caesar Act targets regime, not Syrians: Opposition

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 1, 2020

The Caesar Act only targets the Syrian regime, not Syrians themselves, said Anas al-Abdah, president of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, a coalition of opposition groups. On Dec. 20, 2019, US President…

Companies prodded to rely less on China, but few respond

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 30, 2020

BEIJING The United States, Japan and France are prodding their companies to rely less on China to make the world’s smartphones, drugs and other products. But even after the coronavirus derailed trade, few want to leave China’s skilled…

Japan to boost space cooperation with US in revised policy

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 29, 2020

TOKYO Japan said Monday it will step up its defense capability in space and improve its ability to detect and track missiles, while cooperating with the United States in response to what it called a growing threat from North Korea and…

Lebanon’s FM to summon US envoy over comments on Hezbollah

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 28, 2020

BEIRUT Lebanon’s foreign minister summoned the U.S. ambassador to Beirut over comments she made recently in which she criticized the militant Hezbollah group, state-run National News Agency reported Sunday. The agency gave no further…

In Wisconsin, Trump boasts of ‘aptitude for manufacturing’

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 26, 2020

MARINETTE, Wis. Despite enormous economic headwinds and sky-high unemployment numbers, President Donald Trump sought to showcase his record as a job creator on Thursday during a visit to a shipyard in the battleground state of Wisconsin.…

South Korea, US urge North to implement denuclearization pledges

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 25, 2020

SEOUL, South Korea South Korea and the United States urged North Korea to implement the disarmament pledges it made in past talks, saying Thursday the allies will keep pushing for diplomacy aimed at achieving the North’s complete…

Wisconsin governor activates National Guard after violence

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 25, 2020

MADISON, Wis. Wisconsin’s governor activated the National Guard on Wednesday to protect state properties after a night of violence that included the toppling of two statues outside the state Capitol, one of which commemorated an…

‘Faces of the conquerors’: Trump trip to Rushmore draws fire

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 25, 2020

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. President Donald Trump’s plans to kick off Independence Day with a showy display at Mount Rushmore are drawing sharp criticism from Native Americans who view the monument as a desecration of land violently stolen from…

China warns US over actions against 4 more media outlets

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 23, 2020

BEIJING China warned Tuesday it will take countermeasures after the U.S. added four more Chinese media outlets to a list of organizations that should be considered “foreign missions” in the United States because of their ties to the…

Asian shares advance, tracking Wall Street tech rally

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 23, 2020

TOKYO Asian shares were mostly higher on Tuesday, recovering from some early losses as regional markets tracked a late rally on Wall Street led by technology shares. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 surged 0.8% to 22,621.84. Hong Kong’s Hang…

VIRUS DIARY: ‘We’re together & we’re safe’

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 22, 2020

PALMYRA, N.J. All I wanted was to be home. To sleep in my bed, cook in my kitchen and greet my husband after work. I cried a lot. I gained 10 pounds. I even started to get dry, itchy patches on the bridge of my nose and eyelids that I…

Chinese firm sued by US over ‘fake’ masks not certified: Official

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 22, 2020

Beijing, China A Chinese company sued for selling nearly half a million fake and substandard N95 respirators to US buyers in April is not a certified maker of medical masks, Chinese authorities said on Monday. Guangdong-based King Year…

Putin to host Russia World War II parade ahead of key vote

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 22, 2020

Moscow, Russia Thousands of Russian troops will march in Moscow on Wednesday as President Vladimir Putin brushes off virus fears to host a World War II commemoration ahead of a crucial vote on his rule. The military display in Red Square…

South Korea says Bolton’s memoir on Trump-Kim summit is distorted

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 22, 2020

Seoul, South Korea Accounts by former US National Security Adviser John Bolton of discussions between leaders of the United States and the two Koreas in his upcoming book are inaccurate and distorted, South Korea said on Monday. Bolton…

While Confederate statues come down, other symbols targeted

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 22, 2020

RALEIGH, N.C. Spectators in North Carolina’s capital cheered Sunday morning as work crews finished the job started by protesters Friday night and removed a Confederate statue from the top of a 75-foot (232 meter) monument. Across the…

US judge denies Trump’s bid to block Bolton’s book but criticizes ex-adviser

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 21, 2020

Washington A US judge denied on Saturday a request by the Trump administration for an injunction to block publication of a book by Donald Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton that alleges the president sought China's help…

Trump holds fiery, defiant rally but crowd disappoints

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 21, 2020

Tulsa, United States US President Donald Trump hailed his supporters as "warriors" Saturday for defying the coronavirus and attacked his Democratic rivals at his first campaign rally in three months, an event with crowds far smaller than…

Juneteenth takes on new meaning amid push for racial justice

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 20, 2020

DETROIT Protesters marched over the Brooklyn Bridge, chanted “We want justice now!” near St. Louis’ Gateway Arch, stopped work at West Coast ports and paused for a moment of silence at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, as…

Mumbai terror attacks plotter Tahawwur Rana arrested in Los Angeles

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 20, 2020

Los Angeles A Pakistan born Canadian imprisoned for helping terrorist groups, has been arrested in Los Angeles to face murder charges in India for the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks in which over 160 people were killed, US prosecutors said on…

VIRUS DIARY: A pandemic, a layoff & a suddenly stay-home dad

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 19, 2020

LINDSAY WHITEHURST ALT LAKE CITY The day his boss looked over at the TV screen and gave a forlorn nod at the plunging red lines of the stock market, my husband could feel the layoff coming. It was a gut punch when it hit our family, like…

In memoir, Bolton says nuclear diplomacy with North Korea was South Korea’s…

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 19, 2020

WASHINGTON Former U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton has written in his upcoming memoir that the 2018 diplomatic efforts to denuclearize North Korea were South Korea's "creation," more than a serious strategy on the part of…

North Koreans are exploding with anger at South Korea: state media

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 19, 2020

SEOUL,South Korea North Korea issued no new statements against South Korea for the second day Friday as state media reported that people from all walks of life in the communist nation are exploding with anger at the South. The North has…

Court rejects Trump bid to end young immigrants’ protections

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 19, 2020

WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected President Donald Trump’s effort to end legal protections for 650,000 young immigrants, the second stunning election-season rebuke from the court in a week after its ruling that it’s illegal…

US official says China not forthcoming in talks with Pompeo

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 19, 2020

WASHINGTON A senior State Department official said Thursday that the United States was disappointed by China’s attitude at a meeting between Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a top Chinese diplomat in Hawaii this week. Assistant…

Chinese, US diplomats hold ‘constructive’ dialogue

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 18, 2020

A senior Chinese diplomat has met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Chinese media reported Thursday. According to the state-run Xinhua news agency, Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the…

Trump extends existing sanctions on North Korea for 1 year

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 18, 2020

WASHINGTON U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday extended existing U.S. sanctions on North Korea for another year, citing the continued "unusual and extraordinary" threat posed by the regime. In a routine notice sent to Congress, Trump…

Black Lives Matter network establishes $12M grant fund

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 18, 2020

NEW YORK The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation has established a fund worth more than $12 million to aid organizations fighting institutional racism, in the wake of the George Floyd protests. On Wednesday, the foundation, which…

Facebook says to block foreign state media ads for US election

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 17, 2020

San Francisco Facebook says it will block ads from foreign state media during the US election, as well as allowing users to hide all paid-for political messages. The move comes with the social media giant under growing pressure over…

Fatal clash in the Himalayas ups ante for China and India

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 17, 2020

NEW DELHI India and China sought Wednesday to de-escalate tensions after flexing their muscles in a fatal clash along a disputed border high in the Himalayas that left 20 Indian soldiers dead. The skirmish Monday in the desolate alpine…

US admits flaws as UN human rights body set to debate racism

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 17, 2020

GENEVA A U.S. ambassador said Wednesday that Washington “is committed to addressing its shortcomings, including racial discrimination,” and is being transparent about holding violators accountable — as the U.N.’s top human rights body was…

Man shot during protest over Spanish conqueror’s statue

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 16, 2020

ALCALDE, N.M. A man was shot Monday night as protesters in New Mexico’s largest city tried to tear down a bronze statue of a Spanish conquistador outside the Albuquerque Museum. The man was taken to a hospital but his condition was not…

PG&E to plead guilty to deaths from California wildfire

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 16, 2020

SAN RAMON, Calif. Pacific Gas & Electric is expected to plead guilty to 84 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter during a court hearing in which the nation’s largest utility will be confronted with its history of neglect and greed…

Black Lives Matter banner removed at US Embassy in Seoul

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 16, 2020

SEOUL, South Korea A large Black Lives Matter banner has been removed from the U.S. Embassy building in South Korea’s capital three days after it was raised there in solidarity with protesters back home. The banner was put up on Saturday…

Sweeping asylum rules near as public feedback is sought

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 16, 2020

SAN DIEGO The Trump administration on Monday published sweeping rules making it substantially more difficult to get asylum, moving a step closer to what critics are calling a death blow to the system of seeking humanitarian protection in…

US Air Force plane crashes into North Sea

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 15, 2020

LONDON A U.S. Air Force fighter plane with one pilot on board crashed into the North Sea on Monday. The status of the pilot wasn’t known. The F-15C Eagle from the 48th Fighter Wing was on a routine training mission from RAF Lakenheath…

Wall Street opens sharply lower as virus fears return

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 15, 2020

Stocks are opening sharply lower on Wall Street as investors worried that lockdowns could return as more virus cases emerge. The S&P 500 fell 2.3% in the early going Monday. The benchmark index is coming off its worst week in almost…

Russia jails ex-US marine Paul Whelan for 16 years over espionage

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 15, 2020

Moscow, Russia A Russian court found former US marine Paul Whelan guilty of spying for the United States on Monday and sentenced him to 16 years in jail, a move the US ambassador to Moscow called an egregious violation of human rights…

China’s new virus outbreak underscores continued threat

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 15, 2020

BEIJING China’s capital was bracing Monday for a resurgence of the coronavirus after more than 100 new cases were reported in recent days in a city that hadn’t seen a case of local transmission in more than a month. The United States,…

International Criminal Court condemns US sanctions order

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 12, 2020

THE HAGUE, Netherlands The International Criminal Court has condemned the Trump administration’s decision to authorize sanctions against court staff, saying it amounted to “an unacceptable attempt to interfere with the rule of law and the…

US naval buildup in Indo-Pacific seen as warning to China

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 12, 2020

WASHINGTON For the first time in nearly three years, three American aircraft carriers are patrolling the Indo-Pacific waters, a massive show of naval force in a region roiled by spiking tensions between the U.S. and China and a sign that…

Historical figures reassessed around globe after Floyd death

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 12, 2020

The rapidly unfolding movement to pull down Confederate monuments around the U.S. in the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of police has extended to statues of slave traders, imperialists, conquerors and explorers around the world,…

North Korea says its goal is to build ‘more reliable’ force against US

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 12, 2020

Pyongyang,North Korea North Korea on Friday said that its goal is to build up a "more reliable" force against long-term military threats from the United States. North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Son-gwon made the remark as the two…

China slams US for flying aircraft over Taiwan

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 12, 2020

Beijing China on Thursday slammed the United States after a military aircraft flew over Taiwan earlier this week. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory. On Tuesday morning, a US military C-40A transport aircraft flew along the west…

Israel to count Palestinians in ‘future annexed areas’

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 11, 2020

JERUSALEM Israel prepares to count Palestinian population living in areas that will be annexed to Israeli sovereignty, according to US' alleged peace plan "Deal of the Century". The Israeli rights group "Peace Now" said in a recent study…

Asian shares slide after Wall Street retreat

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 11, 2020

TOKYO Asian shares were mostly lower Thursday, with Tokyo dropping more than 1% as the Japanese yen gained after the Federal Reserve said it would keep interest rates low through 2022. Asian markets had been expected to fall after the Fed…

California deputy shot in ‘ambush’ attack at police station

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 11, 2020

LOS ANGELES A California sheriff’s deputy was shot in the head but survived an “ambush” by a gunman intent on harming or killing police and authorities said Wednesday they were investigating whether there was a connection to two recent…

Starbucks takes $3 billion hit to revenue during pandemic

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 10, 2020

Starbucks expects to lose more than $3 billion in revenue in its fiscal third quarter due to the new coronavirus, but said the disruption to its business should subside through the rest of the year. “The Starbucks brand is resilient,…

Taiwan, US involved in anti-gov’t protests: Hong Kong

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 10, 2020

Hong Kong has accused Taiwan and the US of fanning anti-government protests in the special administrative region, local media reported on Wednesday. Hong Kong’s security chief John Lee Ka-chiu alleged that Taiwan and US “played a role in…

Wall Street is off to a mixed start ahead of Fed statement

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 10, 2020

U.S. stock indexes were mixed in early trading Wednesday ahead of an afternoon interest rate and economic policy update from the Federal Reserve. The S&P 500 was down 0.2% in the early going. The benchmark index was coming off its…

George Floyd, whose death energized a movement, to be buried

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 9, 2020

HOUSTON George Floyd’s body arrived at a Houston church Tuesday for a private funeral, to be followed by his burial, capping six days of mourning for the black man whose death has led to a global reckoning over police brutality and racial…

Iran sentences informant convicted of spying on Soleimani for CIA

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 9, 2020

Iranian judiciary announced on Tuesday that one of its citizens who provided information to US and Israeli intelligence agencies regarding the whereabouts of Iran’s slain Revolutionary Guards commander Qassem Soleimani has been sentenced to…

Asian shares mixed after Nasdaq record as Wall St rallies on

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 9, 2020

TOKYO Shares were mixed in Asia on Tuesday after the Nasdaq composite touched a fresh record as enthusiasm about reopening the economy pushed Wall Street still higher. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 lost 0.5% to 23,064.75 and South Korea’s…

Khalilzad meets Taliban deputy leader Mullah Baradar for Intra-Afghan talks

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 8, 2020

Kabul,Afghanistan The US peace envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad and the commander of foreign troops in Afghanistan, US General Scott Miller, met with the Taliban's deputy leader Mullah Baradar in Doha on Sunday (local time). "The…

World shares mixed following Wall St rally, OPEC-plus deal

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 8, 2020

BANGKOK Shares opened lower in Asia on Monday after a broad advance in Asia following news that the U.S. economy added more jobs than expected in May. Germany’s DAX shed 0.6% to 12,770.66 as the government reported that industrial…

‘All eyes’ on New York: Reopening tests city torn by crises

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 8, 2020

NEW YORK The city that never sleeps had a curfew for much of last week. Famous stores were boarded up after days of unrest. The lights are out on Broadway theaters, and the subway no longer runs overnight. But after three bleak months,…

Anti-racism protesters rally around world, topple statue

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 8, 2020

LONDON Thousands of people took to the streets of European cities Sunday to show their support for the Black Lives Matter movement, with protesters in the English port of Bristol venting their anger at the country’s colonial history by…

The Obamas deliver speeches during YouTube virtual ceremony

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 8, 2020

LOS ANGELES President Barack Obama said in a commencement speech Sunday that the nationwide protests following the recent deaths of unarmed black women and men including George Floyd were fueled from “decades worth of anguish, frustration,…

Bloodied store manager describes life in the age of COVID-19

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 7, 2020

For weeks Samantha Clarke calmly listened to the insults and threats directed daily at her and her employees by people who learned they couldn’t enter the Modesto, California, store without wearing a mask and following other…

China’s exports and imports fall amid coronavirus woes

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 7, 2020

BEIJING China’s exports and imports both fell in May as the coronavirus and trade tensions with the U.S. weighed on demand at home and abroad. Exports fell 3.3% compared to a year earlier to $206.8 billion and imports dropped 16.7% to…

Washington protesters express optimism after week on edge

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 7, 2020

WASHINGTON On Monday, they were forcibly removed from the street by law enforcement. On Saturday, they danced. The tens of thousands of racially diverse demonstrators who flooded Washington to protest injustice and police brutality…

Protests continue in NYC amid lingering tensions over curfew

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 7, 2020

NEW YORK Demonstrations over the death of George Floyd continued in New York City on Saturday, with thousands taking to the streets and parks to protest police brutality as police pulled back on enforcing an 8 p.m. curfew that has led to…

White House, Pentagon tensions near breaking point

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 6, 2020

ROBERT BURNS Tensions between the White House and Pentagon have stretched to near a breaking poin t over President Donald Trump’s threat to use military force against street protests triggered by George Floyd’s death. Friction in this…

Protests support Floyd, Black Lives Matter on 3 continents

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 6, 2020

BERLIN Tens of thousands of people gathered Saturday in cities far from the United States to express their anger over the death of George Floyd, a sign that the Black Lives Matter movement against police brutality is resonating with wider…

How messaging technology is helping fuel global protests

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 6, 2020

When a friend shared a Facebook post with Michelle Burris inviting her to protest in downtown Washington, D.C., last Saturday, she knew she had to go. So she bought a Black Lives Matter mask from a street vendor before marching the streets…

Trump’s alternate reality in time of anguish

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 6, 2020

WASHINGTON “Vicious dogs.” “Ominous weapons.” Injured police. Gagging protesters. Shattered storefronts. Armed personnel at centers of power and landmarks. Anguish and arson. Taking the measure of these days in the nation’s capital,…

Coronavirus disrupts global fight to save endangered species

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 6, 2020

WASHINGTON Biologist Carlos Ruiz has spent a quarter-century working to save golden lion tamarins, the charismatic long-maned monkeys native to Brazil’s Atlantic Forest. Thanks to painstaking reforestation efforts, the population of these…

Facebook removes nearly 200 accounts tied to hate groups

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 6, 2020

Facebook has removed nearly 200 social media accounts linked to white supremacy groups that planned to encourage members to attend protests over police killings of black people — in some cases with weapons, company officials said Friday.…

US will allow limited flights by Chinese airlines, not a ban

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 5, 2020

The Trump administration said Friday it will let Chinese airlines operate a limited number of flights to the U.S., backing down from a threat to ban the flights. The decision came one day after China appeared to open the door to U.S.…

Twitter disables Trump campaign’s George Floyd video tribute

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 5, 2020

Twitter has blocked a Trump campaign video tribute to George Floyd over a copyright claim, in a move that adds to tensions between the social media platform and the U.S. president, one of its most widely followed users. The company put a…

George Floyd’s death an American tragedy with global echoes

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 5, 2020

LONDON When black men died at the hands of U.S. police in recent years, the news made international headlines. The name of George Floyd has reached the world’s streets. Since his death while being detained by Minneapolis police last week,…

Study on use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 pulled

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 5, 2020

WASHINGTON The Lancet medical journal announced on Thursday retracting a study published on the treatment of COVID-19 patients with the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine. The drug has been repeatedly touted by US President Donald…

Asian shares higher after jobless data snaps Wall St rally

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 5, 2020

Shares were mostly higher in Asia on Friday after U.S. unemployment data gave the S&P 500 its first loss in five days. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index gained 0.4% to 22,790.65 after opening lower. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong edged 0.1% higher,…

New York Times says senator’s op-ed didn’t meet standards

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 5, 2020

NEW YORK In an embarrassing about-face, The New York Times said Thursday that an opinion piece it ran by U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton advocating the use of federal troops to quell nationwide protests about police mistreatment of black Americans…

Google: State-backed hackers targeted Trump, Biden campaigns

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 5, 2020

BOSTON Google said state-backed hackers have targeted the campaigns of both President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, although it saw no evidence that the phishing attempts were successful. The company confirmed the…

2020 turning into most traumatic year of modern US history

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 4, 2020

On May 25, a greengrocer shop in the city of Minneapolis complained to a customer about allegedly trying to pay with a counterfeit $20 bill. After arriving at the scene, police sought to take the suspect, George Floyd, out of his car and…

China easing airline access amid conflict with Washington

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 4, 2020

BEIJING Chinese regulators said Thursday more foreign airlines will be allowed to fly to China as anti-coronavirus controls ease but it was unclear whether the change will defuse a fresh conflict with the Trump administration over air…

Can I get COVID-19 through my eyes or ears?

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 4, 2020

It’s possible through the eyes, but not likely through the ears. As with the nose and mouth, doctors say the eyes may be a route of infection if someone with the virus coughs or sneezes nearby. Infection is also possible when rubbing your…

Asian markets higher after Wall St rises on better US data

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 4, 2020

Most Asian stock markets rose Thursday after Wall Street gained on surveys showing better U.S. jobs and manufacturing conditions than expected. Tokyo, Sydney and Southeast Asia advanced while Shanghai declined. Hong Kong recovered from…

Safety board asks helicopter makers to install ‘black boxes’

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 3, 2020

Federal safety investigators bypassed aviation regulators on Tuesday and urged leading helicopter manufacturers to install so-called black boxes that would help determine the cause of crashes such as the one that killed former NBA star Kobe…

Tensions mar Paris protest as Floyd outrage goes global

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 3, 2020

PARIS Tear gas choked Paris streets as riot police faced off with protesters setting fires Tuesday amid growing global outrage over George Floyd’s death in the United States, racial injustice and heavy-handed police tactics around the…

Trump questions render Trudeau speechless for 21 seconds

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 3, 2020

TORONTO Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday that Canadians are watching what’s unfolding in the United States with “horror and consternation” and he paused for 21 seconds when asked about U.S. President Donald Trump and the…

Zuckerberg still under fire over inflammatory Trump posts

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 3, 2020

AKLAND, Calif. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg isn’t budging over his refusal to take action on inflammatory posts by President Donald Trump that spread misinformation about voting by mail and, many said, encouraged violence against…

Protesters return to the streets as Trump decries ‘lowlifes’

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 3, 2020

WASHINGTON Undeterred by curfews, protesters streamed back into the nation’s streets Tuesday, hours after President Donald Trump pressed governors to put down the violence set off by George Floyd’s death and demanded that New York call up…

Hong Kong leader criticizes ‘double standards’ over protests

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 2, 2020

HONG KONG Hong Kong’s leader on Tuesday criticized the “double standards” of foreign governments regarding national security, pointing to the current unrest in the United States as an example of how attitudes differ when protests hit home.…

Amid domestic US unrest, Pompeo hits China over Tiananmen

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 2, 2020

WASHINGTON Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is marking this week’s anniversary of China’s deadly 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square — a day after federal forces used tear gas to clear peaceful protesters from a…

China calls on US to prevent racism against minorities

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 2, 2020

China’s Foreign Ministry called on the US on Monday to prevent racial discrimination against minorities following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died last week after being pinned down by a white police officer in the…

George Floyd protests rage for seventh day in US

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 2, 2020

WASHINGTON The US marked a seventh day of protests over the death of George Floyd on Monday as parts of the country saw both peaceful demonstrations and fierce clashes between police and demonstrators. In the nation's capital, Lafayette…

Iran scientist acquitted in US trade secrets case deported

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 2, 2020

TEHRAN, Iran An Iranian scientist imprisoned in the U.S. after being acquitted in a federal trade secrets case is on his way back to Iran after being deported, the country’s foreign minister said Tuesday. Sirous Asgari was in the air on a…

AMERICAN DIARY: To be black and a journalist at this moment

THE ASIA LIVE May 31, 2020

For many Americans, “space” means leaving the Earth’s atmosphere and exploring the galaxy. They think of this weekend’s Space X launch. Or going where no one has gone before on “Star Trek.” But the concept of space has a different meaning…

Launch gives spectators pride, reprieve from troubled times

THE ASIA LIVE May 31, 2020

TITUSVILLE, Fla. For many spectators who filled parks, beaches and roads along Florida’s Space Coast, the launch of two astronauts into orbit Saturday was a welcome accomplishment and a reprieve from the coronavirus pandemic, economic…

Fox News reporter attacked, chased from demonstration

THE ASIA LIVE May 31, 2020

NEW YORK A Fox News reporter was pummeled and chased by protesters who had gathered outside the White House early Saturday as part of nationwide unrest following the death of George Floyd. For several journalists across the country, the…

China says US action on Hong Kong ‘doomed to fail’

THE ASIA LIVE May 31, 2020

BEIJING The mouthpiece newspaper of China’s ruling Communist Party said that the U.S. decision to end some trading privileges for Hong Kong “grossly interferes” in China’s internal affairs and is “doomed to fail.” The Hong Kong government…

Protests over police killings rage on in dozens of US cities

THE ASIA LIVE May 31, 2020

MINNEAPOLIS Tense protests over the death of George Floyd and other police killings of black men grew Saturday from New York to Tulsa to Los Angeles, with police cars set ablaze and reports of injuries mounting on all sides as the country…

Russia slams US decision to withdraw from WHO

THE ASIA LIVE May 30, 2020

MOSCOW A Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said Friday that Washington damages international law on cooperation in health after the US terminated its relationship with the World Health Organization (WHO). Maria Zakharova told the TASS…

Trump takes aim at WHO as US economic outlook worsens

THE ASIA LIVE May 30, 2020

WASHINGTON With new U.S. economic numbers highlighting the rough road ahead for a hoped-for rebound, President Donald Trump on Friday took aim at the World Health Organization and China, blaming both for their roles in the pandemic’s…

Trump fuels new tensions in moment of crisis

THE ASIA LIVE May 30, 2020

WASHINGTON Over 48 hours in America, the official death toll from the coronavirus pandemic topped 100,000, the number of people who filed for unemployment during the crisis soared past 40 million, and the streets of a major city erupted in…

Protests explode in US after cop charged with killing Floyd

THE ASIA LIVE May 30, 2020

MINNEAPOLIS The white Minneapolis police officer who pressed his knee into George Floyd’s neck as he begged for air was arrested Friday and charged with murder, as authorities imposed overnight curfews to try to stem violent protests over…

VIRUS DIARY: For boy with Down syndrome, new path of therapy

THE ASIA LIVE May 29, 2020

PHOENIX The speech therapist held up a book of animals. Our 4-year-old looked curiously at her across the Zoom call screen. “Beig! Beig!” Pablo suddenly shouted, pointing at a pig. It was the first time I had heard Pablo say an…

Asia shares fall as US-China tensions douse rally on Wall St

THE ASIA LIVE May 29, 2020

BANGKOK Shares fell Friday in Asia as investors awaited a news conference about China by President Donald Trump later in the day. Benchmarks declined in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Sydney but rose in Shanghai. U.S. and Chinese officials have…

Failed Maduro coup leader flew on pro-govt magnate’s plane

THE ASIA LIVE May 28, 2020

MIAMI It was mid-January and Jordan Goudreau was itching to get going on a secret plan to raid Venezuela and arrest President Nicolás Maduro when the former special forces commando flew to the city of Barranquilla in Colombia to meet with…

Chinese lawmakers endorse Hong Kong national security law

THE ASIA LIVE May 28, 2020

BEIJING China’s ceremonial legislature on Thursday endorsed a national security law for Hong Kong that has strained relations with the United States and Britain. The National People’s Congress approved the bill as it wrapped up an annual…

Afghan government to release 900 more Taliban prisoners

THE ASIA LIVE May 26, 2020

KABUL The Afghan government will be releasing 900 more Taliban prisoners on Tuesday, as demands for the a ceasefire extension grew on the eve of its end. The pause in fighting — which came into effect Sunday to mark the Eid ul-Fitr…

As the US opens up, infections are still on the rise in many states

THE ASIA LIVE May 26, 2020

The pandemic hit the US later than many countries in Europe, and yet many parts of the US are quicker to reopen than European countries. This might end up being a costly decision, as the number of cases was still growing before the lockdown…

China demands US withdraw sanctions on tech suppliers

THE ASIA LIVE May 25, 2020

BEIJING China demand Monday that Washington withdraw export sanctions imposed on Chinese companies in the latest round of a worsening conflict over technology, security and human rights. The foreign ministry accused the Trump…

White House imposes coronavirus travel ban on Brazil

THE ASIA LIVE May 25, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Sunday further limited travel from the world’s coronavirus hotspots by denying entry to foreigners coming from Brazil, which is second to the U.S. in the number of confirmed cases. Trump had already…

Iran warns US of interfering with oil tankers

THE ASIA LIVE May 24, 2020

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Saturday that intervention by the US against Iranian oil tankers sent to Venezuela will be met with retaliation. "Any ‘pirate-like’ action by the US Navy against the Iranian fuel shipments to Venezuela…

Record virus infections, deaths are ravaging Latin America

THE ASIA LIVE May 23, 2020

RIO DE JANEIRO A surging coronavirus is ravaging parts of Latin America, setting records for cases and deaths Friday in some countries in the world’s most unequal region even as the pandemic’s march slows in much of Europe, Asia and the…

Zalmay Khalilzad demands reduction in Afghanistan violence

THE ASIA LIVE May 22, 2020

KABUL The US special envoy for Afghanistan has demanded that all sides reduce violence, he said on Thursday, after shuttling from Kabul to the Gulf to push a peace effort that looks increasingly precarious. The envoy, Afghan-born Zalmay…

China focused on jobs as national legislature meets

THE ASIA LIVE May 21, 2020

BEIJING As job losses surge, China is joining the United States and other governments in rolling out stimulus spending to revive its virus-battered economy. How much is Beijing ready to spend? Companies and the public are looking to the…

As US, Europe reopen more, big nations see rising virus toll

THE ASIA LIVE May 19, 2020

WELLINGTON, New Zealand American car makers are getting back to work and Europe is continuing to reopen. But while new coronavirus cases have been declining in many countries that were initially hit hard by the pandemic, cases are rapidly…

China announces $2 billion in virus help at WHO assembly

THE ASIA LIVE May 18, 2020

GENEVA China will provide $2 billion over two years to fight the coronavirus pandemic and the economic fallout from it, President Xi Jinping said Monday, rallying around the World Health Organization even as the United States has slashed…

‘COVID toes,’ other rashes latest possible rare virus signs

THE ASIA LIVE May 17, 2020

Skin doctors suddenly are looking at a lot of toes — whether by emailed picture or video visit — as concern grows that for some people, a sign of COVID-19 may pop up in an unusual spot. Boston dermatologist Esther Freeman expected to see…

‘Everyone has a story’: How will world remember pandemic?

THE ASIA LIVE May 16, 2020

CHICAGO Artist Obi Uwakwe was driving through Chicago’s empty streets, camera on his lap to document life during COVID-19, when he saw something that made him stop: a casket being carried out of a church while a few mourners stood by,…

US adds new sanction on Chinese tech giant Huawei

THE ASIA LIVE May 16, 2020

BOSTON The U.S. government imposed new restrictions on Chinese tech giant Huawei on Friday, severely limiting its ability to use American technology to design and manufacture semiconductors produced for it abroad. Commerce Secretary…

Report: Google facing onslaught of antitrust cases in US

THE ASIA LIVE May 16, 2020

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. Federal and state regulators in the U.S. are preparing to file antitrust lawsuits alleging Google has abused its dominance of online search and advertising to stifle competition and and boost its profits, according to…

Tourists enter reopened Grand Canyon despite virus concerns

THE ASIA LIVE May 16, 2020

RAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. Tourists appeared ready to roam Grand Canyon National Park again after it partially reopened Friday, despite objections from Navajo officials and others that it could hurt efforts to control the…

Most US states fall short of recommended testing levels

THE ASIA LIVE May 16, 2020

WASHINGTON As businesses reopened Friday in more of the U.S., an overwhelming majority of states still fall short of the COVID-19 testing levels that public health experts say are necessary to safely ease lockdowns and avoid another deadly…

Poll: US believers see message of change from God in virus

THE ASIA LIVE May 15, 2020

NEW YORK The coronavirus has prompted almost two-thirds of American believers to feel that God is telling humanity to change how it lives, a new poll finds. While the virus rattles the globe, causing economic hardship for millions and…

Wall Street erases most of a morning loss in choppy trading

THE ASIA LIVE May 14, 2020

Wall Street erased most of a big morning loss on Thursday, the latest erratic moves in its wobbly week. The S&P 500 was down 0.7% after erasing much of an early loss of 1.9%. Markets in Asia and Europe fell to sharper drops, while…

The 2000-2010 drought of the Missouri River was the worst one in 1,200 years

THE ASIA LIVE May 14, 2020

Water demand is approaching or has already exceeded supply in much of the western United States. This is making water managers increasingly concerned about the threat of future droughts, especially in the context of climate change. A new…

Trump’s surprising target in war on media: Voice of America

THE ASIA LIVE May 14, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump’ has had many targets in his war against the media, but perhaps none is more surprising than the Voice of America, the venerable U.S.-funded institution created during World War II to broadcast independent…

Fragile Afghan peace deal hinges on prisoner swap

THE ASIA LIVE May 13, 2020

KABUL, Afghanistan A rejuvenated yet fragile Afghan peace deal hinges on a slow-moving prisoner swap that is testing the patience of the erratic warring parties. In line with the landmark US-Taliban peace agreement cautiously welcomed by…

Despite virus, Pompeo in Israel to talk West Bank annexation

THE ASIA LIVE May 13, 2020

JERUSALEM U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met Wednesday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss Israel’s plans to annex parts of the West Bank, as Israeli troops shot and killed a Palestinian teen in a clash with…

Flash flooding kills 2 sisters, ages 7 and 3, in Utah canyon

THE ASIA LIVE May 13, 2020

SALT LAKE CITY Two sisters aged 7 and 3 died in flash flooding that sent torrents of water roaring into a narrow canyon in the Utah desert, authorities said Tuesday. At least 21 others escaped the flooding Monday afternoon in Little…

Judge puts off approving US request to dismiss Flynn case

THE ASIA LIVE May 13, 2020

WASHINGTON A federal judge made clear Tuesday that he would not immediately rule on the Justice Department’s decision to dismiss its criminal case against former national security adviser Michael Flynn, saying he would instead let outside…

Biden, Sasse win easily in Nebraska’s in-person primary

THE ASIA LIVE May 13, 2020

OMAHA, Neb. Nebraska’s primary election was overwhelmingly quiet Tuesday as voters steered clear of polling sites while shattering the state record for absentee voting with nearly 400,000 mail-in ballots. Presumptive Democratic nominee…

After surviving wars, pestilence, religions use technology to beat pandemic

THE ASIA LIVE May 12, 2020

NEW YORK Throw a global pandemic at the world’s religions, and you get confessions via Skype, virtual seders and recitations of the Koran over Facebook. The world’s three leading religions have survived famines, plagues, pestilence and…

China announces new tariff waivers for some U.S. imports

THE ASIA LIVE May 12, 2020

BEIJING China announced on Tuesday a new list of 79 U.S. products eligible for waivers from retaliatory tariffs imposed at the height of the bilateral trade war, amid continued pressure on Beijing to boost imports from the United States.…

Mexico details note to U.S. over Obama-era gun-running row

THE ASIA LIVE May 12, 2020

MEXICO CITY Mexico’s foreign minister on Monday posted a video online detailing a diplomatic note to the U.S. embassy requesting answers about a gun-running sting under the Obama presidency, keeping a spotlight on the controversial issue.…

Twitter to label disputed COVID-19 tweets

THE ASIA LIVE May 12, 2020

CHICAGO Twitter announced Monday it will start alerting users when a tweet makes disputed or misleading claims about the coronavirus. The new rule is the latest in a wave of stricter policies that tech companies are rolling out to…

Peacock on the prowl falls for officer’s decoy, not love

THE ASIA LIVE May 12, 2020

BOSTON A Boston police officer used an electronic mating call Monday to help capture a peacock that had escaped from a nearby zoo. An officer lured the curious peacock that had escaped from Franklin Park Zoo into a fenced-in yard while…

As nations reopen, warning emerges about virus tracing voids

THE ASIA LIVE May 12, 2020

NEW YORK A top world health official Monday warned that countries are essentially driving blind in reopening their economies without setting up strong contact tracing to beat back flare-ups of the coronavirus. The warning came as France…

NORC poll: Majority disapprove of coronavirus protests

THE ASIA LIVE May 11, 2020

WASHINGTON A majority of Americans disapprove of protests against restrictions aimed at preventing the spread the coronavirus, according to a new poll that also finds the still-expansive support for such limits — including restaurant…

Georgia AG requests federal probe in handling of Arbery case

THE ASIA LIVE May 11, 2020

ATLANTA Georgia’s attorney general on Sunday asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the handling of the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, a black man who authorities say died at the hands of two white men as he ran through a…

Strangeness of the day: For Americans, an in-between moment

THE ASIA LIVE May 11, 2020

In coming years, when they write the narrative histories of the 2020 pandemic — those paperweight-level volumes that reconstruct these strange days in painstaking and vivid detail — the past week in American life will be a particularly…

Chinese investment in US drops to lowest level since 2009

THE ASIA LIVE May 11, 2020

WASHINGTON China’s direct investment in the United States fell last year to its lowest level since the Great Recession, even before the coronavirus pandemic shut down much of global commerce. The decline in Beijing’s investment in the…

Asian stocks follow Wall Street higher on recovery hopes

THE ASIA LIVE May 11, 2020

BEIJING Asian stock markets rose Monday after Wall Street advanced as investors looked past dismal U.S. jobs and other data toward hopes for a global recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Benchmarks in Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong and…

Citing virus, Iran says it’s ready for prisoner swap with US

THE ASIA LIVE May 10, 2020

TEHRAN, Iran Iran says it is ready for unconditional prisoner swap talks with the United States because of fears that the coronavirus could put the lives of the prisoners at risk, Iranian media reported Sunday. An Iranian news website,…

Taliban say they don’t have missing US contractor

THE ASIA LIVE May 10, 2020

Kabul Taliban leaders searched their ranks, including in the much-feared Haqqani network, and on Sunday told they are not holding Mark R. Frerichs, a Navy veteran turned contractor who disappeared in Afghanistan in late January. “We don’t…

South Korea reports more virus cases, Pakistan eases curbs

THE ASIA LIVE May 9, 2020

SEOUL, South Korea South Korea reported 18 new coronavirus cases Saturday after bars and nightclubs were urged to close following a spate of infections, while Pakistan bowed to economic pressure and allowed some businesses to reopen…

US Vice President Pence aide tests positive for coronavirus

THE ASIA LIVE May 9, 2020

Washington A top aide to US Vice President Mike Pence has been tested positive for coronavirus infection. She is the second White House official to contract the disease in the past two days. Katie Miller, the vice president's press…

Millions at risk from known diseases as focus shifts to COVID-19

THE ASIA LIVE May 7, 2020

As COVID-19 deaths climb ever higher in Europe and the United States, millions of lives are at risk in developing nations where lockdowns and overwhelmed medical systems are disrupting vital testing, vaccination and treatment for other…

Asian giant hornets spotted for first time in US

THE ASIA LIVE May 7, 2020

A deadly giant insect known as the "murder hornet" has been spotted for the first time in the United States, prompting fears it could decimate the honeybee population and creating a buzz on social media. Two of the wasps-the world's…

Potential coronavirus vaccine enters human testing in US

THE ASIA LIVE May 6, 2020

Washington United States-based pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has begun testing multiple versions of an experimental vaccine in healthy young people in America. Pfizer has partnered with Germany's BioNTech SE to explore a potential defense…

WHO says has no evidence from US to support coronavirus was created in Wuhan lab

THE ASIA LIVE May 5, 2020

GENEVA The World Health Organisation said Monday that Washington had provided no evidence to support "speculative" claims by the US president that the new coronavirus originated in a Chinese lab. "We have not received any data or specific…

Venezuela: 2 US ‘mercenaries’ among those nabbed after raid

THE ASIA LIVE May 5, 2020

CARACAS, Venezuela Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said authorities arrested two U.S. citizens among a group of “mercenaries” on Monday, a day after a beach raid purportedly aimed at capturing the socialist leader that authorities say…

DHS report: China hid virus’ severity to hoard supplies

THE ASIA LIVE May 4, 2020

WASHINGTON U.S. officials believe China covered up the extent of the coronavirus outbreak — and how contagious the disease is — to stock up on medical supplies needed to respond to it, intelligence documents show. Chinese leaders…

Alice Wells’ wise counsel over South Asia will be missed: Pompeo

THE ASIA LIVE May 4, 2020

Washington With Alice Wells set to retire from the State Department later this month, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo has said that he will miss the senior diplomat's counsel and dedicated efforts to build relationships and address…

Venezuela says it foiled attack by boat on main port city

THE ASIA LIVE May 4, 2020

CARACAS, Venezuela Venezuelan officials said they foiled an early morning attempt by a group of armed “mercenaries” to invade the country in a beach landing using speedboats Sunday, killing eight attackers and arresting two more.…

Glad to see Kim Jong-un is back and well,says President Trump

THE ASIA LIVE May 3, 2020

Washington US President Donald Trump on Saturday (local time) said he is glad to see that North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un is "back and well". "I, for one, am glad to see he is back, and well!" Trump wrote on Twitter. He also retweeted…

Congress refuses rapid coronavirus testing offer from Trump administration

THE ASIA LIVE May 3, 2020

Washington US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have rejected an offer of the Trump administration to carry out rapid COVID-19 testing in Congress. "No reason to turn it down, except politics. We have…

Saudi Arabia eyes more moves in time of pandemic, oil woes

THE ASIA LIVE May 2, 2020

Dubai, United Arab Emirates A beleaguered Saudi Arabia is taking modest steps to improve its human rights record as it tries to navigate the coronavirus pandemic and the fallout from plunging oil prices that have rankled the United States…

Global markets struggle as hopes for quick rebound fade

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 24, 2020

TOKYO Global stock markets mostly fell on Friday as hopes faded for a quick recovery from the global coronavirus pandemic. Investors looked past new economic relief measures in the United States and Europe to focus on the likelihood that…

11,000 deaths: Ravaged nursing homes plead for more testing

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 24, 2020

NEW YORK After two months and more than 11,000 deaths that have made the nation’s nursing homes some of the most terrifying places to be during the coronavirus crisis, most of them still don’t have access to enough tests to help control…

Fed will provide monthly disclosures on support programs

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 24, 2020

WASHINGTON The Federal Reserve said Thursday that it will provide monthly reports on several of its economic rescue programs supported by the $2 trillion rescue program passed by Congress. The central bank is “committed to transparency…

As people stay home, Earth turns wilder and cleaner

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 22, 2020

An unplanned grand experiment is changing Earth. As people across the globe stay home to stop the spread of the new coronavirus, the air has cleaned up, albeit temporarily. Smog stopped choking New Delhi, one of the most polluted cities in…

Virus cancels world events; divided opinions on reopening

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 22, 2020

ATLANTA Spain called off the Running of the Bulls in July, the U.S. scrapped the national spelling bee in June and Germany canceled Oktoberfest five months away, making it clear Tuesday that the effort to beat back the coronavirus and…

Trump bars new immigration green cards, not temporary visas

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 22, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump announced what he described as a “temporary suspension of immigration into the United States” on Tuesday. But the executive order would bar only those seeking permanent residency, not temporary workers.…

Watchdog: Pandemic worsening threat to global media freedom

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 21, 2020

PARIS Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders is sounding the alarm that the coronavirus pandemic poses a threat for press freedom around the world. In its annual evaluation of global media freedoms, the group warned Tuesday that the…

Immigration to US going to be temporarily suspended, says Trump

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 21, 2020

Washington The battle against the novel coronavirus pandemic got more intense as US President Donald Trump said he would sign an executive order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States. "In light of the attack from the…

Some US producers, states reopening amid political pressure

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 21, 2020

SEATTLE Boeing and at least one other U.S. heavy-equipment manufacturer resumed production and some states rolled out aggressive reopening plans Monday, despite nationwide concerns there is not enough testing yet to keep the coronavirus…

Lockdown tensions grow as people seek to resume work or play

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 20, 2020

WASHINGTON The coronavirus is touching all levels of society and increasing tensions as governments start to ease restrictions that health experts warn should be done gradually to avoid a resurgence of the illness that has killed more than…

North Korea denies that Kim sent Trump ‘a nice note’

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 20, 2020

SEOUL, South Korea North Korea on Sunday dismissed as “ungrounded” President Donald Trump’s comment that he recently received “a nice note” from the North’s leader, Kim Jong Un. Trump said during a press briefing on the coronavirus…

China needs to be accountable about coronavirus spread: Pompeo

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 19, 2020

Washington Accusing China of hiding facts regarding coronavirus, US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo on Saturday said President Xi Jinping led government needs to be accountable and should tell how COVID-19 spread rapidly around the world.…

No plan in sight: Test troubles cloud Trump recovery effort

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 18, 2020

WASHINGTON The United States is struggling to test enough people to track and control the spread of the novel coronavirus, a crucial first step to reopening parts of the economy, which President Donald Trump is pushing to do by May 1.…

EU blasts Trump’s WHO funding cut, fears it worsens pandemic

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 15, 2020

GENEVA Nations around the world reacted with alarm Wednesday after President Donald Trump announced a halt to the sizable funding the United States sends to the World Health Organization. Health experts warned the move could jeopardize…

Trump claims he has ‘total’ authority over reopening economy

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 14, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump claimed the “total” authority to decide how and when to reopen the economy after weeks of tough social distancing guidelines aimed at fighting the new coronavirus. But governors from both parties were…

2020 Watch: How and when will Trump reopen the economy?

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 13, 2020

MONTCLAIR, N.J. Presidential politics move fast. What we’re watching heading into a new week on the 2020 campaign: Days to general election: 204 THE NARRATIVE More people have died of COVID-19 in the United States than in any other…

Signs missed and steps slowed in Trump’s pandemic response

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 12, 2020

WASHINGTON By the time President Donald Trump first spoke publicly about the coronavirus, it may already have been too late. Interviewed at Davos, a gathering of global elites in the Swiss Alps, the president on Jan. 22 played down the…

20,000: US death toll overtakes Italy’s as Midwest braces

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 12, 2020

CHICAGO The U.S. death toll from the coronavirus eclipsed Italy’s for the highest in the world Saturday, surpassing 20,000, as Chicago and other cities across the Midwest braced for a potential surge in victims and moved to snuff out…

Virus crisis cuts off billions sent to poor around the world

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 8, 2020

MIAMI Until a month ago, Diana Leticia Hernández sold face cream door to door in Miami. Her husband painted houses. The money fed their family and at least six relatives in Honduras. Hernández has sold nothing since last month due to fear…

Yen falls on concerns Japan close to declaring state of emergency; sterling steadies

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 6, 2020

TOKYO The yen fell on Monday after Japanese media said Prime Minister Shinzo Abe may declare a state of emergency as early as Tuesday to curb an alarming spike in coronavirus infections. The pound trimmed losses against the dollar and…

Taliban warn peace deal with US near breaking point

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 6, 2020

Kabul,Afghanistan The Taliban said their peace deal with the United States was nearing a breaking point, accusing Washington of violations that included drone attacks on civilians, while also chastising the Afghan government for delaying…

Boeing to continue production shutdown due to coronavirus

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 6, 2020

SEATTLE Boeing said Sunday it will continue its shutdown of production indefinitely at its Seattle area facilities due to the spread of the coronavirus. The company in an email to Washington employees said it is extending the planned…

Russia to the rescue? US, Moscow spar over aid deliveries

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 4, 2020

WASHINGTON An odd new front in the U.S.-Russian rivalry has emerged as a Russian military cargo plane bearing a load of urgently needed medical supplies landed this week at New York’s JFK airport. Russia cast it as a magnanimous aid…

Europe’s hospitals bow under the weight of coronavirus crush

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 3, 2020

MADRID Setting up makeshift ICU wards in libraries and conference centers, embattled European medical workers strained Friday to save thousands of desperately ill coronavirus patients as stocks of medicine, protective equipment and…

States demand ventilators as feds ration limited supply

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 3, 2020

WASHINGTON Two weeks ago, the Pentagon promised to make as many as 2,000 military ventilators available as the federal government strains to contend with the coronavirus pandemic. As of Wednesday, less than half had been allocated, despite…

‘We need help’: Economic, health crises grow as cases top 1M

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 3, 2020

NEW YORK The coronavirus outbreak has thrown 10 million Americans out of work in just two weeks in the swiftest, most stunning collapse the U.S. job market has ever witnessed, and the public health crisis deepened in New York City, where a…

Trump’s contradictory views on China shift as crisis grows

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 2, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump has held an unequivocal position about China and the coronavirus — several of them. Trump initially praised China, then excoriated Beijing after it made unsubstantiated claims that the virus originated in…

Trump resists national shutdown, leaving it up to states

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 2, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump is resisting calls to issue a national stay-at-home order to stem the spread of the new coronavirus despite his administration’s projections that tens of thousands of Americans are likely to be killed by…

Rouhani: U.S. has lost opportunity to lift Iran sanctions amid coronavirus

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 1, 2020

DUBAI Iran’s president said on Wednesday that, with the advent of the coronavirus, the United States had missed a historic opportunity to lift sanctions on his country, though the penalties had not hampered its fight against the infection.…

G20 coronavirus plan focuses on poorer countries’ debt problems

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 31, 2020

The Group of 20 major economies said on Tuesday that they would present a coronavirus action plan in two weeks to address the debt vulnerabilities of the poorest countries and deliver financial aid to emerging economies. G20 finance…

North Korea says U.S. will not drop hostile policy despite leaders’ ‘special…

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 30, 2020

SEOUL North Korea said the United States will not drop its hostile policy even though their two leaders have a “special relationship”, state media KCNA said on Monday. A North Korean official said in the statement U.S. Secretary of State…

Trump extends virus guidelines, braces US for big death toll

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 30, 2020

WASHINGTON Bracing the nation for a death toll that could exceed 100,000 people, President Donald Trump on Sunday extended restrictive social distancing guidelines through April, bowing to public-health experts who presented him with even…

New York residents urged to avoid travel as virus spreads

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 29, 2020

BEIJING Health authorities urged millions of residents of the New York City region to avoid non-essential travel due to surging coronavirus infections there as deaths in the United States and Europe rose and countries including Russia and…

Trump a rosy outlier on science of the virus

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 29, 2020

WASHINGTON Groundless assurances keep coming from President Donald Trump, a rosy outlier on the science of the coronavirus pandemic. It’s been that way since before the virus spread widely in the United States, when he supposed that the…

Canada urges US not to put troops at border during pandemic

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 27, 2020

TORONTO Canada said Thursday it told the Trump administration that a proposal to put troops at the U.S.-Canada border amid the coronavirus pandemic was entirely unnecessary and would damage relations between the two longtime allies. The…

A defiant Maduro threatens ‘cowboy’ Trump after drug charge

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 27, 2020

MIAMI Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro stood defiant in the face of a $15 million bounty by the U.S. to face drug trafficking charges, calling Donald Trump a “racist cowboy” and warning that he is ready to fight by whatever means…

US newspapers urge China not to expel their journalists

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 24, 2020

BEIJING The publishers of three major American newspapers have written an open letter asking China to reverse its recent decision to expel many of their correspondents working in the country. The letter posted online Tuesday referred to…

US slashes aid to Afghanistan after Pompeo visit to Kabul

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 24, 2020

WASHINGTON The Trump administration is slashing $1 billion in assistance to Afghanistan and threatening further reductions in all forms of cooperation after the country’s rival leaders failed to agree on forming a new government. The…

COVID-19: China says it has received no US aid

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 21, 2020

Beijing China said Friday it did not receive financial support from the U.S. for efforts to curb the coronavirus outbreak. “US officials said they offered $100 million to China and other countries. We thank the American people for their…

Coronavirus rocks already strained ties between US, China

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 18, 2020

WASHINGTON Badly strained ties between the United States and China are deteriorating further with the two sides hurling harsh accusations and bitter name-calling over responsibility for the spread of the novel coronavirus. The global…

Daily life near a standstill as nations try to halt pandemic

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 16, 2020

ROME Meeting with friends, dining out, worshiping and other daily routines have nearly halted as nations take drastic steps to try to stop the coronavirus pandemic. Religious leaders gave sermons to empty pews or to the faithful watching…

‘Bigger than any one of us’: Biden, Sanders take on pandemic

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 16, 2020

WASHINGTON Former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders sought in Sunday’s Democratic debate to cast themselves as best-positioned to lead the nation through a global pandemic, uniting in their criticism of President Donald…

Asian stock markets, US futures sink after Fed’s rate cut

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 16, 2020

BEIJING Asian stock markets and U.S. futures fell Monday after the Federal Reserve slashed its key interest rate to shore up economic growth in the face of mounting global anti-virus controls that are shutting down business and travel.…

Virus cases balloon around the world as China recovers

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 14, 2020

BEIJING As the rest of the world mobilized to fight the widening coronavirus pandemic on Saturday, China continued to ease up lockdown measures in its hardest-hit region, where the number of new cases has dwindled. The virus that first…

Impact of pandemic stretches from schools to world’s leaders

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 13, 2020

NEW YORK Schools shut down across much of Europe. Gatherings were canceled or banned from California to Germany. And the coronavirus reached directly into the world’s centers of power Thursday, with politicians in Canada, Brazil, Spain and…

With unease, Americans lurch into coronavirus era

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 13, 2020

So this is where we are: Major League Baseball’s opening day postponed. Broadway and Hollywood grinding to a halt, and March Madness canceled. Universities from Harvard to UCLA telling students to stay away. Most travelers from Europe…

Beijing quarantine, Merkel issues warning

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 11, 2020

New clusters of the novel coronavirus are expanding in the United States and Europe as Italy replaces China as the new epicenter of a worldwide outbreak. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as…

Italy passes 10,000 infections as clusters spur worry in US

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 11, 2020

ROME Expanding clusters of the new coronavirus were eyed warily Wednesday as the outbreak upended daily life and reshaped everything from the United States presidential race to Pope Francis’ travel. In the U.S., the caseload passed 1,000,…

Afghans set to release 1,500 Taliban; US wants less violence

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 11, 2020

KABUL, Afghanistan After a series of delays, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani issued a decree early Wednesday promising to release 1,500 Taliban prisoners as a goodwill gesture to get intra-Afghan negotiations started. A recent peace deal…

PHOTOS: Life in the time of coronavirus

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 10, 2020

As cases of the coronavirus increase in Italy, Iran, South Korea, the United States and elsewhere, photographers around the world are capturing the impact on daily life. Fear of the spreading illness has led to a run on sales of face…

US: Taliban’s ‘reduction of violence’ deal to start tonight

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 21, 2020

ISLAMABAD The countdown to the signing of a peace agreement between the Taliban and the United States to end the 18 years of war in Afghanistan will begin on Friday night, when the seven-day “reduction of violence” promised by the Taliban…

U.S. targets five Iranians in latest sanctions action

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 20, 2020

WASHINGTON The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on five Iranians in its latest action targeting Tehran, according to a notice posted Thursday on the U.S. Treasury Department’s website. The Treasury said it sanctioned Ahmad…

Americans who left cruise trade one quarantine for another

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 17, 2020

TOKYO Americans Cheryl and Paul Molesky decided to trade one coronavirus quarantine for another. The couple from Syracuse, New York, cut short a 14-day quarantine on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in the port of Yokohama, near Tokyo, to…

Afghan refugees tell UN: ‘We need peace, land to go home’

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 17, 2020

KEBABYAN CAMP, Pakistan Hukam Khan isn’t sure how old he is, but his beard is long and white, and when he came to Pakistan 40 years ago fleeing an earlier war in Afghanistan, his children were small, stuffed onto the backs of donkeys and…

US cricket team equal record lowest ODI total of 35

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 13, 2020

KATHMANDU The United States were bowled out for 35 by Nepal on Wednesday and joined Zimbabwe in making the lowest total in a 50 over international. Nepal leg spinner Sandeep Lamichhane was wrecker-in-chief, taking six for 16 as the…

New virus has infected more than 43,000 people globally

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 11, 2020

A viral outbreak that began in China has infected more than 43,000 people globally. The latest figures reported by global health authorities as of Tuesday in Beijing: China: 1,016 deaths among 42,638 confirmed cases on the mainland. In…

Iraqi officials: US will grant vital Iran sanctions waiver

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 10, 2020

BAGHDAD The United States has signaled to Iraq its willingness to extend sanctions waivers enabling the country to continue importing vital Iranian gas and electricity imports, three Iraqi officials said this week, a move that would be a…

US raised voice against India’s controversial citizenship law, India may face sanctions

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 28, 2020

WASHINGTON Thousands of Indian-American people took to the streets in protest against India’s new citizenship law in 30 cities across the United States. According to media reports, hundreds of people gathered outside the White House in…

IS tries to stage comeback amid rising US-Iran tensions

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 28, 2020

BEIRUT The Islamic State group’s self-styled “caliphate” across parts of Iraq and Syria seemed largely defeated last year, with the loss of its territory, the killing of its founder in a U.S. raid and an unprecedented crackdown on its…

North Korea urges citizens to ‘break through barriers’ as nuclear standoff continues

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 27, 2020

SEOUL While a North Korean deadline for the United States to soften its stand on denuclearization talks passed uneventfully over the New Year, state media and propaganda efforts have been focusing on the prospect of a long confrontation…

Trump team, House managers trade sharp views on impeachment

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 19, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump’s legal team issued a fiery response Saturday ahead of opening arguments in his impeachment trial, while House Democrats laid out their case in forceful fashion, saying the president betrayed public trust…

Best countries 2020: Switzerland Remains No.1

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 16, 2020

Switzerland remains the best country in the world, though Canada has moved up to the second spot in the U.S. News 2020 Best Countries rankings. For Switzerland, it's the the fourth consecutive year the island of neutrality in Central…

A look at Europe’s Mideast presence after Iran’s warning

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 15, 2020

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Iran’s president said Wednesday that European troops in the Middle East “could be in danger” if their nations join the United States’ maximum pressure campaign against the Islamic Republic that had led to a…

Iran announces arrests over downing of plane that killed 176

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 14, 2020

TEHRAN, Iran Iran said Tuesday that authorities have made arrests for the accidental shootdown of a Ukrainian passenger plane, which killed all 176 people on board and set off protests in the country demanding accountability after…

Iran braces for protests after admitting plane shootdown

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 12, 2020

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Iran’s security forces deployed in large numbers across the capital on Sunday, expecting more protests after its Revolutionary Guard admitted to accidentally shooting down a passenger plane at a time of soaring…

Iran says it ‘unintentionally’ shot down Ukrainian jetliner

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 11, 2020

TEHRAN, Iran Iran announced Saturday that its military “unintentionally” shot down the jetliner that crashed earlier this week, killing all 176 aboard, after the government had repeatedly denied Western accusations that it was…

Asian shares rise after US stocks set records as fears fade

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 10, 2020

TOKYO Asian shares rose Friday as worries receded the United States and Iran might be stepping closer to the edge of war, and U.S. indexes hit records. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 edged up 0.2% in morning trading to 23,776.09.…

Filipino Catholics pray for Mideast peace in huge gathering

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 9, 2020

MANILA, Philippines A mammoth crowd of mostly barefoot Filipino Catholics prayed for peace in the Middle East on Thursday at the start of an annual procession of a centuries-old black statue of Jesus Christ in one of Asia’s biggest…

Some commercial airlines reroute flights amid Mideast risks

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 8, 2020

NEW DELHI Some commercial airlines on Wednesday rerouted flights crossing the Middle East to avoid possible danger amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. Australian carrier Qantas said it was altering its London to…

Iran strikes back at US with missile attack at bases in Iraq

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 8, 2020

TEHRAN, Iran: Iran struck back at the United States early Wednesday for killing a top Revolutionary Guards commander, firing a series of ballistic missiles at two military bases in Iraq housing American troops in a major escalation between…

Iran Guard leader threatens to ‘set ablaze’ US-backed places

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 7, 2020

TEHRAN, Iran The leader of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard threatened on Tuesday to “set ablaze” places supported by the United States over the killing of a top Iranian general in a U.S. airstrike last week, sparking cries from the crowd of…

Pompeo: US military would only hit lawful targets in Iran

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 5, 2020

WASHINGTON: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday that any target the U.S. military may strike in Iran, in the event Iran retaliates against America for killing its most powerful general, would be legal under the laws of armed…

White House gives lawmakers formal notice of Iraq strike amid complaints from Democrats

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 5, 2020

WASHINGTON The White House sent to Congress on Saturday formal notification of Friday’s U.S. drone strike that killed a top Iranian general, amid complaints from Democrats that President Donald Trump did not notify lawmakers or seek…

Attack on US Embassy exposes widening US-Iraq divide on Iran

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 3, 2020

WASHINGTON: The New Year’s Eve attack on the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad has exposed a deepening divide between the United States and Iraq over Iran’s role there, even as the Pentagon embarks on a more aggressive mission to counter…

Who was Qassem Soleimani?

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 3, 2020

Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, the top commander of the elite Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards, helped Iran fight proxy wars across the Middle East by inspiring militias on the battlefield and negotiating with political…

Study finds Google system could improve breast cancer detection

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 2, 2020

CHICAGO: A Google artificial intelligence system proved as good as expert radiologists at detecting which women had breast cancer based on screening mammograms and showed promise at reducing errors, researchers in the United States and…

North Korea begins key meeting before year-end deadline for US

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 29, 2019

SEOUL, South Korea North Korea has opened a high-profile political conference to discuss how to overcome “harsh trials and difficulties,” state media reported Sunday, days before a year-end deadline set by Pyongyang for Washington to make…

Plane crash kills 5, including LSU coach’s daughter-in-law

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 29, 2019

ATLANTA A small plane en route to a college football playoff game crashed into a post office parking lot in Louisiana shortly after takeoff Saturday, killing five people, including a well-known sports reporter who was the daughter-in-law…