Philippines raises volcano alert again; hazardous eruption seen imminent
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines raised the alert level at its Mayon volcano on Monday after a loud explosion in the wake of increased activity made a hazardous eruption likelier, prompting authorities to close all schools and urge residents to stay …
Protesters greet North Korean Olympic delegation touring Seoul
SEOUL (Reuters) – Small but vocal groups of South Korean demonstrators on Monday protested North Korea’s participation in next month’s Winter Olympics, as a delegation of North Korean officials led by star singer Hyon Song-wol visited Seoul and inspect…
Japan’s Abe avoids timeline for amending pacifist constitution
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe opened a new session of parliament on Monday with familiar promises for economic reform and stronger defense, but steered clear of setting a timeline for his goal of revising the post-war, pacifist c…
Vietnam jails former PetroVietnam official for life, another for 13 years
HANOI (Reuters) – A court in Vietnam sentenced one former official from state oil and gas group PetroVietnam to life in prison and another to 13 years on Monday for embezzlement and violating state rules amid a widespread corruption crackdown, state me…
Philippine news site head meets investigators over ‘suspicious’ complaint
MANILA (Reuters) – The head of a Philippine news site ordered closed for ownership violations met state investigators on Monday to answer what she called a “suspicious” complaint about a five-year-old story, as domestic fears grow of an impending crack…
‘Fake news’ crutch used by SE Asian leaders to control media, critics charge
MANILA/BANGKOK (Reuters) – Governments across Southeast Asia have a history of using laws and the judiciary to curb press freedoms – now, they have found a handy crutch to lean on as they intensify clampdowns: U.S. President Donald Trump’s “fake news” …
Japanese capital holds first North Korean missile attack drill
TOKYO (Reuters) – Tokyo held its first missile evacuation drill on Monday with volunteers taking cover in subway stations and other underground spaces that would double as shelters for the Japanese capital in the event of a North Korean missile strike….
Vietnam sentences former official to 13 years jail amid corruption crackdown: state media
HANOI (Reuters) – A court in Vietnam sentenced a former politburo member to 13 years in prison on Thursday for violating state regulations amid a widespread corruption crackdown, the state-run Voice of Vietnam reported.
In Tokyo meeting, officials seek to forge ahead with TPP even as Canada wavers
TOKYO (Reuters) – As trade officials gather in Tokyo this week to try and forge ahead with a trade pact that U.S. President Donald Trump abandoned last year, the new 11-member club risks getting bogged down by resistance from Canada.
Landslide pushes Colombian bus into ravine, killing at least 13
BOGOTA (Reuters) – At least 13 people, including a newborn, were killed on Sunday when a landslide pushed a bus into a ravine in southwest Colombia, the disaster relief agency said.
