Asia
Death penalty for Canadian escalates China-Canada tensions
Toronto, Jan 15 (AP/UNB)— A Chinese court sentenced a Canadian man to death in a sudden retrial of a drug smuggling case and Beijing said that it has denied a Canadian diplomatic immunity, ratcheting up tensions since Canada's arrest of a top Chinese technology executive last month.
Millions of Indians begin holy dip in Kumbh Mela
Prayagraj, Jan 15 (AP/UNB) —Thousands of portable toilets line roads constantly swept clean, drinking water flows from newly installed taps, electric substations power a massive tent city and billboards encourage a "clean Kumbh," an extension of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's huge push to improve sanitation across the country.
Indonesia recovers Lion Air jet's cockpit voice recorder
Jakarta, Jan 14(AP/UNB) — Navy divers have recovered the cockpit voice recorder of a Lion Air jet that crashed into the Java Sea in October, Indonesian officials said Monday, in a possible boost to the accident investigation.
Heavy smog, worsened by weather, raises alarm across Asia
Bangkok, Jan 14(AP/UNB) — Unusually high levels of smog worsened by weather patterns are raising alarm across Asia, with authorities in Thailand's hazy capital Bangkok opting to hand out face masks and step up enforcement of pollution controls.
1 killed, 16 injured in minibus crash in Hong Kong
Hong Kong, Jan 14 (Xinhua/UNB) -The driver of a minibus died and 16 passengers were injured after the vehicle they were traveling in flipped and crashed onto a boundary wall in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Monday morning.
At least six killed in police station attack in W. Afghanistan
Afghanistan, Jan 13 (Xinhua/UNB) - At least six people, including an assailant, were killed after Taliban gunmen attacked a police station in Herat city, capital of western Afghan province of Herat overnight, provincial government spokesman said Sunday.
Coal mine collapse kills 21 in China
Beijing, Jan 13 (AP/UNB) — Twenty-one coal miners were killed when a mine collapsed in northern China, state media reported Sunday.
City of London moves to revoke award from Suu Kyi
Dhaka, Jan 12 (UNB) - City of London Corporation councillors have voted in favour of removing the honorary freedom award granted to Aung San Suu Kyi over her failure to condemn atrocities committed against the Rohingya people in Myanmar.
Saudi woman fleeing alleged abuse heads for asylum in Canada
Bangkok, Jan 12 (AP/UNB) — An 18-year-old Saudi woman who said she was abused by her family and feared for her life if deported back home left Thailand on Friday night for Canada, which has granted her asylum, officials said.
Trump says changes coming on high-tech visas
Washington, Jan 12 (AP) — President Donald Trump says changes are coming in the way that the U.S. handles temporary H1-B visas, which allow American companies to bring high-tech and other skilled workers into the U.S. from abroad.