Israel needs an indefinite security presence in the Jordan Valley
Without help in creating a solid security infrastructure, a future Palestinian state in the West Bank could become a giant terrorist hub for Hamas. By Gadi Shamni The Americans are currently in the process of presenting their impression of the security arrangement necessary for the reality of two states west of the Jordan River. In general, […]
Read More →Emotional reunion for Brazil-Taiwan custody row orphan
A Brazilian-Taiwanese orphan who was at the centre of a bitter international custody battle a decade ago returned to Taiwan Friday for the first reunion with his relatives. Iruan Ergui Wu, known as Wu Yi-hua in Taiwan, arrived at Taipei’s international airport to be greeted by a dozen Taiwanese relatives, who gave him bouquets of flowers and displayed banners reading “welcome”. Taiwanese news channels broadcast live footage of the emotional reunion as the 18-year-old hugged his uncle Wu Huo-yen and other relatives who had tears in their eyes. I have waited ten years and finally (he) came,” Wu Huo-yen told reporters.
Asian shares slip after Wall Street retreat
Asian markets slipped Friday after Wall Street’s three main indexes began the new year in the red on profit-taking following a solid 2013, while Hong Kong and Shanghai were hit by weak Chinese services sector data.
Burst giant yellow duck back on show in Taiwan
A giant yellow inflatable duck which exploded on New Year’s Eve returned to a Taiwan port on Friday after it was repaired and cleaned, organisers said. Hundreds turned out in Keelung on the north of the island to welcome back the 18-metre-tall (59-feet) duck following two days of maintenance after it burst and deflated into a floating yellow disc Tuesday. It was the second time that a replica of the bath toy had burst while on show in Taiwan. “The warmest welcome for the little yellow duck to come back to Keelung port.
Guantanamo and Force-Feeding: From Rape to Sodomy?
Article by WN.com Correspondent Dallas Darling In the early 1900’s, when it was clear that the British Parliament had no intentions of passing legislation protecting a woman’s right to vote, members of the WSPU started to engage in acts of civil d…
Read More →TuTu will travel to US; Roam & Wander raises fresh round
Taiwan-based toy startup Roam & Wander announced that it will be heading into the US retail market with app-enabled plush toy TuTu One year ago, Taiwan-based app-enabled toy startup and Echelon alumnus Roam & Wander announced receiving an undisclosed amount of investment from venture firms, WI Harper and TMI. Today, it is reported to have raised …
China denies vaccine killed babies
China’s health authorities said on Friday that they have found no link between a hepatitis B vaccine and the deaths of 17 children shortly after they were immunised. An investigation into the deaths, reported between December 13 and 31, has found no evidence that they were caused by the vaccine, the China Food and Drug Administration and the National Health and Family Planning Commission said in a joint statement. Reports of the deaths had sparked widespread public concerns after a series of food and health and safety scandals in recent years, largely due to lax and corrupt supervision and law enforcement.
Demohour, a Chinese version of Kickstarter, rakes in millions from Intel, Matrix Partners
Chinese crowdfunding site Demohour announced today it has received “millions” of US dollars in funding from Matrix Partners China and Intel Capital, according to Tech 163. Founder Zhang You didn’t give …
China seizes three tonnes of crystal meth
Chinese police have seized three tonnes of crystal methamphetamine during raids in a southern city authorities say is notorious for providing a huge share of the country’s supply of the drug. Police seized the crystal meth — also known as “ice” — in a series of raids last Sunday in Lufeng, the official Xinhua news agency reported, citing a statement from the Guangdong Province Public Security Bureau. Lufeng, a coastal city about 200 kilometres (124 miles) northeast of Hong Kong, has provided one-third of China’s crystal meth annually over the past three years, the report said. Methamphetamine is the second most popular drug in China after heroin, according to a report last year by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which estimated that sales of the two drugs in China and Southeast Asia totalled more than $30 billion in 2012.
South Sudan ceasefire talks open as battles rage
ADDIS ABABA: South Sudan’s warring parties opened negotiations on Friday to end nearly three weeks of raging conflict in which thousands are feared dead and that has taken the world’s youngest nation to the brink of all-out civil war. Government a…
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