Rights abuses continue in North Korea a decade after probe, says UN investigator
A North Korean flag flutters on top of a 160-metre tower in North Korea's propaganda village of Gijungdong in this picture taken from the Dora observatory near the demilitarised zone separating the two Koreas, in Paju, South Korea, April 24, 2018. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo
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RTHK
2 hours ago
- RTHK
Thai PM meets army commander in bid to save coalition
Thai PM meets army commander in bid to save coalition Paetongtarn Shinawatra speaks with Lieutenant General Boonsin Padklang in Ubon Ratchathani province as part of an effort to save her job. Photo: Reuters Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra held make-up talks on Friday with an army commander she criticised in a leaked phone call as she struggled to defuse a crisis threatening to topple her government. The daughter of billionaire ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra and in office for less than a year, Paetongtarn is facing calls to quit or announce an election as anger flares over the call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen. Her main coalition partner, the conservative Bhumjaithai party, pulled out on Wednesday, saying she had insulted the country and the army and leaving her government on the point of collapse. She suffered another blow on Friday as reports emerged that another coalition partner was threatening to quit unless she stepped down as prime minister. The crisis has sent the Thai stock market plunging to a five-year low and comes as the kingdom struggles to fire up its sluggish economy, with US President Donald Trump's threatened trade tariffs looming. Paetongtarn, 38, visited troops in northeast Thailand on Friday to patch things up with Lieutenant General Boonsin Padklang after she was caught disparaging him as an "opponent" during the call with Hun Sen. Boonsin commands Thai forces along the border with Cambodia, where a long-running dispute flared into deadly clashes last month, and Paetongtarn's criticism of him drew accusations of disloyalty from right-wing nationalist critics. Paetongtarn said after their meeting that the matter was settled. "It went very well. I've spoken to the commander and there's no longer any issue," she told reporters. For his part, Boonsin said "everything is normal". The meeting with Boonsin followed a public apology from Paetongtarn – at a news conference flanked by military and police chiefs – on Thursday as pressure on her mounted. Paetongtarn was criticised as being weak and deferential in the call with Hun Sen, a veteran politician known as a wily operator, but her comments about the army commander were potentially the most damaging to her. Thailand's armed forces have long played a powerful role in the kingdom's politics and politicians are usually careful not to antagonise them. The apology and apparent reconciliation with the army commander may not be enough to save Paetongtarn's premiership. The departure of Bhumjaithai has left the government's coalition with a razor-thin majority in parliament and losing another partner would likely see it collapse. There was a glimmer of good news for Paetongtarn on Friday morning as the conservative Democrat Party pledged to stay in the coalition. However, Public broadcaster ThaiPBS reported that the United Thai Nation (UTN) party, which has 36 seats and is now the biggest party in the coalition after Pheu Thai, is considering quitting. The broadcaster said UTN was going to issue an ultimatum to Paetongtarn: either she quits as premier or they withdraw, bringing down the government. (AFP)
RTHK
3 hours ago
- RTHK
Xi urges deeper NZ partnership amid Cook Islands row
Xi urges deeper NZ partnership amid Cook Islands row President Xi Jinping hosts New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Photo: Reuters President Xi Jinping met with New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Beijing on Friday, calling on both sides to place greater emphasis on cooperation. For more than 50 years, since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China-New Zealand relations have long been at the forefront of Beijing's ties with Western developed countries, Xi said. As the China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership enters its second decade, both sides should work to grow the partnership and bring more benefits to the two peoples, he said. Xi stressed that China and New Zealand should place greater emphasis on cooperation in bilateral relations, leverage their complementary strengths, deepen trade and investment cooperation, and explore potential for cooperation in scientific and technological innovation, climate change and infrastructure. The president encouraged both sides to strengthen exchanges in education, culture, youth and at non-governmental and sub-national levels. The meeting came as Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown condemned "patronising" neighbour New Zealand, which halted aid to the Pacific island nation after it signed a slew of deals with China. Major partner New Zealand has halted millions of dollars in aid to the Cook Islands, citing a "lack of consultation" over agreements struck with Beijing in February. Self-governing Cook Islands has a "free association" pact with New Zealand, its former colonial ruler which provides budgetary assistance as well as help on foreign affairs and defence. "The relationship between the Cook Islands and New Zealand is defined by partnership, not paternalism," Brown said in a speech to parliament. "Decisions to unilaterally pause core sector support reflect a patronising approach inconsistent with modern partnership." Brown said his nation's ties with China did not "compromise" its independence, adding that no military or defence arrangements had been made. "No debt commitments, no erosion of our national sovereignty," he told parliament. (Xinhua/AFP)
The Standard
4 hours ago
- The Standard
Pahlavi calls for uprising describes Khamenei as a terrified rat
Reza Pahlavi speaks during an interview with Reuters in Washington, U.S., January 3, 2018. (Reuters/File)
