(CNN)Drug-resistant strains of malaria are spreading across Southeast Asia, raising fears of a "potential global health emergency," two new studies have found. The reports were published Monday in The Lancet, warning that a multi-drug-resistant strain had evolved and was spreading across Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. The new findings come as countries and health experts struggle to fight the parasitic disease. There have been some successes -- Algeria and Argentina were declared malaria-free in May -- but in other places, cases have been rising significantly. The evolution of the resistant strains in Southeast Asia has had "disastrous consequences," researchers said -- they have rendered a widely-used drug essentially ineffective, leading to treatment failures at "alarmingly high rates." World's first malaria vaccine to go to 360,000 African children The drug, dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHA-PPQ), has now reached a 62% failure rate in western Cambodia, 27% in … [Read more...] about Drug-resistant malaria is spreading across Southeast Asia, study warns
Asia
Beijing tells US to stop ‘flexing muscles’ in South China Sea as it sends new carrier
(CNN)China's Defense Minister told his US counterpart that Washington must stop "flexing its muscles" in the South China Sea when the two met Monday, according to a spokesman for Beijing. At the same time, China announced that its new domestically produced aircraft carrier was headed to the South China Sea for training and research purposes. US Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe met Monday in Bangkok, where the two were attending a meeting of defense officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other countries. Wei and Esper discussed a host of issues -- including the political unrest in Hong Kong and the status of the South China Sea, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said. Much of the international community views China's maritime claims in the region as excessive and a violation of international law. The US also accuses China of militarizing islands in the sea, and regularly sails warships in the region as part … [Read more...] about Beijing tells US to stop ‘flexing muscles’ in South China Sea as it sends new carrier
North Korea no longer interested in ‘useless’ meetings with US, says senior minister
(CNN)North Korea has said it is not "interested" in further meetings with the US, a day after President Donald Trump tweeted a message to the country's leader Sunday saying "See you soon!" A statement from North Korean Foreign Ministry adviser Kim Kye Gwan, posted by state news agency, KCNA, said: "I interpreted President Trump's tweet on the 17th to signify a new DPRK-US summit" but "we are no longer interested in these meetings that are useless to us." Kim suggested that the US is trying to portray "advancement in Korean Peninsula issue" but that it was a delay tactic. North Korea fired 2 unidentified projectiles, South Korea says "We will no longer give the US president something to boast about for nothing in return, and we must receive from the US what is corresponding to the results that President Trump is already boasting as his achievements," Kim said. CNN is seeking comment from the White House. Read More In his tweet, Trump told North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to … [Read more...] about North Korea no longer interested in ‘useless’ meetings with US, says senior minister
PHOTOS: Hong Kong Police Trap Students on Campus After Firebomb, Arrow Attacks
Parents of students trapped at Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) after a violent weekend that set a significant percentage of the campus ablaze were reportedly “begging” police to let them see their children on Monday. Hong Kong’s police forces raided the PolyU campus on Sunday, days after forcing the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) to shut down for the semester with a violent door-to-door operation seeking the arrests of pro-democracy protesters. Having the foresight of events at CUHK, students at PolyU appeared to prepare for an invasion with Molotov cocktails, coordinated use of umbrellas to defend from tear gas, and, in at least one attack, the use of a bow and arrow.Images from the clashes on Sunday showed larges areas of the campus set aflame, covered in tear gas canisters, or otherwise destroyed. Police appeared to violently arrest students they believed were participating in attacks against officers, thrashing them on the group and leaving them … [Read more...] about PHOTOS: Hong Kong Police Trap Students on Campus After Firebomb, Arrow Attacks
Pope Francis Tells Japanese: ‘Using Nuclear Weapons Is Immoral’
ROME — Pope Francis has sent a video-message to the people of Japan condemning the use of nuclear weapons prior to his upcoming three-day visit to the country. “Your country is very aware of the suffering caused by war,” said the pope, who will visit Japan from November 23-26. “Together with you, I pray that the destructive power of nuclear weapons will never be unleashed again in human history.”“Using nuclear weapons is immoral,” he said, speaking in his native Spanish. The theme for the papal visit is “Protect All Life” and the pope said that the instinct to defend the value and dignity of every human person resonates in the human heart, acquiring “particular importance in the face of threats to the peaceful coexistence that the world has to face today, especially in armed conflicts.” “You know how important is that culture of dialogue, of fraternity, especially among the different religious traditions, that can … [Read more...] about Pope Francis Tells Japanese: ‘Using Nuclear Weapons Is Immoral’
