ISLAMABAD -- Seven soldiers and 10 terrorists were killed in an operation in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said on Saturday.
During the operation, security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in Lower Dir district of the province on reported presence of terrorists, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said in a statement. (Pakistan-Counter Terrorism)
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SEOUL -- South Korea protested at Japan's no mention of Koreans' forced labor during a Saturday ceremony to commemorate the victims in Japan's war-linked gold mine, multiple media outlets said Sunday.
An unnamed presidential official was quoted as saying that South Korea was in a position that the memorial service should be carried out in full with its content and form consistent with its "purpose and nature," adding that Seoul would continue talks with Tokyo under the position. (South Korea-Japan-Wartime Crime)
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MANILA -- A suspected rebel was killed and two others were arrested in clashes with Philippine troops in Samar province in the central Philippines, the country's military said Sunday.
In a report, the Philippine army said troops engaged a band of alleged members of the New People's Army (NPA) in "a brief but intense firefight" on Saturday during a combat operation in Paranas town. More clashes occurred as troops pursued the fleeing rebels. (Philippines-Clash-Death)
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TOKYO, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Seniors aged 65 and older are estimated to make up 29.4 percent of Japan's total population, the highest proportion on record, official data showed Sunday.
Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications estimated the elderly population at 36.19 million as of Sept. 15, the country's Respect-for-the-Aged Day. (Japan-Elderly-Population)
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HONG KONG -- As the sun sets over Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong's iconic skyline comes alive with a golden glow. Skyscrapers twinkle along the shore, and a vibrant red Chinese wooden junk glides gracefully across the water, etching its image into the city's memory for countless visitors.
"Stepping onto this slow-moving junk amidst Hong Kong's high-rises is like experiencing a harmonious blend of modern allure and traditional charm," said Gu Jianing, a tourist from Shanghai, watching as the Cheung Po Tsai, or the Aqua Luna I, cut through the waves.
The junk, an iconic sight in Hong Kong, with its towering wooden framework and three vivid red sails that gleam under the sunlight of Victoria Harbour, has become one of the city's most recognizable symbols. (Hong Kong-Tourism, FEATURE)
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SEOUL -- South Korea's export of information and communications technology (ICT) products rose for the seventh straight month due to strong semiconductor demand, government data showed Sunday.
The ICT products shipment jumped 11.1 percent from a year earlier to 22.87 billion U.S. dollars in August, keeping an upward trend since February, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. (South Korea-ICT Export-August) ■
