The Canadian duo had been detained in apparent retaliation for the arrest in Vancouver of a top Chinese tech executive on a U.S. warrant. The European Union also said it was backing Canada in the detentions dispute, in which Ottawa has been caught up in the rivalry between Beijing and Washington. "We are deeply concerned by the arbitrary detention by Chinese authorities of two Canadians earlier this month and call for their immediate release," Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said in a statement. U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Palladino also called for the two to be freed, while European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini said through a spokesperson: "The EU supports the efforts of the Canadian government." China detained former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and China-based business consultant Michael Spavor on December 10, following Canada's arrest of Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou while she was changing planes … [Read more...] about Canada, US call for ‘immediate release’ of two Canadians held by China
Dennis rodman north korea
China detains third Canadian as Huawei spat simmers
Former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig is one of three Canadians who have been arrested in China - Kovrig was working for the International Crisis Group think tank. — AFP/VNA PhotoViet Nam News OTTAWA — China has arrested a third Canadian national, Ottawa said Wednesday - a move that comes amid an already tense diplomatic spat with Beijing over the arrest of a Chinese telecom executive. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau however emphasised that the arrest did not seem to be linked to a former diplomat and an entrepreneur held for allegedly endangering China’s national security. "We are looking into the details (but) this most recent one doesn’t seem to fit the pattern set by the previous two," Trudeau told a press conference. Earlier, foreign ministry spokeswoman Maegan Graveline said the government was "aware" of another Canadian citizen being detained in China, without providing further details. The citizen has not been identified. Chinese … [Read more...] about China detains third Canadian as Huawei spat simmers
North Korea’s Kim has third child: reports
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has fathered another child, reports said Tuesday, after his wife dropped out of the public eye for several months. First lady Ri Sol-Ju delivered the couple's third child in February, the Yonhap news agency reported Tuesday, citing South Korean lawmakers who were briefed by the National Intelligence Service. Ri had disappeared for an extended period last year, raising speculation that she could be pregnant. News of the new arrival emerged as North Korea fired a ballistic missile over northern Japan. According to previous intelligence reports from Seoul's spy agency, Ri married Kim in 2009 and gave birth to their first child the following year, with their second born in 2013. Kim is the third generation of his dynasty to rule North Korea, but little has been revealed about the country's first family. Former NBA star Dennis Rodman, following his trip to the North in 2013, has been the only source of information about the couple's second … [Read more...] about North Korea’s Kim has third child: reports
Rodman leaves for North Korea for basketball on leader Kim’s birthday
BEIJING - Former NBA basketball star Dennis Rodman left Beijing for North Korea on Monday with a team of retired basketball players to mark the birthday of "nice guy" North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. This will be Rodman's fourth trip to the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, where he and his team of fellow former National Basketball Association stars will hold basketball games on Kim's birthday, which is believed to fall on Wednesday, although it has never been officially confirmed. On previous visits, Rodman spent time dining as a guest of Kim, with whom he says he has a genuine friendship, though he did not meet Kim on his third trip. Rodman said he will not interfere in the country's politics. "People always say that North Korea is like a really communist country, that people are not allowed to go there," Rodman told reporters at an airport in Beijing. "I just know the fact that, you know, to me he's a nice guy, to me." "Whatever he does political-wise, that's not my job. … [Read more...] about Rodman leaves for North Korea for basketball on leader Kim’s birthday
Seeing double: Kim Jong Un lookalike turns heads in Hong Kong
HONG KONG - A haircut and some makeup was all it took for a Hong Kong musician to transform himself into one of the world's most famous figures, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. "We joked back and forth 'Maybe I should get dressed up and do some gigs with it'. After all, I'm a musician, so it's about the performance," said Howard, who declined to give his surname in order to keep his music and impersonation careers separate. He turned heads and drew giggles this week when he paraded down the streets of a popular shopping district in Hong Kong. During the arranged media shoot, he jokingly waved at wide-eyed passers-by and posed with a magazine for photos. "Is he the real one or is he just impersonating? I can't tell them apart. He really looks like him," said Hong Kong resident Ada Ho. At 34, Howard is older and taller than 30-year-old Kim, but they share many facial similarities. Howard has bushier eyebrows and weighs less, but he joked that he would work on that. On April … [Read more...] about Seeing double: Kim Jong Un lookalike turns heads in Hong Kong