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Taiwan shuts down as Typhoon Gaemi approaches

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By Francesca Hangeior.

 

Taiwan closed schools, suspended the stock market, and declared a typhoon holiday Wednesday as Gaemi barrelled towards the island, bringing torrential rains and whipping winds to its northeast.

Typhoon Gaemi, packing sustained wind speeds of 190 kilometres (118 miles) per hour, also affected Japan and the Philippines — which announced government offices would close for the day.

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It is expected to make landfall in northeast Taiwan by 10 pm (1400 GMT), and President Lai Ching-te urged everyone to “put safety first” during a morning emergency briefing.

“Gaemi is this year’s first typhoon to make landfall in Taiwan,” Lai said.

“I hope that through our joint efforts, impact from the typhoon can be minimised… I also encourage fellow citizens across the country not to go out unless necessary during the typhoon, especially not to dangerous places.”

The weather forced the self-ruled island to cancel some of its annual Han Kuang war games — which test preparedness for a Chinese invasion — but an anti-landing drill went ahead as scheduled on Wednesday morning on Penghu island, west of Taiwan.

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Authorities evacuated more than 4,000 people living in precarious conditions in the northern regions, particularly Hualien — a mountainous area with high risk of landslides.

By afternoon, authorities said nearly 60 people were injured across the island from the typhoon’s impact.

Trains and ferry services were suspended and hundreds of international and domestic flights cancelled on Wednesday.

“We expect that the impact of the typhoon will be extended to four days (until Friday),” said Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration chief Cheng Jia-ping, adding that the public would need to “take precautions against heavy rain and strong wind”.

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The typhoon is expected to pass through the Taiwan Strait and hit China by Thursday in the eastern Zhejiang and Fujian provinces, where authorities have issued a red storm alert.

In Taiwan’s northeastern Yilan County, massive waves crashed against the shore, while market vendors worked quickly to protect their stalls with canvas and shops had taped glass windows.

At a harbour crowded with docked vessels, a fisher surnamed Hsu tied down his boat at a typhoon shelter.

“I am worried about the typhoon — the boats are my tool for making money,” he said.

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In the capital Taipei, government offices were closed and streets emptied, while some stores sandbagged their entrances to prevent potential floodwater.
Taiwanese chip giant TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, said it would maintain normal production and the firm “has activated routine typhoon alert preparation procedures” at all fabrication plants.

Taiwan is accustomed to frequent tropical storms from July to October, but experts say climate change has increased their intensity, leading to heavy rains, flash floods and strong gusts.

In neighbouring Japan, authorities of a southern island region of Okinawa urged residents to “exercise strong vigilance” against storms, high waves and floods.

In the Philippines, meanwhile, heavy downpours in Manila triggered widespread flooding and a landslide in a nearby mountainous province killed four people.

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Ukraine alleges N’Korea is sending troops to Russia

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He was speaking days after visiting several European capitals to press his case for more military and financial help in the war against invading Russian forces.

“We see an increasing alliance between Russia and regimes like in North Korea,” Zelensky said in his evening address.

“It is no longer just about transferring weapons. It is actually about the transfer of people from North Korea to the occupier’s military forces.

“Obviously, in such circumstances, our relations with our partners need to be developed. The frontline needs more support,” he said.

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Zelensky completed a whirlwind two-day tour of European capitals last week including Berlin, London and Paris to ask for sustained military aid as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine grinds on through its third year.

“When we talk about more long-range capability for Ukraine and more decisive supplies for our forces, it is not just a list of military equipment,” Zelensky said.

“It is about increasing the pressure on the aggressor, which will be stronger for Russia than they can withstand. And it is about preventing a bigger war.”

AFP.

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Kenyan Governor Detained Over Violent Clan Disputes

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A regional governor in Kenya has been taken into custody due to his involvement in clan violence in the Tana River County, where multiple fatalities have occurred.

Dhadho Godhana, along with a local legislator, were arrested separately for failing to comply with summonses regarding the clashes, as stated by the police on Saturday. The accused individuals have not publicly addressed the allegations.

The clashes in southeast Kenya have resulted in the deaths of at least 14 people, leading the authorities to declare two areas in the county as hazardous and insecure for the next 30 days.

According to an official notice from the Interior Ministry, security measures have been intensified in these areas, and residents are prohibited from carrying weapons.

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DCI chief Mohamed Amin confirmed that Godhana presented himself at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters in Nairobi on Saturday morning and is being interrogated about the clashes.

Five politicians from Tana River County have been summoned to appear before the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) on Monday for questioning regarding allegations of instigating conflict between two communities.

Tana River has previously experienced ethnic clashes over disputes about grazing rights, resulting in numerous fatalities.

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North Korea Removed as Observer from Regional Anti-Money Laundering Group

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North Korea has lost its observer status in a regional group that fights money laundering. This decision was announced on Monday by the South Korean foreign ministry. The reason for this action is North Korea’s lack of involvement and its failure to fulfill its responsibilities to the group.

The decision was made unanimously at the 26th general assembly of the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), which convened last Tuesday in the United Arab Emirates.

The South Korean ministry released a statement explaining the outcome.

Established in 1997, the APG is an intergovernmental body dedicated to enforcing international standards against money laundering and combatting terrorism financing, including preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

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The group currently consists of 42 member states, including key global powers such as the United States, Japan, China, and South Korea, which joined in 1998.

North Korea gained observer status in the APG in July 2014. However, it was warned by the group that its continued lack of engagement would lead to disqualification. The North failed to meet even the minimal requirements to retain its status, prompting the members to endorse the revocation.

To maintain its observer status, a country is required to permit visits from APG delegations, facilitate information exchange, and cooperate with the group in publishing regular reports on the nation’s anti-money laundering efforts. The APG found that North Korea had not participated in the group’s activities for six consecutive years, nor had it responded to any of the group’s attempts to establish contact.

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In response, North Korea issued a statement through its state-run Chosun Central News Agency on October 3rd, protesting the APG’s decision. The regime claimed the APG had become a “puppet group” serving the interests of the United States and suggested the move was a result of America’s continued “hostile policy” towards the country.

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