Beijing: A yellow alert has been issued ahead of Typhoon Nari, the National Marine Environmental Forecasting Centre said yesterday. Nari, which will be the 25th typhoon to hit China this year, is expected in the middle and eastern parts of the South China Sea by noon today, the centre said. Waves of up to six-metre are expected in the southern part of the East China Sea, the Taiwan Strait and the northeastern part of the South China Sea. The centre said Huangyan Island, in the mid-east region of the South China Sea, will be heavily affected and asked China Coast Guard vessels patrolling around the island to take precautions. The centre also warned fishing boats not to sail in severe weather conditions in the South China Sea and the Beibuwan Gulf off south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. China has a four-tier colour-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe weather, followed by orange, yellow and blue.
Malaysia model for world: Kerry
KUALA LUMPUR: US Secretary of State John Kerry lauded Malaysia yesterday as a modern, innovative and multi-faith model for the world, heaping praise on a country the US regards as a valuable Muslim ally. On the final day of a curtailed Asian tour in which he has filled in for President Barack Obama, Kerry said Malaysia’s young people were an inspiration for the Arab Spring. “Here in Malaysia, people of different heritages have been in conversation for a long time,” he told young entrepreneurs in capital Kuala Lumpur. He cited the symbolism of Kuala Lumpur’s Petronas Towers, the world’s tallest twin skyscrapers, having blended modern engineering, traditional Muslim design, Malaysian vision, a US architect and Asian builders.
Army chief replaced
SEOUL: North Korean state media confirmed that the nation’s hawkish, ageing army chief has been replaced in a reshuffle observers say sought to tighten leader Kim Jong-Un’s grip over the military. Rumours had circulated in August that Kim Kyok-Sik, 75, had been replaced as chief of the army’s general staff by Ri Yong-Gil. Ri, believed to be in his 60s, had been previously mentioned as head of the army’s general staff operations. Agencies
