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  • The making of Nigeria’s Bobsled team

    The making of Nigeria’s Bobsled team

    Here come the pioneers : Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omega.
    These well read and beautiful gals make up the first Nigerian team to ever drive a Bobsleigh and Akuoma who doubles as one of the team’s brakemen, gives a rare insight into the making of the team as well as its bright prospect of flying the Nigerian colours at the forthcoming 2018 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea in an interview with MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN.`

    DO you want the simplified version or the extended Nollywood version of the story of Nigeria’s Bobsled team?” Akuoma begins understatedly, before dwelling on the vivacity of the beautiful gals who are the first Nigerian team to ever drive a Bobsled.

    Indeed, the story of the Nigeria Bobsled team is an inspiration and something akin to the thought of Carlos Ghosn, the Brazilian businessman who remarked ‘when you’re a pioneer and you are at the forefront of an offensive, you are going to be the most optimistic person.’

    “Right now, there are three women total on the team; there is Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere and myself,” explained St. Paul Minnesota-born Akuoma to parents from Abia State  and the youngest ‘Oma’ of four girls. “Our team comprises women who are fearless, creative, and compassionate.

    “I have to say our personalities complement one another so well; we know exactly when to play and we know when to take care business and we understand the importance of our mission and plan to deliver. I could not be any happier with our team dynamic.”

    The world of Bobsled or  bobsleigh is a mind-boggling journey but Akuoma shows no signs of being boggled as her  infectious enthusiasm is there to see while dwelling on the team’s pioneering spirit.

    She continued: “Nigeria Bobsled begins with Seun Adigun, who will go down in history as the first Nigerian to ever drive a Bobsled. Seun is a former track and field athlete and Nigerian Olympian who competed in the 2012 Olympic Games in London. After the Olympic Games, Seun decided to retire from track and field. I think the term “retire” does not apply to Seun Adigun.

    “She is truly a busy body and workaholic in every sense of the word. Anyway, my restless Seun didn’t find herself out of a sport for long. She decided to embark on a new journey and found herself trying out for the USA Bobsled Team. Needless to say, she made the team.

    “Naturally, Seun’s enthusiasm for the sport grew and she found herself gathering information about the sport; she soon learned that the sport of Bobsled was looking to expand, particularly in women’s teams. After some strategic thinking, Seun had reached out to the Nigerian Olympic Committee who later expressed interest in being represented in the Winter sports.

    “It was then that Seun was released from the USA team to start the Bobsled and Skeleton Federation of Nigeria and as at November 2016, Nigeria is officially the first African country to participate in the sport of Bobsled,” she volunteered.

    Of course, birds of a feather flock together and Seun would soon find spirited duo of Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma who reckoned the meeting of her ‘mastermind’ group was fortuitous and by what others may call divine arrangement.

    “Though graduation was an exciting time,” noted 25-year-old Akuoma, who studied Human Resource Development with a minor in Communication Studies at the University of Minnesota. “I had to think about what my next move was; it was the first time I was no longer a student, a kid or an athlete and the thought of “not being” made me anxious.

    “I had longed to move out of state and experience something different after spending my whole life in Minnesota and I decided to take a leap of faith and set out for Houston, Texas, in June of 2016; no job, no friends or family.

    “But shortly after my move, I met Seun through a mutual friend. We met up at a BBQ restaurant where we spent hours talking about life. Seun had mentioned a project she had been working on, but being that we were just getting acquainted I did not want to ask what it was.

    “It wasn’t until September that she told me she was working on creating a Bobsled Federation and asked me to serve on the team as her Brakeman alongside Ngozi Onwumere,

    “Though Bobsled is a male-dominated sport that originated in Germany in the late 1800s, believe it or not, women were not able to compete in the Olympic games until year 2002 and so the positions centred around masculine titles, Ngozi and I refer to ourselves as brakewomen rather than brakemen,” explained Akuoma, whose name literarily means ‘good wealth’ in her native Umuahia even as she shares her wealth of experience on other sundry issues. Enjoy…

    What is a Bobsled or bobsleigh?

    First it is important to note that Bobsled is indeed a winter sport. We can get into logistics on how it is even possible that a warm nation like Nigeria can participate in a Winter sport. It really entails thinking outside the box. The sport consists of a sled that I like to say resembles a bullet and a tube all in one. A sled can carry up to four athletes at any given time. However, competitions for women can only have two athletes in the sled. With that being said, there are two positions; a Driver and a Brakeman. The Driver is responsible for navigating the sled that can reach speeds up to 95 MPH going down an ice mountain through the finish line. The only way a team can qualify to the Olympic Games is through the Driver; the Driver must remain constant throughout the season. On the other end, there is a Brakeman. The Brakemen is essentially the motor of the sled and is responsible for pushing the sled off the top the hill and running behind it before jumping in for the ride. At the end of the race, the Brakemen will pull the brake at the Driver’s command. The goal is to cross the finish line as quickly as possible. Without skill from both the Driver and Brakeman, the sled is less likely to move at the speeds necessary to complete the race in a reasonable time. In order to qualify for the Olympics, our driver must complete what is known as the 5:3:2 rule. That is; complete five races, on three different tracks, within two separate seasons. So far, we have completed two races, in one season and on one track. We have three more races to go, on two different tracks, in order to make our way to the Olympic Games in February. Aside from the 5:3:2 rule, the top 30 fastest teams are able to compete at the Olympics. But being that there are only 11 teams for women, we just need to make sure we get all of our races in by January.

    My short and long-term targets with the team The short-term goal for the team is to make it to the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, in February. The long-term goal is to build a long lasting Bobsled and Skeleton Federation for Nigeria that will continue to support Nigerian athletes as they set out to represent the country in Winter sports. The goal is to ultimately have both male and female teams participate in the Olympic Games from this point forward.

    From being a novice to basking in Bobsled

    The interesting thing about me is that I am not a huge fan of participating in contact sports. I don’t like the idea of other people being in my space while I am trying to do what I need to do. In my mind, you’re just in my way rather than being an opponent; which, some could argue that is the purpose of competition. However, I enjoy a playing a game of volleyball once in a while and watching soccer.

    I became interested in Bobsled because it was so unique. It was unfamiliar to me, which challenged me to learn something I never thought I would do. I’ve also adopted taking risks as a regular pastime. My teammates will tell you that I am the one who says “Yea. We are going to do this” while they question my decision or try to come up with “safer” options. I think it’s fair to say that anyone who does this sport has to be just a little bit in over his or her head.

    My first sport encounter

    I can take you back to when I was five years old in kindergarten gym class. The teacher always made the class do a warm up lap around the gym. One day I was caught leading the class by a stretch. He seemed impressed. He has asked me what my favourite animal was and if I would rather be a cheetah or some other animal (I can’t remember what it’s). But I answered and told him I’d rather be a cheetah. He then tells me that a cheetah is the fastest animal on land. I don’t know what it was, but my five-year-old brain was smart enough to process that he was giving me a huge compliment. That was most significant moment for me, as I believe it to be the first time of feeling confident; like an athlete. I quickly fell in love with track and field and the rest is history.

    Outpouring of support from Nigerians

    The team has received tremendous moral support from the Nigerian Sporting Authority. They are beyond excited to have a team represent Nigeria in the next Winter Olympics. However, there has been talk about financial support or lack thereof. Realistically speaking, it can take sports federations years to add a new sport to their budget. We were simply on a time crunch and had to get the ball rolling if we wanted to be participating in the upcoming Olympic Games. As a team, we have been raising money to get us where we need to be by next season. Finances can be just as difficult to disburse, as much as they are to attain. We just appreciate the outpouring support we have received from Nigeria and other countries.

    My sporting heroes

    I grew up watching the Summer Olympic Games and have watched many different sports with many different athletes. Aside from cheering and hoping that the person wearing my favourite jersey won, the look of determination on the athlete’s face had always filled me up. It’s very admirable to see people in a very vulnerable state and see them conquer the obstacles that are set out in front of them. I have great respect for any type of athlete, so it has always been difficult for me to just choose one or a few. I even have friends and old teammates who put themselves to work through athletics every day, and I am in awe of them. Athletics is not just about competing and winning. Intensity, joy and hardship are all gifts sports bring to individuals; and that is also worth celebrating.

    Being a happy-go-lucky gal

    I am a firm believer in anything that can make you happy can also make you sad. The first thing that comes to my mind is memories. Of course they make me extremely happy because I am extremely grateful those events happened and that those people were in my life. On hindsight, it is also bitter sweet and can trigger a tear when I think about how some of those people or events are no longer. However, I don’t let sad things linger for long and the happy thoughts usually combat ill feelings.

    Passion for fashion

    My definition of fashion is throwing a bunch of pieces together and making it look like it was done on purpose. But really, I am someone who takes 10 minutes at most to get dressed, which means that 95% of the time I do not plan my outfits. Most items in my closet are pretty simple and modest. My style can range from simple V-neck T shirts, jeans and Converse shoes to wearing a sleek dress and heels. I think I like to lay low when it comes to my attire but I will admit the thing that makes me stand out is my choice in hair colour. I’ve always been one to add colours such as burgundy, blonde, purple and teal to my hair. I think it’s all about being confident and accessorising. Anything that you want to wear belongs on you. Period.

    My beauty regimen

    If you can’t tell by now, I like to keep things simple. I am big on skin care. Being that I work out six times a week, I think it is imperative to cleanse my skin. When I am in dryer climates I like to cleanse my face with avocado and almond oil twice a week. The days I don’t do the oil cleansing, I use my Clarisonic brush with my choice of face wash. I wear makeup maybe twice a week but I enjoy having a fresh face, especially during the hot summer months. My hair on the other hand takes up my time the days I decide to cater to it. Because my natural hair is colour treated, I wash and deep condition my hair with natural products only. Those products include black soap, Shea butter, almond, castor, coconut and avocado oils. Then I will conclude my wash with using styling agents that are composed of natural products as well. I also love to wear braids in my hair; if they could fit under my helmet I would wear them all year round.

    My USP-Unique Selling Point

    I think the thing that makes me unique is my versatility and ability to communicate with people from all different backgrounds. I give credit to my upbringing, though being the only person of colour in all of my classes was not easy, it brought me out of my shell and I learned how to interact with people who were different from me. It even helped me see the different interactions of people within my race. I was able to carry my experience as a Nigerian- American in spaces where being different or African was not always welcomed but yet, I have been successful in changing hearts and opening minds to a place where I can build friendships with others. I am also a person who has hidden talents that blossomed in my childhood that I don’t publically claim as an adult. Those talents do tend to come out every once in a while. You’ll just have to wait and see.

    My wonderful family

    Finally, give me a section where I can brag about my family. The first thing I will say is that my family bond is very tight. I have three sisters who not only love one another, but we actually like each other. We have days we strictly designate as sister bonding time and hang out when we can. Now that I am in Houston and the rest are in the Twin Cities, it makes it difficult for us to hang out as much as we would like, however with the technology of Facetime and Whatsapp, there is no time lost.  We also have a healthy relationship with our parents. My parents are almost opposite from each other. Their common ground is that they are both hard working and respectable individuals, which are traits my sisters and I were lucky to attain from them. We are no-nonsense type of people; we will give it to you straight. With that being said, we are at times each other’s toughest critics. But still, we thoroughly enjoy each other’s company and often seek advice from one another. With that being said, the support I receive goes above and beyond anything I could ever ask for.

    THE THREE MUSKETEERS

    SEUN ADIGUN (30)

    Born to parents from Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria, holds the position as the “Driver” of the current team. She is working towards completing a dual degree, a Doctorate of Chiropractic and a Masters of Science in Sports Science. Needless to say, the woman has a brain and utilises it any chance she gets. You can also note that she is the “brains” behind the Nigeria Bobsled operation. Not only did she spearhead an entire federation, she used her intuitive and keen senses to recruit her teammates; Ngozi and myself.

     

    NGOZI ONWUMERE (25)

    Born to parents from Umu Chima, Imo State, Nigeria, is also a former track and field athlete who competed for Nigeria in 2015. Ngozi holds the position as a “Brakemen” on Nigeria’s team, as do I. Aside from Bobsled, you can often find Ngozi trying new restaurants, exploring the arts, or making me laugh hysterically. Ngozi is an all action and less talk type of person. She really has an entrepreneurial spirit and has the ability to get others onboard. Another thing that cannot go unnoticed about Ngozi is her athleticism; the combination of her strength and speed makes for the ideal elite athlete. These are things that Seun saw about Ngozi too, as this was not the first time Seun had recruited Ngozi to be a member of a team she coached. Seun recruited Ngozi to the University of Houston Track and Field programme as a sprinter and jumper back in 2009. From then, the two of them have built a relationship that has surpassed collegiate athletics.

     

    AKUOMA OMEOGA (25)

    I was born in St. Paul Minnesota (arguably the coldest state in the US) to parents from Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria. I am the youngest “Oma” of four girls. I joke and say that because all of my sisters’ names end with “Oma” which translates to “good” in the Igbo language. Lucky for me I had five people to look up to. My parents encouraged extracurricular activities such as playing instruments, sports and art while maintaining an emphasis on education and Igbo culture. Track and field was kind of the family sport. After watching my sisters compete and taking a strong liking for the sport myself, I was recruited to the University of Minnesota’s track and field programme where I competed for four years.

  • France to nationalise shipyard if Italy rejects deal – Minister

    France to nationalise shipyard if Italy rejects deal – Minister

    The French state on Wednesday said it would nationalise the STX France shipyard if Italy does not accept its offer to split STX’s capital equally.

    It put down a marker on the limits of economic liberalism under new President Emmanuel Macron.

    The threat raises the stakes in a standoff over the shipyard’s fate, the only one in France with facilities large enough to build aircraft carriers.

    Fincantieri agreed in May to pay 79.5 million euros (92.6 million dollars) for two-thirds of STX France, which is being sold following the collapse of South Korean parent STX.

    However, the Italian bid has raised fears for French jobs at the Saint-Nazaire site on the Atlantic Coast.

    French Economy Minister Bruno Maire said the nationalisation would give the state more time to find a better shareholder deal.

    He said even if its temporary, it would mark the first major state intervention in the corporate world by Macron’s government, which was elected on a pro-business platform.

    Italian interests rejected the French proposal for ownership of STX France to be split equally between Italian state-owned shipbuilder Fincantieri and Paris.

    Both Fincantieri Chief Executive Giuseppe Bono and Italian Industry Minister Carlo Calenda raised the prospect that Fincantieri could walk away from the deal if France backed away from conditions agreed under the former government of President Francois Hollande.

    “We are Europeans and on STX we cannot accept being treated worse than the Koreans,” Bono said on a conference call in reference to the shipyard’s previous majority owner.

    Italian Economy Minister Pier Padoan later took a more conciliatory tone, saying Italy was open to changing the terms of the deal, but insisted Fincantieri must have control.

    “We have offered to listen to the new government’s requirements, but there is no reason why Fincantieri should give up a majority stake and control of the French company.”

  • Caleb Varsity in exchange programme with S. Korea on entrepreneurial education

    Caleb Varsity in exchange programme with S. Korea on entrepreneurial education

    Authorities of the Caleb University, Imota in Lagos State, has entered into an educational exchange programme with a South Korean University to improve its entrepreneurship programme for students.

    The university Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Daniel Aina, made the disclosure on Tuesday at a news briefing in Imota, near Ikorodu.

    Aina said that the exchange programme would make students of the institution to become self-reliant on completion of their academic pursuit.

    The vice-chancellor said that the institution had structured its academic activities in such a way that students would be introduced to value-based education under general studies in their first year to produce self-reliant graduates.

    According to him, in the second year, the entrepreneur development is introduced to students, while leadership education will be introduced at the third and fourth year, irrespective of their core courses.

    He said that the academic programmes were structured to prepare the students ahead of their graduation to enable them to contribute their quotas to the national development.

    “Things can be done better if we join hands together with the government and non-governmental organisations to enhance the quality of our education,’’ he said.

    Aina said that the institution management was already discussing with the Lagos State Ministry of Environment to conduct a environmental research on the Olusosun refuse dump site in Ojota.

    He said that this was part of the institution’s contribution to the development of its immediate environment.

    “The stench that usually emits from the dump site can be injurious to the health of residents and other people dwelling in that surrounding.

    “The institution intends to carry out health analysis on the dump site to ascertain its health implication and advise the government on what to do.

    “Since one of the core areas of specialisation of the university is environmental studies, it can do environmental impact, analysis and implication of the dump site on the environment,’’ Aina said.

    He said that the university, while trying to complement the role of government, intended to attend to some special needs of communities in its neighbourhood.

  • South Korea proposes military talks with North

    South Korea proposes military talks with North

    South Korea has proposed military talks with the North, after weeks of heightened tension following Pyongyang’s long-range missile test.

    If they were to go ahead, they would be the first high-level talks since 2015, the BBC reports.

    A senior official said talks should aim to stop “all hostile activities that raise military tension” at the fortified border between the Koreas.

    South Korea’s President, Moon Jae-in, has long signalled he wants closer engagement with the North.

    North Korea has not responded to the South’s proposal yet.

    In a recent speech in Berlin, Mr. Moon said dialogue with the North was more pressing than ever and called for a peace treaty to be signed.

    He said such dialogue was crucial for those who seek the end of Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons programme.

    However, the North’s frequent missile tests, including the most recent one of an intercontinental ballistic missile, are in consistent violation of United Nations resolutions and have alarmed its neighbours and the United States.

    South Korea’s Vice Defence Minister, Suh Choo-suk, told a media briefing that talks could be held at Tongilgak, a North Korean building in the Panmunjom compound in the demilitarised zone between the two countries, which was used to host previous talks.

    He proposed that the talks be held on July 21, and said: “We expect a positive response from the North.”

    South Korea’s Unification Minister, Cho Myoung-gyon, also urged the restoration of communication hotlines between the two Koreas, cut last year after a North Korean nuclear test.

     

  • South Korea to attend China’s Silk Road summit amid rift

    South Korea has accepted invitation from China to attend the new Silk Road conference, days after new president took office in Seoul pledging to engage in discussions with Beijing to ease tension over U.S. anti-missile system.

    “Chinese President Xi Jinping extended the invitation to the Belt and Road conference in Beijing during a telephone call with new South Korean President Moon Jae-in, Moon’s spokesperson, Yoon Young-chan, told a briefing on Friday.

    Ties between South Korea and China, who are important trade partners, have been strained by Seoul’s decision to host a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) anti-missile system in response to a growing missile threat from North Korea.

    China has protested against the deployment saying the system’s powerful radar can probe deep into its territory, undermining is security, destabilising the regional security balance and doing little to deter North Korea.

    Leaders of 29 countries and senior officials from many more gather in Beijing on Sunday for to discuss Xi’s initiative to expand trade links between Asia, Africa and Europe through billions of dollars in infrastructure investment.

    However, not until Thursday, South Korea had not been invited.

    “Moon will send a delegation headed by Park Byeong-seug, a veteran member of parliament and a senior official of Moon’s liberal Democratic Party.

    “Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang, asked whether China could discuss other issues with Park like THAAD, said his visit was “mainly” to attend the Belt and Road forum.

    “During the telephone call, Moon told Xi that he “understands China’s interest in the THAAD deployment and its concerns”, Yoon said.

    Moon also spoke to Xi about the difficulties faced by some South Korean companies doing business in China facing discrimination in retaliation for the THAAD deployment.

    China denies it has done anything to hurt South Korean businesses.

    “Park, the Member of Parliament heading the delegation, has been mentioned in South Korean media as a strong candidate to be Moon’s special envoy to China.

    “The Belt and Road initiative has been used by Xi to help showcase China as an open economy, although many diplomats and business groups have been skeptical about China’s aims.

    “North Korea, which considers China its sole major diplomatic ally and economic benefactor, is also expected to send a delegation to the two-day meeting in Beijing,’’ the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

  • Taekwondo Federation picks 14 for World Championships

    Taekwondo Federation picks 14 for World Championships

    After a rigorous one-day trial, the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation has picked 17 athletes for the 2017 WTF World Championships holding in Muju, South Korea.

     

    The list is made up of seven female and seven male athletes which include, 2015 African Games gold medalist, Otuadinma Uzoamaka (-73kg) as well as another African Games medalists – Esuku Josephine (-46kg)and Onofe Sunday.

     

    According to the Secretary General of the federation, Oriss Taiwo, the athletes showed determination during the trials, while vowing to improve on this past record if given the opportunity.

     

    “The federation is sure that this crop of athletes with adequate preparations with camping and training can return Nigeria to the world medal table at this event. The athletes showed determination during the trials and vow to improve on this past record if given the opportunity. We believe with the supports of all and the right motivation our taekwondo athletes will do the nation proud,” he said.

     

    Other athletes that made the final cut are Abdullahi Fatimoh (-57kg), Sekinat Adebisi (-49kg), Ndu Chinwe Vivian (-65kg), Dennis Ifeoma Julliet (-67kg) and Ndima Esther Chisomu.

     

    Aside Onofe, other male fighters that made the list are Ghali Zakariya Muhammad (-54kg), Adamu Isa Abubakar (-58kg), Edwin Samson Nduka (-63kg), Santos Ikhuenobe Akhilele Aburime (-72kg), Olushola Segun (-74kg) and Nzelu Chukwudi Henry (-80kg).

     

    The last time Nigeria picked a medal at the World Championship was 25 years when Emmanuel Peters OGHENEJOBO claimed bronze medal but Nigeria’s status globally in the sport became obvious when Chika Yagazie Chukwumerije defied odds to clinch bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in China.

  • U.S. moves THAAD anti-missile to South Korean site, sparking protests

    The U.S. military started moving parts of an anti-missile defense system to a deployment site in South Korea on Wednesday, triggering protests from villagers and criticism from China, amid tension over North Korea’s weapons development.

    The earlier-than-expected steps to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system were also denounced by the frontrunner in South Korea’s presidential election on May 9.

    South Korea’s ministry of defense said elements of THAAD were moved to the deployment site, on what had been a golf course, about 250 km south of Seoul.

    “South Korea and the U.S. have been working to secure an early operational capability of the THAAD system in response to North Korea’s advancing nuclear and missile threat.

    “The battery was expected to be operational by the end of the year,” the ministry said.

    The U.S. and South Korea agreed in 2016 to deploy the THAAD to counter the threat of missile launches by North Korea.

    They said that it is solely aimed at defending against North Korea.

    However, China said the system’s advanced radar can penetrate deep into its territory and undermine its security, while it would do little to deter the North, and was adamant in its opposition.

    “China strongly urges the U.S. and South Korea to stop actions that worsen regional tensions and harm China’s strategic security interests and cancel the deployment of the THAAD system and withdraw the equipment.

    “China will resolutely take necessary steps to defend its interests,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a briefing.

    China is North Korea’s sole major ally and is seen as crucial to U.S.-led efforts to rein in its bellicose, isolated neighbours.

    The U.S. began moving the first elements of the system to South Korea in March after the North tested four ballistic missiles.

    South Korea has accused China of discriminating against some South Korean companies operating in China because of the deployment.

    The liberal politician expected to win South Korea’s election, Moon Jae-in, has called for a delay in the deployment.

    He said the new administration should make a decision after gathering public opinion and more talks with Washington.

    A spokesman for Moon said moving the parts to the site “ignored public opinion and due process” and demanded it be suspended.

    Television footage showed military trailers carrying equipment, including what appeared to be launch canisters, to the battery site.

    Protesters shouted and hurled water bottles at the vehicles over lines of police holding them back.

    The Pentagon said the system was critical to defend South Korea and its allies against North Korean missiles and deployment would be completed “as soon as feasible”.

    More than 10 protesters were injured, some of them with fractures, in clashes with police,’’ Kim Jong-kyung, a leader of villagers opposing the deployment said.

    He said that about 200 protesters rallied overnight and they would keep up their opposition.

    “There is still time for THAAD to be actually up and running so we will fight until equipment is withdrawn from the site and ask South Korea’s new government to reconsider,” Kim said.

    A police official in the nearby town of Seongju said police had withdrawn from the area and were not aware of any injuries.

    The U.S. and North Korea have been stepping up warnings to each other in recent weeks over North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons and missiles in defiance of U.N. resolutions.

    North Korea’s nuclear and missile threat is perhaps the most serious security challenge confronting U.S. President Donald Trump.

    He has vowed to prevent North Korea from being able to hit the U.S. with a nuclear missile.

     

  • China to U.S: Respect air defence zone

    China to U.S: Respect air defence zone

    China said on Thursday the U.S. should respect its Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ), after CNN reported China had warned a U.S. bomber it was illegally flying inside its self-declared zone in the East China Sea.

    China declared the zone, in which aircraft are supposed to identify themselves to Chinese authorities, in the East China Sea in 2013, which the U.S. and Japan have refused to recognise.

    CNN, citing the U.S. Pacific Air Forces, said the B-1 bomber was flying near South Korea on Sunday, and that its pilots responded to Chinese air traffic controllers saying they were carrying out routine operations in international airspace, and that the aircraft did not deviate from its flight path.

    Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she had not heard of the matter, and referred questions to the Defense Ministry, which did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

    “But, generally speaking, I hope that in this region all countries’ actions consider the security concerns of relevant countries and be beneficial for mutual trust, peace and stability between countries,” Hua told a daily news briefing.

    “The U.S. has its own ADIZs. I think if this matter is true, they should respect China’s relevant ADIZ rights,” she added, without elaborating.

    NAN reports that the ADIZ is airspace over land or water in which the ready identification, location, and control of civil aircraft over land or water is required in the interest of national security.

    China’s Defence Ministry announced its ADIZ over a vast area in the East China Sea on Nov. 23, 2013, which covers the area around the Diaoyu islands, controlled by Japan and known as the Senkaku Islands.

    The establishment of the zone draws strong opposition from Japan, the U.S. and South Korea, becoming a flashpoint in East Asian politics and security.

     

  • Many South Koreans eat chicken to celebrate removal of president

    Many South Koreans eat chicken to celebrate removal of president

    Many South Koreans ate chicken on Friday to celebrate the removal of President Park Geun-hye in a satirical nod to a derogatory nickname for the former leader.

    South Korea’s Constitutional Court forced Park from office over an influence-peddling involving one of her close friends and the country’s powerful “chaebol” conglomerates.

    Even before the scandal, Park’s opponents called her “Chicken Geun-hye”, both a play on words – her family name rhymes with chicken in Korean – and a reference to what they see as her lack of intellect and stilted public

    “Chicken head” is an insult in Korea meaning an idiot.

    A restaurant in the rural city of Jeonju said it would offer chicken burgers at half price on Friday and Saturday to celebrate the court ruling.

    “We prepared twice as many chicken burgers as usual and, wow, they’ve almost all gone,” Yu Yeung-sang, owner of Eddis Kitchen, told Reuters by telephone.

    In Seoul, a photograph of Friday’s menu at the national assembly cafeteria caused a stir on social media, with a noodle dish typically eaten at celebrations for lunch and chicken for dinner.

    “Party noodles” was trending on Korean Twitter for much of the day and, after the verdict, some users uploaded photos of fried chicken.

    South Korea’s biggest portals Naver and Daum posted recommendations for chicken restaurants.

    In 2014, officials in the town of Gwangju removed a painting from an exhibition by an artist who had painted a caricature of Park as a puppet.

    The artist, Hong Sung-dam, responded by replacing the caricature of Park with a cartoon chicken.

    Park becomes South Korea’s first democratically elected leader to be forced from office, capping months of paralysis and turmoil over a corruption scandal that also landed the head of the Samsung conglomerate in court on trial.

    Park denies any wrongdoing.

    A snap presidential election will be held within 60 days.

    Acting South Korean President Hwang Kyo-ahn on Friday asked all parties concerned to respect the constitutional court’s ruling on former President Park Geun-hye.

    Hwang addressed the nation in a nationally televised speech, after the court’s unanimous decision to oust Park.

    Park became the first South Korean leader to be permanently removed from office through impeachment.

    The acting president said he felt a grave responsibility for the first impeachment of president in the constitutional history, vowing to mange state affairs with an unusually strong determination.

    Touching on the rival rallies among pro- and anti-Park protesters, Hwang said now is the time to end conflict and confrontation, asking all of people to respect the court’s decision.

     

  • China criticises North Korea’s missile test

    China on Monday criticised North Korea’s missile test and urged North Korea, South Korea and the U. S. to remain calm.

    “China opposes North Korea’s violation of the UN Security Council’s stipulation,’’ Geng Shuang, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said.

    North Korea fired four ballistic missiles into the sea off Japan’s northwest on Monday,

    Angering South Korea and Japan, days after it promised retaliation over U.S.-South Korea military drills it sees as a preparation for war.

    South Korea’s military said the missiles were unlikely to have been intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), which can reach the United States.

    The missiles flew on average 1,000 km (620 miles) and reached a height of 260 km (160 miles).

    Some of the missiles landed in waters as close as 300 km (190 miles) from Japan’s northwest coast, Japan’s Defence Minister Tomomi Inada said in Tokyo.

    Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said “strong protests’’ had been lodged with nuclear-armed North Korea, which has carried out a series of nuclear and missile tests in defiance of U.N. resolutions.

    “The launches are clearly in violation of Security Council resolutions, it is an extremely dangerous action,’’ Abe told parliament.

    South Korea’s acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn condemned the launches as a direct challenge to the international community and said Seoul would swiftly deploy a U.S. anti-missile defense system despite angry objections from China.

    The missiles were launched from the Tongchang-ri region near the reclusive North’s border with China, South Korean military spokesman Roh Jae-cheon told a briefing.

    It was too early to say what the relatively low altitude indicated about the types of missiles, he said.

    Joshua Pollack, editor of the U.S.-based Non-Proliferation Review, said it did not appear the North had launched an ICBM.

    “It sounds like a field exercise involving deployed missiles, probably ones we’ve seen before,’’ Pollack said.

    U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, also told Reuters there were no indications so far that North Korea had tested an ICBM.

    A man walks past a television broadcasting a news report on North Korea firing ballistic missiles, at a railway station in Seoul, South Korea, March 6, 2017.

    The U.S. military said it detected and tracked what it assessed was a North Korean missile launch, but it did not pose a threat to North America.

    Spokesman Geng said at a daily news briefing that China, which is holding its annual meeting of the National People’s Congress, had noted North Korea’s latest action.

    “All sides should exercise restraint and not do anything to irritate each other to worsen regional tensions,’’ Geng said, referring to both the missile launch and U.S.-South Korean military exercises.

    North Korea had threatened to take “strong retaliatory measures’’ after South Korea and the U. S. began annual joint military drills on Wednesday that test their defensive readiness against possible aggression from the North.

    North Korea criticises the annual drills and has previously conducted missile launches to coincide with the exercises.

    Last year, North Korea fired a long-range rocket from Tongchang-ri that put an object into orbit.

    That launch was condemned by the UN for violating resolutions that ban the use of ballistic missile technology.

    North Korea test-fired a new type of missile into the sea early last month, and has said it would continue to launch new strategic weapons.

    Last month’s test was the first since the election of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has vowed to rein in North Korea and its young leader, Kim Jong Un.

    Trump’s national security deputies have reviewed in recent meetings a range of options to counter the North’s missile threat, the New York Times reported.

    Options include direct missile strikes on the North’s launch sites and the possibility of reintroducing nuclear weapons to the South, the Times said.

    Those options would soon be presented to Trump and his top national security aides, the report said, quoting U.S. administration officials.

    The United States withdrew nuclear weapons from South Korea in 1991 before the rival Koreas signed a declaration on denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

    North Korea has since walked away from the agreement, citing the threat of invasion by the U. S.

    “The claim that we should redeploy nuclear weapons here, 20 years after they were withdrawn, is total nonsense,’’ said Woo Sang-ho, floor leader of South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party.

    “I am formally asking the U. S. not to bring this issue up for consideration,’’ Woo said in a party meeting.

    North Korea conducted its fifth and most powerful nuclear test last September; following what the U.S. said was an “unprecedented’’ level of activity in its banned nuclear and missile programs.

    State media said after that test Pyongyang had used a nuclear warhead small enough to mount on a ballistic missile.

    The U.S. has about 28,500 troops and equipment stationed in the South, and plans to roll out the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile defense system by the end of the year.

    Japan also plans to reinforce its ballistic missile defenses and is considering buying either THAAD or building a ground-based version of the Aegis system that is currently deployed on ships in the Sea of Japan.