Briefly

INDIA

Visa services for Canadians suspended

India has suspended visa services for Canadian citizens, visa service provider BLS International said on Thursday on its website, citing a notice from the Indian mission. The announcement came amid a diplomatic tussle between the two countries, where Ottawa accused New Delhi of involvement in the killing of a Sikh leader in Canada. "Important notice from Indian Mission: Due to operational reasons, with effect from 21 Sept. Indian visa services have been suspended till further notice," the BLS' Indian Visa Application Center in Canada said. Meanwhile, Canada's High Commission in India said on Thursday that it has decided to temporarily "adjust "staff presence in the country after some diplomats received threats on social media platforms.

SOUTH KOREA

17 US soldiers probed for drug crimes

Seventeen US soldiers stationed in South Korea are being investigated by the local police for "alleged illegal drug behavior", the United States Forces Korea said on Wednesday. Two women, a South Korean and a Filipina, involved in the case have been arrested for allegedly smuggling drugs from the United States through military mail, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported. The women also engaged in the use, sale, or distribution of the banned substances, it said. The 17 US soldiers have been referred to prosecutors and could face charges but have not been detained, Yonhap said. South Korean police have seized drug sales proceeds of $12,850 as well as synthetic cannabis and other related material from the suspects, according to Yonhap.

JAPAN

Toshiba to delist after takeover by consortium

A 2 trillion yen ($14 billion) tender offer for troubled electronics and energy giant Toshiba by a Japanese consortium has been completed, clearing the way for it to be delisted, the company said on Thursday. In the tender offer, announced last month and ended on Wednesday, the number of shares purchased exceeded the minimum needed, at 78.65 percent, it said. The switch to Toshiba's new parent company and largest shareholder, TBJH Inc, will take place on Sept 27. The move still needs shareholders' approval, and a meeting has been set for November, according to Toshiba. Toshiba will then delist from the Tokyo Stock Exchange within a month.

Xinhua - Agencies