Asia

Wirathu: Myanmar military releases firebrand Buddhist monk

bbc– Myanmar’s military junta has released controversial Buddhist monk Ashin Wirathu, known for his nationalist and anti-Muslim rhetoric. He had previously been charged for sedition against the civilian government, which has since been deposed in a February military coup. The

Asia

New Zealand PM Ardern says supermarket stabbing was ‘terrorist attack’

bbc– New Zealand police shot and killed a “violent extremist” who stabbed and wounded at least six people in an Auckland supermarket. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described the event as a “terrorist attack” by a Sri Lankan national who was under surveillance. The man, who cannot be identified, is said to have been inspired by […]

Asia

Beijing Reacts To Japan-Taiwan Groundbreaking 2+2 Security Dialogue With ‘warnings’

republicworld– After Tokyo snubbed warnings against holding groundbreaking online “2+2” meeting with Taiwan, China on Friday, 27 August 2021, reacted harshly, warning Tokyo to stop interfering in China’s internal affairs. Tokyo held a dialogue with Taipei citing an impact on its own economy as the two nations sought to strengthen bilateral ties to

Asia

Afghanistan: US ramping up Kabul evacuation effort, says Biden

bbc– President Joe Biden says efforts to evacuate people from Kabul airport are accelerating, with US troops expanding the perimeter around the site. Many thousands of Afghans have been queuing at the gates in desperate attempts to flee the country after the Taliban swept to power on 15 August. Mr Biden said on Sunday that […]

Asia

Afghanistan: US takes control of Kabul airport to evacuate staff

bbc– There were scenes of panic at Kabul airport on Monday as desperate residents tried to flee following the Taliban’s seizure of the Afghan capital. The US army said soldiers shot two armed men, while three people were reported to have died after falling from the underside of a plane they were clinging to shortly […]

Asia

Scientists in China discover two new massive dinosaur species as big as blue whales

independent– Two new species of massive dinosaurs in China – almost as big as blue whales – have been discovered by scientists, who said the species may have lived about 120 to 130 million years ago. The research, published in the journal Scientific Reports, is based on an analysis of fossils that have emerged from China’s northwest regions – […]

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Battle between Afghan forces and Taliban intensifies in Herat as former mujahideen take up arms

independent– There was a reassuringly familiar feeling for Haji Sher Ahmed Ahmadi as he aimed the RPG launcher at the Taliban position behind a derelict building. He had fired an older version of the same weapon three decades ago, as a young man fighting the Russians. He would much rather have been at his farm […]

Asia

Xi Jinping Demands Rapid Modernisation Of People’s Liberation Army As China Marks Army Day

republicworld– Chinese President Xi Jinping, on Saturday, asserted that it is the ruling Communist Party that ‘commands the gun’ and asked the military to make resolute efforts to transform the Chinese Army into the world’s best by 2027. The Chinese leader’s comments came on the eve of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Day which is celebrated […]

Asia Latest News

Kim Jong-un announces ‘kindred ties’ with China will ‘remain immortal’ amid tensions

express– On Thursday, the nation’s leader highlighted the close relationship between the two neighbouring countries, state media reported. Kim Jong-un underlined how close their “blood” ties are, referencing the 1950-53 Korean War. He said China had helped his nation “at the cost of their blood” when North Korea was facing “the hardest and most difficult […]

Asia

Baby orca, Toa, dies in New Zealand after failed search for mother

bbc– A baby orca found stranded in New Zealand has died, after a huge effort to reunite him with his mother failed. The killer whale – named Toa – washed ashore near the capital Wellington 10 days ago, prompting a desperate search to find his family in nearby waters. Believed to be two to six […]