Asia Middle East

UN Gives Green Light To Fund Lebanon Tribunal For 2021

republicworld– The U.N. Security Council has given a green light to keep the U.N.-backed tribunal investigating the 2005 assassination of Lebanon’s former prime minister Rafik Hariri operating and funded for at least this year. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a letter to

Asia Middle East

Blast visible from space as 500 oil tankers destroyed on Afghan border

independent.ie– A catastrophic explosion and fire at an Afghan customs depot has destroyed hundreds of fuel tankers and caused traders tens of millions of dollars of losses. A series of blasts hurled lorries hundreds of yards into the air and deposited the crumpled remains of fuel tanks as far as half a mile from the […]

Asia

Soldiers shoot live rounds at protesters in Myanmar crisis

independent.ie– A woman was fighting for her life last night after security forces in Myanmar fired live rounds at protesters opposed to last week’s military coup. The activist was taking part in a demonstration in Naypyitaw, the capital of Myanmar, when she was shot in the head with the bullet penetrating deep into her skull […]

Asia

‘No room for debate or compromise’ as Hong Kong introduces sweeping national security rules for schools

cnn– Hong Kong has introduced sweeping new restrictions for how schools operate, months after the Beijing government imposed a new national security law giving authorities wide-ranging powers to crack down on vaguely defined political crimes. For years, parents and students in the semi-autonomous city have feared a shift toward China-style “patriotic

Asia

Aung San Suu Kyi detained by military in apparent ‘coup’

ndependent.ie– Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior figures from the ruling party have been detained in an early morning raid by the military. The move came after days of escalating tension between the civilian government and the powerful military that stirred fears of a coup in the aftermath of an election the […]

Asia Latest News

Anwar initiates judicial review over PM Muhyddin’s advice to Malaysia king on suspension of parliament

channelnewsasia– Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has filed a lawsuit against Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and the federal government, by initiating a judicial review challenging Mr Muhyiddin’s advice to the king to suspend paliamentary sittings during the country’s state of emergency. In a statement on Tuesday (Jan 26), Mr Anwar’s

Asia

China Law Empowers Coast Guard To Use Force Amid Disputes

republicworld– China has authorized its coast guard to fire on foreign vessels and destroy structures on features it claims, potentially raising the possibility of clashes with regional maritime rivals. The Coast Guard Law passed on Friday empowers the force to “take all necessary measures, including the use of weapons, when national sovereignty, sovereign rights,

Asia Middle East

Kuwait Cabinet Quits After Lawmakers Back No-confidence Motion Against Government

republicworld– Kuwait’s cabinet submitted its resignation after a cycle of clashes between the government and lawmakers on Tuesday, January 12. This came after 30 lawmakers backed a no-confidence motion against the government this month, revealing the instability within the country. The ministers decided to quit after recently elected members of parliament grilled

Asia

President Jokowi gets Sinovac jab to officially launch Indonesia’s COVID-19 vaccination programme

Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo received the first dose of Sinovac Biotech’s CoronaVac on Wednesday (Jan 13), becoming the first person in the country to be vaccinated. Jokowi, as the president is popularly known, received the jab at the presidential palace in Jakarta in an event that was broadcast live on national television. Among those present were some Cabinet

Asia

Archbishop Machado: Many are challenging the anti-conversion law

asianews– Mumbai (AsiaNews) – Last Sunday, a gang of Bajrang Dal men attacked a Christian clergyman in Shahjahanpur, a district in the State of Uttar Pradesh, during a prayer meeting. According to The Hindu newspaper, Rev David, who hails from Tirunelveli in Kerala and a group of local people, including women and children, had gathered in a […]