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- Asia News
Cyclone Biparjoy threatens India and Pakistan, forcing evacuations and port closures
The first severe cyclone of the year is set to hit India and Pakistan this week, with both nations preparing for the impact of Cyclone Biparjoy as it advances from the Arabian Sea towards their coastal regions. The cyclone is targeting Pakistan’s southern Sindh province and the western Indian state of Gujarat, with major cities and ports in both countries…
- Asia News
Muslim families flee Purola amid far-right Hindu groups’ threats
In the north Indian town of Purola, Muslim families have been forced to abandon their homes and livelihoods following threats from far-right Hindu groups. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, both affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, issued these threats after an alleged kidnapping attempt involving a 14-year-old Hindu girl on May 26. The incident led to accusations of…
- Asia News
India denies threatening Twitter with shutdown over farmers’ protest accounts
Twitter faced threats of shutdown and employee raids from the Indian government if it did not comply with orders to restrict accounts, according to the company’s co-founder Jack Dorsey. The Indian government has dismissed these claims as “outright lies.” Dorsey, who stepped down as Twitter CEO in 2021, revealed on Monday that India had threatened the company with a shutdown…
- Asia News
Taliban bans music at weddings, Kabul halls face religious police scrutiny
Kabul’s wedding halls are set to be monitored by the Taliban’s religious police as they enforce a ban on playing music at such celebrations, claiming it goes against Islamic rulings. The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice issued an online statement on Sunday, stating that hall owners were informed that music would no longer be…
- Asia News
Manipur ethnic clashes displace 40,000, kill nearly 100
In the northeastern Indian state of Manipur, violence has erupted between the mainly-Hindu Meitei community and the predominantly Christian Kukis. Since May 3, nearly 100 people have been killed, 310 injured, and over 40,000 displaced. The conflict was triggered by a Kukis-led protest against the Meiteis demanding to be designated as a Scheduled Tribe. The Meitei Pangals, a Muslim community…
- Asia News
Cyclone Biparjoy threatens India’s Gujarat, Pakistan’s southern coast
A powerful cyclone, named Biparjoy, is set to hit India’s Gujarat state and southern parts of Pakistan, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The cyclone is anticipated to make landfall on Thursday afternoon, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 125-135kmph (78-84mph), gusting up to 150kmph (93mph). The IMD has advised fishing communities to cease operations and evacuate people from…
- Asia News
Decorated soldier Roberts-Smith found guilty of war crimes in defamation case
Allegations of war crimes involving Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most decorated living soldier, have left the nation grappling with difficult questions about its national identity and the role of its armed forces. When reports of the alleged war crimes first surfaced in 2017, Roberts-Smith launched a defamation case against the newspapers involved. However, on June 1, Judge Anthony Besanko ruled that…
- Asia News
UN report slams Taliban’s highly exclusionary rule, group denies rifts
A United Nations Security Council report has been denounced by the Taliban as “baseless and biased” for describing the Afghan administration as “highly exclusionary” and “repressive.” The report, published earlier in June by the UNSC’s Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, stated that the Taliban’s governance structures continue to be exclusionary, Pashtun-centred, and repressive towards opposition. The report also highlighted…
- Asia News
Australia crush India by 209 runs in World Test Championship final
Australia dashed India’s hopes for a final-day miracle, securing a 209-run victory in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at The Oval. With a massive target of 444 runs set by Australia, India needed 280 runs on Sunday to claim victory. Despite the enthusiastic support for Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane as they resumed India’s second innings at 164-3, Australia’s…
- Asia News
Olympian Phogat slams Modi’s silence on wrestling chief’s abuse allegations
Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has expressed her disappointment over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence regarding the sexual abuse allegations against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Several Indian wrestlers, including Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, have been protesting for months, demanding Singh’s arrest. Singh is also a member of parliament from the ruling Bharatiya…
- Asia News
Pakistan floods claim 25 lives, PM orders emergency measures
Torrential rain has caused havoc in Pakistan’s northwest regions, resulting in the collapse of houses and the deaths of at least 25 people. The districts of Bannu, Lakki Marwat, and Karak in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province were hit by heavy rain and hail on Saturday. According to senior rescue officer Khateer Ahmed, 145 individuals were injured as trees were uprooted and…
- Asia News
Kazakhstan forest fires claim 14 lives, 60,000 hectares scorched
A total of 14 individuals have lost their lives in devastating forest fires that have swept through northeastern Kazakhstan, marking the highest death toll from such incidents in recent years. Over the weekend, the emergency situations ministry revealed that 316 people were evacuated, and the situation was now under control, ensuring the safety of homes in the affected area. However,…
- Asia News
Disney’s Hotstar offers free mobile streaming of cricket tournaments in India
Hotstar, owned by Walt Disney Co, has announced that it will provide free streaming of cricket tournaments in India on mobile devices, following the success of rival JioCinema’s similar strategy in the cricket-loving nation. The streaming platform will offer the Asia Cup and ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup tournaments at no cost to users, aiming to make the matches accessible…
- Asia News
Pakistan targets 6.54% deficit with $50.45bn budget to unlock IMF funds
Pakistan’s finance minister has announced a budget deficit target of 6.54% of economic output for the upcoming fiscal year, starting July 1. This figure is slightly lower than the current year’s revised estimate of 7%. The budget aims to satisfy the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to secure the release of bailout funds for the crisis-stricken country, which is due to…
- Asia News
Pakistan aims for $50bn budget to tackle economic crisis, unlock IMF funds
Pakistan’s government is set to present its annual budget, focusing on the nation’s precarious economic situation and the upcoming national elections. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar plans to propose a budget exceeding 14 trillion rupees (US$50bn), aiming for a 3.5% growth and a reduction in inflation to 21% from a record 38%. The government also hopes to generate over 9 trillion…
- Asia News
Rohingya refugees demand repatriation amid food aid cuts in Bangladesh camps
Tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh are calling for repatriation to Myanmar, seeking to escape the dire conditions in the camps where they have resided since fleeing a brutal military crackdown in 2017. Over a million Rohingya live in these camps in southeastern Bangladesh, constituting the largest refugee settlement in the world. The World Food Programme reduced the…
- Asia News
Everest’s deadliest season blamed on cold weather and inexperienced climbers
Mount Everest has experienced one of its deadliest climbing seasons, with experts attributing the increased danger to extreme weather, safety shortcuts, and inexperienced foreign climbers. As the final search and rescue teams leave the area and Base Camp is dismantled, experienced climbers believe that several of the 17 fatalities and missing persons could have been avoided. “This season was very…
- Asia News
Afghanistan mosque explosion kills 11 at Taliban deputy governor’s memorial
A deadly explosion occurred near Nabawi Mosque in northern Afghanistan, claiming the lives of at least 11 people who were attending a memorial service for the recently deceased Taliban provincial deputy governor, Nisar Ahmad Ahmadi. Over 30 individuals were wounded in the blast, and officials fear the death toll may rise. The memorial service took place on Thursday, honouring Ahmadi,…
- Asia News
Pakistan crackdown targets PTI supporters’ businesses in Punjab
In Punjab province, Pakistan, supporters of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party have reported that authorities are targeting businesses of those sympathetic to the former prime minister. Hammad Azhar, a top PTI aide, said his family-owned business, AFCO Steel Industries, was closed by police for over a week without any documentary evidence or sealing warrants. “The authorities did not have…
- Asia News
Pakistani widow’s life cleaning UK expats’ vacant villas
In Bhatial, a rural village in the Jhelum district of Punjab, Pakistan, 42-year-old widow Zubeida Begum works as a domestic helper for several families who have migrated to the UK. These families return to their luxurious villas in Bhatial for a few weeks each winter, leaving the houses vacant for the rest of the year. Zubeida’s job is to maintain…
- Asia News
Bangladesh suffers longest heatwave amidst crippling power crisis
Abdur Rahman, a rickshaw puller in Dhaka, Bangladesh, struggles to work under the blazing sun as the city experiences its longest heatwave in decades. Adding to the misery is a crippling power crisis, leaving Rahman and many others without electricity at night. The government has closed tens of thousands of primary and secondary schools due to soaring temperatures exceeding 40…
- Asia News
Afghan students struggle as India cancels visas amid Taliban takeover
For two years, Yasmeen Azimi, a 22-year-old Afghan student, has been struggling to obtain a visa to continue her studies in India. Despite being admitted to a postgraduate programme in political science at Chandigarh University under a scholarship from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in January 2021, her visa application has been rejected three times. India’s Ministry of…
- Asia News
Ex-PM Imran Khan accused of abetting murder in lawyer’s death
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has been accused of involvement in the murder of a lawyer who had filed a high treason case against him. The lawyer, Abdul Razzaq Shar, was shot dead on his way to the Balochistan High Court complex in Quetta on Tuesday. Shar’s son, Siraj Ahmed, filed a criminal complaint against Khan, alleging that the…
- Asia News
Pakistani military vows punishment for unrest masterminds after Khan’s arrest
The Pakistani military has pledged to take action against those responsible for the violence that occurred last month, following the brief arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on corruption charges. The military’s top brass convened in Rawalpindi and expressed their determination to bring those who attacked military installations and monuments to justice. The military also refuted allegations of human…
- Asia News
Wrestlers postpone protest after minister promises swift action on assault allegations
Indian wrestlers have decided to temporarily halt their planned protest following assurances from Sports Minister Anurag Thakur that the investigation into sexual assault allegations against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief will be concluded promptly. Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and Asian Games medallist Vinesh Phogat have been at the forefront of the protests, demanding action against WFI…
- Asia News
Sri Lanka dispels 5G threat to sacred tree after fake news frenzy
In Sri Lanka, the government’s concern for the country’s holiest tree, the 2,300-year-old Sri Maha Bodhi, resulted in a swift response to rumours that 5G mobile signals were causing harm. The tree, grown from a cutting of the Indian bodhi tree that sheltered Buddha when he achieved enlightenment, is a symbol of national sovereignty and an object of worship. The…
- Asia News
Sri Lanka police fire tear gas at student protest demanding activist release
Sri Lankan authorities have deployed tear gas and water cannons against hundreds of students protesting in the capital, demanding the release of individuals arrested during anti-government demonstrations last year. The protesters argue that the continued imprisonment of numerous students and activists constitutes political persecution. In 2021, Sri Lanka experienced widespread, months-long protests triggered by the nation’s most severe economic crisis…
- Asia News
India’s new parliament map angers neighbours, Bangladesh demands explanation
Tensions have risen among South Asian nations, including Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan, after the unveiling of a map in India’s new parliament building. The Akhand Bharat, or Undivided India, map includes parts of Afghanistan, as well as the entirety of Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar. Bangladesh’s foreign ministry has sought clarification from New Delhi on the matter. Shahriar…
- Asia News
Air India flight diverted to Russia due to engine issue, passengers stranded
An Air India flight en route from New Delhi to San Francisco was forced to make an unscheduled landing in Russia’s Far East port town of Magadan due to engine issues. The airline has stated that a reserve plane will be dispatched from Mumbai to transport the affected passengers. The Boeing 777 aircraft, carrying 216 passengers and 16 crew members,…
- Asia News
Malaysia wins Paris court case against $15bn colonial-era land deal
The Malaysian government has achieved a significant victory in a Paris court, which upheld their challenge against enforcing a partial award of US$15 billion to the heirs of a former sultan in an arbitration case concerning a colonial-era land deal. This decision implies that the final award will be annulled, and the descendants’ attempts to seize Malaysian assets will come…
- Asia News
China’s May exports plunge as domestic consumption falters
China experienced a sharp decline in exports in May, with a 7.5% year-on-year drop, marking the largest decrease since January. This slump in exports is attributed to weakened demand for Chinese goods, while imports also fell by 4.5%. The decline in exports has led to increased pressure on the government to boost domestic consumption for the remainder of the year,…
- Asia News
Mahathir Mohamad won’t contest in state elections, cites age and senility
Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the former Malaysian prime minister, stated that he will not participate in the upcoming state elections, citing his age and the effects of senility. The 97-year-old made the announcement during a press conference following a meeting on the Malay Proclamation, a document he authored that aims to protect the interests of the Malay community and restore their…
- World News
Blinken likely to reschedule China visit amid easing tensions
A rescheduled visit to China by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is anticipated in the coming weeks, as both nations attempt to ease tensions. Blinken’s initial trip in February was cancelled after the US detected and subsequently shot down a Chinese espionage balloon over its territory. However, recent talks in Beijing involving senior US officials, including Daniel Kritenbrink, the…
- Asia News
Record 13 million Chinese students tackle gaokao exams after zero-COVID rules lifted
A record-breaking 13 million Chinese students are set to take the notoriously challenging “gaokao” college entrance exams this year, following the lifting of the country’s zero-COVID rules. These exams, which test high school students on subjects such as Chinese, English, mathematics, and their preferred science or humanities subjects, play a crucial role in securing places at China’s top universities. “I’ve…
- World News
Ex-official’s wife testifies in US trial over China’s Operation Fox Hunt
A former Chinese official and his wife, who had relocated to the United States and kept their address private, experienced a disturbing encounter when two strangers attempted to enter their New Jersey home. The wife later discovered a threatening note on their doorstep, stating that if her husband returned to China and served ten years in prison, their family would…
- Thailand News
Millionaire takes China’s gaokao exam for 27th time, seeking university dream
In a sea of young students taking China’s rigorous “gaokao” college entrance exam on June 7, 56-year-old Liang Shi stands out as a grey-haired, self-made millionaire attempting the test for the 27th time. Liang has come a long way from working in a factory to founding a thriving construction materials business, but one ambition remains unfulfilled: achieving a high enough…
- Asia News
Hong Kong government seeks high court ban on protest anthem
The Hong Kong government has sought an injunction order from the city’s high court to ban the protest anthem “Glory to Hong Kong,” which emerged during the massive demonstrations in 2019. If the injunction is granted, it would be the first song to be banned in Hong Kong since the handover to China in 1997. The government claims the song…
