By Shabana Akter Dhaka, July 18, 2024 — The situation in Bangladesh has escalated dramatically as violent clashes between police and protesters have claimed at least 19 lives. The unrest, which has gripped Dhaka and its outskirts including Uttara, Badda, Savar, Mirpur-10, and Shonir Akhra, erupted following a nationwide “complete shutdown” called by the Anti-Discrimination […]
Read MoreBy Clare Nuttall Central Asia’s location at the heart of the Eurasian landmass means the five republics are strategically positioned on key transport routes across the vast continent. These not only run from east to west — as the historic silk routes from China to Europe did — but increasingly from north to south as […]
Read MoreIndonesia’s outgoing President Joko Widodo will appoint Thomas Djiwandono, the nephew of president-elect Prabowo Subianto and his adviser for fiscal issues, as a deputy finance minister later on Thursday, a senior politician said. Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, a senior member of Prabowo’s Gerindra political party confirmed Reuters’ earlier report of the planned appointment, adding Djiwandono will […]
Read MoreTaiwan is committed to boosting its defences and working with the United States, the foreign ministry said on Thursday, days after Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was quoted as saying Taiwan should pay to be defended. The United States is Chinese-claimed Taiwan’s most important international backer and arms supplier, despite the lack of formal diplomatic […]
Read MoreSouth Korea’s supreme court on Thursday upheld a ruling that a same-sex partner was eligible to spousal benefits from state health insurance, in a move hailed as a win for LGBTQ rights in a country that has lagged other jurisdictions in the region. The decision upheld a landmark decision by the Seoul High Court early […]
Read MoreThailand’s government will meet next week with commercial banks and state agencies to investigate transactions allegedly used for weapons purchases by Myanmar’s junta, and urge tighter scrutiny, the foreign minister said on Thursday. Thai bank representatives last week told a parliamentary committee they had followed regulations but lacked capacity to investigate all transactions that could […]
Read MoreNew Delhi: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will seek to mend his relationship with voters in the federal budget to be announced next week, economic analysts said, citing possible steps to boost jobs and incomes as growth in the economy remains uneven and food prices continue to surge. Modi’s party fell short of reaching the […]
Read MoreVietnam’s President To Lam has taken over the duties of Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong who is focusing on an unspecified health treatment, the party said on Thursday. The extraordinary move comes after months of speculation that Trong’s health was weakening. The party did not clarify what treatment he is receiving and a spokesperson […]
Read MoreAn Italian carrier strike group on its first deployment to the Indo-Pacific region will sail through the South China Sea to the Philippines after participating in war games with US allies in Australia, a senior Italian navy official said on Thursday. The moves come amid rising tensions between China and some of its neighbours in […]
Read MoreChina’s Communist Party accepted the resignation of former foreign minister Qin Gang from its Central Committee on Thursday, Xinhua reported, during a major meeting of the party’s largest top-level executive body. The Central Committee said it expelled former defence minister Li Shangfu, as well as former PLA Rocket Force commander Li Yuchao for “serious violations […]
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