South Korea launched its Covid-19 inoculation campaign today, with shots to be administered in some 200 nursing homes, in an effort that officials call the first step in returning the country to a more normal life. The first doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine began to be given at 9 am (0000 […]
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Nirav Modi can be extradited to India, rules UK court
The Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London, United Kingdom on February 25 allowed fugitive economic offender Nirav Modi’s extradition to India. He has been behind bars in a London prison. The UK court accepted that there was prima facie evidence of fraud against the 49-year-old. The district judge also accepted the Indian government’s […]
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North Korea’s Kim appoints new Navy, Air Force Chiefs in ‘generation shift’ in Army
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for tougher discipline within the army and appointed new chiefs of the navy and the air force as he chaired an enlarged meeting of the central military commission, state media reported on Thursday. The gathering took place at the ruling party’s headquarters on Wednesday. […]
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Myanmar junta’s top diplomat in talks with Thailand, Indonesia
The Myanmar junta’s foreign minister visited Thailand yesterday as regional powers tried to broker an end to three weeks of deadly unrest triggered by a military coup. The talks came as an anti-coup protester died in detention, a local rescue organisation said. Four others have been killed in the crackdown. […]
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Philippine critics in firing line of anti-communist misinformation war
Philippine lawmaker Sarah Elago faces a daily barrage of Facebook posts linking her to communist rebels trying to overthrow the government. She says the claims are false, but they could get her killed anyway. A torrent of misinformation on the social media platform has put activists, journalists, politicians and lawyers […]
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Nuclear issue key as Iran readies for Rouhani replacement
Iran will vote in June for a successor to President Hassan Rouhani and his moderate-reformist government, but politics in the country is dominated by the nuclear issue and no frontrunner has emerged. Several conservative heavyweights are thought to be considering running in the key June 18 race, with the winner […]
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Facebook bans Myanmar military from its platforms with immediate effect
Facebook today said it had banned the Myanmar military from using its Facebook and Instagram platforms with immediate effect, as weeks of mass demonstrations continue in the Southeast Asian country after the military seized power. “Events since the February 1 coup, including deadly violence, have precipitated a need for this […]
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State Secretary Blinken reaffirms US cooperation, partnership with Brunei
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday reaffirmed the enduring partnership and cooperation between the United States and Brunei based on regional security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. “Today Foreign Minister II Erywan and I reaffirmed our commitment to work together for regional security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. Our cooperation and partnership with Brunei are longstanding,” tweeted […]
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Jaishankar offers prayers at holy Ganga Talao in Mauritius
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is on his two-day visit to Mauritius, offered prayers at the holy Ganga Talao on Wednesday morning. “Offered prayers at the holy Ganga Talao this morning. Grateful to FM Alan Ganoo, Culture Minister Avinash Teeluck, and Agriculture Minister Maneesh Gobin for joining me,” Jaishankar said in […]
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Stanford University researcher charged for concealing her membership with Chinese military
A Stanford University researcher has been charged for concealing and lying about her membership with the Chinese military. A federal grand jury on February 19 charged Chen Song with visa fraud, obstruction of justice, destruction of documents, and false statements in connection with a scheme to conceal and lie about her status as a member […]
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Myanmar faces more protests as Indonesian diplomatic efforts falter
Myanmar was set for more street protests today against military rule while Indonesia’s efforts steer a path out of the crisis with the help of other South-east Asian countries appeared to falter with a proposed diplomatic visit scrapped. This week saw huge rallies and a general strike on Monday to […]
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China’s bid to stop Wuhan Covid-19 spread cut deaths elsewhere from other causes
The number of deaths in China — excluding the coronavirus epicentre of Wuhan — fell slightly during the first three months of 2020, suggesting efforts to control the spread of Covid-19 reduced deaths from other causes, a new study showed. Researchers from the University of Oxford and the Chinese Center […]
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Officials point to security, intel failures in US Capitol riot
The deadly US Capitol riot on January 6 exposed devastating security and intelligence weaknesses, with military authorities reacting too slowly to calls for National Guard backup against an overwhelming mob, security officials told Congress yesterday. In the first Senate hearing on the security failings, featuring US Capitol Police and Washington […]
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Argentina president says no law broken in vaccine scandal
Argentina’s President Alberto Fernandez said yesterday that no crime had been committed in a scandal over coronavirus vaccine queue-jumping that forced his health minister to resign. Fernandez, on an official visit to Mexico, called the incident “reprehensible” but said that the issue of vaccines was “very sensitive” and should not […]
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Britain bans non-essential international travel till 17 May
In view of the spread of COVID-19, United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday announced a ban on non-essential international travel from and to the country till at least May 17. Though travel and aviation sectors have been among the hardest-hit during the pandemic, the ban came as the […]