Saturday, 21 Sep 2024

Asia

Asia News – Get latest breaking news & top stories today in Asia, South-East Asia, South Asia, East Asia, Australia/New Zealand at…

Top public relations director at Chinese social media giant Weibo arrested

SHANGHAI (REUTERS) – Chinese authorities have arrested a top public relations executive at Chinese social media giant Weibo Corp, local Chinese media reported widely on Tuesday (Aug 10) and confirmed to Reuters by a company source. Mao Taotao, director of public relations at Weibo, is suspected of bribery and had “seriously harmed the interests of […]

Australia's Victoria state reports steady rise in Covid-19 cases

SYDNEY (REUTERS) – Australia’s Victoria state reported 20 new locally acquired cases of Covid-19 on Wednesday (Aug 11), a steady rate of increase, as officials consider whether to extend a snap one-week lockdown in Melbourne. Six of the diagnosed people spent time in the community while infectious, a key measure that officials have said needs […]

Myanmar junta leader aims to solidify grip on power: UN

UNITED NATIONS (REUTERS) – The UN special envoy on Myanmar said on Tuesday (Aug 10) the country’s military leader appears determined to solidify his grip on power following a February coup and ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s political party could soon be disbanded. Christine Schraner Burgener cited military ruler Min Aung Hlaing’s announcement this […]

U.S. Senate turns to $3.5 trillion bill, key to Biden's agenda

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Democratic-controlled U.S. Senate on Tuesday passed a massive infrastructure bill and immediately kicked off debate on a $3.5 trillion spending blueprint for President Joe Biden’s key priorities on climate change, universal preschool and affordable housing. The bipartisan $1 trillion infrastructure bill here, which the 100-member chamber passed in a 69-30 vote, could […]

Afghans flee horrors as Taleban sweep through the north

KABUL (AFP) – Thousands of Afghans are fleeing Taleban-captured cities in the north, some telling of brutal treatment by the insurgents: bodies left in the streets, girls being kidnapped to become Taleban brides, and young men press-ganged into fighting. Many have arrived in Kabul just this week, following a five-day Taleban blitz that has seen […]

Fire extinguisher bursts, smashes through glass facade of skyscraper's 23rd floor

SINGAPORE – A fire extinguisher burst and shot out of the 23rd storey of a skyscraper on Beach Road on Tuesday morning (Aug 10). It smashed through the glass facade of The Gateway West building as it did so. The projectile is believed to have hurtled downwards and ricocheted off the ground floor courtyard, crashing into the […]

Afghan leader sees peace talks as dead, braces for civil war

KABUL (BLOOMBERG) – Afghan President Ashraf Ghani views peace talks with the Taleban as dead, and is looking to both arm civilians and cooperate with warlords to prevent the militant group from overrunning his administration in Kabul. Since the weekend the Taleban has captured the capitals of five northern provinces and one in the west, […]