Southeast Asia

Risking lives to rescue horses in Philippine

The horses were still caked in grey ash as they stepped off the boat, lucky beneficiaries of a risky rescue mission to ground zero of the Philippines' Taal volcano eruption.
Malaysia mulls 'zero-cost recruitment' deal with Bangladesh

Human Resources Minister M Kula Segaran today indicated that Malaysia is aiming to reach a "zero-cost recruitment" agreement for migrant workers from Bangladesh as part of efforts to avoid risking US trade sanctions.
UN condemns human rights abuses against Myanmar’s Rohingya

The UN General Assembly approves a resolution strongly condemning human rights abuses against Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslims and other minorities, including arbitrary arrests, torture, rape and deaths in detention.
Boat carrying 64 including Bangladeshis sinks in Turkey; 7 dead

Seven people died and 64 were rescued when a boat carrying migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan sank on Thursday in eastern Turkey's Lake Van, the governor's office in Bitlis province says.
Rohingya Repatriation: Russia urged to put pressure on Myanmar

Bangladesh has urged Russia to use its influence on Myanmar and put pressure so that Naypyidaw takes back its people currently living in Cox's Bazar camps.
Afghanistan and Pakistan jolted by strong 6.1 quake: USGS

A strong earthquake rattled Afghanistan and Pakistan, the US Geological Survey says, forcing residents into the streets in Kabul and Islamabad.
Musharraf gets death sentence

In a first in Pakistan's history, a three-member bench of the special court in Islamabad hands former military ruler Pervez Musharraf death sentence in the long-drawn high treason case against him.
Citizenship law: Fresh violence breaks out in West Bengal

Sporadic violence breaks out in Nadia, North 24 Parganas and Howrah districts of India’s West Bengal state where protest grew against the amended Citizenship Act, police say.
Violence erupts in West Bengal over new citizenship law

Arson and violent protest erupt in parts of West Bengal for the second consecutive day of the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
Myanmar asks UN court to ‘drop genocide case’

Myanmar urges the UN top court to drop the application for provisional measures in Rakhine by the Gambia from its list.
Gambia slams Suu Kyi for her silence

The Gambia criticises Myanmar civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi for her "silence" over "awe serial violations" of Rohingya women and girls and defending Myanmar at the UN's top court.
Remove hatred from your heart: Rights bodies to Suu Kyi

Different international rights bodies condemn Aung San Suu Kyi’s argument in social media as the Myanmar leader ruled out the allegation of ongoing genocide at Rohingya villages in Rakhine.
Genocidal intent there for decades, experts say

Denial of Rohingya citizenship, systematic deprivation and violation of basic rights by the Myanmar authorities over the decades were not mentioned by any of the lawyers at the ICJ – making their arguments weak that there was no genocidal intent, analysts say.
95 Rohingyas in Myanmar face jail as Hague hears 'genocide' case

Nearly 100 Rohingya appeared in a Myanmar court Wednesday after being arrested for trying to flee persecution, their lawyer said, as leader Aung San Suu Kyi addressed the UN's top court to deny allegations of a genocidal campaign against the ethnic minority.
Muslims not part of conflict in Rakhine: Suu Kyi

Refuting the allegation of the ongoing genocide against Rohingyas in Rakhine, Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi tells the UN’s highest court that Muslims are not part of the conflict.
Suu Kyi, her army commanders must be held accountable: Nobel laureates

Eight Nobel Peace laureates including Muhammad Yunus have asked Aung San Suu Kyi to publicly acknowledge crimes including genocide committed against Rohingya people in Myanmar.
Rohingya call for Myanmar's Suu Kyi to acknowledge atrocities

From squalid refugee camps in Bangladesh, Rohingya who fled a brutal Myanmar military crackdown are calling on Aung San Suu Kyi to acknowledge the mass atrocities as she defends her country against genocide charges at the UN's top court.
Genocide still going on: Gambia to UN court

Payam Akhavan, a lawyer for The Gambia, tells the International Court of Justice that the Rohingya genocide is still going on in Myanmar.
Canada, Netherlands to assist Gambia against Myanmar

Canada and the Netherlands express their intention to jointly assist Gambia at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the alleged acts of genocide committed against Rohingyas by Myanmar.
Rights groups launch Myanmar boycott ahead of Hague genocide hearings

Human rights campaigners supporting Myanmar's Rohingya Muslim minority call for a global boycott of the country, a day before genocide hearings begin at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Singapore invokes 'fake news' law for first time

Singapore political figure Brad Bowyer corrects a Facebook post questioning the independence of state investment firms following a government request, in the first use of the country's new "fake news" law.
Attendance will be factor in cabinet reshuffle: Dr Mahathir

Malaysian MPs who do not attend enough Dewan Rakyat sittings will get a talking to by the country's Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad himself.
Pakistan's ailing ex-PM Sharif flown by air ambulance to London

Pakistan's ailing ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif left by air ambulance for London, where he is due to receive medical treatment after battling the government for permission to travel, his doctor and close aides say.
Moon writes about ASEAN before ‘Commemorative Summit’

South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in writes about Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Korea following a three-day long “2019 ASEAN-Korea Commemorative Summit” which will be held in Busan of Korea next week.
'Attacker' killed in 'suicide' bombing in Indonesia's regional police HQ

A suspected suicide bombing outside police headquarters in Indonesia's city of Medan in North Sumatra killed the perpetrator and wounded some officers on Wednesday, police say.
Hundreds of Indian Sikhs to make historic pilgrimage to Pakistan

Hundreds of Indian Sikhs are set to make a historic pilgrimage to Pakistan, travelling visa-free to one of their religion's holiest sites under a landmark deal between the two countries separated by the 1947 partition of the subcontinent.
Toll in Philippine quakes climbs to 21

The death toll in two powerful quakes that struck the southern Philippines in the past week has risen to 21, authorities say, as survivors struggled to access food and water.
Fire sweeps Pakistani train, killing 73, after cooking fire

A fire swept through a Pakistani train, killing 73 people and injuring nearly 40 after a gas canister that passengers were using to cook breakfast exploded, the minister of railways says.
US wants postponement of Rohingya relocation to Bhashan Char

Appreciating the country for opening its borders to huge Rohingya refugees, the United States has urged Bangladesh to "postpone" its Rohingya relocation plan to Bhashan char until independent experts can determine it a suitable location, though Bangladesh is looking for a voluntary nature of relocation.
‘We speak our minds’

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad yesterday said he would not retract his criticism of New Delhi’s actions in the disputed region of Kashmir even though Indian traders have urged a boycott of Malaysian palm oil.