China sees record increase in daily coronavirus deaths; at least 908 dead in all
China’s National Health Commission (NHC) reported 97 new deaths on Sunday in mainland China as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, the largest death toll in a single day. Since the virus was first reported, 908 people have died in the country. Most of the new deaths were in Hubei province, the epicenter of the virus, which […]
Iran’s Supreme Leader Says Missile Strikes Were a ‘Slap in the Face’ to U.S.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, has celebrated the missile strikes against American forces stationed in Iraq, saying that his military had dealt the United States a “slap in the face.” In a televised address the morning after the Tuesday night strikes, Khamenei warned U.S. forces that there were more attacks to come […]
China imposes harsh new rules governing religious groups in 2020
China is striking the “final blow to religious liberty” with new administrative measures set to take place in February with total submission to the Chinese Communist Party, according to a watchdog group. The country’s state-run media announced the new “Administrative Measures for Religious Groups” on Dec. 30. That same day, Pastor Wang Yi of Chengdu’s Early Rain Covenant Church, one of […]
Indonesia Lodges ‘Strong Protest’ Over Illegal Fishing by Chinese Vessels
Indonesian coast guard wards off a foreign fishing boat in the North Natuna Sea on Feb. 24, 2019. (Photo courtesy of the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry) BY :TELLY NATHALIA DECEMBER 30, 2019 Jakarta. The Foreign Affairs Ministry summoned China’s Ambassador to Indonesia Xiao Qian on Monday to lodge an official protest over alleged illegal […]
Asia on alert over mysterious virus outbreak in China
A man wearing a mask uses a smartphone at Sultan Syarif Kasim II airport in Pekanbaru, Indonesia. The outbreak of a mysterious illness in China has put Asian airports on alert. © AP HONG KONG — Asian governments are stepping up precautionary measures to prevent an outbreak of a mysterious illness after Chinese health authorities […]
China might take Iran’s side in a war with US
After the US assassination of Iran’s General Qasem Soleimani on Friday, Germany’s Spiegel Online observed that this is akin to a declaration of war on Iran. Now the US Congress is scrambling for a debate on a formal declaration of war, although it will unlikely block the Trump White House’s march toward the battlefield. Last March, President Donald […]
China sentences Christian pastor to 9 years in prison
A well-known Christian pastor in China who operated outside the state’s legally recognized protestant organization was sentenced Monday to nine years in prison. Wang Yi, 46, was also convicted of illegal business operations, fined and had his personal assets seized. As the leader of the Early Rain Covenant Church, Yi was arrested a year ago as part of an […]
Thai court accepts ‘Illuminati’ case against opposition party
A Thai court on Wednesday said it would rule on a complaint to dissolve an upstart opposition party over alleged plots to overthrow the constitutional monarchy, a decision that could test the stability of the new government. The accusations against the Future Forward Party link its upside-down triangle logo to the supposed symbol of the […]
Thai navy Seal dies of infection from cave rescue
A Thai navy Seal has died from a blood infection he caught while rescuing 12 boys and their football coach from a flooded cave in northern Thailand. PO Beirut Pakbara died while receiving treatment for the illness, the Royal Thai Navy said. Another rescuer, navy diver Lt Cmdr Saman Kuman, died during the mission. The Wild […]
Mahathir blames Muslim countries for rising Islamophobia
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has called the leaders of Muslim countries to task over negative views of Islam, asking them to come up with a concerted plan to address Islamophobia. Speaking to state leaders including Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, […]