Turkey detains 10 retired admirals over ‘evoking coup’

Turkey on Monday detained 10 retired admirals after a letter signed by more than 100 of them warned against a possible threat to a treaty governing the use of Turkey’s key waterways.

Johnson launches mass testing programme as economy reopens

Johnson, who is expected to confirm plans to relaunch international travel and open sections of the economy later on Monday, said the new mass testing programme would break the chain of transmissions and spot cases without symptoms.

Japan fears COVID-19 variants behind possible fourth wave

Japanese health authorities are concerned that variants of the coronavirus are driving a nascent fourth wave in the pandemic with just 109 days remaining until the Tokyo Olympics.

Train crash kills 50 in Taiwan’s deadliest rail tragedy in decades

A Taiwan express train with almost 500 aboard derailed in a tunnel on Friday after hitting a truck that had slid down a bank onto the track, killing at least 50 passengers and injuring 146 in the island’s worst rail disaster in seven decades.

EU condemns China media ‘harassment’ after BBC departure

The European Union on Friday condemned the “harassment” of foreign journalists in China after a BBC correspondent left the country in the face of legal threats and pressure from authorities.

Myanmar junta cuts internet, protesters say they will not surrender

Opponents of military rule in Myanmar marched and laid bouquets of flowers on Friday while trying to find alternative ways to organise their campaign of dissent after the authorities cut off most users from the internet.

Suu Kyi faces new charge under Myanmar’s official secrets act

Myanmar’s deposed leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been charged with breaking a colonial-era official secrets law, her lawyer said on Thursday, the most serious charge against the veteran opponent of military rule.

Hong Kong activists convicted over unauthorised protests

Seven high-profile Hong Kong pro-democracy figures were convicted on Thursday for taking part in unauthorised protests in 2019.

WHO criticizes Europe for ‘unacceptably slow’ rollout of Covid-19 vaccines

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has labeled Europe’s rollout of Covid-19 vaccines as “unacceptably slow,” warning delays are “prolonging the pandemic” and described a surge in new infections in the region as “worrying.”

China deflects questions after WHO chief revives lab leak theory

China deflected questions over an investigation into the origins of Covid-19 on Wednesday, after the WHO chief revived a theory it may have leaked from a Chinese lab and the United States led concerns over data access.

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi ‘looks healthy’, lawyer says, as US orders non-essential staff to leave

Myanmar’s deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi appeared in good health in a video meeting on Wednesday, one of her lawyers said, as the United States ordered its non-essential embassy staff to leave after “horrifying” violence against opponents of a coup.

EU fails to achieve March vaccination goals amid looming third wave

The European Union has fallen short of vaccinating 80 per cent of health care workers and people over the age of 80 against Covid-19 by the end of March, a target set by the bloc’s executive branch.

World leaders call for new international pandemic treaty

Twenty-five world leaders have thrown their weight behind a proposal from European Council President Charles Michel to draw up a new international treaty on pandemic preparedness in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis.

Thai authorities force back refugees fleeing Myanmar air strikes

Thai authorities forced thousands of refugees fleeing air attacks by the army in neighbouring Myanmar to return to southeastern Karen state, two activist groups said on Monday.

Traffic in Suez Canal resumes after stranded ship refloated

Shipping traffic through Egypt’s Suez Canal resumed on Monday after a giant container ship which had been blocking the busy waterway for almost a week was refloated, the canal authority said.

China warns firms not to engage in politics over Xinjiang

Chinese officials on Monday said Sweden’s H&M and other foreign brands should not make rash moves or step into politics after the companies raised concerns about forced labour in Xinjiang, sparking a furious online backlash and boycotts.

Indian state imposes night curfew after record COVID jump

India’s western state of Maharashtra imposed night curfews on Sunday to tackle a surge in coronavirus cases, with the financial capital Mumbai reporting its highest single-day jump since last March.

Troops fire at funeral as Myanmar mourns bloodiest day since coup

Myanmar security forces opened fire on Sunday, witnesses said, at people gathered for the funeral of one of the 114 people killed the previous day, the bloodiest day of protests since the military coup on Feb. 1.

Egypt races to free supertanker from banks of Suez as vessels reroute

The pressure is mounting on Egypt to dislodge a massive container ship which has blocked the Suez Canal since Tuesday, as more shipping firms are rerouting their vessels away from the waterway.

China sanctions UK politicians for Xinjiang ‘lies’

China imposed sanctions on nine Britons including lawmakers in the governing Conservative party for spreading what it said were “lies and disinformation” about alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang, prompting a sharp rebuke from London.

N.Korea claims test of ‘new type’ of guided missiles

North Korea on Friday said it had test-fired two “new-type tactical guided missiles” a day earlier, state news outlet KCNA reported.

Efforts intensify to dislodge tanker blocking trade via Suez Canal

An operation is intensifying to dislodge a giant container ship that has blocked the Suez Canal, one of the world’s busiest trade routes, since Tuesday, triggering fears of a significant toll on global trade.

Thousands of Thai protesters demand monarchy reform

Thousands of protesters gathered in the Thai capital Bangkok on Wednesday to demand reform of the monarchy and the release of jailed leaders, days after one of the most violent demonstrations since they began last year.

Over 20 teenagers killed: Junta cracks down on protesters

Three people were killed on Tuesday including seven-year-old girl Khin Myo Chit, shot dead at her home in Mandalay, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a local monitoring group.

Australia to rescue thousands from floods as rainfall set to peak

Australia was set on Monday to evacuate thousands more people from suburbs in Sydney’s west, battered by the worst flooding in 60 years, with torrential rains expected to continue for another day or two.

As vaccine battle with UK deepens, EU blames AstraZeneca

Britain on Monday demanded the European Union allow the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines it has ordered as tensions over a possible export ban on EU-manufactured shots mounted and Brussels pointed an accusing finger at drugmaker AstraZeneca.

EU sanctions China for rights abuses against Uighurs

The European Union has sanctioned four Chinese officials and one entity in the western region of Xinjiang for abuses against the Uighur people, the first time in decades the bloc has hit Beijing with restrictive measures for human rights violations.

Vaccine donations to poor countries on hold: EU’s von der Leyen

The European Union is not currently in the position to directly donate coronavirus vaccines to poorer countries, said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Heavy rains in Australia’s east bring worst floods in 50 years

Heavy rains along Australia’s east coast over the weekend have brought the worst flooding in half a century in some areas, authorities said on Sunday, forcing thousands to evacuate and damaging hundreds of houses.

Myanmar protesters voice defiance as junta reminds of ‘external threats’

Demonstrators in Myanmar maintained their unflinching opposition to military rule on Sunday despite a rising death toll at the hands of security forces as the junta appeared equally determined to resist growing outside pressure to compromise.