Protests erupt following Afghan Taliban ban on women’s access to universities

Afghanistan’s Taliban-run administration said on Thursday it had closed universities to women partly due to female students not adhering to its interpretation of the Islamic dress code, in a decision that was condemned globally. Female university students were turned away from campuses on Wednesday and the higher education ministry said their access would be suspended… Read More Protests erupt following Afghan Taliban ban on women’s access to universities

Malaysia swears in Anwar Ibrahim as new prime minister

Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as prime minister on Thursday, capping a three-decade political journey from a protege of veteran leader Mahathir Mohamad to protest leader, a prisoner convicted of sodomy and opposition leader. Anwar, 75, vowed to fight corruption and to focus on the economy while also upholding Islam as the official religion… Read More Malaysia swears in Anwar Ibrahim as new prime minister

U.S. imposes sanctions on military supply network aiding Russia

The United States on Monday targeted Russian military’s supply chains, imposing sanctions on 14 individuals and 28 entities that it said were part of a transnational network that procures technology to support Moscow in its invasion of Ukraine. The U.S. Treasury also designated family members of Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, as well as individuals that… Read More U.S. imposes sanctions on military supply network aiding Russia

U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping ahead of G20 summit

U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping engaged in blunt talks over Taiwan and North Korea on Monday in a three-hour meeting aimed at preventing strained U.S.-China ties from spilling into a new Cold War. Amid simmering differences on human rights, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and support of domestic industry, the two leaders… Read More U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping ahead of G20 summit

U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner transferred to Russian penal colony

Russian authorities last week transferred U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner from a detention centre outside Moscow and she is now on her way to an undisclosed penal colony, her legal team and Washington’s top diplomat said on Wednesday. The two-time Olympic gold medallist was arrested on February 17 – a week before Russia invaded Ukraine… Read More U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner transferred to Russian penal colony

Russia launches massive airstrikes on Ukrainian cities

Russia rained cruise missiles on busy Ukrainian cities on Monday in what the United States called “horrific strikes”, killing civilians and knocking out power and heat with its most widespread air attacks since the start of the war. Missiles tore into intersections, parks and tourist sites in the capital Kyiv and explosions were reported in… Read More Russia launches massive airstrikes on Ukrainian cities

U.S. slams sanctions on Myanmar businessman, two others over supply of Russian-made arms to junta

The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on a Myanmar businessman and two others involved in procuring Russian-made weapons from Belarus for the junta that seized power in the Southeast Asian country early last year, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. The military staged a coup in February 2021, detaining democratic leaders including Nobel laureate… Read More U.S. slams sanctions on Myanmar businessman, two others over supply of Russian-made arms to junta

North Korea test-fires its longest-range ballistic missile over Japan

Nuclear-armed North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile further than ever before on Tuesday, sending it soaring over Japan, for the first time in five years, and prompting a warning for residents there to take cover. It was the first North Korean missile to follow such a trajectory since 2017, and its estimated 4,600 km (2,850… Read More North Korea test-fires its longest-range ballistic missile over Japan