Yangon : Two Reuters journalists jailed in Myanmar for their reporting on the Rohingya crisis have been freed. Wa Lone, 33 and Kyaw Soe Oo, 29 were released after a presidential amnesty. They spent more than 500 days in prison on the outskirts of Yangon. They had been convicted under the Official Secrets Act and…
America : The US has deployed an aircraft carrier to the Middle East to send a “clear and unmistakable message” to Iran. John Bolton, US national security advisor, said they were acting “in response to a number of troubling and escalatory indications and warnings”. The deployment of the warship was based on claims of a…
Gaza : There has been a lull in hostilities in the Gaza Strip amid reports of a ceasefire mediated by Egypt. At least four Israelis and 23 Palestinians were killed in clashes over two days of worsening violence – the most intense in recent years. Unconfirmed reports from a Hamas TV station say a ceasefire…
Moscow : Forty-one people were killed after a Russian plane made an emergency landing and burst into flames at Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow. Videos on social media show passengers using emergency exit slides to escape the burning Aeroflot aircraft. Two children and a flight attendant were among the dead, Russian media reports. One witness said…
Bankok : Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn has been crowned on the first of three days of coronation rites. King Vajiralongkorn inherited the throne in 2016 when his long-reigning father Bhumibol Adulyadej died. Days ago in a surprise announcement the palace said the king had married his long-term partner and royal consort who would now be…
Tokyo : Japan’s Emperor Naruhito has pledged to fulfil his role as a “symbol of the state and unity”, in his first public address since taking the throne. The 59-year-old was speaking as he officially began his reign on Wednesday in a short but symbolic ceremony at the Imperial Palace. Naruhito succeeds his father, 85-year-old…
Orissa : Thousands of people are being evacuated from villages along India’s eastern coastline ahead of a severe cyclone. Cyclone Fani is heading towards the state of Orissa with wind speeds in excess of 200 km/h (127 mph), and is expected to make landfall on Friday. Officials have now shut down operations at two major…
Tokyo : Emperor Akihito is preparing to step down from the throne, becoming the first Japanese monarch to abdicate in more than 200 years. Tuesday’s ceremonies began with private rituals in Tokyo’s Imperial Palace. The 85-year-old has been given legal permission to abdicate after saying he felt unable to fulfil his role because of his…
Spain : Spain’s governing Socialists won the country’s third election in four years, but have fallen short of a majority. PM Pedro Sánchez’s party polled 29% and will need the help of either left-wing Podemos and regional parties, or the centre right, to form a government. For the first time since military rule ended in…
Colombo : Sri Lanka has banned face coverings in public, following a spate of suicide attacks on Easter Sunday that killed at least 250 people and injured hundreds. President Maithruipala Sisirsena said he was using an emergency law to impose the restriction from Monday. Any face garment which “hinders identification” will be banned to ensure…
