Myanmar’s ambassador in London has spent the night in his car after saying he was locked out of his embassy. Kyaw Zwar Minn said staff were asked to leave the building by Myanmar’s military attaché on Wednesday night, and he was told he was no longer the country’s representative. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has condemned the “bullying actions”. Myanmar’s military seized power in a coup on 1 February, sparking weeks of protests and escalating violence. Kyaw Zwar Minn has called for ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi to be released. More than 500 people – including dozens of children … Continue reading Myanmar Coup: Ambassador locked out of his own embassy

An intruder gained entry to the Swiss ambassador’s residence in Washington, DC, on Monday afternoon and assaulted the ambassador, according to a statement filed in federal district court by the responding Secret Service officer. The officer said in the statement filed Tuesday in support of a criminal complaint that he was dispatched to the residence, which is on the same grounds as the Swiss embassy, “in response to a report of an unwanted guest at the Ambassador’s Residence at that location.” The officer’s statement identified the “unwanted guest” as Christian David Mandeville and said he was carrying an Oregon ID. … Continue reading Swiss ambassador to US allegedly assaulted in Washington residence

A group of Russian diplomats and their family had to leave North Korea on a hand-pushed rail trolley due to Pyongyang’s strict anti-Covid-19 measures. The eight people travelled by train and bus before pushing themselves across the Russian border for about 1km (0.6miles) over train tracks. North Korea has blocked most passenger transport to limit the virus’ spread. The country maintains it has not had any confirmed cases, but observers dispute this claim. Since early last year, trains and wagons have been forbidden to enter or leave the country, most international passenger flights have stopped as well. The Russian diplomats … Continue reading Russian diplomats leave North Korea by hand-pushed trolley

The woman accused of killing Harry Dunn was working for a US intelligence agency at the time of the crash, a court has heard. Mr Dunn, 19, died when his motorbike was in a crash with a car near RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire in 2019. Suspect Anne Sacoolas returned to the US, claiming diplomatic immunity, and an extradition request was blocked. A court in Virginia has heard her work was “especially a factor” in her leaving the UK, her barrister told the court she fled the UK for “security issues” and feared she would “not get a fair trial” if … Continue reading Suspect in Harry Dunn’s death Anne Sacoolas worked for US intelligence

Canada says it regrets any “misunderstanding”, after China lodged a formal complaint over a diplomat’s custom Wuhan T-shirt. The T-shirt featured the name Wuhan emblazoned on the logo of rap-group the Wu-Tang Clan, which some on Chinese social media claimed looked like a bat. Covid-19 was first detected in humans in Wuhan in late 2019. Experts suggest the virus may have been carried by bats and passed on to humans via another animal. On Monday, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said China had “lodged representations with Canada” and asked for a thorough investigation into the T-shirt. The clothing, created last … Continue reading Canada regrets ‘misunderstanding’ over Wu-Tang Clan T-shirt

A senior North Korean diplomat who was acting ambassador to Kuwait told his daughter they were going to defect to the South while pretending to drive her to school, Ryu Hyun-woo told media on Monday. South Korea’s border with the North is one of the most heavily fortified in the world “Come with Mom and Dad to find freedom,” Ryu recalled telling his daughter in an interview with CNN, the teenager was “shocked” at the sudden suggestion that would change their lives, but responded “okay”, he said and he took them instead to the South Korean embassy. Ryu and his family … Continue reading N. Korean diplomat told daughter to ‘come find freedom’

A Chinese delegation reportedly held talks with Nepali Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli and President Bidya Devi Bhandari in Kathmandu on Sunday in a first diplomatic step by the neighbouring power after the prime minister dissolved parliament a week ago. The four-member delegation led by Guo Yezhou, a vice minister in the international department of the Communist Party of China, arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday to assess the political situation following the rift in the governing Nepal Communist Party (NCP). China has poured millions of dollars into Nepal in recent years in aid and infrastructure investment as it incorporates … Continue reading Chinese delegation meets Nepal PM amid political crisis

China has refused to apologize for a controversial image depicting an Australia soldier cutting the throat of an Afghan child as New Zealand became the latest country to voice its criticism of the doctored picture, which was posted to social media by a foreign ministry spokesman. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden said her government had conveyed its concern about the post to Beijing. “New Zealand has registered directly with Chinese authorities our concern over the use of that image,” Arden told reporters on Tuesday. “It was an unfactual post, and of course that would concern us. So that is … Continue reading Update: China refuses to apologize over gruesome Australia soldier post

Australia has demanded China apologize for posting a fake picture on a government Twitter account that depicted an Australian soldier murdering an Afghan child, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Beijing should be “utterly ashamed” for sharing the “repugnant” image. It comes amid escalating political tensions between the two countries, the image referred to alleged war crimes by some Australian soldiers. Earlier this month, a report found that 25 Australian soldiers were allegedly involved in the murders of 39 Afghan civilians and prisoners between 2009 and 2013. The findings from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) inquiry sparked widespread condemnation, and are … Continue reading Australia demands China apologize for posting ‘repugnant’ fake image

A British diplomat has been hailed as a hero after diving into a river in China to save a drowning student, Stephen Ellison, 61, consul-general in Chongqing, was walking by a river in a nearby village when the woman, 24, slipped on rocks into the deep water. Footage filmed by onlookers showed her struggle in the fast-moving current, disappear under a footbridge and emerge face down, apparently unconscious, Mr Ellison took off his shoes and dived in to save her, she has not been named. The consul general, who takes part in triathlons, turned the student over, lifted her face … Continue reading British diplomat Stephen Ellison saves drowning woman

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Thursday that the United States would find new ways to cooperate with Indonesia in the South China Sea and respected Jakarta’s efforts to safeguard its own waters while rejecting China’s “unlawful” claims in the area. Pompeo’s visit to Indonesia comes amid a five-nation tour through Asia where he has sought to strengthen strategic and economic ties amid rising tensions between the US and China. In a joint news conference with his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi, Pompeo hailed Jakarta’s “decisive action” to protect its sovereignty in the waters near the Natuna Islands, which China … Continue reading US looking for new ways to cooperate with Indonesia

China has told Britain to “immediately correct its mistakes” after the UK reaffirmed its plan to offer a route to British citizenship to almost three million people living there, the offer was made in July when Beijing imposed a strict national security law on the former British colony. Critics say it undermines the civil freedoms that China agreed to uphold when Hong Kong was handed back in 1997. Beijing has previously warned the UK not to meddle in “domestic issues”, Friday’s warning came from the Hong Kong arm of China’s Foreign Ministry, the British offer is not for all residents … Continue reading China warns UK not to offer citizenship to Hong Kong residents