India’s new parliament is set to be inaugurated this weekend amid a political row as 19 opposition parties say they will boycott the ceremony. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the building on Sunday. But opposition leaders say India’s president, the highest constitutional authority, should open the building. Leaders of the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have accused the opposition of “playing political games”. On Wednesday, 19 parties – including the main opposition Congress – issued a statement announcing their “collective decision” to boycott the inauguration ceremony. They said that while the opening was “a momentous occasion”, Mr Modi’s “decision to inaugurate … Continue reading India opposition to boycott inauguration of new parliament building

A huge pro-EU rally has taken place in Moldova’s capital Chisinau, organised by the country’s President Maia Sandu. An estimated 75,000 people turned out to support Moldova’s push to join the European Union. Her pro-Western government has accused Russia of stoking tensions by supporting Moldova’s pro-Russian opposition Sor party. Moscow denies meddling in the country’s affairs. Ms Sandu told demonstrators her country no longer wanted to be an outlier. “We don’t want to be on the outskirts of Europe anymore,” she said, pledging that Moldova would become a European Union member nation by 2030. Moldova also “does not want to … Continue reading Huge pro-EU rally in Moldova amid tensions with Russia

Papua New Guinea’s foreign minister has quit after a controversy over spending on the country’s official delegation at King Charles III’s coronation. Justin Tkatchenko travelled with his daughter Savannah, who posted a TikTok showing her first-class plane journey and shopping spree in Singapore. On Wednesday, he branded her critics “primitive animals”. Mr Tkatchenko’s comments sparked protests in the capital Port Moresby on Friday outside Parliament House. Papua New Guinea is a Commonwealth nation in the Pacific which has King Charles as its head of state. In a statement on Friday, Mr Tkatchenko said he “stood aside” after consulting with Prime … Continue reading Papua New Guinea minister quits over luxury Coronation trip controversy

Finland’s outgoing Prime Minister Sanna Marin and her husband Markus Raikkonen have filed for divorce. “We are grateful for the 19 years together and our beloved daughter,” Ms Marin said on Instagram on Wednesday. The couple married in 2020, when Ms Marin was leading the country’s pandemic response, and they share a five-year-old daughter. She is due to leave office after her center-left party lost the general elections last month. In a story posted on her Instagram account, Ms Marin said she is “still best friends” with Mr Raikkonen, who is a businessman and former professional footballer. “We will continue to … Continue reading Finnish PM Sanna Marin to divorce as she prepares to leave office

Pakistan’s Supreme Court has ruled that former prime minister Imran Khan’s dramatic arrest on corruption charges this week was illegal. The court ordered Mr Khan’s immediate release. His lawyers had argued that his detention from court premises in Islamabad on Tuesday was unlawful. At least 10 people have been killed and 2,000 arrested as violent protests have swept the country since he was held. Tuesday’s arrest escalated growing tensions between him and the military. The opposition leader, ousted in a confidence vote in April last year, was brought to court on the orders of Pakistan’s top judge. As Mr Khan … Continue reading Update: Supreme Court of Pakistan declares Imran Khan’s arrest illegal

Social media users in Vietnam must soon verify their identities, in what the government says is a bid to crack down on online scams. The move will enable them to track down offenders who use anonymous accounts to break the law. Unverified accounts on platforms such as Facebook will be “dealt with,” said an official, who did not elaborate. It’s the latest in a series of restrictions imposed on social media users in Vietnam. Last year, social media platforms were required to take down news deemed as fake in 24 hours, rather than the previously mandated 48 hours. Laws requiring … Continue reading Vietnam to crack down on anonymous social media accounts

The north-eastern Indian state of Manipur is under tight security after a tribal agitation ended in violence. Tribal groups were protesting against the demand for affirmative action by the state’s Meitei community. Manipur chief minister blamed the incidents on “prevailing misunderstanding” between communities and said his government was taking steps to control the situation. Curfew has been imposed in the areas of the state hit by violence on Wednesday. Mobile internet services have also been suspended in many parts of the the state for five days. On Thursday, the Indian Army carried out a flag march in the violence-hit areas. … Continue reading Indian state of Manipur under curfew after protests turn violent

Self-styled preacher Amritpal Singh, whose calls for Sikh independence riled India’s authorities, has been arrested in Punjab state. The 30-year-old had been on the run for more than a month after evading arrest in Punjab on 18 March. He and his supporters have been accused of attempted murder and attacking police officials. Punjab Police officials confirmed news of the arrest on Twitter and also appealed for peace. Mr Singh was arrested from Rode village in Punjab’s Moga district at around 6.45am on Sunday, the state’s inspector general Sukhchain Singh Gill said in a press conference. He has been arrested under … Continue reading A popular Sikh separatist arrested after weeks on the run

In what can be described as a first, New Zealand will see an equal number of men and women in its cabinet. This comes after Northland MP Willow-Jean Prime, who is of Māori descent, was promoted as a cabinet minister. “It is nice to have a cabinet that reflects the New Zealand population,” Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said, calling it a “good milestone to reach”. The country elected one of the world’s most diverse parliaments in 2020. It has the highest number of female lawmakers in the OECD, and a number of Māori as well as LGBTQ+ MPs. From Wednesday, … Continue reading New Zealand cabinet reaches gender equality for the first time

Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets across Israel after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his defence minister. Yoav Gallant had spoken out against controversial plans to overhaul the justice system. In Jerusalem, police and soldiers used water cannon against demonstrators near Mr Netanyahu’s house. Early on Monday morning, Israel’s President Isaac Herzog called on the government to halt the reforms. “For the sake of the unity of the people of Israel, for the sake of responsibility, I call on you to stop the legislative process immediately,” he said on Twitter, adding that “the eyes of all the … Continue reading Protests escalate in Israel after the sacking of defence minister

Australia will remove Chinese-made surveillance cameras from defence sites over national security fears. It comes after an audit found 900 pieces of surveillance equipment built by companies Hikvision and Dahua on government estates. The UK and US made similar moves last year, citing fears the device data may be accessed by the Chinese government. Hikvision says those fears are unfounded. Dahua has not responded to a request for comment. The audit of Australian government sites found the cameras and security gear were located on more than 200 buildings, in almost every department – including the foreign affairs and attorney general’s … Continue reading Australia to remove Chinese surveillance cameras amid security fears

Thousands have attended funeral prayers for Pakistan’s divisive former president General Pervez Musharraf. The ex-military ruler, who was president from 2001-2008, died in Dubai on Sunday after a long illness, and his body was repatriated to Pakistan. The prayers took place at a military compound in Karachi, but senior figures were notably absent, including the army chief and Pakistan’s current president. An estimated 10,000 people attended the prayers, mainly retired and serving military officers, AFP news agency reported. A junior army officer at the site who asked not to be named said a gun salute was given to the former … Continue reading Thousands attend funeral of ex-Pakistan military leader Pervez Musharraf