India is holding a key G20 tourism meeting in Kashmir amid heightened security and opposition from China. The working group meeting is being held in Srinagar, the summer capital of the federally administrated territory, from Monday to Wednesday. This is the biggest international event organised in the region since India scrapped its special status in 2019. Over 60 delegates from G20 member countries are expected to attend the event. China, however, has said it will not attend, citing its firm opposition “to holding any kind of G20 meetings in disputed territory”. Both India and Pakistan claim Kashmir in full, but control … Continue reading India hosts tourism meet in Kashmir amid tight security

US prosecutors have arrested two men in New York for allegedly operating a Chinese “secret police station” in Manhattan’s Chinatown neighbourhood. Lu Jianwang, 61, and Chen Jinping, 59, both New York City residents, face charges of conspiring to act as agents for China and obstruction of justice. They are expected to appear in federal court in Brooklyn on Monday. China has previously denied operating the stations, calling them “service centres” for nationals overseas. Mr Lu of the Bronx and Mr Chen of Manhattan worked together to establish the first overseas police station in the United States on behalf of China’s … Continue reading FBI makes arrests over alleged secret Chinese ‘police stations’ in New York

The UK has signed a deal to join a trade pact with 11 Asia and Pacific nations, three years after it officially left the European Union. Joining the group will boost UK exports by cutting tariffs on goods such as cheese, cars, chocolate, machinery, gin and whisky, the government said. However, the government’s own estimates show being in the bloc will only add 0.08% to the size of the UK’s economy. The trade area covers a market of around 500 million people. The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership – or CPTPP – was established in 2018, and includes … Continue reading UK-Asia trade deal to boost UK economy by 0.08%

RAF and German fighter jets have intercepted a Russian aircraft near Estonian airspace in the first joint operation of its kind. The two Typhoons were scrambled on Tuesday to intercept an Il-78 Midas refuelling plane flying between St Petersburg and Kaliningrad. The plane had failed to communicate with air traffic control in Estonia. The British and German air forces are currently conducting planned joint Nato air policing in the region. The interception itself was routine, but it is the first time such an operation has been carried out together by the two countries. The incident comes amid heightened tensions between … Continue reading RAF and German jets intercept Russian aircraft near Estonian airspace

A Russian fighter jet has collided with a US drone, causing the unmanned US aircraft to crash into the Black Sea, the American military says. The incident highlights the increasing risk of direct confrontation between Russia and the US over the Ukraine war. The US says the drone was on a routine mission in international airspace when two Russian jets tried to intercept it. Russia said the drone crashed after a “sharp manoeuvre”, and denied that the two aircraft made direct contact. The Russian defence ministry also said the MQ-9 Reaper drone was flying with its transponders turned off. Transponders … Continue reading US drone crashes after encounter with Russian jet

Fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan on Monday night killed almost 100 soldiers, it has emerged. Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said 49 of its soldiers died in overnight clashes, while Azerbaijan’s defence ministry said 50 of its servicemen were also killed. The neighbouring countries have fought two wars and seen regular smaller clashes span three decades. On Tuesday, Russia said it brokered a ceasefire for the latest outbreak. Armenia initially said the fighting had calmed, rather than ended completely. Later, Azerbaijan said it had completed its objectives following “provocations” from its neighbour. At the core of the dispute is the … Continue reading Almost 100 killed in overnight clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan forces

Modern slavery is a growing challenge thanks to a mix of armed conflict, climate change and the global pandemic, a new UN report says. International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates suggest that 50 million people – or one out of every 150 people alive – are trapped in forced labour or forced marriages. That is up nearly 10 million on its numbers from five years ago. The ILO said the fact things were getting worse was “shocking”. “Nothing can justify the persistence of this fundamental abuse of human rights,” said its director general, Guy Ryder. “We know what needs to be … Continue reading Modern slavery shoots up by 10 million in five years

The World Health Organization’s top director in the Western Pacific, Dr. Takeshi Kasai, has been indefinitely removed from his post, according to internal correspondence obtained by The Associated Press. Kasai’s removal comes months after an AP investigation revealed that dozens of staffers accused him of racist, abusive and unethical behavior that undermined the U.N. agency’s efforts to stop the coronavirus pandemic in Asia. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told staff in the Western Pacific in an email on Friday that Kasai was “on leave” without elaborating further. Tedros said Deputy Director-General, Dr. Zsuzsanna Jakab, would be arriving Tuesday in Manila, … Continue reading WHO director in Asia accused of racism, abuse put on leave

South Korea has again recorded the world’s lowest fertility rate with the number sinking to a new low. The rate in the country first dropped lower than one child per woman in 2018. But on Wednesday, figures released by the government showed the figure had dropped to 0.81 – down three points from the previous year, and a sixth consecutive decline. In comparison, the average rate across the world’s most advanced economies is 1.6 children. Countries need at least two children per couple – a 2.1 rate – to keep their population at the same size, without migration. Fertility rates … Continue reading South Korea records world’s lowest fertility rate again

Hailed as one of the biggest moments in Croatian history, a long-awaited bridge has opened that links southern coastal areas to the rest of the country. Until now, Croatians had to cross land belonging to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The 2.4km (1.5-mile) Peljesac bridge was built by China but largely funded by the European Union. Celebrations took place throughout the day, with 250 runners crossing the bridge and small boats with Croatian flags sailing beneath the six pylons. Residents also took the opportunity to walk along the initial stretch of the bridge before the day culminated in a glittering firework display. … Continue reading Fanfare as Croatia’s Chinese-built bridge finally opens

G7 leaders have detailed plans to mobilize $600bn in funding for the developing world in a move seen as a counter to China’s Belt and Road plan. The Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) relaunches a scheme unveiled at last year’s G7 talks in England. US President Joe Biden said the plan would deliver returns for everyone. China’s multi-trillion dollar infrastructure initiative is criticised for hitting nations with too much debt. “I want to be clear. This isn’t aid or charity,” Mr Biden said of the G7’s PGII scheme. “It’s an investment that will deliver returns for everyone.” The scheme … Continue reading G7 leaders detail $600bn plan to rival China’s Belt and Road initiative

Fourteen people have been arrested in London and Romania on suspicion of trafficking women into an escort business in the capital. Two men and four women, aged 25 to 39, were held following raids at six sites across the capital. Two trafficked Romanian women were discovered at the properties, who will receive medical treatment and support. Ten raids in Romania, targeting the same organized crime group, led to seven men and one woman being arrested. Addresses in Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster and Camden were raided in the UK operation. The raids followed an investigation into links between organized crime and … Continue reading Police make arrests in London and Romania in sex trafficking raids