As COVID-19 resurges, Johnson pleads with UK: obey the rules
LONDON – Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged the British people to obey rules imposed to tackle a rapidly accelerating second wave of the coronavirus outbreak, cautioning that otherwise a…
‘This clown’ – ‘Nothing smart about you’: Un-presidential insults fly in first Trump-Biden debate
Interrupted repeatedly by President Donald Trump in their presidential debate on Tuesday (local time), an exasperated Joe Biden resorted to insults and name-calling against an opponent who built his political…
Malaysia power struggle set to drag on as king recuperates in hospital
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s King Sultan Abdullah will not be granting an audience to anyone for a week as he is under observation at a hospital, a palace official has…
Democratic HK lawmakers stage brief protest in legislature against China arrests
HONG KONG – Pro-democracy Hong Kong politicians have staged a brief protest in the city’s legislature to call for the release of 12 activists arrested by Chinese authorities at sea…
Trump to shut off TikTok, WeChat to new US users on Sunday
WASHINGTON- The Trump administration will ban WeChat and video-sharing app TikTok from US app stores starting Sunday night (local time), a move that will block Americans from downloading the Chinese-owned…
UN steps up monitoring of reported abuses in Belarus, raising stakes
GENEVA – The United Nations agreed on Friday to step up monitoring of reported right abuses during Belarus’s crackdown on protests, angering Minsk and its ally Moscow and raising the…
Amal Clooney quits UK envoy role over “lamentable” international law breach
LONDON – Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney has quit her role as Britain’s special envoy on media freedom in protest at the country’s intention to breach international law over Brexit-related…
Taiwan scrambles jets as 18 Chinese planes buzz during US visit
TAIPEI/BEIJING – Taiwan scrambled fighter jets on Friday as 18 Chinese aircraft buzzed the island, crossing the sensitive midline of the Taiwan Strait, in response to a senior US official…
Thai protesters expect biggest anti-government rally in years
BANGKOK – Thai protest leaders say they expect the biggest anti-government demonstration in years this weekend and have vowed to reiterate their calls for reforms of the monarchy despite official…
EU travel industry steps up quarantine pushback
BRUSSELS – Leaders of Europe’s coronavirus-stricken travel and tourism industries have appealed to the EU’s chief executive to press governments to end quarantine requirements and instead embrace coordinated restrictions and…
