US House Speaker Pelosi begins Asia tour, no mention of Taiwan
Beijing, China Reuters US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi starts a tour of four Asian countries on Sunday, her office said, without mentioning Taiwan amid intense speculation she might visit the self-ruled island claimed by China. “Speaker Nancy Pelosi is leading a Congressional delegation to the Indo-Pacific region, including visits to Singapore, Malaysia, South […]
Sri Lanka’s ousted President says he “took all possible steps” to prevent crisis
Colombo, Sri Lanka Reuters Sri Lanka’s ousted President, who fled overseas this week to escape a popular uprising against his government, has said he took “all possible steps” to avert the economic crisis that has engulfed the island nation. Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation was accepted by parliament on Friday. He flew to the Maldives and then […]
Sri Lanka’s Rajapaksa ousted, search begins for next leader
Colombo, Sri LankaReuters Sri Lanka’s parliament accepted the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Friday after he fled the country, paving the way for lawmakers to start repairing the island’s shattered politics and resume efforts to ease its economic crisis. After suffering from crippling shortages of petrol and diesel and runaway prices of basic items […]
Sri Lanka’s Rajapaksa quits; ‘We are the real power’ says protester
Colombo, Sri LankaReuters The speaker of Sri Lanka’s parliament formally accepted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation on Friday after he fled to Singapore to escape a popular uprising brought about by his country’s worst economic crisis in seven decades. “From this point, we will move to constitutionally appoint a new president,” the speaker, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, […]
Sri Lankan President hands in resignation after fleeing to Singapore
Colombo, Sri Lanka/Singapore Reuters Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa submitted a letter of resignation on Thursday, a spokesperson for the parliament speaker said, hours after fleeing to Singapore following mass protests over an economic meltdown. The announcement triggered jubilation in the commercial capital Colombo where protesters massed outside the presidential secretariat, defying a city-wide curfew. […]
Facing international criticism, Singapore defends Malaysian’s execution
Singapore Reuters Singapore authorities late on Wednesday defended a decision to execute a Malaysian drug trafficker, in response to international criticism over their use of the death penalty. Nagaenthran Dharmalingam, 34, had been convicted of smuggling at least 42 grams of heroin into Singapore, which has among the world’s harshest narcotics laws. He was hanged […]
Quake rattles Indonesia’s Sumatra island, killing at least seven people
Jakarta, IndonesiaReuters A magnitude 6.1 earthquake killed at least seven people and injured dozens more when it struck inland near the western coast of Indonesia’s Sumatra island on Friday, with tremors also felt in neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore, officials said. The quake caused residents to flee buildings in some areas and triggered evacuations nearly 400 […]
Snapshot: Singapore at night
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Updated: Singapore grants 11th-hour stay of execution for Malaysian with COVID-19
Updated 11pm (AEDT)SingaporeReuters A Singapore court on Tuesday stayed the execution of a Malaysian convicted of drug smuggling for reasons of “common sense and humanity” after confirming he had tested positive for COVID-19, a day before he was due to be hanged. The judge did not rule on a last-minute appeal filed on behalf of […]
Asia’s gig workers strive to match global gains on labour rights
Bangkok, ThailandThomson Reuters Foundation Emboldened by the victories of delivery riders from New York to the Netherlands, gig workers in Asia are increasing pressure for better conditions from app-based businesses that have thrived during the pandemic. The platforms, like their counterparts in the United States or Europe, have taken advantage of lax labour protections to demand long […]