TAIPEI, TAIWAN — Hu Xijin, the former editor-in-chief of China’s state-run tabloid Global Times, has gone silent on social media for a week after his analysis of China’s economic policies triggered a backlash from Chinese state media and other prominent commentators. Hu, a prominent nationalistic commentator known for his outspoken style on social media, has not shared anything on any of his social media accounts, including …
Source close to Hezbollah reports Israeli strikes near Syria-Lebanon border
Beirut, Lebanon — A source close to Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said late Friday that Israel carried out strikes on a convoy of trucks entering Lebanon from Syria. “Three Israeli strikes targeted a convoy of tanker trucks on the Syrian-Lebanese border in the Hawsh el-Sayyed Ali area, injuring one Syrian driver,” the source told AFP. It was the latest in a series of Israeli strikes in …
China’s proposal to create a cyber ID system faces criticism
Taipei, Taiwan — Concern is rising among China’s more than 1 billion internet users over a government proposal portrayed as a step to protect their personal information and fight against fraud. Many fear the plan would do the opposite. China’s Ministry of Public Security and the Cyberspace Administration issued the draft “Measures for the Administration of National Network Identity Authentication Public Services” on July 26. According …
6.8 magnitude earthquake hits off Philippines’ Mindanao island
Manila, Philippines — A 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the southern Philippines on Saturday, the United States Geological Survey said, but no tsunami warning was issued and there were no immediate reports of damage. The shallow quake hit just before 6:30 a.m. (2230 GMT) about 20 kilometers from the village of Barcelona on the east of Mindanao island, the USGS said. Many people …
US military sending reinforcement to the Middle East
Washington — U.S. warships and fighter jets are headed to the Middle East and nearby areas to bolster American defenses in support of Israel, as both countries brace for a possible military strike by Iran. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin late Friday signed orders to move the additional assets and capabilities to the Middle East and parts of Europe, following pledges by Tehran and its proxies …
For students arrested protesting war in Gaza, fallout was only beginning
AMHERST, Massachusetts — Since her arrest at a protest at the University of Massachusetts, Annie McGrew has been pivoting between two sets of hearings: one for the misdemeanor charges she faces in court, and another for violations of the college’s conduct code. It has kept the graduate student from working toward finishing her dissertation in economics. “It’s been a really rough few months for me since …
Afghan missions vow to provide consular services despite Taliban disavowal
Washington — Afghan diplomats and diplomatic missions in Europe, Australia and Canada say they will continue providing consular services despite the Taliban’s recent announcement disavowing them. The Taliban’s Foreign Ministry announced in a statement Tuesday that it would not recognize the legitimacy of consular services performed at Afghan diplomatic missions in Australia, Canada and 11 European countries. “[T]he consular services such as deeds, endorsements, NOCs, issuing …
US lawmaker calls Chinese sanctions ‘badge of honor’
Washington — Representative Jim McGovern, the most recent U.S. lawmaker to be put under Chinese sanctions, says he will wear the sanctions “as a badge of honor,” calling on the Chinese government to end its oppressive actions in Tibet, Xinjiang and Hong Kong in a statement emailed to VOA from the representative’s media office Friday. “These absurd sanctions against me only serve to highlight how PRC …
Yazidis return to destroyed homes in Iraq 10 years after genocide
Ten years ago, the Islamic State terrorist group inflicted genocide and mass displacement on the Yazidi ethno-religious minority in northern Iraq. Thousands returned home this year at the urging of the Iraqi government. But as VOA’s Kawa Omar reports, many now live in sweltering tents on their ruined properties. …
Slain Hamas chief Haniyeh to be buried in Qatar
doha, qatar — Qatar on Friday is due to hold funeral ceremonies for Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh after his killing in Tehran, an attack blamed on Israel that has deepened fears of a regional escalation. Haniyeh, the Palestinian armed group’s political chief, had resided in Doha along with other members of the Hamas political office. He will be buried at a cemetery in Lusail, north of …
North Korea shuns international aid workers amid severe flooding
washington — North Korea continues to keep its doors shut to international aid workers as the country struggles with massive flooding that destroyed thousands of homes and covered vast farmlands. The International Federation of Red Cross told VOA on Thursday that it was assessing North Korea’s humanitarian situation and needs from the floods as it remained hopeful about reentering the country. “We are deeply concerned about …
China, major democracies step up competition in Pacific
Taipei, Taiwan — China and democratic countries, including Australia and Japan, have increased their efforts to deepen engagement with Pacific Island countries in recent weeks, intensifying what some regional politicians and analysts describe as great power competition, especially in the security sector. “Geopolitical competition continues to intensify in the Pacific region as traditional partners [roll out] new activities while new partners continue to show new interests,” …
Critics question Beijing-friendly donor’s ties to UK-China institute
London — A British organization that focuses on bringing more transparency to ties between China and the United Kingdom says one of the country’s biggest China institutes at a top university, King’s College London, received almost all of its funds from one single donor — a wealthy Hong Kong businessman who has ties to the Chinese Communist Party. In a report released Sunday, UK-China Transparency said …
Which Hamas leaders have been targeted in assassination attempts?
Dubai, United Arab Emirates — The head of Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Deif, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza last month, the Israeli military said on Thursday, its eighth attempt to kill him. Deif was believed to be one of the masterminds of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant movement, which triggered the Gaza war now in its tenth month. …
U.S. strengthens Indo-Pacific alliances – but are they ready for potential conflict?
The United States has moved to significantly strengthen its alliances in the Indo-Pacific in recent days amid the security threat from China – including a major upgrade of its military command in Japan. Just how ready are the United States and its allies to act if conflict erupts? Henry Ridgwell reports from Tokyo. …
FAO head’s rare visit to North Korea raises questions
washington — A rare visit by the head of the Food and Agricultural Organization to North Korea has drawn criticism from former U.S. officials and humanitarian experts, with some raising the possibility of the U.N. official, a former Chinese official, using his position to serve China’s political interests. FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu, currently in his second term and who formerly served as China’s vice minister of …
China sanctions US lawmaker
Washington — China issued sanctions on U.S. Representative Jim McGovern, the sponsor of a bill advocating for a peaceful resolution of the China-Tibet dispute China views Tibet as an “inseparable part of China since ancient times,” despite supporters of the Tibetan Government in Exile and the Dalai Lama saying that Tibet has historically been independent. Framed as a response to McGovern’s efforts to undermine Chinese territorial …