Asia

A United Arab Emirates court has dismissed South Africa’s request to extradite Atul and Rajesh Gupta, brothers who face charges of political corruption, but the Gulf state said on Friday the extradition request could be resubmitted, Reuters reported. The Guptas are accused of using their connections with Jacob Zuma, president …

Taiwan’s defense minister said on Monday morning that he detected 11 Chinese warships and 59 planes around the island as Beijing is to hold live-fire drills to end three days of military maneuvers. “The Chinese military continues to conduct military exercises around Taiwan”, the ministry said, adding that fighter jets …

A court in Busan, South Korea, on Wednesday sentenced two employees of the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) to nine years in prison each for sexual assault, local media report. Moses Owen Brown and Daniel Tarr had been detained in South Korea since last year for allegedly raping two Korean teenagers, …

A bus carrying pilgrims to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, burst into flames after a collision on a bridge on Monday, killing at least 20 people and injuring around 30 others, according to Saudi state television. The accident, which took place in the province of Asir, underlines the constant challenge of the …

One of eight cheetahs flown to India from Namibia in September last year died on Monday, local media reported. Namibia’s environment ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said the cheetah, aged five, died of kidney failure. He said the cheetah, named Sasha, was under medical care for the past three months. “The …

Air pollution reached very high levels on Wednesday in the Chinese capital, Beijing due to a sandstorm, which covered other parts of the country with an orange haze and harmful to health. In parts of northern and northwest China, including the semi-desert region of Inner Mongolia, high winds and dust …

Five young Iranian ladies have been arrested for dancing to Nigerian Afrobeat singer and rapper, Rema’s song ‘Calm Down’ . The video of the five girls went viral for dancing to Rema’s hit song without headscarves. The footage showed the women were dancing and slightly showing their stomachs. It spread …

Two pilots from the Indian aviation company SpiceJet have been suspended after drinking coffee and eating sweets in the cockpit of an airliner, Times of India reported on Thursday. “Both pilots have been suspended pending an investigation,” an airline spokesperson said. The incident occurred on March 8 when the flight …

China will relaunch from Wednesday its issuance of virtually all its visas for foreigners, very restricted since the Covid-19 pandemic, the Chinese Embassy in Washington announced on Monday, a new step towards a return to normal wanted by Beijing. “In addition, visas issued by Beijing before March 28, 2020 and …

Xi Jinping secured a historic third term as Chinese president on Friday after a formal vote in parliament, the culmination of a rise that has seen him become the country’s most powerful leader for generations. The result of the deputies’ vote, announced shortly before 11 a.m., is final: 2,952 votes …