Displaying items by tag: Asia

A catastrophic 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on 28 March, with the effects being felt as far away as Thailand and China. The death toll has already surpassed two thousand, with over 3,400 injured and many still trapped under rubble. Collapsed bridges and crumpled roads have delayed rescue efforts, and the secretive ruling junta has taken the unusual step of appealing for international assistance. In Mandalay, people are digging through debris with bare hands due to equipment shortages, while temperatures soar above 39°C (102°F). Communication breakdowns have forced rescue teams to rely on social media to locate victims. With rising temperatures and limited resources, rescuers fear more deaths are inevitable. Despite the odds, emergency workers remain committed to saving lives while grappling with overwhelming loss and unbearable heat.

For the second time in four days, Israel’s military have struck a Hezbollah target in Beirut. The precision airstrike, carried out by the air force, killed Hassan Ali Mahmoud Bdeir, a senior Hezbollah operative. According to Israel, he was orchestrating an imminent terror attack against civilians. The strike hit the top floors of an apartment building, killing at least three and wounding seven. Lebanese officials condemned the attack, calling it a violation of UN Resolution 1701 and an assault on Lebanese sovereignty. The president vowed to rally international support, while Hezbollah’s leadership placed responsibility on Lebanon’s government to respond diplomatically. The USA reiterated its support for Israel, claiming that it was operating in response to rocket attacks. Although Hezbollah denied launching the rockets, authorities have arrested thirteen suspects. The targeted strikes and political fallout highlight deepening regional instability and the increasing entanglement of Iranian-backed terror groups.

China has launched large-scale joint military exercises around Taiwan, involving its navy, air force, army, and rocket force, in what it described as a ‘stern warning’, just days after defence secretary Pete Hegseth, on his first visit to Asia, vowed to counter ‘China’s aggression’ and reaffirmed US support for Taiwan and regional allies. The manoeuvres simulated maritime assaults and blockades, deploying 71 aircraft and thirteen ships including an aircraft carrier. Taiwan condemned the actions as provocative and unjustified, maintaining high vigilance and deploying its own military assets. Analysts see the timing as symbolic, signalling discontent with the USA’s increased Indo-Pacific focus. China has intensified pressure on Taiwan, especially under president Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing labels a ‘separatist’. He has called on China to cease its intimidation, and the island’s population remains firmly opposed to Chinese rule.

The constitutional court has overturned the impeachment of South Korean prime minister Han Duck-soo, reinstating him as acting president amid ongoing political upheaval. Han was removed from office after president Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law late last year, suspending civilian legal processes and triggering a national crisis. After Yoon's suspension by lawmakers on 14 December, Han took over presidential duties - only to be impeached himself less than two weeks later for allegedly undermining the constitution. The opposition Democratic Party accused him of aiding Yoon’s martial law plan and refusing to appoint constitutional court justices or pass a bill investigating First Lady Kim Keon-hee. However, the court found no evidence to support these accusations; only one of eight judges supported the impeachment. Han welcomed the ruling, calling it ‘wise’. The nation now awaits the court’s decision on whether Yoon will be impeached.

Israel has launched a ‘limited ground operation’ to retake the Netzarim corridor in Gaza, escalating the conflict after the ceasefire agreement with Hamas collapsed. The corridor, previously used by Israeli forces, had been vacated as part of the truce. Meanwhile, a Bulgarian UN worker has been killed, and five others, including a British man, were wounded in a strike on a UN guesthouse in Gaza. Israel denies responsibility, saying that an initial investigation found ‘no connection’ between the strike and the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). The UN has condemned the attack on its personnel. The Gaza health ministry says that at least 436 people have been killed since Israel launched the fresh wave of airstrikes, though Israel disputes the accuracy of those figures, maintaining that it targets militants, not civilians.

More than eighty Afghan women studying in Oman on US-funded scholarships have received a temporary extension of support until 30 June, after an abrupt funding cut by the Trump administration. The scholarships, provided through USAID, were crucial for students who fled Afghanistan, where the Taliban has banned women from higher education. The students expressed relief but remain uncertain about their future, fearing forced return to Afghanistan, where they would face severe restrictions and potential persecution. The US government has not confirmed whether long-term funding will be restored, and efforts are under way to secure alternative financial support. The Taliban claim to be addressing women’s education but continue to enforce oppressive policies. They have cracked down on women protesting about those policies, with many activists beaten, detained and threatened.

Open Doors has warned that false online reports about a Christian massacre in Syria could put Syrian believers at greater risk. While recent violence in Latakia and Tartus has killed over 1,500 people, including four Christians, there is no evidence that believers were specifically targeted for their faith. An Open Doors representative cautioned that misinformation could have serious consequences. He noted that governments and armed groups monitor online discussions, and false claims could lead to further persecution of Christians who had no involvement in spreading such reports. Though this latest wave of violence has not directly targeted Christians, Syrian believers - especially those who have converted from Islam - already face persecution. Many are fearful and some are considering fleeing the country. Churches in some regions have even cancelled services due to security concerns.

The UN human rights office reports that at least 111 civilians, including entire families, were killed in recent violence in Syria’s coastal region, though the true toll is probably much higher. Predominantly Alawite towns (most Alawites were supporters of the overthrown president Bashar al-Assad) were targeted in apparent sectarian attacks, following an ambush on 7 March which killed thirteen security personnel. Alawite gunmen retaliated by storming villages, executing civilians, looting, and even attacking hospitals. The UN verified the deaths of 90 men, 18 women, and three children: however, one monitoring group has said that 1,225 civilians, most of them Alawites, have been killed.This marks the worst violence since Assad was ousted in December, ending a 13-year civil war which claimed 600,000 lives. The UN has urged thorough investigations, while Syria’s new government has pledged accountability. An independent committee is gathering evidence to bring perpetrators to justice.

Bangladesh’s interim leader, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, admits he was ‘dazzled’ when unexpectedly asked to take charge after Sheikh Hasina was ousted last year. Yunus, who returned to lead the country following a student-led uprising, prioritises restoring order and fixing the economy, which he describes as ‘devastated’. He plans to hold elections between December 2025 and March 2026, contingent on necessary reforms. Meanwhile, Hasina remains in exile in India, wanted in Bangladesh for alleged crimes against humanity. Amid ongoing unrest, critics accuse Yunus’s government of failing to ensure security for her Awami League members, some of whose homes have been vandalised. The interim government faces additional challenges after the Trump administration cut US foreign aid (last year it received $450 million). There are concerns about Bangladesh’s economic and political future: the nation, once hailed for its progress, is now struggling to regain stability under its new leadership.

At least twelve people were killed and thirty wounded in a deadly militant attack on a military base in Bannu, northwestern Pakistan. Two suicide bombers detonated explosive-laden vehicles near the base’s wall, allowing several attackers to attempt entry before being eliminated. The attack occurred after sunset, when many would have been breaking their Ramadan fast. A Taliban-linked group, Jaish Al-Fursan, claimed responsibility. The explosions damaged homes, causing roofs and walls to collapse, killing civilians, including four children. A nearby mosque was also severely impacted, with the imam among the dead. Prime minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the assault, and the province's chief minister has ordered an investigation. This was the third militant attack in Pakistan since Ramadan began, continuing a pattern of escalating violence in the region. Security forces remain on high alert following the assault.