Former police inspector general convicted for accusing Minister Hannah Yeoh in a public speech of being part of a ‘religious conspiracy to weaken Islam’ because of a book in which she recounts her experience of faith. Initial acquittal verdict handed down in 2024 by High Court overturned. Case emblematic of delicate balance between religious communities in Malaysia.
A 28-year-old tuk-tuk driver, Samir Kumar Das, was killed in Feni District raising to 12 the number of Hindus killed in recent violence against minorities. India is calling for swift and decisive action. Meanwhile, concern is also being expressed following the reactions of a Hindu priest in Ghaziabad, who is fanning the flames by calling for the distribution of swords and the formation of “squads like ISIS.”
The second phase of the general elections promoted by Myanmar's military junta took place on 11 January. Voting also reached disputed areas and conflict zones, where the military threatened civilians and made accusations of coercion. According to the United Nations and independent observers, the process lacks democratic credibility and represents an attempt to gain international legitimacy for a regime that continues to rule by force.
Today's news: economy and security at the centre of today's meeting between the Japanese Prime Minister and the South Korean President. Colombo has asked Beijing for help in post-typhoon reconstruction. Activists in Bahrain concerned about the conviction of opposition leader Sharif.
For the moment, Russia tends to downplay the scope of US Coast Guard operations against its ghost tankers, which are withdrawing from the Caribbean seas to circumvent sanctions, limiting themselves to circumnavigating Eurasian territories. But advocates of war view the abandonment of “friendly countries” with concern, fearing the risk of being left with only North Korea at its side.
An app that suddenly shot to the top of the download charts has lifted the veil on the anxiety of many Chinese people, not just the elderly, who find themselves living alone in large cities. If no one responds within 48 hours, their smartphone sends a notification to a contact. By 2030, China will have 200 million single-person households.
