Myanmar's junta late Sunday imposed martial law in two densely populated Yangon townships after at least 18 protesters were killed in one of the deadliest days since the 1 February coup.Sunday's violence brings the number of people killed in mass protests since the military wrenched civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi from power to around 100, though activists and rights groups believe it could be higher.The junta has repeatedly justified its power grab by alleging widespread electoral

The European Union (EU) is facing further shortfalls in its coronavirus inoculation programme after pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca said production problems and export restrictions would reduce planned deliveries of its vaccine.The Anglo/Swedish firm's image has already taken a hit with several countries suspending the rollout of its vaccine over blood clot fears, even as the World Health Organization (WHO) said there was no reason to stop using it.It is just the latest blow for the Ast

China is no longer compliant with Hong Kong's joint declaration after Beijing announced sweeping changes to the region's electoral system, Britain said Saturday. "The UK now considers Beijing to be in a state of ongoing non-compliance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration," the foreign ministry said in a statement.The treaty was signed before Britain handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997 and was designed to allay fears about its future under Beijing's rule

India will produce more than one billion more COVID vaccine doses by the end of next year in an initiative launched Friday with the United States (US), Japan and Australia, challenging China as the four leaders held their first-ever joint summit.US President Joe Biden, who has vowed to reinvigorate alliances in the face of growing worries about China, met virtually with the three nations' prime ministers as they pledged together to defend a "free and open" Indo-Pacific region.&

Britain on Friday advised its citizens to flee Myanmar, as ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi's lawyer rejected junta corruption claims against her as 'groundless'.The military authorities are cracking down with increasing severity on daily protests against their 1 February coup, with at least 70 people killed according to the United Nations’ (UN) top rights expert on the country.The turmoil prompted Britain, the former colonial ruler, to urge its citizens to get out if th

Dogged already by rows with European politicians, AstraZeneca was forced anew to defend its coronavirus vaccine on Friday over concerns about a potential link to blood clots.The decision of some countries in Europe and Asia to suspend their use of the COVID-19 jab was extra bad news for the United Kingdom (UK)-based pharmaceutical company, which has taken a knock with investors even as authorities around the world insist the jab remains safe."An analysis of our safety data of more than 1

Myanmar's military is likely committing "crimes against humanity" in its attempt to stay in power, a United Nations (UN) expert said Thursday, as the junta claimed that ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi accepted illegal payments of cash and gold.At least 70 people have reportedly been "murdered" since the 1 February coup, said Thomas Andrews, the UN's top expert on rights in Myanmar.The country is "controlled by a murderous, illegal regime" that w

Malaysia's government introduced a law Thursday that punishes spreading coronavirus misinformation with jail time and hefty fines, sparking fury at what critics labelled an "appalling" attack on free speech.The shock move comes amid growing concerns about worsening freedom of expression in Malaysia since a scandal-plagued administration seized power last year.The emergency ordinance comes into effect Friday, and does not need parliamentary approval as the country is currently u

Security forces for Myanmar's military regime are using battlefield weapons on unarmed protestors and carrying out premeditated killings orchestrated by their commanding officers, Amnesty International said Thursday.The human rights group collated graphic video clips posted on social media to document what it called a "nationwide killing spree" in the weeks since the military seized power on 1 February."These Myanmar military tactics are far from new, but their killing spr

Christians in Muslim-majority Malaysia can use the word "Allah" in publications, a court ruled Wednesday, overturning a decades-old ban after a lengthy legal battle that fuelled religious tensions.The Arabic word for God has long been divisive in Malaysia, with Christians complaining attempts to stop them using it highlight creeping Islamisation.