China-Russia relations ‘rock solid’ ahead of Ukraine war anniversary

Xinhua said the pair “expressed willingness to practice genuine multilateralism, oppose all forms of unilateral bullying, and promote the democratisation of international relations and multi-polarisation of the world”. They also agreed to oppose cold-war mentality, bloc confrontation and ideological confrontation to ensure peace and safety in the Asia-Pacific, according to the Xinhua report, which added that the two sides also “exchanged views over Ukraine and other issues”. A more detailed report from Sputnik said Wang told Patrushev that China’s ties with Russia “are mature and solid as a rock and…

Myanmar junta’s confiscation of food, medicine leaves Kayah state residents at risk

Residents and internally displaced persons in Myanmar’s war-torn Kayah state are facing a humanitarian emergency as junta forces confiscate food and medicine at dozens of security checkpoints along major land routes in the southeastern state as fighting there intensifies, local sources said.   Armed conflict between Myanmar troops and popular militia forces have displaced nearly half of the population of about 450,000 people in Kayah state, a hotbed of resistance to the ruling military regime, which seized power from the elected government two years ago, and has been placed under martial…

China arrests family of Kazakh singer supposedly contacted by foreign reporter

Chinese authorities have arrested the mother and three siblings of an outspoken Kazakh singer and reeducation camp survivor after she supposedly spoke with foreign journalists, police and eyewitnesses told Radio Free Asia. The 47-year old singer, Zhanargul Zhumatai, was arrested Feb. 10 in Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, after she received a request for a “media interview” from someone claiming to be an Associated Press correspondent, according to the Kazahstan-based rights group Atajurt. Her family members – her mother, sister and two brothers — were arrested…

Power imbalance in China-Iran relations on full display during Raisi’s Beijing trip

In contrast, Iran is a heavily sanctioned and isolated power that produces little that Beijing immediately needs. Its rich hydrocarbon supplies are of interest to China, as is its large consumer population and open market for outside infrastructure investors. But these are all things that China can also find elsewhere. Iran does not sit at the heart of any international structures that are useful to China’s efforts to blunt the growing push by the West to isolate Beijing on the world stage. In fact, Iran is desperately keen to join…

Myanmar junta’s switch to electronic voting won’t bode well for voters, analysts say

Myanmar’s ruling junta is considering the use of electronic voting machines in an upcoming election, a move that poses security risks for those who vote against military-backed parties and allow the regime to manipulate the votes using census data, analysts say.   The junta, which unseated the elected government in a Feb. 2021 coup, said previously that it expected to hold general elections in August. But on Feb. 1, the second anniversary of the coup, the regime announced it was extending its state of emergency imposed when it seized power, delaying…

YouTube shuts down satirical spoof video channel targeting Chinese leader Xi Jinping

A YouTube channel that once churned out satirical spoof videos featuring ruling Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping has been deleted from the platform, sparking concerns over whether the Chinese government is exploiting the social media giant’s copyright rules. The RutersXiaoFanQi channel, whose name amalgamates the Chinese word “to humiliate” with that of the news agency Reuters, was unavailable on YouTube at 1300 GMT on Monday. The takedown comes as Chinese censors grow increasingly concerned about satirical content about Xi Jinping coming from overseas, where students and activists recently demonstrated…

Myanmar prison guards injure more than 80 inmates when argument turns violent

Guards injured more than 80 political prisoners at a prison in central Myanmar after an argument turned violent, an incident which observers say is typical in the prison system since the junta took control of the country in a coup more than two years ago. The incident occurred on Feb. 4 at Mandalay’s Obo Prison while a group of inmates, all female, were in line to get hot water, and some of the women began arguing with the guards. “That’s when the prison guards came in and beat them. It’s…

China increases surveillance, security in run-up to Tibetan New Year celebrations

The Chinese government has imposed intense restrictions on residents of Tibet’s capital for the Tibetan New Year, with security forces ramping up surveillance and monitoring of residents and conducting random searches, Tibetans inside the region said. Lhasa, the region’s administrative capital with a population of about 560,000 people, is the heart of New Year celebrations and pilgrimages in the western region. Tibetan Buddhists from other areas go there to visit and pray at significant religious sites such as the Potala Palace, Barkhor Street, Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka Palace. Chinese authorities…

World leaders condemn North Korea’s latest missile launch

The leaders of the G-7 have joined the condemnation of North Korea’s weekend missile launch, calling the test a “reckless” threat to peace, as experts said Pyongyang is verging on the ability to launch missiles that can strike the continental United States without “re-entry” issues. North Korea on Saturday launched a long-range missile into the sea off Japan in apparent protest against U.S.-South Korean military drills. The missile was fired in a largely vertical direction, but showed a capacity to fly far further if launched toward a lower altitude, according…

Cambodia PM Hun Sen says doctors tell him he’s prediabetic

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen announced Monday that he has prediabetes, a condition that means he has above normal blood sugar levels and is at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.  “I am not diabetic yet, but it is very close. It is alarming,” he said. “[Doctors] asked me to reduce sugar intake.” This is a rare instance of Hun Sen making a public announcement about his health. Previously, the 70-year-old has said that he was fit and that his family has no history of diabetes.  The announcement comes after…