2:40 AMS Korea's next leader faces escalating N Korean nuke threat
During his election campaign, South Korean President-elect Yoon Suk Yeol had tough words for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, saying he would teach his rival some manners and sternly deal with his provocative missile tests with a strengthened alliance with the United States.
But as he takes office Tuesday for a single five-year term, the conservative Yoon must now confront an increasingly belligerent Kim, who openly threatens to use atomic bombs and is reportedly preparing for his first nuclear test explosion in four years, part of an effort to build warheads that specifically target South Korea.
North Korea has a history of trying to rattle new governments in Seoul and Washington to gain leverage in future negotiations. But if Kim orders a nuclear test, Yoon would be left with very limited options to deal with Kim at the start of his presidency.
2:26 AMThailand Targets Homegrown mRNA Vaccine Roll-Out by Year-End
Thailand may start rolling out its first locally-developed Covid-vaccine that deploys the same technology used by Pfizer Inc. by the end of this year after successfully concluding its human trials, the government said.
Bangkok-based Chulalongkorn University, which has developed the vaccine, will submit the results of the trials to the Thai Food and Drug Administration soon for approval, Traisuree Taisaranakul, a government spokeswoman, said in a statement Saturday. The first batch of the vaccine, named ChulaCov19, was found to be safe in clinical trials and produced more immunity than the Pfizer shots approved for use in Thailand, she said.
2:14 AMPresident Kovind to inaugurate permanent campus of IIM Nagpur today
President Ram Nath Kovind will visit Maharashtra to inaugurate the permanent campus of Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Nagpur, on Sunday, said a press release by President's Secretariat.
The President will inaugurate the campus at 10:00 am on Sunday.
"The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind will visit Maharashtra tomorrow (May 8, 2022) to inaugurate the permanent campus of IIM Nagpur at Dahegaon Mauza, MIHA, Nagpur," said the statement.
2:05 AMImran Khan reiterates he would 'never have agreed' to US demands for military bases in Pakistan
Imran Khan on Saturday reiterated that he would "never have agreed" to any US demands for military bases in Pakistan in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan last August.
He made these remarks while addressing overseas Pakistanis in a video message, reported Dawn.
He said that the US after evacuation from Afghanistan wanted bases in Pakistan in order to "conduct (counter attacks) from here in case there was any terrorism in Afghanistan" -- something he said he found "absolutely unacceptable".
1:46 AMTaliban hijab decision might further strain engagement with international community: UN
The Taliban decree for women to must cover their faces in public might further strain engagement with the international community.
Raising concern over the hijab decision, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in a statement said, "Information they have received suggests this is a formal directive rather than a recommendation, and that it will be implemented and enforced," reported Pajhwok Afghan News.
"This decision contradicts numerous assurances regarding respect for and protection of all Afghans' human rights, including those of women and girls, that had been provided to the international community by Taliban representatives during discussions and negotiations over the past decade," added UNAMA.
1:40 AMForeign diplomats, rights groups decry Sri Lanka's state of emergency
Foreign envoys to Sri Lanka and rights groups on Saturday expressed concern over the declaration of a state of emergency by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
They fear that police might use force against peaceful protesters amid the country's worst economic crisis in recent memory, reported Taipei Times.
US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung wrote on Twitter that she is "concerned" by the state of emergency, adding that "the voices of peaceful citizens need to be heard."
1:35 AMSri Lanka cancels leave of security forces after declaration of emergency
Sri Lanka on Saturday cancelled the leave of security forces with immediate effect after the declaration of a state of emergency in the island nation.
The Ministry of Defence divulged the information about the cancellation of the leaves, reported Daily Mirror.
The crisis-hit Sri Lanka on Friday declared a state of emergency after the crippling strike and protest over the external debt for the second time in five weeks.
1:34 AMTaipei hopes world will sanction China like Russia if it invades Taiwan
Taiwan hoped that the world will sanction China if it invades the island nation the same way the global community is now sanctioning Russia for its war on Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters in Taipei at an event, Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu on Friday said that it was important to stand with others in denouncing the invasion and sanctioning Russia and Belarus, reported Taipei Times.
"In the future, if we are threatened with force by China, or are invaded, of course, we hope the international community can understand and support Taiwan, and sanction these kinds of aggressive behaviours," he said.
1:34 AMNo coercive step to be taken against Tajinder Bagga: HC after late-night hearing
In a reprieve for Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga, the Punjab and Haryana High Court Saturday night directed that no coercive step be taken against the Delhi BJP leader after he sought a stay on the arrest warrant issued by a Mohali court earlier in the day.
Hours after the Mohali court issued the arrest warrant in connection with a case registered against him by the Punjab Police last month, Bagga moved the high court challenging it.
Justice Anoop Chitkara took up Bagga's petition in an urgent hearing at his residence just before midnight.
1:33 AMOwaisi challenges Rahul Gandhi to contest from Hyderabad
All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi challenged Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi to contest from Hyderabad.
Taking a jibe at Rahul Gandhi, he said that he will now lose from Wayanad too.
One being asked about Rahul Gandhi' statement that he has come to Telangana to challenge TRS, BJP and him ,Owaisi said, "I am saying that you will now lose from Wayanad too. Come, contest from Hyderabad. Try your luck. You can contest from Medak too."
1:32 AMJudge rejects Trump lawsuit challenging ban from Twitter
A San Francisco judge tossed out former President Donald Trump's lawsuit challenging his permanent ban from Twitter.
US District Judge James Donato said Friday that Trump failed to show Twitter violated his First Amendment right to free speech. Free speech rights don't apply to private companies and Trump failed to show Twitter was working as a state actor on behalf of Democrats, the judge wrote.
The amended complaint merely offers a grab-bag of allegations to the effect that some Democratic members of Congress wanted Mr Trump, and the views he espoused,' to be banned from Twitter because such content and views' were contrary to those legislators' preferred points of view,' Donato wrote.
1:29 AMTaipei hopes world will sanction China like Russia if it invades Taiwan
Taiwan hoped that the world will sanction China if it invades the island nation the same way the global community is now sanctioning Russia for its war on Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters in Taipei at an event, Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu on Friday said that it was important to stand with others in denouncing the invasion and sanctioning Russia and Belarus, reported Taipei Times.
"In the future, if we are threatened with force by China, or are invaded, of course, we hope the international community can understand and support Taiwan, and sanction these kinds of aggressive behaviours," he said.
1:24 AMUkraine evacuates civilians from steel plant under siege
Russian forces fired cruise missiles at the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa on Saturday and bombarded a besieged steel mill in Mariupol, hoping to complete their conquest of the port in time for Victory Day celebrations.
Ukraine announced that all women, children and older adults had been evacuated from the mill, a key Russian war objective.
In a sign of the unexpectedly effective defense that has sustained the fighting into its 11th week, Ukraine's military flattened Russian positions on a Black Sea island that was captured in the war's first days and has become a symbol of resistance.