The leader of the “Umbrella Movement” – who was due to be released from prison in January 2027 following his first trial for pro-democracy activities – has found himself in the dock facing new charges of “collusion with foreign forces”. He hopes this will at least enable him to avoid a life sentence for a crime of opinion.
In his address at the ceremony in Oslo, 92-year-old Terumi Tanaka warned: “[T]here are 4,000 nuclear warheads, ready to be launched immediately.” This means that, “Any one of you could become either a victim or a perpetrator, at any time.”
The Democratic Party slams the government for trying to sideline President Yoon Suk yeol by handing power over to the prime minister and to the governing party’s leader, calling it an “illegal, unconstitutional act”. The People Power Party has failed so far to find a solution to the political stalemate, while the opposition is using legal channels to force its hand.
In the Guangdong city where a man ran over and killed dozens of people, all administration and law enforcement officials have been replaced. This was an indication of the Party's concern over the tragedy, which brought up the issue of violence linked to social resentment. Xi Jinping himself had urged all relevant authorities to ‘strengthen risk prevention and control at source’.
The impeachment motion against the president who tried to impose martial law was blocked. In his first address after the tumultuous night last Wednesday, Yoon called it an act of "desperation", pledging not to repeat it. The People Power Party, which sees his resignation as "inevitable", is taking its time to negotiate a less traumatic exit. Appealing to protesters, the opposition, however, won’t have it, and will try another impeachment motion.
The debate on Yoon's impeachment is set for tomorrow afternoon local time. The opposition only needs eight votes from the People Power Party for the impeachment to pass, a move made more likely after news reports suggest that the president planned to have other political leaders arrested on the night of the attempted coup. In case of approval, the matter would move to the Constitutional Court, where, however, only six out of nine judges are in office (four appointed by Yoon himself).
The UN body gave its approval yesterday recognising the traditional alcoholic beverage, the product of an ancient technique of fermenting rice and other ingredients using "koji" moulds. For makers, it is an opportunity to promote it at home and abroad. For 2026, the government wants to have "shodo" calligraphy listed.
The International City of Commerce in the south-eastern province of Zhejiang is the place of origin of most of the Christmas decorations sold these weeks all over the world. A gigantic 6.4 million square metre wholesale market open seven days a week for traders from all over the world who are arriving en masse again in 2024.
From Mindong, Hong Kong and Taiwan to Milan’s Chinese community, various voices speak at a meeting sponsored by AsiaNews on the feast day of Saint Francis Xavier, grateful to the communities that have kept and passed on the faith amid many difficulties and new encounters, with questions about meaning in a changing world.
At least 15 people have died after turning to the facility, the authorities report. The clinic's founder, Wu Pengfei, promoted his treatment online and prescribed medicines containing toxic herbs to patients.
The opposition has tabled a motion to impeach the head of state to be voted in the coming days. Interior and Defence ministers, who allegedly played a role in imposing martial law, are also accused. Civil society groups take to the streets calling for the president’s resignation.
A few days ago, more than 1,400 South Korean priests sounded the alarm bells for democracy by openly calling for the president’s impeachment. The clergymen call Yoon a "man of lies" and a "man of violence", “unable to understand his role and respect the power that the people have given him.” Political and media activities have been suspended, while police surrounded the country’s parliament.
Five hundred agents, some in riot gear, fenced off the Airin General Centre, ordering homeless people to move. The 1970 Expo was a “symbol of Japan’s rapid economic growth”. Osaka is home to the highest number of day labourers in the country. The centre closed in 2019. For a 60-year-old homeless man, “There are more and more foreign tourists here. So I guess it’s just a sign of the times.”
Subscribe to the newsletter to receive verified news, analysis and insights from Asian countries every week.
Subscribeto the newsletter
