Taiwan to vote on 26 July to recall 24 Kuomintang MPs
Today's news: Another night of fighting between Israel and Iran as Iran’s foreign minister meets with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul. Taekwondo diplomacy might signal the first step in easing tensions between the two Koreas. In the Philippines, the investigation into the disappearance of 34 people involved in a cockfighting racket has reached a turning point. Putin approves a Russian Starlink-like project.
TAIWAN
Taiwan's Central Election Commission (CEC) announced yesterday that the first round of recall votes for 24 Kuomintang MPs and Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao will be held on 26 July. Taiwan is experiencing an unprecedented wave of recall campaigns, led by President Lai Ching-te Democratic Progressive Party, which does not have a majority in parliament. Under the Civil Servants Election and Recall Act, Taiwanese can initiate a recall process for district-elected legislators by collecting signatures from residents and submitting them to the CEC. According to the law, a recall vote is considered valid only if the number of votes in favour is greater than the number of opposing votes, and if those supporting votes are at least a quarter of the eligible voters in the electoral district in question.
ISRAEL – IRAN
The skies over Israel and Iran saw another night of war. Israeli planes bombed the nuclear site in Isfahan, while Iran fired five more rockets in central Israel and sent a new wave of drones. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Istanbul today for the summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Yesterday, after meeting with his counterparts from France, Germany and Great Britain in Geneva, he said that Iran would not return to nuclear talks as long as it is under Israeli fire.
NORTH KOREA – SOUTH KOREA
With President Lee Jae Myung taking office, taekwondo could restart intra-Korean dialogue. South Korea might again back North Korea’s request for UNESCO to recognise the Korean martial art as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Efforts by the two Koreas in this area was interrupted under President Yoon Suk Yeol. Choi Jae-choon, head of the Korea Taekwondo UNESCO Promotion Committee, told the Hankook Ilbo on Thursday that he intends to formally request permission for inter-Korean contact soon. He also said that he will restart talks with the Austria-based International Taekwondo Federation, currently chaired by North Korea.
INDIA
India’s aviation regulator has ordered immediate action against three senior Air India officials following “serious and repeated violations” related to flight crew scheduling. The information, voluntarily disclosed by the airline, shows that the flight crew had been scheduled and operated despite failing to meet mandatory licensing, rest and refresher requirements. The order comes days after an Air India flight from Ahmedabad to Gatwick, London, crashed moments after takeoff, killing 241 people on board.
PHILIPPINES
Philippine authorities are investigating a complaint that dozens of cockfighting enthusiasts who went missing three years ago were killed and dumped in a volcanic lake. At least 34 men accused of fixing cockfighting matches went missing without leaving a trace in the capital Manila and surrounding provinces. Six suspects were later charged with kidnapping, and one of them said in a television interview on Thursday that the victims were strangled and thrown into Taal Lake, which surrounds an active volcano. Cockfighting betting is a multi-billion dollar business in the Philippines.
RUSSIA
Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised the Development of Space Activities project, which includes placing about 900 satellites into orbit to provide Internet access, in direct competition with Elon Musk’s Starlink system, Roscosmos agency director Dmitry Bakanov told the Russian Senate.
ARMENIA
Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, owner of Tashir Group, was detained in Yerevan after National Security Service agents searched his villa. He was charged with “inciting a coup in Armenia” following his criticism of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan who had made serious allegations against the Armenian Church hierarchy.
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12/02/2016 15:14
