Jakarta – The Qatari government said it was suspending efforts to establish a peace agreement between Israel and Hamas, as both sides were willing to negotiate. Qatar is also reportedly under pressure from the United States to close Hamas branch offices in the country. The small, wealthy country has built a place as a mediator … Read more
Jakarta – Israel is being asked to reconsider its decision to ban the Palestine Refugee Agency (UNRWA) from operating in the country. Until now, UNRWA is considered a lifeline in Gaza amid an increasingly dire humanitarian crisis. Many countries, including Israel’s main allies such as the United States, Great Britain and Germany, have expressed great … Read more
Jakarta – Thailand’s King Vajiralongkorn signed the marriage equality bill (RUU) into law, making Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia to recognize same-sex marriage. The bill passed the Thai Senate last June, but requires royal assent to become law. With King Vajiralongkorn’s blessing, the law will come into effect on January 22 next year. … Read more
Jakarta – Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the youngest daughter of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, is officially the next prime minister of Thailand after receiving enough support from members of parliament. Paetongtarn, who was supported by 319 MPs and rejected by 145 MPs on Friday (16/08), is the youngest prime minister to lead the country. The appointment … Read more
Jakarta – “One, two, three, four, Sheikh Hasina is a dictator!” These words have become a rallying cry for Bangladesh’s younger generation in recent weeks and on Monday (05/08) their anger ended the 15-year rule of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina, 76, has ruled the South Asian nation of 170 million people with an iron … Read more
Jakarta – Mohamed Kamal Ismail is the person behind one of many main expansions of the 2 principal mosques in Saudi Arabia. This Egyptian architect born in 1908 was chosen by the late King Fahd of Saudi Arabia to supervise the growth of the Nice Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina. At … Read more
Jakarta – Videos of Gaza prisoners stripped, tied and blindfolded have been posted online by Israeli soldiers. The video violates international law, legal experts say. According to international law, detainees must not be excessively insulted or humiliated and subjected to public consumption. BBC Verify examined hundreds of videos publicly shared by Israeli soldiers in Gaza … Read more
Gaza – A six-year-old girl who went missing in Gaza last month was found dead in an Israeli attack. His body was found with several relatives and two paramedics who tried to save him. Six-year-old Hind Rajab was trapped under gunfire in Gaza City and begged for help, hiding in his uncle’s car, surrounded by … Read more
Jakarta – Saudi Arabia will open a shop in Riyadh selling alcoholic drinks to non-Muslim foreigners the first store to open in the last 70 years. Customers will be limited to diplomatic staff, who have been importing liquor in officially closed packaging known as diplomatic bags. Saudi Arabian officials said the aim of opening the … Read more
Tokyo – A Japanese space probe has successfully landed on the Moon, but problems with its solar panels mean the mission may be shortened by just a few hours. Vehicle Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) made a smooth landing on the lunar surface near the equatorial crater. Japan became the fifth country to successfully … Read more