Author: News Desk

China: China has expelled Canada’s consul in Shanghai in retaliation for Ottawa sending home a Chinese diplomat accused of trying to intimidate a Canadian MP. Canada has previously declared Chinese diplomat Mr. Zhao Wei “persona non grata” and ordered her to leave the country. In response, China ordered the removal of Ms. Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, Canada’s diplomat in its Shanghai Consulate. “China strongly condemns and resolutely opposes Canada’s decision, and has made solemn representations and protests to the Canadian side,” the Chinese foreign ministry stated. “China reserves the right to further react,” Beijing further noted in a statement. Both diplomats…

United States: US President Mr. Joe Biden has expressed his desire to ensure that Hollywood’s striking movie and television writers receive a “fair deal” regarding their ongoing contract negotiations. Mr. Biden’s statement came on 8th May 2023 as the entertainment industry grapples with ongoing labor disputes. “I sincerely hope the writers’ strike in Hollywood gets resolved and writers are given the fair deal they deserve as soon as possible,” the President stated during a film screening at the White House in honour of the Asian-American community. For the first time since the strike began last week, President Mr. Joe Biden,…

China: LinkedIn, the popular social media platform geared towards professional networking, has recently revealed its decision to reduce its workforce by over 700 positions and discontinue its job search app in China. The move comes as the company seeks to restructure and refocus its operations amid shifting market conditions. LinkedIn’s CEO, Mr. Ryan Roslansky, announced in a letter to employees on 8th May 2023 that the company will be eliminating 716 jobs and discontinuing its job-search application in China. The decision was made in response to declining revenue growth and evolving customer preferences. “In an evolving market, we must continuously…

Myanmar: Singapore and Indonesia have condemned an attack on regional diplomats on a humanitarian aid mission in crisis-hit Myanmar’s northeastern Shan State. Singapore stated that two staff members from its embassy in Yangon were part of the convoy that came under fire and had returned safely to the city. “Singapore condemns this attack. It is critical to safeguard the safety of humanitarian and diplomatic personnel to ensure that they can continue their operations and provide necessary aid to those in need,” the city-state’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted in a statement. According to reports, the attack took place as the…

Iran: Iran has executed two men convicted of blasphemy after they were found guilty of “burning the Quran” and “insulting the Prophet of Islam”, according to the country’s judiciary. Mr. Yousef Mehrad and Mr. Sadrollah Fazeli-Zare were accused of running dozens of social media accounts that were “dedicated to atheism and desecration of the sanctities”, the statement cited. Mr. Mehrad’s lawyer argued that his client was innocent and that his sentence was unjust. The executions were condemned by rights groups, with Iran Human Rights describing them as “a cruel act by a medieval regime”. The men were arrested in 2020…

Chile: Chilean right-wing parties have won a majority of votes to elect advisers to draft a new constitution, marking a sharp shift from a progressive majority that drafted a failed first constitutional rewrite. Chile’s Republican Party secured nearly 35 percent of the vote, while a separate coalition of traditional right-wing parties gained over 20 percent. President Gabriel Boric’s left-wing coalition received around 29 percent of the vote, with centrist parties taking the rest. “Today is the first day of a better future, a new start for Chile. Chile has defeated a failed government,” Mr. Jose Antonio Kast, who lost to…

Pakistan: Officials have reported that Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban government have reached an agreement to increase trade and reduce tensions along their border. This comes as Pakistan faces a wave of attacks on its security forces. The move is aimed at easing tensions between the two neighbouring countries and promoting economic cooperation. As per Pakistan’s foreign ministry, the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and Afghanistan’s foreign minister appointed by the Taliban, Mr. Amir Khan Muttaqi, signed an agreement in Islamabad. The deal is aimed at boosting economic ties and reducing border tensions between the two countries. The…

Saudi Arabia: The White House has stated that the United States’ national security adviser, Mr. Jake Sullivan, has met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and reviewed “significant progress” in Yemen peace efforts. According to the statement, on a trip aimed at strengthening once complicated ties with Riyadh, Sullivan also held joint talks with the crown prince, UAE national security adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al-Nahyan, and India’s national security adviser Mr. Ajit Doval “to advance their shared vision of a more secure and prosperous Middle East region interconnected with India and the world.” Mr. Sullivan’s meeting came after a…

Ukraine: Amid rising concerns about safety at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Russia has fired numerous missiles and drones towards Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine. The attack has resulted in injuries to at least five people. According to Ukraine’s top military officials, they have successfully destroyed all 35 Shahed drones that were launched during the night. These drones were reportedly made in Iran. Additionally, Ukraine’s military command has stated that Russia has fired multiple missiles as well. In its daily update, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces has reported that there are civilian…

Syria: The foreign ministers of Arab League member states have voted to reinstate Syria’s membership, more than a decade after it was suspended due to a crackdown on protesters that led to a devastating civil war that has killed nearly half a million people and displaced another 23 million. The decision was made ahead of the Arab League Summit in Saudi Arabia on May 19 and comes amid a recent trend of regional nations normalising ties with Damascus. The move was made following a meeting of top diplomats from Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Syria in Jordan, where they dubbed…