Asia

Hong Kong Lawmaker Advocates for Halal Industry Expansion to Attract Muslim-Friendly Tourism ———————————– Lawmaker Vincent Cheng Wing-shun is leading efforts to diversify Hong Kong’s Halal product market, aiming to boost the city’s appeal as a Muslim-friendly destination. Following a fact-finding…

Five Years After UK Parliament Recognized Uyghur Genocide, Policy Action Remains Limited —————————————– Five years after the UK Parliament voted to recognize the treatment of Uyghur Muslims in China as genocide, analysts say there has been little concrete policy action…

Wildfires in northern Japan enter fourth day, evacuations continue in Iwate —————————————— Wildfires in northern Japan continued to burn into a fourth day on April 25, as emergency crews intensified efforts to contain the blazes in Iwate Prefecture amid difficult…

Powerful Earthquake Strikes North East Japan, Prompting Tsunami Warnings —————————————– A powerful earthquake struck off the northeastern coast of Japan on Monday, April 20, prompting temporary tsunami warnings and emergency evacuations across several coastal regions. According to the Japan Meteorological…

World Uyghur Congress calls for action after ex-police testimony on Xinjiang repression ———————————————– The World Uyghur Congress has urged international action following new testimony from a former Chinese police officer that alleges continued repression and forced labour practices in China’s…

Fire destroys nearly 200 homes in Malaysia’s Sabah, hundreds displaced ———————————- A large fire that broke out in a coastal village in eastern Malaysia’s Sabah state has destroyed around 200 homes and displaced hundreds of residents, authorities said, as emergency…

Uyghur Group Condemns Kazakhstan Sentences, Warns of Shrinking Civic Space —————————————— The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) has condemned Kazakhstan’s sentencing of 19 activists, warning the move reflects declining civic freedoms and rising external pressure linked to China. The activists, affiliated…

Philippine Forces Kill 10 Suspected Islamist Militants in Southern Clash ———————————— Philippine security forces killed 10 suspected Islamist extremist militants in a clash in the country’s south on Friday, marking the deadliest confrontation so far this year, The Times of…

Malaysia to increase enforcement against illegal e-waste ————————————– Malaysia will step up enforcement efforts against the import of illegal electronic waste (e-waste) into the country, including setting up a special port branch, Xinhua reported. The special unit will be managed…

Kazakhstan Imprisons 19 Activists for Peaceful Xinjiang Protest ——————————– A court in Kazakhstan has convicted 19 activists over a peaceful protest against alleged human rights abuses in China’s Xinjiang region. The move has drawn strong criticism from international rights groups…