Poll observers say Azerbaijan presidential vote marred by irregularities
Ilham Aliyev wins expected landslide victory, but OSCE monitors say vote was ‘restrictive’ and ‘not competitive’.
Operation asian news
Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson interviewed Russian President Vladimir Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a more than two-hour interview to former Fox News host Tucker Carlson that was released online Thursday, covering a variety of topics, from Ukraine to the Russian economy, but breaking little new ground.
China’s VC playbook is undergoing a sea change as U.S. IPO exits get tougher
BEIJING — Venture capitalists in China that once rose to fame with giant U.S. IPOs of consumer companies are under pressure to drastically change their strategy.
Trade leaders urge governments around the world to join Red Sea military effort
Trade associations representing sectors across the global economy have joined an open letter urging more governments around the world to join Red Sea maritime security efforts.
North Korea’s Kim Jong-un says he has lawful right to destroy South
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said he has the legal right to annihilate South Korea, in his latest move to threaten his neighbour after starting the year by eliminating the concept of peaceful unification from his state’s national policy.
Vietnam group’s alleged Uniqlo crime spree highlights allure of Japan-made products
The incident highlights a growing trend of cross-border theft, driven by the allure of high-quality Japanese products, raising questions about the government’s trainee visa programme as well as concerns about security protocols.
North Korea scraps all economic cooperation with South in further blow to inter-Korea ties
The assembly, which takes formal steps to adopt policy decisions of the ruling Workers’ Party, also voted to abolish laws governing economic ties with Seoul, including the special law on the operation of the Mount Kumgang tourism project.
Is New Zealand risking ‘reputational damage’ by joining anti-Houthi coalition in Red Sea?
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the Houthis’ attacks against commercial and naval shipping were “illegal, unacceptable and profoundly destabilising”, arguing that the defence deployment was a continuation of his country’s “long history of defending freedom of navigation both in the Middle East and closer to home”.