Lebanon has been rocked by anti-government protests for months
Lebanon has been rocked by anti-government protests for months

Coronavirus: Lebanon's woes worsen as country pushed to the brink

For the past two months, Khaldoon Rifaa has not been able to work as a driver because of Lebanon's lockdown.

Officials in "hotspot" suburbs in Melbourne are now carrying out a massive testing "blitz"
Officials in "hotspot" suburbs in Melbourne are now carrying out a massive testing "blitz"

Coronavirus: Australia sends 1,000 army personnel to Victoria to fight outbreak

Australia is sending 1,000 army personnel to Victoria amid a surge in virus cases in the south-eastern state.

 Thousands of travellers have been stranded by the airport closure
Thousands of travellers have been stranded by the airport closure

Bali volcano: Mt Agung ash shuts airport for second day

Indonesian officials have shut the international airport in Bali for a second day, as Mount Agung spews volcanic ash into the atmosphere.

Massive plumes of dark ash were seen reaching as high as 3km (2 miles) above the summit of the rumbling volcano, which began erupting last week.

Officials raised the alert to the highest level on Monday, fearing an imminent major eruption.

 The men's boat was seen by a breakwater at Yurihonjo on Friday morning
The men's boat was seen by a breakwater at Yurihonjo on Friday morning

Eight 'North Korean fishermen' wash ashore in Japan

A boat carrying eight men claiming to be North Korean fishermen has washed ashore the coast in Japan.

Japanese police said the men were found at Yurihonjo city's marina late on Thursday, and taken into custody.

The men had told authorities that their boat experienced difficulties and they ended up drifting into Japanese waters.

 Officials say more than 1,000 buildings and vehicles have been damaged
Officials say more than 1,000 buildings and vehicles have been damaged

South Korea earthquake halts major exam for university entry

South Korea has delayed its nationwide college entrance exam for the first time ever, after the country was struck by an earthquake on Wednesday.

Students and parents usually spend months preparing for the crucial exam.

The 5.4 magnitude tremor hit the south-eastern port city of Pohang in the afternoon, and dozens of aftershocks have occurred since.

Outcry as Afghanistan moves to ban WhatsApp and Telegram

Journalists, media groups and users of social media in Afghanistan have accused the government of censorship after it moved to block the WhatsApp and Telegram messaging services.

The editor of one of the country's biggest newspapers said the move was a retrograde step and would be resisted.

India: Four men held for gang raping teenager

Four men have been arrested for allegedly gang raping a teenager in the central Indian city of Bhopal.

The 19-year-old was returning from a study centre on Thursday evening when two men attacked her under a bridge.

After raping her for hours, they tied her up and called two other men who also took turns to assault her.

 Ceremonies and preparations have been ongoing since the death of the king
Ceremonies and preparations have been ongoing since the death of the king

Thailand prepares for King Bhumibol Adulyadej's funeral

Big crowds are gathering for a five-day funeral ceremony for Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died last October aged 88.

The monarch will be cremated in Bangkok on Thursday, in a royal pyre representing heaven.

Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra
Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra

Thai ex-PM sentenced to five years in jail

Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been found guilty of criminal negligence and sentenced in absentia to five years in prison.

The Supreme Court convicted her of mishandling a rice subsidy scheme which allegedly cost Thailand at least $8bn.

Ousted in 2014, weeks before a military coup, and later impeached, Ms Yingluck denies all charges and fled before the verdict, reportedly to Dubai.

Iraqi Kurdistan in historic independence vote

People are voting in a landmark referendum on independence for the Kurdistan Region of Iraq - a move which has been criticised by foreign powers.

Polls are open in the three northern provinces that make up the region, as well as disputed areas claimed by the Kurds and the government in Baghdad.

Iraq's prime minister has denounced the referendum as "unconstitutional".

Malala calls for defence of Rohingya

Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai says the "global community" needs to intervene to protect Myanmar's Muslim minority.

She urged Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi to speak up for the Rohingya.

"We can't be silent right now. The number of people who have been displaced is hundreds of thousands," Malala told the BBC.

 Gauri Lankesh was known as a fearless and outspoken journalist
Gauri Lankesh was known as a fearless and outspoken journalist

Indian journalist shot dead in Bangalore

A prominent Indian journalist critical of Hindu nationalist politics has been shot dead in the southern state of Karnataka, police say.

Gauri Lankesh, 55, was found lying in a pool of blood at her doorstep in the city of Bangalore.

She was shot in the head and chest by gunmen who arrived by motorcycle. The motive for the crime was not clear.

Transgender people targeted in fatal Karachi attack

Pakistani police say armed men opened fire on a group of transgender people, killing one, in an affluent neighbourhood in Pakistan's city of Karachi.

Aurangzeb Khattak, a police officer, said the shooting occurred overnight on Wednesday. He said passengers in a 4WD vehicle first harassed the group by throwing rotten eggs at them and then opened fire, resulting in the death of Chanda Sharmeeli.

India court bans Islamic instant divorce

India's top court has ruled the practice of instant divorce in Islam unconstitutional, marking a major victory for women's rights activists.

In a 3-2 majority verdict, the court called the practice "un-Islamic".

India is one of a handful of countries where a Muslim man can divorce his wife in minutes by saying the word talaq (divorce) three times.

 The campaign has attracted intense international criticism
The campaign has attracted intense international criticism

Philippine drug war sees 'bloodiest night' of deaths

Philippine police have killed 32 people in drug raids, thought to be the highest death toll in a single day in the country's war on drugs.

The raids took place over 24 hours on Tuesday in Bulacan province, north of the capital Manila.

Police said that those killed were suspected drug offenders who were armed and resisted officers.

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