East Asia & the Pacific Australia: Former soldier Ben Roberts-Smith granted bail over alleged war crime of murder offences ABC News (Australia) War veteran Ben Roberts-Smith was granted bail after spending more than a week in custody over allegations of war crimes. The 47-year-old was arrested at Sydney Domestic Airport last week and charged with five counts of the war crime of murder, alleged to have occurred in Afghanistan in 2009 and 2012. A Sydney…
East Asia & the Pacific Australia: Anthony Albanese and Singapore’s prime minister talk trade, fuel in bilateral meeting ABC News (Australia) Australia and Singapore have agreed to make every effort to meet each other’s energy needs as conflict in the Middle East continues. Albanese is expected to visit more countries across the region in the coming weeks to further shore up Australia’s fuel supplies. Cambodia: Border sovereignty defended in Paris Khmer Times (Cambodia) Prime Minister Hun…
East Asia & the Pacific Cambodia: Thai military deploys armored vehicles, troops to O’Smach crossing, Cambodia rejects claims Khmer Times (Cambodia) The Thai military illegally deployed two armored vehicles and approximately 70 personnel to the O’Smach International Border Crossing in Oddar Meanchey province on April 2, prompting a strong response from Cambodia, which rejected Thai claims of provocation as “entirely untrue and baseless.” China: China, Europe and why Beijing took a swing at Iran over the Strait…
East Asia & the Pacific Australia: Trump singles out Australia as he criticizes allies on Iran war support ABC News (Australia) The US president said he was “surprised” by Australia’s refusal to help the US secure the Strait of Hormuz, while again lashing out at NATO allies for their inaction. He extended a deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz and said it would face its “worst nightmare” if it did not agree…
East Asia & the Pacific Australia: Migrants say new laws stopping temporary migration from war-torn countries ‘a slap in the face’ ABC News (Australia) Iranians in Australia have criticized new laws that will let the government block the arrival of temporary visa holders from war-torn countries. The federal government says the laws will protect the “integrity and sustainability” of Australia’s immigration system. Home Affairs officials have flagged that people in Iran with temporary visas for…
East Asia & the Pacific Australia: Australian trade in jeopardy as Middle East ‘war risk’ costs surge ABC News (Australia) Australian exporters are struggling to get products into the Gulf and further into Europe as the war in the Middle East continues. They are facing increased costs due to emergency freight surcharges. Economists say surging shipping costs will be passed onto consumers, pushing inflation further and raising the risk of higher interest rates. Cambodia: Cambodia protests Thailand’s ‘illegal’ constructions…
East Asia & the Pacific Cambodia: Hun Manet bats for calm amid border dispute with Thailand Khmer Times (Cambodia) In his third interview with an international news agency during his mission abroad, Prime Minister Hun Manet underscored Cambodia and its people’s desire for de-escalation of the border conflict with Thailand while reiterating his government’s support for peaceful settlement of differences between the estranged neighbors. China: US to keep China trade tariffs steady ahead of key…
East Asia & the Pacific Australia: Pauline Hanson issues partial apology for suggesting there are no ‘good’ Muslims ABC (Australia) Pauline Hanson has issued a partial and heavily qualified apology for suggesting that there are no “good” Muslims. The One Nation leader said she would not apologize for speaking out against radical Islam and the threat she believed it posed to Australia. Cambodia: Cambodia-Thailand border spat gains global attention at Board of Peace meeting The…
East Asia & the Pacific Australia: Support firms for Angus Taylor to win Liberal leadership, though Ley expected to achieve ‘good result’ ABC News (Australia) Backers of Angus Taylor and of Sussan Ley acknowledge that support is firming for Mr. Taylor to become Liberal leader. Senator James McGrath, who supported Ley last ballot, declared his intention to support a leadership spill on Wednesday afternoon. Cambodia: 319 more foreigners deported in online scam crackdown – brings total to 1379 in last…
East Asia & the Pacific Australia: Bushfire warning downgraded for blaze in Darlington, Helena Valley in Perth’s eastern suburbs ABC (Australia) Authorities have downgraded a bushfire in Perth’s hills from emergency level to watch and act, with firefighters saying the blaze was stationary. Multiple aerial water bombers were sent to battle the bushfire on Friday afternoon after it had put lives and homes under threat. Cambodia: Police arrest more than 400 in major human trafficking…
