Much of Indonesia’s history and ideology can be traced back to the Banda Islands, a group of remote, small volcanic islets some 4,000km from the capital of Jakarta.
At 180 sq km, the islands are small compared to the archipelago’s main islands of Java, Sumatra, and Borneo. Banda’s position also makes it isolated; the islands consist of 11 islets, four of which are unpopulated, spread out in the middle of the Banda Sea, about six hours sailing from Maluku’s mainland….
Laos, Cambodia to withdraw troops from disputed border area
The leaders of Cambodia and Laos vowed on Saturday to recall troops from a disputed border area where tensions have been flaring for months, after the prime ministers held an emergency meeting.
Some 30 Laos soldiers have been stationed in Cambodia’s northern Stung Treng province since April to halt the construction of a road, according to Cambodian leader Hun Sen.
The spat escalated on Friday when Hun Sen started sending military vehicles up to the area, giving Laos an ultimatum to…
Myanmar ramps up troops and imposes curfews in violence-wracked Rakhine State
Myanmar is imposing new curfews and deploying another round of troops to Rakhine state, the government confirmed on Saturday, after the UN expressed alarm at reports of a military build-up in the region where authorities have been accused of widespread rights abuses.
News of the army battalion being flown into Rakhine this week to boost security was met with criticism from UN special rapporteur Yanghee Lee on Friday, who warned it was “cause for major concern”.
Rakhine has been…
Court of Justice asked to consider German anti-treaty shopping rules
The Tax Court of Cologne has asked the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) to consider whether the current version of Germany’s anti- ‘treaty shopping’ rules is compatible with EU law.
New figures reveal extent of UK modern slavery and human trafficking
The extent to which modern slavery and human trafficking are taking place in the UK is far wider than previously thought, according to the National Crime Agency (NCA).
Singapore authorities issue warning on digital tokens
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) have issued advice to consumers on the potential risks of digital token and virtual currency-related investment schemes.
Shoot-to-kill: India hunts serial killer elephant that left 15 dead
India’s top hunter on Friday led a shoot-to-kill pursuit of an elephant whose murderous rampage through villages has left 15 people dead.
The government has turned to sharpshooter Nawab Shafat Ali Khan ahead of World Elephant Day on Saturday to hunt the animal who crushed four victims in the eastern state of Bihar in March before crossing into neighbouring Jharkhand and killing 11 more.
Jharkhand’s chief forest and wildlife conservator L.R. Singh said the decision to kill the animal…
Indonesia arrests alleged Islamic State recruiter for Philippine city siege
Indonesian police on Friday arrested an alleged recruiter and fundraiser for pro-Islamic State (IS) militants locked in a bloody battle for control of the southern Philippine city of Marawi.
Nearly 700 people, 120 soldiers among them, have been killed in the conflict after an alliance of militant groups launched an audacious assault to capture the Philippine city on May 23.
Philippine military and police have yet to regain control of all of Marawi, a city of about 200,000 people, amid ferocious…
North Korea could have up to 60 nuclear weapons by 2021, US think tank finds
North Korea is projected by the end of 2020 to have 25 to 50 nuclear weapons, and possibly as many as 60, according to a US think tank’s report on Pyongyang’s nuclear capabilities. David Albright, founder and president of the Institute for Science and International Security, a Washington-based security think tank, said on Tuesday the “worst case” estimate of 60 nuclear weapons would involve the operation of the Experimental Light Water Reactor, a type of thermal-…
Fox now expecting Sky takeover deal to close ‘by June 2018’
The planned £11.7 billion acquisition of Sky plc by 21st Century Fox is now expected to close in the first half of next year, according to Fox chief executive James Murdoch.