China's 'triumph' over COVID-19 marred by new outbreaks, lockdowns

2021-01-22

One year after the Wuhan lockdown, Beijing is eager to promote its narrative of how it contained the pandemic, but history tells another story.

Peaceful transfer of power underscores resilience of US democracy

Analysis

2021-01-21

Peaceful transfer of power underscores resilience of US democracy

The United States continued its over 200-year-old tradition of handing over presidential power peacefully, as the US military remains steadfast in its commitments to allies around the world.

Energy

2021-01-18

China's pivot to clean energy is more talk than action, say analysts

Beijing's pitch to be the global leader for climate change is undermined by its heavy investment in coal, and is the latest example of the regime's tactics in the global information war.

International probe reaches Wuhan, but what evidence will it find?

Health

2021-01-15

International probe reaches Wuhan, but what evidence will it find?

Beijing's history of secrecy, disinformation and delays raises concerns that the team of World Health Organisation specialists will find a cold trail more than a year after COVID-19 first emerged.

IRGC missile base unveiling adds to fears of conflict in the Gulf

Politics

2021-01-13

IRGC missile base unveiling adds to fears of conflict in the Gulf

The IRGC has a long history of boasting about its weaponry, and a track record of deficient missile and radar systems.

China spins population drop in Xinjiang to fit counter-extremism narrative

Human Rights

2021-01-12

China spins population drop in Xinjiang to fit counter-extremism narrative

Muslim women in Xinjiang are 'no longer baby-making machines' thanks to the eradication of extremism, Chinese diplomats say. Forced sterilisation is at play, reply independent researchers.

Which country has provided the most humanitarian aid to Pakistan during the pandemic?

SPOTLIGHT

Peaceful transfer of power underscores resilience of US democracy

The United States continued its over 200-year-old tradition of handing over presidential power peacefully, as the US military remains steadfast in its commitments to allies around the world.

China blocks entry of international probe investigating origins of COVID-19

Health

2021-01-08

China blocks entry of international probe investigating origins of COVID-19

Beijing barred WHO specialists from entering China at the last minute, highlighting the regime's continuing cover-up and attempts to whitewash the origin of the novel coronavirus.

Russia, China spin election strife in US to justify domestic oppression

Human Rights

2021-01-07

Russia, China spin election strife in US to justify domestic oppression

The regimes eagerly jumped on the news of electoral problems in the United States, but their reactions and attempted manipulations further exposed their human rights failures.

China builds more than 100 new detention facilities for Muslims in Xinjiang

Human Rights

2021-01-06

China builds more than 100 new detention facilities for Muslims in Xinjiang

Factory buildings inside detention camps in the northwestern region indicate forced labour on a 'vast scale' is taking place, a new report finds.

Tehran continues to pose threat to region a year after Soleimani killing

Analysis

2021-01-04

Tehran continues to pose threat to region a year after Soleimani killing

Any further Iranian miscalculation or provocation could have devastating consequences, US military sources say, as the one-year anniversary of Qassem Soleimani's killing passes.

A year on, Iran yet to hold anyone accountable for downing of Ukrainian airliner

Crime & Justice

2021-01-02

A year on, Iran yet to hold anyone accountable for downing of Ukrainian airliner

One year after a Ukrainian airliner was shot down by Iranian forces, killing all onboard, Tehran continues to obfuscate the details of what happened and shield culpable, top commanders.

Soleimani's legacy to Iran: diverting citizens' money to costly proxy wars

Analysis

2021-01-01

Soleimani's legacy to Iran: diverting citizens' money to costly proxy wars

While the Iranian people grapple with a worsening economic crisis, the Iranian regime continues to pursue Soleimani's failed legacy of spreading 'revolution' throughout the region.

Chinese vaccine only '79% effective' against COVID-19, Beijing admits

Health

2020-12-30

Chinese vaccine only '79% effective' against COVID-19, Beijing admits

Hundreds of millions of doses of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, which have a 95% and 94% efficacy rates respectively, are rolling out worldwide.

Soleimani's legacy to Lebanon: insecurity, instability and infighting

Politics

2020-12-29

Soleimani's legacy to Lebanon: insecurity, instability and infighting

Many Lebanese say that Hizbullah, whose chief, Hassan Nasrallah, was subordinate to Soleimani, is at the root of the country's problems.

Syrian regime's campaign of torture, abuse tied to Iran-backed militias

Analysis

2020-12-28

Syrian regime's campaign of torture, abuse tied to Iran-backed militias

Militias formed and directed by slain Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani enabled Damascus to persecute and torture tens of thousands of civilians throughout the Syrian war

The heavy price of Soleimani's dream of making Yemen a proxy war playground

Security

2020-12-27

The heavy price of Soleimani's dream of making Yemen a proxy war playground

Qassem Soleimani and Iran's Revolutionary Guards have fuelled a long, bitter proxy war in Yemen for years, bringing the country to the brink of economic and political collapse.

US military on alert as tensions rise over Iranian miscalculations

Security

2020-12-26

US military on alert as tensions rise over Iranian miscalculations

Iran-backed militias have continued to launch attacks on US interests in Iraq and the region ahead of the anniversary of Qassem Soleimani's killing.

Soleimani's ghost still haunts Afghan youth lured into Iranian militias

Security

2020-12-25

Soleimani's ghost still haunts Afghan youth lured into Iranian militias

The Fatemiyoun militia, founded by the slain Iranian commander, still recruits impoverished Afghan immigrants, many of whom die fighting while others face the reality of Tehran's broken promises.

Chronicling Qassem Soleimani's trail of bloodshed across the region and beyond

Analysis

2020-12-23

Chronicling Qassem Soleimani's trail of bloodshed across the region and beyond

Under the Iranian commander's leadership for over 20 years, the Quds Force exported terrorism, fuelled sectarianism, undermined governments, and was responsible for thousands of deaths.

Chinese tech giants caught helping Beijing track Muslims in Xinjiang

Human Rights

2020-12-22

Chinese tech giants caught helping Beijing track Muslims in Xinjiang

Alibaba, Huawei and other Chinese firms are attempting to distance themselves from Beijing's oppression of Uighurs and other Muslim minorities -- but the evidence of complicity is damning.

China attempts to repair reputation in last-ditch push for COVID-19 vaccine

Health

2020-12-18

China attempts to repair reputation in last-ditch push for COVID-19 vaccine

Beijing is on a global charm offensive, analysts say, but its 'vaccine diplomacy' is not without conditions.

Kremlin uses uptick in Taliban violence to scare countries bordering Afghanistan

Security

2020-12-17

Kremlin uses uptick in Taliban violence to scare countries bordering Afghanistan

Russian officials are using fear mongering to badger the leaders of Turkmenistan and other countries bordering Afghanistan to coalesce more closely around Russia.

China caught helping authoritarian regimes silence domestic dissent

Human Rights

2020-12-16

China caught helping authoritarian regimes silence domestic dissent

The China National Electronics Import and Export Corporation (CEIEC) offers a commercialised version of Beijing's 'Great Firewall' that scrubs out politically sensitive material from the internet.

Produce smuggled from Iran causing massive losses for Pakistani vendors

Economy

2020-12-15

Produce smuggled from Iran causing massive losses for Pakistani vendors

Smugglers are avoiding the apple tax by disguising Iranian imports as Afghan by sending them through Afghanistan first, and Iranian authorities are doing nothing about it.

Chinese vaccine trials halted: volunteer unable to move arms

Health

2020-12-14

Chinese vaccine trials halted: volunteer unable to move arms

At least one volunteer in trials for the vaccine made by Chinese drug giant Sinopharm presented neurological symptoms corresponding to a condition called Guillain-Barre syndrome.

KP upgrades, equips police force in tribal districts

Security

2020-12-14

KP upgrades, equips police force in tribal districts

The provincial government is establishing more police stations and providing the latest weapons to counter terrorism.

China's repression of Muslims in Xinjiang 'turbocharged' by technology

Science & Technology

2020-12-11

China's repression of Muslims in Xinjiang 'turbocharged' by technology

Local authorities determined whom to detain by tracking behaviours such as phoning a relative overseas, reading a Koran without state permission or using 'suspicious' smartphone apps.