ASIA TODAY Chinese blogger Zhang Zhan arrested again for reporting on Covid-19

Today’s news: Some 8,000 Rohingya have left Myanmar in recent months and taken refuge in Bangladesh. The Thai king approves the new government presented by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Former governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon Riad Salameh arrested. Fumio Kishida in Seoul on November 6 and 7 to revive the alliance with South Korea.

CHINA

The Chinese journalist Zhang Zhanalready imprisoned for four years for her independent reporting on the Covid 19 epidemic, has returned disappearAccording to activists from Reporters Without Borders (RSF), citing local sources, the reporter was recently taken to a detention centre in Shanghai for unclear reasons. The NGO is calling for immediate international action to secure her safety and release.

BANGLADESH – MYANMAR

About 8,000 Muslims Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh in recent months due to escalating violence in Myanmar’s western Rakhine state, Bangladeshi officials said, confirming intensified fighting between the Myanmar coup junta and Arakan Army militants. Most of the arrivals have occurred in the past 60 days.

THAILAND

Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn has approved the new cabinet Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. This was announced in the Royal Gazette today, introducing 12 new faces in the 36-member line-up. The Pheu Thai party dominates the new executive and retains key posts: Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira and Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa.

LEBANON

Former Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh, 73, was arrested yesterday in Beirut for financial crimes related to a brokerage firm, the first arrest after years of suspicions and accusations. Head of the central institution for 30 years, he has spent the last few months amid suspicions and accusations from Lebanese and international authorities of financial crimes and misappropriation of public funds.

JAPAN – SOUTH KOREA

Fumio Kishida will visit Seoul on Sept. 6-7 for a summit with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. The leaders will review progress in cooperation between the two countries and discuss ways to deepen their partnership, despite the impending resignation of the Japanese prime minister, expected at the end of the month. Military threats from North Korea are also on the table.

RUSSIA

Days of mourning and silence were held across North Ossetia in memory of the victims of the terrorist attack on Beslan school No. 1 20 years ago on September 1-3, with processions to the site of the massacre carrying photographs of the murdered adults and children. President Vladimir Putin sent an icon but did not go to the site, perhaps fearing further protests.

TAJIKISTAN

Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon, known for having taken measures to severely restrict freedom of religion in recent years, expressed his “concern about the hatred of Muslims in many parts of the world.” Speaking at the opening ceremony of the school year in Dushanbe, he referred in particular to “the massacres in Gaza.”