CANBERRA -- Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles on Thursday announced he has stripped distinguished service medals from military commanders during the war in Afghanistan over alleged war crimes.

Marles, also Australia's deputy prime minister, said that he has written to commanders whose awards were referred for consideration to notify them about whether their awards were being canceled or retained. (Australia-Afghanistan-War Crimes)

- - - -

TOKYO -- Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Thursday officially began its leadership race as the two-week campaign started, with a record nine candidates competing to become the new party chief and the country's next prime minister.

The contest for the position of LDP president, which carries a three-year term until 2027, kicked off amid declining trust for the party in the wake of its slush fund scandal, with party reform being a key issue in the upcoming election. (Japan-LDP-Presidential Election)

- - - -

YANGON -- At least 17 people have died in floods triggered by heavy rain in Yamethin township of Mandalay region within two days, an official from the Mandalay Fire Services Department told Xinhua on Thursday.

Heavy rain caused by the strong monsoon and remnants of Typhoon Yagi has led to severe flooding in several regions across Myanmar, U Hla Tun, director of the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, told Xinhua. (Myanmar-Flood-Deaths)

- - - -

HANOI -- Typhoon Yagi and the consequent landslides and floods have left 226 dead and 104 missing in Vietnam as of Thursday afternoon, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development announced.

The hardest-hit province of Lao Cai reported 98 deaths including 47 people in a flash flood in Nu village. Eighty-one others remain missing in the province. (Vietnam-Typhoon Yagi)

- - - -

KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia's tourism industry grew 10.3 percent year on year to 275.8 billion ringgit (63.65 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, official data showed Thursday.

The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) said in a statement that the growth was supported by all economic activities especially retail trade, country-specific tourism services, food and beverage serving services. (Malaysia-Tourism) Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)