Australian media giants demand an end to curbs on press freedom
Australia’s national broadcaster and two biggest newspaper publishers called on the government on Wednesday to protect press freedom, declaring media laws outdated, inconsistent and used by the powerful to keep embarrassing information secret.
Australian PM says Beijing should adopt reform to end U.S. trade war
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Wednesday that China should reform its economy to end a trade war with the United States that is damaging the global economy, comments that could strain ties with the country’s largest trading partner.
Magnitude 6.3 quake strikes in Panama region – USGS
A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck on the border between Panama and Costa Rica on Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
Sri Lanka president signs death penalty for four drugs convicts
Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena said on Wednesday the government would press ahead with a controversial plan to reinsate the death penalty for drug-related offences.
Two U.S. service members killed in Afghanistan
Two U.S. service members were killed in Afghanistan on Wednesday, the NATO-led Resolute Support mission said in a statement.
U.S. would not dare violate Iranian soil: Guards commander
The United States would not dare violate Iranian soil, the head of the Revolutionary Guards’ aerospace division said on Wednesday, according to the semi-official Mehr news agency.
Hong Kong activists call on G20 leaders to help ‘liberate’ city
More than one thousand protesters marched to major foreign consulates in Hong Kong on Wednesday, urging leaders at the upcoming G20 summit to support the full scrapping of a controversial extradition bill.
Hong Kong court quashes conviction of former leader Donald Tsang
Hong Kong’s top court on Wednesday quashed a conviction against former leader Donald Tsang for misconduct in public office, bringing to a close a legal battle that had tarnished his reputation after what had been a stellar career.
China finds armyworm in 19 provinces, situation remains severe
China’s agriculture ministry said on Wednesday it has now found fall armyworm in 19 provinces, across 5 million mu or about 333,000 hectares of crops.
Japan’s biggest opposition party shuns rival merger ahead of election
The leader of Japan’s main opposition party said on Wednesday he was happy to cooperate with other opposition groups in a July 21 upper house election, but brushed aside calls from a rival party to merge to fight Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling bloc…
