Attempts to treat contested holy sites as exclusive to one religion, as Turkey is doing with the Hagia Sophia, is a recipe for bitterness, suffering. ( read original story ...)
Turkey’s Hagia Sophia opens as mosque for 1st time in 86 years
The historic Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey, reopened Friday as a mosque for the first time in 86 years after it was repurposed for decades as a museum. ( read original story ...)
Turkey agrees to free 2 Czechs jailed on terror charges
PRAGUE -- Two Czech nationals jailed in Turkey for belonging to a Kurdish militant group have been granted early release three years after being convicted on terror charges, Czech Prime Minister ... ( read original story ...)
Philippines joins global vaccine alliance vs COVID-19
To give the country more access to treatment and vaccines, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has approved the participation of the Philippines in ... ( read original story ...)
No growth for Philippines in Q3, says Moody’s unit
The Philippines is the only country in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region not expected to recover in the third quarter amid the long and strict lockdown to contain the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 ... ( read original story ...)
Japan Blamed Its Nightlife for Outbreaks. But That’s the Tip of the Iceberg.
Case numbers are climbing fast, with virus clusters in nursing homes, schools and elsewhere. But fingers are being pointed at Japan’s so-called hostess bars. ( read original story ...)
Pakistan Wraps up Anti-Polio Drive Amid Surge in Cases
Pakistan says a five-day vaccination campaign against polio has been completed in the former Taliban stronghold of South Waziristan and elsewhere in the country amid a surge in cases. ( read original story ...)
For Indonesia’s street children, coronavirus means more danger
COVID-19 has made life more dangerous for children on the streets who are even more at risk of being sexually abused. ( read original story ...)
Indonesia Stages Major Naval Drills Amid Rising Tensions In South China Sea
On the agenda are sea battle simulations and 2,000 military personnel with 26 warships, 19 aircraft, 18 marine combat vehicles. ( read original story ...)
China Orders U.S. to Shut Chengdu Consulate, Retaliating for Houston
The tit-for-tat consulate closures marked yet another round of rising tensions between Washington and Beijing. ( read original story ...)