Massive protests erupted in Istanbul on March 30, 2025, as 2.2 million rallied for jailed mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, challenging President Erdogan’s rule amid claims of political suppression.
Violent clashes in Kathmandu kill two as pro-monarchy protesters demand King Gyanendra Shah’s return, clashing with police and republican supporters. Nepal’s monarchy debate reignites.
In a significant escalation of military operations, US airstrikes in Yemen have killed several senior Houthi terrorists, including Abdulkhaleq Badr Al-Din Al-Houthi, the brother of Houthi terrorist Abdulmalik Al-Houthi, according to a Yemeni military spokesperson. The strikes, which targeted key Houthi military infrastructure across multiple provinces, mark a sharp intensification of US efforts to degrade the Iran-backed terrorist group’s capabilities amid ongoing attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea. Colonel Waddah Al-Dobish, spokesperson for the Yemeni Joint Forces, announced on X that Abdulkhaleq Al-Houthi, a senior terrorist overseeing the Central Military Region, was among those killed in coordinated strikes on Thursday, March 27, 2025. The attacks spanned Hodeidah, Sanaa, Saada, and Al-Jawf provinces, targeting top Houthi terrorists and their advisors involved in logistics and planning. Al-Dobish estimated approximately 150 casualties, with Al-Jawf suffering the highest toll. The strikes are part of a broader US campaign that began on March 15, aimed at dismantling the Houthi terrorist network and its operational capacity. The military monitoring platform Defense Line reported that the strikes also destroyed Houthi command centers and killed multiple technical specialists. However, the status of several terrorists tied to the group’s missile and drone programs, including Abdulhafid Al-Hilali and a logistics coordinator known as “Abu Aqil,” remains unclear. The Houthis have not issued an official statement, leaving the full extent of the damage to their terrorist network uncertain. Washington has previously acknowledged targeting senior terrorists in the Houthi weapons programs but has not released specific names, maintaining a degree of ambiguity around its targeting strategy. The US campaign, which has involved fighter jets from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier stationed in the Red Sea, reflects a more aggressive stance under the Trump administration. Since March 15, the US has ramped up its operations, with reports of 44 airstrikes in a single night—the highest in the current campaign—targeting Houthi terrorists, air defense systems, command centers, and weapons facilities. The strikes aim to curb the Houthis’ ability to disrupt global commerce, as the terrorist group has launched scores of attacks on ships in the Red Sea since November 2023, often claiming solidarity with Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. In response, the Houthis have claimed to have retaliated by targeting US warships, specifically the USS Harry S. Truman, which they describe as a primary launch point for attacks on Yemen. A Houthi statement asserted that they struck “hostile warships in the Red Sea,” including the aircraft carrier, though US officials have denied these claims, stating that Houthi drones and missiles have not come close to the Truman. The terrorist group’s military spokesman, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, previously declared their intent to target American warships in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, framing their actions as a direct response to US aggression. The Houthis, who control much of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, have proven resilient despite years of conflict, including a Saudi-led bombing campaign and previous US strikes under the Biden administration. Their attacks on shipping have disrupted a critical maritime corridor, forcing many vessels to reroute around southern Africa, driving up costs and impacting global trade. The Red Sea handles nearly 15% of global sea trade, making the Houthi threat a significant concern for international commerce. The latest US strikes have drawn criticism from Iran, which condemned the attacks as a violation of international law. Tehran, a key backer of the Houthi terrorists, denies directly controlling the group, though the Houthis are part of Iran’s “Axis of Resistance” against Israel and Western influence in the region. The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for restraint, warning that further escalation could destabilize Yemen and the broader region, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis in the country. Analysts remain skeptical of the long-term efficacy of the US airstrikes. The Houthis have weathered sustained military campaigns in the past, and their growing ties to Russia and China—evidenced by illicit shipping networks and potential military cooperation—complicate efforts to isolate them. Some experts argue that airstrikes alone are unlikely to dislodge the terrorist group, pointing to their deep entrenchment in Yemen’s political and military landscape. The killing of senior terrorists like Abdulkhaleq Al-Houthi may disrupt operations temporarily, but it could also galvanize Houthi support by fueling anti-US sentiment among Yemenis already suffering from years of conflict. As the US continues its campaign, the risk of retaliation looms large. The Houthi terrorists have vowed to escalate their attacks, and their history of resilience suggests they may attempt to strike US or allied targets in the region, potentially targeting the USS Harry S. Truman or US bases in the Middle East. The situation remains volatile, with the potential for a broader regional conflict if the cycle of strikes and counterattacks continues unchecked. For now, the Red Sea remains a flashpoint, with the US and the Houthi terrorists locked in a dangerous game of escalation that shows no immediate signs of abating.
Beijing has ordered state-owned firms to halt new collaborations with Li Ka-shing’s businesses after his Panama ports sale to a BlackRock-led group, signaling geopolitical tensions. Explore the impact on CK Hutchison, CK Asset, and the Li family’s global investments.
On March 13, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te called for a tougher response to Beijing, describing China as a “foreign hostile force” intent on “absorbing” the democratic island – the toughest rhetoric yet toward Beijing from a Taiwanese leader. In response, Chinese officials called Lai a “destroyer of cross-Straits peace” and a “creator of the crisis in the Taiwan Straits.” The heated exchange continued online, with some Chinese-speaking social media users spreading rumors about Taiwan’s military. Below is what AFCL found. Conscription orders, military court A former journalist at China’s state-run CCTV, Rui Chenggang, claimed to have received conscription orders from Taiwan’s government in a X , Instagram and X. We are : Investigative Journalism Reportika Investigative Reports Daily Reports Interviews Surveys Reportika
Vietnam arrested an ethnic Khmer Krom monk and two activists on Thursday and charged them with breaking a vague law that is often used to silence dissent, a Khmer Krom advocacy group said. Nearly 1.3-million Khmer Krom live in a part of Vietnam that was once southeastern Cambodia. They have faced serious restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and movement. The trio were arrested in Preah Trapeang, known in Vietnamese as Tra Vinh province, according to the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation, or KKF, which condemned the arrests. They were charged under Article 331 of the Vietnamese Criminal Code, and charged “abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the State, lawful rights, and interests of organizations and/or citizens,” KKF said. If found guilty, the three men face prison sentences ranging from six months to three years, the group said. The group called the arrests another example of the Vietnamese government’s repression of the Khmer Krom community, “particularly their peaceful efforts to advocate for indigenous rights, religious freedoms and cultural preservation.” Lam Thi Pung, the wife of Thach Nga, one of the activists, said he collected used bottles and other materials for recycling to support their family. “Villagers give him rice, vegetables and fruits. I’m taking care of my child,” she said. “Now they have arrested my husband. I’m just with my child now, what am I to do?” Vocal Khmer Krom advocate The monk, the Venerable Kim Som Rinh, is a respected spiritual leader, the gorup said, and has long been a vocal advocate for the Khmer Krom people’s religious and indigenous rights through peaceful means. A year ago, on March 25, 2024, the state-sanctioned Vietnam Buddhist Sangha stripped Kim Som Rinh of his monk status, KKF said. “This arbitrary decision to defrock and arrest him was part of a broader effort to suppress the Khmer Krom community’s religious freedoms and prevent the expression of their cultural identity,” the group said. The other two activists are Thach Nga and Thach Xuan Dong, the KKF said. “Both men have courageously stood up for their people,” it said, including organizing human rights events such as the celebration of the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and International Human Rights Day. The Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation called on the United Nations and the international community to take action. It said that Vietnam, as a member of the Human Rights Council, must be “held accountable for its blatant disregard of international human rights norms.” Vietnamese officials could not immediately be reached for comment. Edited by Malcolm Foster. We are : Investigative Journalism Reportika Investigative Reports Daily Reports Interviews Surveys Reportika
Read RFA coverage of this topic in Burmese. One of Myanmar’s most powerful rebel armies will begin conscription for all residents over 18 years old, residents told Radio Free Asia on Thursday. The Arakan Army, or AA, which controls the vast majority of western Myanmar’s Rakhine State, is organizing administrative processes in the state that would make conscription a legal obligation, a source close to the AA told RFA, adding that details would be released soon. A resident from Mrauk-U township also confirmed that the AA was holding meetings in villages to discuss details about the conscription. “Men between the ages of 18 and 45 will undergo two months of military training and be required to serve for two years,” the resident said, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons. He added that women between the ages of 18 and 35 will also be required to serve. No information has been released about what draftees will be required to do or whether they will serve in combat, raising concerns among civilians in the embattled region, which has witnessed brutal retaliation efforts from Myanmar’s junta. The AA currently controls 14 of Rakhine state’s 17 townships. RFA contacted AA spokesperson Khaing Thu Kha for more information, but he did not respond by the time of publication. RELATED STORIES EXPLAINED: What is Myanmar’s Arakan Army? Myanmar’s junta targets displaced people returning to embattled Rakhine state EXPLAINED: Arrested ARSA leader blamed for violence against Rohingya refugees With a well-organized military structure and strong local support, the AA has established de facto governance in much of the region, collecting taxes and administering justice independently from the central government. The junta views the AA as a persistent threat, as its growing influence undermines military control and fuels aspirations for greater autonomy among other ethnic groups. Facing serious setbacks from insurgent groups across the country, reduced foreign investment, and defections from its own troops, the junta enacted controversial conscription laws in February last year, mandating compulsory military service for men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27. International human rights organizations have strongly criticized junta’s conscription law, arguing that it exacerbates the country’s existing humanitarian crisis and violates fundamental human rights. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, Tom Andrews, described the junta’s imposition of mandatory military service as a sign of its desperation and a further threat to civilians. The enforcement of this law has led to a significant exodus of young people seeking to evade conscription. Reports indicate that thousands have fled across borders, particularly into Thailand, to avoid mandatory military service. Translated by Kiana Duncan. Edited by Taejun Kang. We are : Investigative Journalism Reportika Investigative Reports Daily Reports Interviews Surveys Reportika
Recently, when entering restaurants or leaving official events, North Korean trading officials dispatched to China have been seen taking off lapel pins featuring the smiling faces of national founder Kim Il Sung and his son Kim Jong Il and pretending to be South Korean, two sources in China told Radio Free Asia. All North Korean officials overseas are required to wear the “Kim Bu-ja” — or “father-son” — pins to show their allegiance to the men known respectively as “Great Leader” and “Dear Leader.” The Kim dynasty is now in its third generation. Kim Il Sung, who ruled from 1948 until his death in 1994, was succeeded by Kim Jong-il, who ruled until 2011, after which his son Kim Jong Un took over as supreme ruler. “Last week, I visited a famous restaurant in Shenyang with an executive from a North Korean trading company I knew through business,” a source from the Chinese city told RFA Korean, requesting anonymity for personal safety. “When he arrived at the restaurant, he took off his Kim Bu-ja badge, put it in his pocket, and asked me not to say that he was North Korean,” he said. “Furthermore, he not only hid Kim Bu-ja’s badge, but also asked me to introduce him as a South Korean,” he continued. Easy to tell Another source in Yanji city, in China’s Jilin province, said he had witnessed the same behavior. “Recently, it’s hard to see North Korean officials wearing portrait badges,” he said. “North Korean officials take off their Kim Bu-ja badges and pretend to be South Koreans when they leave official events.” It wasn’t clear why the North Korean officials wanted to hide their identity, the first source said. He speculated that it was because South Koreans in China are treated as wealthy. “We don’t know the exact reason why these officials are taking off their Kim Bu-ja badges, but they might be embarrassed to be officials from North Korea, one of the poorest countries in the world,” he said. Despite their efforts, the second source said that it was easy to tell that the men were from North Korea as soon as they started talking given their accent and manner of speech. “North Korean officials can dress like South Koreans in terms of clothing and hairstyles, but if you talk to them, it’s immediately obvious” that their from the North. Many Chinese can also easily tell the difference, he said. “Some North Korean officials who have been in China for a long time are actually lamenting their situation,” with the North Korean economy on the brink of collapse, to their acquaintances in China, he said. “It’s understandable how North Korean officials feel about not being able to reveal that they’re North Koreans overseas,” he said. Edited by Malcolm Foster. We are : Investigative Journalism Reportika Investigative Reports Daily Reports Interviews Surveys Reportika
Read RFA coverage of this topic in Burmese. Myanmar junta has announced that the election it plans to hold in December and January would be held in four phases, marking the first time the military has outlined a specific schedule for the controversial vote. The junta said in early March that the elections were slated for December 2025 with the possibility of January 2026, but observers at that time dismissed its plan, saying the military won’t be able to hold the vote in territory it doesn’t control – about half the country – and that the public will view the results as a sham. “A provisional date for the election is set on the third week and fourth week of December this year and first week and second week of January,” the junta’s Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services said in a statement on Wednesday, adding that the election would be held in four-part phases. “The government must take advanced measures to hold a fraud-free multi-party democracy general election that is truly free and fair,” it added, without elaborating. Since the 2021 coup, the junta has repeatedly attempted to hold elections, but these efforts have been consistently delayed. The military regime has extended the State of Emergency multiple times over the past four years, citing alleged fraud in the 2020 general elections, in which the National League for Democracy secured a decisive victory. By issuing back-to-back emergency declarations, the junta has effectively postponed the election process, prolonging its grip on power. Signs of progress toward holding elections have emerged in recent months as Myanmar’s junta chief traveled abroad to secure international support. Following diplomatic visits to Russia and Belarus in March, both countries pledged their backing for the junta’s controversial election plan. They join India and China, which have also expressed support for the isolated nation’s electoral process, despite the military regime’s decision to bar some political parties from re-registering due to alleged ties to rebel militias. RELATED STORIES Junta chief vows to hike defense budget, seeking to expand global presence Myanmar to organize election in fewer than half of townships, parties say Myanmar junta chief says election to be held by January 2026 But observers, including human rights groups and officials from the ousted National League for Democracy government, question the legitimacy of the junta-led election after an opaque census by the military left dozens of administrators dead and large parts of the country untouched. Widespread violence in embattled areas, coupled with near-daily airstrikes from the Myanmar military that often target civilians, also leave many skeptical about the feasibility of the election. Insurgent groups now control large swathes of the country’s borderlands, leaving the areas like Rakhine and Shan states under uncertain jurisdiction with minimal junta presence. Translated by Kiana Duncan. Edited by Taejun Kang. We are : Investigative Journalism Reportika Investigative Reports Daily Reports Interviews Surveys Reportika
Prominent Chinese influencer Liu Zhenya, also known as “Yaya,” left Taiwan Tuesday evening on orders from the Taiwanese government after she got in trouble for social media posts that appeared to support China’s use of force to take over Taiwan. Initially, Liu resisted leaving and held a press conference to protest the decision, claiming the Taiwan government was abusing its power. She was criticized by protesters who gathered at the scene and shouted anti-China slogans. But Liu left Taiwan on Tuesday evening, March 25, just before the deadline set by the Taipei government two weeks earlier. Beijing considers Taiwan a breakaway province that needs to be “reunified” with China, by force if necessary. The video that got Liu in trouble was from May 2024. At that time, she posted a video on her Douyin social media account about China’s “Joint Sword 2024A” military exercises around Taiwan. In the video, she called the Chinese military drills “the most intimidating and aggressive exercises ever,” and expressed support for defending national sovereignty. “Maybe tomorrow morning, the island will be filled with five-star red flags,” she said. “Just thinking about it makes me happy.” This video was later reposted on the official Facebook account of Taiwan.cn, a media outlet under the Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing. On March 12, Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency, or NIA, determined that her actions violated regulations on residency for mainland Chinese nationals and revoked her residency permit on the grounds of “endangering national security and social stability.” It also imposed a five-year ban on reapplying for the permit and said she must leave the island by March 25. Heckled at press conference On Tuesday, Liu held a press conference to criticize the NIA’s decision to revoke her residency, calling it an abuse of power. Liu defended her comments, insisting that she had never advocated for military unification. “I support peaceful unification. My discussion of military unification was based on an analysis of the current situation,” she said. “Talking about military unification is different from advocating for it.” Liu also appealed to the Taiwan government not to separate her from her children, who live in Taiwan with her Taiwanese husband. 【亚亚抗拒限期离境 在台湾内政部陈情】【大批民众聚集抗议亚亚 要求她“回归中国”】网红八囧与群众在内政部门口与亚亚及支持者对峙，高喊口号。亚亚在内政部门口辩称自己没有主张武统，是对“形势的分析”。看看资料影片，大家觉得她的口气是“分析”还是“鼓吹武统”？#亚亚 #武统 #居留 #台湾 #中国… pic.twitter.com/HKAc6XUtea — 自由亚洲电台 (@RFA_Chinese) March 25, 2025 Throughout the press conference, protesters repeatedly shouted, “Welcome Yaya back to China,” along with other chants like “Yaya, go back to China!” and “June 4,” a reference to the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre that Beijing has attempted to cover up. Ba Jiong, a Taiwanese influencer who had originally reported on Liu’s actions, claimed Liu’s refusal to leave voluntarily was an attempt to stage a dramatic exit, with Taiwanese immigration officers escorting her onto the plane. Ba Jiong said this would allow Liu to create propaganda for Chinese state media. “Yaya wants to take a symbolic gesture back to China,” he said. “We’ll help fulfill her wish by holding signs like ‘June 4’ and images of Xi Jinping and the former Foreign Minister Qin Gang who went silent, making sure she has no material to use for her propaganda.” Taiwan’s Premier Cho Jung-tai said that freedom of speech must have limits. “Freedom of speech has boundaries, and the boundary is the survival of the state,” he said. “One cannot defame the country and still expect it to protect you.” In a separate interview, Interior Minister Liu Shih-fang pointed out that Liu was not just an ordinary mother. “She is waging a legal, public opinion, and psychological battle, and she has also received support from many pro-China Taiwanese and influencers.” Liu confirmed that NIA had made a decision regarding Liu, urging her to leave voluntarily. “If she does not depart by the deadline, we will take compulsory measures, and this decision has not changed,” she said. Edited by Malcolm Foster. We are : Investigative Journalism Reportika Investigative Reports Daily Reports Interviews Surveys Reportika
