标签： Asia

Amnesty International has uncovered sophisticated sanction-evasion operations by Myanmar’s military junta to secure aviation fuel for its ongoing aerial assaults against civilian populations. According to a comprehensive investigation released Monday, the regime has adopted tactics mirroring those of heavily sanctioned nations like Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

The London-based human rights organization documented a startling 69% surge in aviation fuel imports during 2025, reaching 109,000 tonnes—the highest volume since the 2021 coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government. This increased fuel supply correlates with what Amnesty describes as ‘the deadliest year on record for aerial attacks’ since the military takeover.

Amnesty’s research team employed advanced analysis of trade patterns, shipping manifests, satellite imagery, and port authority data to trace the clandestine supply routes. The investigation revealed that Myanmar’s military relies on ‘ghost ships’ that systematically disable their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders to avoid detection. These vessels frequently alter their identities, change flags and ownership registries, and conduct open-water ship-to-ship transfers rather than using conventional port facilities.

Between mid-2024 and late 2025, researchers confirmed at least nine separate shipments delivered by four vessels using these evasion techniques. While the ultimate origin of the fuel remains obscured through complex resale arrangements, the tactics closely resemble those employed by Iranian oil tankers facing international sanctions.

Montse Ferrer, Amnesty’s Regional Research Director, stated: ‘Five years after the coup, the Myanmar junta continues to develop new methods to import the jet fuel necessary for bombing its own civilians. The international sanctions regime, led by the United States and Britain, has proven ineffective in stopping these attacks against defenseless targets.’

The military campaign has resulted in devastating human costs, with over 7,700 civilians killed by state security forces since the coup according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. Amnesty has called for comprehensive bans on aviation fuel shipments to Myanmar and the withdrawal of all companies involved in the supply chain to prevent further civilian casualties.

The military government has not responded to inquiries regarding these findings. The report notes that Myanmar’s military continues to receive substantial arms support from its major allies, Russia and China, while employing global sanction-evasion networks to maintain its operational capabilities.

A major maritime tragedy struck the southern Philippines on Monday when the MV Trisha Kerstin 3 sank in the early hours, resulting in 15 confirmed fatalities and 28 individuals remaining unaccounted for. The vessel, carrying more than 350 passengers and crew, issued a distress signal at approximately 1:50 AM local time (1750 GMT Sunday) while navigating waters near Baluk-Baluk Island in the Basilan province chain.

According to Philippine Coast Guard reports, the ferry had departed Zamboanga City on Mindanao’s southwestern tip approximately four hours prior to the emergency alert. Coast Guard Commander Romel Dua confirmed that 316 people have been successfully rescued from the waters east of the Zamboanga peninsula, approximately five kilometers from Baluk-Baluk Island.

Rescue operations faced significant challenges due to the remote location and limited resources. Emergency responder Ronalyn Perez from Basilan reported that local hospitals were overwhelmed by the sudden influx of patients, creating critical staffing shortages. At least 18 survivors required immediate medical attention at one facility.

Multipronged rescue efforts involving the Philippine Coast Guard, Navy, and Air Force assets were deployed to the area. Aerial support was dispatched to assist in the ongoing search operations. Survivors were being transported to coast guard stations in Zamboanga and Isabela City for processing and medical care.

Disturbing footage released by the Philippine Coast Guard depicted rescue teams extracting survivors from the water and administering urgent medical treatment. Social media broadcasts captured harrowing audio of passengers shouting for assistance in the darkness.

The coast guard emphasized that initial investigations indicate the vessel was not operating beyond its capacity limits. A formal marine casualty investigation has been initiated to determine the precise cause of the sinking, though rescue priorities currently take precedence over determining causation.

This incident highlights ongoing maritime safety concerns in the Philippine archipelago, where millions depend on inter-island ferry services for transportation across the nation’s 7,000+ islands. The region has experienced numerous similar tragedies, including a 2023 ferry fire that claimed over 30 lives in southern Philippine waters.

Dubai witnessed a profound display of patriotic fervor as the Indian Consulate hosted an elaborate flag-hoisting ceremony on January 26, 2026, commemorating India’s 77th Republic Day. The event attracted massive participation from the Indian expatriate community in the United Arab Emirates, demonstrating the strong cultural bonds and national pride among the 4.3 million Indians residing in the Gulf nation.

Consul General Satish Sivan addressed the gathering, highlighting the remarkable advancement in India-UAE bilateral relations following President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s recent state visit to India. The diplomatic engagement resulted in several groundbreaking agreements designed to foster mutual prosperity and technological collaboration between the nations.

The newly solidified partnerships encompass multiple strategic sectors, including a landmark decade-long LNG supply arrangement, defense cooperation protocols, space technology initiatives, and significant infrastructure investment commitments. Both nations are also exploring innovative digital infrastructure partnerships, including the potential establishment of ‘digital embassies’ and enhanced secure data exchange mechanisms.

The Republic Day celebration served as both a cultural milestone and a testament to the growing strategic alignment between India and the UAE, reflecting shared ambitions for technological innovation and economic resilience.

In a landmark judicial decision, the Tokyo District Court has ordered North Korea’s government to compensate four plaintiffs with 22 million yen ($143,000) each for systematic human rights violations stemming from Pyongyang’s deceptive postwar resettlement program. The ruling marks the first judicial acknowledgment of North Korea’s responsibility for luring thousands of ethnic Koreans from Japan with false promises of a ‘paradise on Earth’ between 1959-1984.

Presiding Judge Taiichi Kamino determined that the plaintiffs endured decades of severe living conditions without freedom of movement, educational choice, or employment opportunities after relocating under the repatriation scheme. The court found that North Korea’s representations of free healthcare, education, and employment benefits constituted deliberate misinformation that fundamentally damaged the lives of those who migrated.

The case originally involved five plaintiffs when filed in 2018, though two have since passed away, with one represented by his son. While a 2022 ruling acknowledged the deceptive nature of the program, it rejected compensation claims based on jurisdictional limitations and statute of expiration concerns. The Tokyo High Court’s 2023 appellate decision reversed this stance, recognizing Japan’s jurisdiction and ordering reassessment of damages.

Eiko Kawasaki, an 83-year-old plaintiff who spent 43 years in North Korea before defecting in 2003, described the ruling as ‘just a start.’ Despite acknowledging North Korea’s likely disregard for the verdict, she emphasized the importance of formal recognition of their suffering. Plaintiffs’ attorney Kenji Fukuda noted the practical challenges of enforcement given the absence of diplomatic relations between Japan and North Korea.

The case highlights the complex historical context of Japan’s ethnic Korean population, many descended from forced laborers during Japan’s 1910-1945 colonization of the Korean Peninsula. The 1959 resettlement program emerged from North Korea’s need to replenish its workforce after the Korean War, while Japan viewed it as a solution for what it considered ‘outsider’ ethnic Koreans. Over 93,000 people relocated under the program, with approximately 150 eventually returning to Japan.

Human Rights Watch Japan Director Kane Doi urged the Japanese government to leverage this ruling to pressure North Korea for accountability and facilitate resettlement for remaining victims. The decision also raises questions about the role of pro-North Korean organization Chongryon in promoting the deceptive program and potential Japanese government responsibility through its facilitation of the repatriation agreement.

HANOI – Lee Hae-chan, who served as South Korea’s Prime Minister from 2000 to 2002, has died in Ho Chi Minh City at age 73 following a severe illness, according to an official statement released by the Vietnamese government on Sunday.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that despite receiving extensive medical treatment coordinated between national authorities and Ho Chi Minh City’s People’s Committee, the former premier’s condition proved fatal. The statement emphasized that Vietnamese medical teams provided the highest standard of care during his final days.

In response to the statesman’s passing, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and other senior government officials have conveyed their profound sympathies to both the South Korean government and Lee’s bereaved family. The diplomatic gesture highlights the continuing strengthening of bilateral relations between Vietnam and South Korea.

Lee Hae-chan, a prominent political figure who played a significant role in South Korea’s democratic development, served during the administration of President Kim Dae-jung. His political career spanned decades as a member of the Democratic Party, where he advocated for progressive policies and inter-Korean reconciliation.

The passing of the former leader in a foreign nation underscores the global mobility of senior statesmen and the international dimensions of contemporary Asian diplomacy. Vietnamese authorities have indicated their commitment to facilitating the repatriation of Lee’s remains in coordination with South Korean officials.

Israel has announced a conditional agreement to permit limited pedestrian access through the Rafah border crossing, marking a significant development in the protracted Gaza conflict. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office declared Monday that this humanitarian gesture would only proceed upon satisfying two critical conditions: the safe return of all living hostages held in Gaza and Hamas’ complete cooperation in locating and repatriating the remains of all deceased captives.

The Rafah crossing, a vital conduit for humanitarian aid into the besieged Palestinian territory, has remained shuttered since Israeli forces assumed control during military operations. This proposed reopening forms part of a broader truce framework initially proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump in October.

The announcement follows intensive diplomatic efforts by visiting U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who reportedly urged Israeli officials to resume operations at Rafah during weekend negotiations in Jerusalem. International pressure has mounted consistently from world leaders and aid organizations emphasizing the crossing’s crucial role in delivering essential medical supplies, food, and other humanitarian resources to Gaza’s devastated population.

Central to the current negotiations is the case of Ran Gvili, the final remaining hostage whose retrieval has become the linchpin of the agreement. The Israeli police non-commissioned officer was killed during Hamas’ October 7, 2023 assault on Israel, with his body subsequently transported to Gaza. Hamas’ military wing, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, claims to have provided mediators with detailed information regarding Gvili’s whereabouts, with Israeli forces currently conducting cemetery searches based on this intelligence.

Gvili’s family has expressed vehement opposition to advancing any subsequent phases of the ceasefire agreement before recovering their son’s remains, underscoring the deeply personal dimensions underlying these geopolitical negotiations. The conflict has exacted a devastating toll, with Gaza authorities reporting over 70,000 fatalities since November and widespread destruction across the territory of 2.2 million people, already suffering from prolonged blockade since 2007.