Around the Globe

China on Thursday executed 11 people connected to criminal gangs operating in Myanmar, including key figures involved in large-scale telecommunications fraud, state media reported.

Amendments to South Korea’s Information and Communications Network Act have drawn criticism from the United States, UNESCO, domestic media groups, and civil society, amid concerns the law could stifle free expression.

At least 6,126 people have died in Iran amid a nationwide crackdown on protests, activists said Tuesday, as the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier group arrived in the Middle East, providing the U.S. military with the capability to respond if necessary.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warns the United States as U.S. warships move toward the Middle East, amid high tension following a deadly crackdown on protests in Iran. Iranian commanders describe the U.S. naval deployment as a threat to regional security, while the Pentagon says its forces operate under international law and aim to deter potential attacks. Human rights groups report heavy casualties from recent demonstrations, and regional governments watch the situation for signs of escalation or maritime incidents in key waterways near Iran.

A pre-dawn landslide triggered by heavy rainfall killed at least eight people and left more than 80 missing on Indonesia’s main island of Java, according to disaster officials. The incident struck villages in West Bandung, burying homes and forcing emergency teams to launch large-scale search and rescue operations. Local and national authorities deployed rescue workers, medical teams, and heavy equipment while warning of continued rain and potential further landslides during Indonesia’s October-to-March rainy season.

Authorities in Karachi, Pakistan, reported on Friday that the death toll from the January 17 fire at the three-storey Gul Plaza shopping mall rose to at least 67 people, as forensic teams completed post-mortem examinations and continued DNA testing to identify victims.

A South Korean court in Seoul on Wednesday sentenced former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to 23 years in prison for his role in the December 2024 martial law declaration, which the court ruled constituted an act of rebellion by then President Yoon Suk Yeol. Han became the first Yoon administration official convicted of rebellion in connection with the incident. Prosecutors argued that Han helped plan and implement the martial law measures, while the defense disputed the rebellion characterization. The court rejected the defense arguments and cited the seriousness of undermining constitutional order in its sentencing decision. The ruling is expected to influence upcoming cases against Yoon and other former aides, who also face rebellion charges over the same event. Han was taken into custody after the verdict and can appeal.