R Kelly Australia tour raises ‘serious concerns’ amid sex abuse allegations

R&B singer announces tour of Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka after explosive documentary detailing accusations

The R&B singer R Kelly, who is facing multiple accusations of sexual abuse, has announced a tour to Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, prompting concern from members of the public and some MPs.

The tour, which was announced in social media posts from the singer – but was accompanied by no dates or venues – comes in the wake of an explosive documentary detailing allegations that the artist has been sexually and physically abusing women for decades. R Kelly has denied the allegations, and has faced no criminal convictions.

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‘Example to the world’: Sri Lanka president plans to copy Duterte’s war on drugs

President Maithripala Sirisena praises Philippines over policy that has led to thousands of extrajudicial killings

Sri Lanka’s president has praised his Philippines counterpart Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal war on drugs, which has taken thousands of lives, calling it an “example to the world”.

In a speech during a visit to the Philippines this week, Maithripala Sirisena said he intended to replicate Duterte’s ruthless approach to tackling illegal drug use.

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RPT-INSIGHT-As Chinese influence grows, Japanese warship visits Sri Lanka

Japan's largest warship, the Kaga helicopter carrier, sailed into Sri Lanka's Colombo harbour this weekend, marking Tokyo's highest profile salvo in a diplomatic battle with China for influence along the region's vital commercial sea lanes. Japan has long provided low-interest loans and aid to Sri Lanka, helping it transform Colombo into a major trans-shipment port tapping the artery of global trade just south of the island that links Europe and the Middle East with Asia.

As Chinese Influence Grows, Japanese Warship Visits Sri Lanka

Japan's largest warship, the Kaga helicopter carrier, sailed into Sri Lanka's Colombo harbor this weekend, marking Tokyo's highest profile salvo in a diplomatic battle with China for influence along the region's vital commercial sea lanes. Japan has long provided low-interest loans and aid to Sri Lanka, helping it transform Colombo into a major trans-shipment port tapping the artery of global trade just south of the island that links Europe and the Middle East with Asia.

Sri Lanka arrests 22 trying to go to Australia by boat

Sri Lankan prison officers escort suspected Sri Lankan illegal immigrants after producing them at a magistrate court in Puttalam, about 120 kilometers north of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, Nov. 27, 2017. Sri Lankan police said Monday that they have arrested 22 people who were attempting to illegally migrate to Australia by boat.

UN pressure on Sri Lanka over torture, rape allegations

Sri Lanka's government is facing increasing pressure to answer for alleged human rights violations following an Associated Press investigation that found more than 50 men who said they were raped, branded or tortured as recently as this year. The men's anguished descriptions of their abuses came eight years after Sri Lanka's civil war ended and days ahead of a review of the Indian Ocean nation by the UN's top human rights body.

Asylum for families that sheltered Snowden rejected

Three families that sheltered US whistleblower Edward Snowden when he was hiding in Hong Kong in 2013 are facing possible detention and deportation from the city after their claims for asylum were officially rejected, their lawyer said Monday. Four years ago, they took Snowden into their cramped Hong Kong apartments when he was trying to evade authorities after carrying out one of the biggest intelligence thefts in US history, releasing thousands of classified documents, including information on U.S. surveillance programs around the world.

8 participants in Korean martial arts event still missing

The organizers of an international martial arts event here said Wednesday seven athletes and one coach from three countries are still missing as the competition is coming to an end. The organizers of the World Martial Arts Masterships in Cheongju, some 130 kilometers south of Seoul in North Chungcheong Province, said that three jujitsu fighters from Sri Lanka, four belt wrestling athletes from Tajikistan and a wushu coach for Uganda have gone missing.