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First published on Jordan O'Brien (left), a former New Zealand soldier fighting in Ukraine, relaxes with a colleague. Photo: Supplied A former New Zealand soldier fighting for Ukraine in the war against Russia has been sentenced to 14 years in jail by a Russian court. Jordan O'Brien was sentenced in absentia for what the Russians said was fighting "as a mercenary" and participating in hostilities "for material reward". A report from the joint press service of the judicial system of Kursk, a Russian border territory, said O'Brien invaded the Kursk region as part of the Ukrainian armed forces. The Russian court also ordered "the amount of over 1.3 million rubles" to be confiscated from O'Brien. That converts to $20,690. The Russians say O'Brien's sentence may come int...

By Ryan Woo, Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee, Reuters Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, gestures at a press conference in Beijing, capital of China, 13 December 2023. Photo: AFP / Chen Yehua China's government has said that it takes "necessary measures" to defend the country's sovereignty and will not tolerate "separatist" activities, as Taiwan reported another rise in Chinese warplanes near the island. Beijing's military has yet to comment on the military activity and has not confirmed it is carrying out exercises. A senior Taiwanese official said they believed the surge in activity was meant to send a political message to the incoming administration of US President-elect Donald Trump. China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own t...

By Hyunsu Yim and Hyonhee Shin, Reuters Yoon Suk Yeol. Photo: HANDOUT / AFP Opposition Democratic Party to introduce bill to impeach Yoon for vote on Saturday National police chief latest to be arrested, Yonhap reports Yoon quiet after apologising for surprise 3 December martial law Automaker, financial institution workers to join growing public protest South Korea's police chief became the latest top official to be arrested, Yonhap news agency said on Wednesday, in a widening investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law that has plunged the country into a constitutional crisis. The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) said on Wednesday it plans to hold a Parliament vote to impeach Yoon on Saturday, with some members of the president's People Power Party (PP...

Bashar al-Assad. Photo: AFP / HO / SANA Russia transported Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted as Syria's president by a lightning rebel offensive, very securely to Russia, the country's deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, told NBC News in an interview aired on Tuesday. The Kremlin said on Monday that President Vladimir Putin had made the decision to grant asylum in Russia to Assad. His fall is a big blow to Iran and Russia, which had intervened in Syria's 13-year civil war to try to shore up his rule despite Western demands that he leave power. "He is secured, and it shows that Russia acts as required in such an extraordinary situation," Ryabkov told NBC, according to a transcript on NBC's website. He added that he would not elaborate "on what happened and how it was resolved." Asked ...