David Shadrach

China: Fears growing over disappeared rights activist NEWS / HUMAN RIGHTS  China Human Rights Asia Pacific Concern is growing over the fate of a Chinese artist who disappeared after posting videos and messages critical of China’s Communist Party. Hua Yong is thought to be in police custody after filming protests against forced evictions of migrant workers. Their mistreatment has become a very sensitive issue in China.Adrian Brown reports from Beijing.

Narendra Modi's BJP set to win Gujarat state election NEWS / INDIA  READ MORE India: Economic woes are key factor in Gujarat election READ MORE Will election change fate of the Agariyas of Gujarat? Gujarat India Elections Asia Modi showed his ink-marked finger after casting his vote in Ahmedabad on December 14 [Amit Dave/Reuters] New Delhi, India - Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP is set to win a key election contest in the western state of Gujarat. The BJP was leading on Monday in more than 100 seats in the 182-member state house, well clear of the halfway mark of 92 required to rule. In 2012, the BJP won 115 of Gujarat's 182 seats. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has governed Gujarat for the past 22 years and Modi was the chief minister of the state three times. Advertisement "Our party cannot be defeated for a hundred years," the prime minister had said to a crowd of supporters in a rally at Morbi in Gujarat on 28 November. On Monday, vote counting b...

Ministers meet to thrash out Brexit end deal Theresa May and her senior ministers are to formally discuss for the first time what the UK's long-term relationship with the EU should be. The EU has agreed that Brexit negotiations can now move on to discussing the UK and the EU's future relationship. Until now they have only been discussing "divorce" issues like how much money the UK owes. Not everyone agrees how closely aligned the UK should stay to EU trade rules. Group calls for a 'shared market' with EU May: I won't be derailed on Brexit What next for Brexit talks? Brexit: All you need to know The UK voted to leave the European Union in June 2016 and Brexit is due to happen at 23:00 GMT on 29 March, 2019. The full cabinet will hold another discussion on Tuesday. BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said there was a "clear divide" between ministers, with some like Chancellor Philip Hammond and Home Secretary Amber Rudd calling for the UK t...

Qatar marks National Day amid Gulf crisis NEWS / MIDDLE EAST  READ MORE Celebrating National Day in Qatar Marcela Daza [Facebook] Mahmoud Ibrahim [Facebook] Fathima Zafra Afker (R) with husband [Facebook] Qatar Middle East GCC, Qatar is celebrating National Day amid the ongoing Gulf diplomatic crisis, which appears to have created a greater sense unity among the nation's 2.5 million residents. The annual holiday is observed on December 18 to mark the date in 1878 when Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani succeeded his father as the emir and led the country towards unity. A two-day holiday from December 17 to 18 was announced by Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Saturday. With 300 mini drones up in the sky, Qatar's residents were treated to a synchronised airshow on Sunday night - also planned for Monday - at the waterfront of Katara cultural village in the capital, Doha. A military parade along Doha's corniche will be held at 3pm on Monday. Various cultura...