https://www.foreignassistance.gov/Agencies#/search

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/indian-scientists-slam-ancient-hindu-stem-cell-claim

At this year's congress, the head of a southern Indian university cited an ancient Hindu text as proof that stem cell research was discovered on the subcontinent thousands of years ago.

"We had 100 Kauravas from one mother because of stem cell and test tube technology," said G. Nageshwar Rao, Vice Chancellor at Andhra University, referring to a story from the Hindu epic Mahabharata.

Rao, who was addressing school children and scientists at the event, also said a demon king from another centuries-old Hindu epic had two dozen aircraft and a network of landing strips in modern-day Sri Lanka.

"Hindu Lord Vishnu used guided missiles known as 'Vishnu Chakra' and chased moving targets," added the professor of inorganic chemistry.

Event organisers tried to hose down the remarks, saying it was "unfortunate" the prestigious event had been derailed by controversy.

https://www.itv.com/news/2019-01-06/malaysias-king-abdicates-in-unexpected-and-rare-move/

Malaysian King Sultan Muhammad V has abdicated after just two years on the throne.

The palace said in a statement that the 49-year-old Sultan Muhammad V had resigned with immediate effect, cutting short his five-year term. No reason was given in the statement.

It is the first abdication in Malaysia’s history.

Sultan Muhammad V, ruler of north-east Kelantan state, was installed in December 2016 as one of Malaysia’s youngest constitutional monarchs.

He is said to have married a 25-year-old former Russian beauty queen in November. The reports in Russian and British media and on social media featured pictures of the wedding, which reportedly took place in Moscow.

Under a unique system maintained since Malaysia’s independence from Britain in 1957, nine hereditary state rulers take turns as king for five-year terms.

https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/palestinians-form-new-party-to-challenge-israel-s-occupation-1.810053

The new party is to be known as “the Democratic Caucus” or the “Palestinian Democratic Group” and was formally launched in the West Bank city of Ramallah and the Gaza Strip on January 3.

Leaders in the group said they would work towards holding presidential and parliamentary elections, and protecting human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Qais Abu Layla, one of the officials leading the new coalition of five factions, has said that one of its primary aims is to prevent the fragmentation of the Palestinian parties seeking to end Israel’s 51-year occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem.