Asia

South Korea points to Kim Jong Un’s daughter as next in line

South Korea's spy agency now believes North ‌Korean leader Kim Jong Un's teenage daughter has been positioned as his successor, lawmakers said on Monday, citing a recent public display of…

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China Raises Alarm Over Japan’s Missile Deployment

China has expressed deep concern over Japan’s decision to deploy long-range missiles in Kumamoto and Shizuoka, announced as part of efforts to strengthen its ability to strike enemy bases. Foreign…

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China urges all parties to pursue “meaningful and sincere” peace talks on Iran conflict

China’s Foreign Ministry has called on all sides involved in the US-Israel war on Iran to work toward constructive dialogue. Spokesperson Lin Jian said the “pressing priority is to actively…

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Talk of US Anti-Missile System Relocation Fuels Anxiety in South Korea

The US is relocating parts of a missile defence system installed in South Korea to the Middle East, according to officials cited by the Washington Post and South Korean news…

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Thailand orders civil servants to work from home while Vietnam cuts fuel demand amid energy shock

Governments in Southeast Asia are introducing emergency energy-saving measures as fuel supplies tighten and prices surge following the conflict in the Middle East. Thailand and Vietnam have both urged businesses…

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China to build ‘birth-friendly society’, refine social security system

China has announced plans to build a “childbirth-friendly society” over the next five years as it attempts to tackle its declining birth rate and rapidly ageing population. According to a…

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Malaysia police launch probe into alleged plot to topple government

Malaysia's top police official said on Friday authorities were investigating an alleged conspiracy to "topple the government and sabotage national stability". Malaysia’s police have launched an investigation into an alleged…

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Regional tensions rise as Pakistan hits Afghan targets and Kabul warns of wider conflict

Pakistan bombed Taliban government targets in Afghanistan's major cities overnight, officials from both countries said on Friday, with Pakistan's defence minister describing the conflict as "open war". Security sources in…

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Indian state of Kerala to be renamed Keralam

The Indian state of Kerala, known as “God’s own country” for its golden beaches and lush tea plantations, is to be given a new name. Narendra Modi’s cabinet has approved…

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Indonesia and Morocco Commit Troops for Gaza Stabilisation Force

Indonesia and Morocco have pledged to send personnel to the newly proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF) in Gaza, according to US Army General Jasper Jeffers, who heads the initiative under…

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North Korea’s Kim positioning daughter as successor

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appears to be taking steps to consolidate his daughter's position as successor, and there are signs she is providing input on policy matters, South…

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Takaichi’s landslide victory: A New Era for Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has reaffirmed her commitment to reducing the sales tax on food, following a landmark election win that paves the way for new stimulus measures. The…

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Hong Kong Media Tycoon Jimmy Lai Sentenced to 20 Years Amid Beijing’s Crackdown

Former Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been given a 20-year prison sentence. This concludes a legal saga that symbolizes Beijing’s broad clampdown on civil liberties in the city.…

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Britain’s Starmer seeks fresh start with China, economic wins

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday that he wanted to build a "sophisticated relationship" aiming to boost growth and security, signalling a breakthrough in…

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Deadly virus outbreak in India triggers Asia airport screenings

An outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus in India's West Bengal state has sparked concern in parts of Asia, with some tightening screening measures at airports. Thailand has started screening…

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Which Passports Open the Most Doors: Singapore Reigns

The latest Henley Passport Index, updated quarterly, reveals which passports offer the broadest global access without a visa. Singapore has reclaimed the top spot, granting its citizens visa-free entry to…

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Infant formula contamination scare spreads to Danone and Lactalis

Three of the world's largest dairy companies are recalling and blocking batches of infant milk formula after a contamination scare that began with Nestle widened to French groups Danone and…

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India to withdraw diplomats’ families from Bangladesh

India will withdraw its diplomats' families and dependents from Bangladesh in the face of security threats as tension rises ahead of a February 12 general election, an Indian official said…

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Central Asia’s population boom contrasts Europe’s demographic decline, report shows

Central Asia’s population is projected to exceed 114 million by 2050, according to the United Nations Population Fund, setting the region apart from much of Europe and East Asia, where…

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Magnitude 6.7 earthquake strikes near Baculin, Philippines

A 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck off the Philippines' southern islands on Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said, and there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. USGS said…

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Xi Jinping vows to reunify China and Taiwan in New Year’s Eve speech

China’s president, Xi Jinping, has vowed to reunify China and Taiwan in his annual New Year’s Eve speech in Beijing. Speaking the day after the conclusion of intense Chinese military…

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Taiwan stays on high alert as Chinese ships pull back after massive drills

Taiwan remained on high alert on Wednesday after China staged massive military drills around the island the previous day, keeping its emergency maritime response centre running as it monitored Chinese…

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Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first female prime minister, dies at 80

Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first female prime minister and a dominant figure in the country’s politics for decades, has died at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness, her Bangladesh…

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Search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 expected to resume on Tuesday

The search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is expected to resume on 30 December, more than a decade after the plane disappeared with 239 people onboard in one of aviation’s…

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China launches war games around Taiwan

China staged live-fire drills around Taiwan on Monday, deploying troops, warships, fighter jets and artillery for its "Justice Mission 2025" exercises, as the island scrambled soldiers and showcased U.S.-made hardware…

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Japan prepares to restart world’s biggest nuclear plant, 15 years after Fukushima

Japan took the final step to allow the restart of the world's largest nuclear power plant on Monday as the region of Niigata voted to resume operations, a watershed moment…

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Hong Kong’s last opposition party votes to disband under China pressure

Hong Kong’s largest pro-democracy party has voted to dissolve, drawing a close to more than 30 years of political activism and underscoring the dramatic narrowing of the city’s political space.…

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Taiwan’s deputy foreign minister made secret trip to Israel

Taiwan's high-profile Deputy Foreign Minister Francois Wu made a previously unpublicised visit to Israel recently, three sources familiar with the trip told Reuters, at a time when Taiwan is looking…

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South Korea scrambles jets amid Chinese and Russian drill

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said that Russian and Chinese aircraft entered the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) at around 10 a.m. local time (0100 UTC/GMT) on Tuesday.…

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Russian bombers join Chinese air patrol near Japan as Tokyo-Beijing tie strains

Japan has scrambled jets to monitor Russian and Chinese air forces conducting joint patrols around the country, the Japanese defence ministry said late Tuesday, amid rising tensions between Tokyo and…

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Border battle expands as Thailand and Cambodia clash for second day

Heavy clashes between Thailand and Cambodia continued for a second day on Tuesday, spreading to new parts of their contested border as both sides traded accusations of targeting civilians. Thailand…

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Taiwan, Japan voice concern over Chinese military movements

Taiwan and Japan voiced concern on Friday over Chinese military activities in the region, after Reuters reported that Beijing had deployed a large number of vessels across East Asian waters…

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China’s military firms struggle as corruption purge bites, report says

Revenues at China’s major state-owned military companies fell sharply last year as sweeping corruption investigations stalled procurement and delayed major weapons contracts, according to new research by the Stockholm International…

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China’s military warns Japan will pay ‘painful price’ if steps out of line over Taiwan

China's defence ministry said on Thursday that Japan will have to pay a "painful price" if it steps out of line over Taiwan, responding to Japanese plans to deploy missiles…

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China Hit by Two Major Tragedies

China has been confronted with two severe incidents that underscore longstanding challenges in transport safety and urban emergency readiness. In Yunnan province, eleven people lost their lives on Thursday after…

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Taiwan Warns: Be Combat-Ready by 2027, Citing Rising Risk of Force from China

Taiwan will prepare itself for combat within the next two years amid "intensifying" threats from China, the nation's president has declared. Lai Ching-te held a news conference on Wednesday morning…

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‘Return’ to China not an option for Taiwan’s people, premier says

Taiwan Premier Cho Jung-tai said on Tuesday that a "return" to China is not an option for the island's 23 million people, after Chinese President Xi Jinping pressed his country's…

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North, South Korea in ‘very dangerous’ standoff

North and South Korea are in a "very dangerous situation" where an accidental clash is possible any time and it was crucial for Seoul to engage Pyongyang in dialogue, South…

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China Tightens Grip on Japan Links as Cruise Lines and Concerts Face Sudden Cancellations

Chinese cruise lines and cultural institutions are abruptly distancing themselves from Japan as diplomatic tensions between Beijing and Tokyo intensify, disrupting tourism flows, entertainment events and business plans across the…

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Two Miss Universe judges quit scandal-hit pageant, as one claims it’s rigged

Two Miss Universe judges have resigned days before the annual beauty pageant, with one of them accusing organisers of rigging the selection process. Lebanese-French musician Omar Harfouch, who announced his…

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Singapore reveals world’s first green fuel tax on flights

Singapore is poised to become the first country in the world to sting travellers with a green fuel tax. Last week, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) confirmed its…

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Japan warns citizens in China about safety as diplomatic crisis deepens

Japan has warned its citizens in China to step up safety precautions and avoid crowded places amid a deepening dispute between Asia's two largest economies over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae…

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Bangladesh’s Sheikh Hasina: From political dominance to death sentence

Bangladesh’s Sheikh Hasina, sentenced to death in absentia on Monday for her deadly crackdown on student protesters last year, has been a dominant figure in the South Asian nation for…

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Taiwan to distribute security handbook to all households as China threat rises

Taiwan will begin distributing millions of civil defence handbooks to households across the island this week, in an unprecedented effort to prepare residents for potential emergencies, including the possibility of…

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Suicide bomber kills 12 outside court in Pakistan capital

At least 12 people have been killed and 27 others injured in a suicide bombing outside a court complex in Islamabad, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has confirmed. The explosion…

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N Korea ‘head of state’ who served under three Kims dies

Kim Yong Nam, North Korea's former ceremonial head of state and a lifelong supporter of the ruling dynasty, has died aged 97, according to state media. He held the role…

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Taiwan does not want China’s ‘one country, two systems’, president says

Taiwan does not want China's "one country, two systems" and must uphold its freedom and democracy, and resolve to defend itself, President Lai Ching-te said on Friday, rejecting Beijing's latest…

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Pakistan threatens to ‘obliterate’ Taliban after peace talks fail

Pakistan's defence minister threatened to "obliterate" the ruling Taliban in neighbouring Afghanistan, a dramatic escalation of rhetoric after the collapse of talks towards a lasting peace between the South Asian…

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Trump cuts China tariffs to 47% after ‘amazing’ Xi meeting

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he had agreed to reduce tariffs on China to 47% in exchange for Beijing resuming U.S. soybean purchases, keeping rare earths exports flowing…

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China says it ‘absolutely will not’ rule out use of force over Taiwan

China "absolutely will not" rule out using force over Taiwan, a government spokesperson said on Wednesday, striking a much tougher tone than a series of articles in state media this…

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Trump oversees truce signing and trade deal flurry on first Asian stop

U.S. President Donald Trump hit the ground running on the first leg of his Asian tour on Sunday, announcing a slew of trade agreements in Malaysia and joining the signing…

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Japan’s Sanae Takaichi elected as country’s first female prime minister

Japan’s parliament on Tuesday elected ultraconservative Sanae Takaichi as the country’s first female prime minister, a historic first that comes one day after her struggling party struck a coalition deal…

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Japan’s Ishin party joins political establishment it vowed to fight

Formed in 2010 to shake up Japan's political establishment and loosen Tokyo's administrative stranglehold, the Japan Innovation Party, known as Ishin, will now help the ruling Liberal Democratic Party extend…

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India contradicts Trump on Russian oil pledge

A senior Indian official has challenged President Donald Trump’s claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi phoned him to announce India would stop buying Russian oil. Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s…

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Trump Says Modi Pledged to Stop Buying Russian Oil, Eyes China Next

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged to halt India’s purchases of Russian oil, as Washington steps up efforts to cut Moscow’s…

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Powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake strikes off southern Philippines, tsunami warnings issued

An earthquake of magnitude 7.5 struck offshore in the southern Philippines on Friday morning, the country's seismology agency said, with tsunami warnings issued in several countries and people in nearby…

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Officials Confirm Rising Fatalities Following Philippines Quake

The death toll from a 6.9-magnitude earthquake that hit the central Philippines has risen to 69, a disaster official said on Wednesday as the government mobilised agencies to search for…

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