Asia

China examines new legal tool to pursue graft suspects, assets abroad

Top Chinese lawmakers this week began their first review of a draft cross-border anti-corruption law aimed at beefing up the country's legal toolbox to pursue, repatriate and convict alleged corrupt…

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US cancels joint marine drills with South Korea over Iran war-related force constraints

The United States cancelled a joint amphibious landing drill scheduled for next month with South Korea, Seoul's Marine Corps said on Monday, after Washington ‌cited constraints on the availability of…

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South Korea estimates North Korea has up to 120 nuclear warheads

South Korea estimates North Korea possesses between 80 and 120 nuclear warheads, its defence minister said, citing a range significantly higher than U.S. President Donald Trump's recent assertion that Pyongyang…

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Trump says he will meet with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un

President Donald Trump said that he would meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this year. Trump did not elaborate further about the trip. His remarks came as he…

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Thousands stranded at Japan’s Narita airport after record rain kills four

Record ‌rainfall left thousands of travellers stranded at Tokyo's Narita airport on Friday as flooding in the surrounding area disrupted transport, knocked out power to homes and claimed at least…

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Typhoon Noul makes landfall in China, with hundreds of thousands evacuated

Typhoon Noul has struck southern China, bringing powerful winds and heavy rainfall to Guangdong province and Hong Kong, forcing more than 700,000 people to evacuate as authorities prepared for flooding…

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India-linked organized crime expands overseas

An international law enforcement operation targeting India-linked organized crime has underscored how criminal syndicates that once operated primarily within India have evolved into sophisticated transnational networks spanning North America, Europe…

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Global trade in cocaine, methamphetamine is booming, UN drug report shows

- The global trade in illicit drugs is booming, with cocaine production ‌and seizures of methamphetamine at an all-time high, a United Nations report showed on Friday, warning of a…

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India’s passport clarification fuels questions over citizenship documentation

India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has clarified that an Indian passport is primarily a travel document and should not be regarded as conclusive proof of citizenship, according to Indian…

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India reports first suspected Ebola case

Authorities in India say a woman with a suspected Ebola infection has been placed in quarantine at a hospital in the southern city of Bengaluru. The union health ministry has…

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Sri Lanka Expands Visa-Free Entry Scheme for International Tourists

Sri Lanka has waived visa fees for tourists from more than 40 countries, a move expected to reduce travel costs for visitors heading to the island nation. Under the new…

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Taiwan on alert over stepped up Chinese military activities

Taiwan sent ships and fighter jets ‌to monitor the second Chinese "joint combat readiness patrol" in a week near the island, in what a senior Taiwanese security official said showed…

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Taiwan says China’s military actions are greatest source of regional instability

hina is the biggest source of regional tension and instability due to its ongoing military activity, Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai said on Tuesday, as Beijing announced it had deployed a…

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Trump leaves Beijing with few wins but warm words for Xi

U.S. President Donald Trump left China on Friday with no major breakthroughs on trade or tangible help from Beijing to end the Iran war, despite two days spent heaping praise…

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China’s Xi hails trade progress in Trump summit, sends Taiwan warning

China's Xi Jinping told President Donald Trump that trade talks were making progress at the start of a two-day summit on Thursday but warned that disagreement over Taiwan could send…

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ICC confirms trial against former Philippine President Duterte

Judges at the International Criminal Court on Thursday confirmed all three counts of murder as ‌crimes against humanity against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and committed him to trial. The…

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UN watchdog says North Korea is boosting nuclear weapons capacity

North Korea has made "very serious" advances in its abilities to turn out nuclear weapons, with the probable addition of a ‌new uranium enrichment facility, as it stepped up activity…

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Bangladesh launches measles vaccination drive as child death toll passes 100

Bangladesh is battling its worse measles outbreak in years, with more than 100 children dead amid a rise in unvaccinated infants. The government, in partnership with the United Nations, has…

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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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