Asia

South Korean military fires warning shots after N.Korean soldiers cross demarcation line

South Korea's military fired warning shots after North Korean soldiers crossed the Military Demarcation Line near the border on Tuesday, according to the country's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). Some…

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Taiwan keeping watch after Chinese submarine surfaces in Taiwan Strait

Taiwan's defence minister said on Tuesday that they have a "grasp" of the situation after pictures appeared online of a Chinese nuclear submarine surfacing in the sensitive Taiwan Strait near…

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Taiwan is not seeking war with China, defence minister says

Taiwan is not seeking war with Beijing, and its policy is to build up a defensive, multi-level deterrence capability to make it harder for China to capture the island, Taiwan…

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Hong Kong uses new national security law against exiled activists

Hong Kong's Security Bureau said on Wednesday it would use powers in a new national security law against six self-exiled activists residing in Britain, including cancelling their passports, after they…

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China hit by searing temperatures as Asia braces for extreme summer

Temperatures are hitting record highs in parts of north and central China this week while a severe drought in the east is also threatening crops, as countries across Asia brace…

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China urges greater BRICS role as Western sanctions mount

China has urged the BRICS bloc of nations to take on greater responsibilities and establish itself as being inclusive to the world, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday, in…

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Eight more die as India faces longest heatwave

A severe heatwave continues to wreak havoc in India as the eastern state of Odisha on Monday reported eight deaths within a 72-hour period. Officials figures released in May suggested…

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China’s defence ministry says Dutch ship incident ‘heinous’

China's Ministry of Defence on Tuesday warned the Netherlands to restrain actions of its naval and air forces after the Netherlands' defence ministry said that Chinese fighter jets approached a…

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South Korea fired warning shots after North Korea border crossing

South Korea's military fired warning shots after some North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the border at the weekend, Seoul officials said, amid a recent rise in tension over Pyongyang's launch…

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Modi set to take oath for the third time on June 8

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's National Democratic Alliance (NDA) formally named him on Wednesday to lead a new coalition government for a third straight term, a day after it regained…

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India’s Historic General Election 2022: Turnout, Challenges, and Emerging Technologies

India's general election, with nearly a billion eligible voters, ended on Saturday. Votes are to be counted on Tuesday and results will be known later that day. Here are some…

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Modi’s alliance dominates early in India election vote count, but opposition also gains

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's alliance raced to a majority in early vote counting trends in the general election on Tuesday, but the numbers were well short of the landslide…

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Modi’s alliance to win big in India election, exit polls project

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led alliance is projected to win a big majority in the general election that concluded on Saturday, TV exit polls said, suggesting…

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India election 2024: What next after voting ends?

The winners of India's April 19-June 1 general election are expected to form a new government by the middle of June after votes are counted on June 4. Analysts largely…

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Hong Kong starts hearing for 16 democrats in landmark national security case

Hong Kong's High Court kicked off a hearing against 16 democrats on Thursday ahead of verdicts in a landmark subversion trial that will be closely watched by diplomats, human rights…

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Xi says China wants to work with Arab states to resolve hot spot issues

China wants to work with Arab nations to resolve hot spot issues in ways conducive to upholding fairness, justice and achieving long-term peace and stability, President Xi Jinping said in…

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India issues heat wave alert as Delhi posts record high temperature

India's weather department issued a red alert for several parts of the country's northwest on Wednesday, warning of a severe heat wave a day after parts of the capital Delhi…

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Thailand targets tourism boost with longer stays for visitors, students, ‘digital nomads’

Thailand's government said on Tuesday it had approved longer visa stay periods for tourists, postgraduate students and remote workers, and better visa conditions for retirees, in a move to boost…

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China, US agree to manage maritime risks through continued dialogue

China and the United States held consultations on maritime affairs in which both countries agreed to maintain dialogue and manage risks, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. China said…

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Pakistan temperatures cross 52 C in heatwave

Temperatures rose above 52 degrees Celsius (125.6 degrees Fahrenheit) in Pakistan’s southern province of Sindh, the highest reading of the summer and close to the country’s record high amid an…

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US lawmaker tells Taiwan weapons are coming, China drills show deterrence need

A senior U.S. lawmaker visiting Taipei said on Monday that weapons Taiwan had ordered are finally on their way, and that China's "intimidating" war games last week underscored the need…

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Gujarat State Amusement Park Fire: Tragic Death Toll and Prime Minister’s Condolences

A tragic fire engulfed a bustling amusement park in Gujarat State, western India on Saturday, claiming the lives of at least 27 individuals, including four young children. The local authorities…

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Kabosu, Dog Who Inspired Dogecoin Has Died

Kabosu, the dog behind the "doge" meme, has died at the age of 18 after enjoying more than a decade of internet fame. The Japanese shiba inu had been suffering…

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China’s second day of war games around Taiwan tests ability to ‘seize power’

China's military carried out a second day of war games around Taiwan on Friday, with drills to test their ability to "seize power" and control key areas, exercises it has…

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Taiwan mobilises forces after China starts ‘punishment’ drills

Taiwan's military mobilised its forces and said it was confident it could protect the island, after China started two days of "punishment" drills around Taiwan on Thursday in what it…

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New Taiwanese president calls on China to stop its threats

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te asked China on Monday to stop its military and political threats, saying in his inauguration speech that peace is the only choice and that Beijing had…

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Xi lauds China-Russia ties as Putin lands in Beijing

Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to work with counterpart Vladimir Putin to "rejuvenate" their countries as the pair started a day of talks in Beijing, saying China would "always be…

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China military incursions inch closer to Taiwan

China's military has sailed and flown closer to Taiwan in recent weeks than it has before, and staged mock attacks on foreign vessels ahead of the inauguration of the island's…

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North Korea laundered $147.5 mln in stolen crypto in March

North Korea laundered $147.5 million through virtual currency platform Tornado Cash in March after stealing it last year from a cryptocurrency exchange, according to confidential work by United Nations sanctions…

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Afghanistan floods devastate villages, killing 315

Flash floods caused by heavy rains have devastated villages in northern Afghanistan, killing 315 people and injuring more than 1,600, authorities said on Sunday, as villagers buried their dead and…

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China military says it ‘drove away’ US destroyer in South China Sea

China's military said it closely monitored and "drove away" USS Halsey that entered the territorial waters of Paracel Islands in the South China Sea on May 10, the Southern Theater…

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Taiwan says Chinese planes crossed median line, China carries out landing drills

Taiwan's defence ministry said on Friday it had detected a renewed incursion by Chinese military aircraft across the sensitive Taiwan Strait, as China reported its navy had carried out combat…

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More than 12,000 evacuated following volcano Ruang’s eruption in Indonesia

Efforts in Indonesia began to evacuate about 12,000 residents from their homes on Wednesday following the eruption of the Ruang volcano. The volcano erupted on Tuesday, spewing lava and rocks, with the authorities…

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Scorching heat in the Philippines prompts safety concerns, challenges to power supply

The Philippines has cancelled in-person public school classes for the next two days and said the power grid on its main island could be strained as the country grapples with…

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China set to launch high-stakes mission to moon’s ‘hidden’ side

China will send a robotic spacecraft in coming days on a round trip to the moon's far side in the first of three technically demanding missions that will pave the…

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In Beijing, Blinken confronts China over ‘powering’ Russia’s war

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised concerns on Friday about China's support for Russia's military, one of the many issues threatening to sour the recent improvement in relations between…

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India begins voting in second phase of giant election

India began voting on Friday in the second phase of the world's biggest election, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his rivals raise the pitch of the campaign by focusing…

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China should have confidence to talk to us, Taiwan’s president-elect says

China should have the confidence to talk to Taiwan's legally elected government, President-elect Lai Ching-te said on Thursday as he appointed his new national security and diplomacy team amid what…

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North Korea leader Kim’s sister: we will build overwhelming military power

Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said the country will continue to build overwhelming and the strongest military power to protect its sovereignty…

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Asia worst hit from climate disasters in 2023, says UN

Asia was most affected by climate and weather-related events in 2023, a United Nations report said on Tuesday, with floods and storms causing the most deaths and economic loss. The "State…

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Taiwan rattled by dozens of quakes, but no major damage

Taiwan's quake-hit eastern county of Hualien was rattled by dozens of aftershocks late on Monday and early on Tuesday, but only minor damage was reported and no casualties and major…

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Modi seeks third term in India’s election

India’s Hindu nationalist leader Narendra Modi is set to win his third term in a row as prime minister, Rupam Jain and Krishna N. Das report. Virtually all opinion polls say the 73-year-old will become the…

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Myanmar’s detained ex-leader Suu Kyi moved to house arrest

Myanmar's detained former leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has been moved from prison to house arrest, a spokesperson for the military government told media. "Since the weather…

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China’s foreign minister says Iran able to ‘handle situation’ and spare Middle East more tension

China said it believed Iran could "handle the situation well and spare the region further turmoil" while safeguarding its sovereignty and dignity, referring to an attack on Iran's embassy in…

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South Korea, Japan, US hold naval drills amid N.Korea threats

South Korea, Japan and the United States staged long-planned joint naval exercises involving an American aircraft carrier to ensure readiness against nuclear and missile threats from North Korea, Seoul's navy…

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North Korea leader Kim Jong Un says now is time to be ready for war

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said unstable geopolitical situations surrounding his country mean now is the time to be more prepared for war than ever, as he inspected the…

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Taipei replica in remote Chinese province fans Taiwan invasion fears

China seems to have created a mock-up of Taipei’s presidential district to use the site as a training ground to prepare for a future invasion of Taiwan. Satellite images verified…

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Earthquake of 6 magnitude strikes off east coast of Honshu, Japan; Taiwan earthquake injuries top 1,000

An earthquake of magnitude 6 struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on Thursday, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre said. The quake was at a depth of 32 km (19.88…

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Taiwan hit by strongest quake in 25 years

.2 magnitude earthquake rocked Taiwan on Wednesday, the strongest tremor to hit the island in at least 25 years, killing one person, injuring dozens and sparking a tsunami warning for…

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North Korea fires suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile

North Korea fired a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile into the sea on Tuesday in a possible test of a new rocket using solid fuel, drawing swift condemnation from South Korea,…

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North Korea rules out any meetings with Japan

By Hyunsu Yim SEOUL, March 29 (Reuters) - North Korea has no interest in dialogue with Japan, state media KCNA reported on Friday, citing foreign minister Choe Son Hui. Japanese…

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Jakarta to remain economic hub as Indonesia prepares to move capital city

JAKARTA, March 28 (Reuters) - Indonesia's parliament on Thursday designated special status for Jakarta, keeping the metropolis as the country's economic epicentre, amid plans to move the capital city to…

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Putin’s spy chief visited North Korea

Russian foreign intelligence chief visits Pyongyang Naryshkin discusses deepening ties with North Korea Naryshkin was in North Korea March 25-27, SVR says Putin and Kim strengthening ties MOSCOW/SEOUL, March 28…

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Taiwan sees US support unchanged no matter who wins election

TAIPEI, March 28 (Reuters) - Taiwan's foreign ministry said on Thursday it believes U.S. support will remain unchanged no matter who wins the presidential election, but it will stay on…

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Southeast Asia human trafficking now a global crisis, Interpol says

Organised crime rings who fuelled an "explosion" of human trafficking and cyber scam centres during the pandemic have expanded from Southeast Asia into a global network making up to $3…

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China’s Xi tells Dutch PM cutting supply chains would lead to confrontation

Chinese President Xi Jinping told Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Wednesday that creating technological barriers and cutting off supply chains would only lead to division and confrontation, according to…

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Six killed in militant attack on Pakistan naval base, say officials

Militants attacked a Pakistan naval airbase killing at least one paramilitary soldier while security forces killed all five of the assailants in retaliatory fire, officials said on Tuesday. Monday's attack…

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