Asia Today

Today's headlines: Filipino journalist convicted of “terrorism”, NGO: accusations are instrumental; Bangladesh, election campaign begins ahead of 12 February elections; In Manila, ASEAN restarts talks on Myanmar; Group of Arab and Islamic nations join Trump's Board of Peace; Vatican also invited, Parolin: “We are considering”.

Today's headlines: Indonesia, nine arrests by Medan police for trafficking newborns; Seoul: 23 years in prison for former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo for supporting martial law in 2024; Traffic in India among the worst in the world, with six of the ten most congested cities in Asia in 2025; Lawyer who defended Christians and converts arrested in Tehran.

Today's news: record number of tourists in Japan in 2025 despite tensions with Beijing. Seoul, civilian-piloted drones to North Korea fuel tensions with Pyongyang. Indian soldier killed in anti-terrorism operation in Jammu and Kashmir. Hamas ready to “transfer all powers” to technocratic committee managing the Gaza Strip, China also invited to join the Board of Peace.

Today's news: Syria, immediate ceasefire agreement between government and SDF. 60 nations have been invited by Trump to take part in the Board of Peace for Gaza. The Communist Party Congress has opened in Vietnam. Violent fire in a shopping centre in Karachi has caused at least 14 deaths.

Today's news: Thailand’s Transport Ministry halts construction for 15 days after two fatal accidents. In a show of goodwill, Syria recognises Kurdish as a "national language”. More than 5.2 million Afghans have returned home from Iran and Pakistan in 2025. The death toll from a landfill collapse in Cebu, Philippines, rises to 28.

Today's Headlines: in Seoul, Yoon is sentenced to five years in prison in the first of the trials for attempting to impose martial law; In Yemen, Prime Minister bin Breik resigns and is succeeded by Foreign Minister Zindani; Hunger threatens 4.7 million people in Afghanistan; Washington has asked Jakarta to purchase US drones to monitor the South China Sea; The final death toll from the fire at the Wang Fuk Court towers in Hong Kong is 168.

Today's headlines: Tehran reopens its airspace after closing it overnight due to fears of a US attack; The Chinese embassy in Phnom Penh warns its citizens of the risk of crime and fraud; Nepal is also on alert for cases of Nipah virus that have emerged in West Bengal, India; Turkish prisons are housing 130% more inmates than their actual capacity; Iran, Russia, Afghanistan and Thailand are among the 75 countries for which the Trump administration has suspended the issuance of visas.

Today's headlines: Beijing against “external” intervention (by Washington) in Iran, caution also from Arab states. A train derails in north-eastern Thailand, causing at least 22 deaths. In 2025, India saw a 13% increase in cases of hate speech against minorities, including Christians and Muslims. Syrian Kurds protest against Damascus over the expulsion of militiamen from Aleppo after last week's clashes.

Today's news: economy and security at the centre of today's meeting between the Japanese Prime Minister and the South Korean President. Colombo has asked Beijing for help in post-typhoon reconstruction. Activists in Bahrain concerned about the conviction of opposition leader Sharif.

Today's headlines: in Hong Kong, the “mitigation hearing” begins in the trial of Jimmy Lai, who is feared to face life imprisonment. Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi may call early elections. Second phase of elections in Myanmar called for by the coup junta. Nepal and Bangladesh ready to resume trade talks frozen since 2020. Pyongyang asks Seoul for explanations regarding a southern drone that allegedly violated North Korean airspace.

Today's headlines: Indonesia blocks Grok chatbox due to risks of AI-generated pornographic content; Report says Jeju Air fatal plane crash in South Korea could have been avoided without concrete barriers near the runway; Malaysia's unemployment rate lowest in 11 years; Israel carries out 20 raids in Lebanon.

Today's headlines: Closing Consistory Leo XIV convenes a new meeting of cardinals for June; Hamas reportedly elects a new leader in Gaza and replaces members of the political bureau killed by Israel; India announces first phase of census from 1 April to 30 September; Kazakhstan makes biometric identification mandatory for to buy a SIM card.