Asia Today

Today's news: Syrian rebels have taken control of Hama and are targeting Homs. New arrest warrant for Imran Khan's wife after protests in Islamabad. Marcos signs bill to open typhoon evacuation centres in every city in the Philippines. NBA basketball games in Macau to generate revenue other than from casinos. Russian Orthodox priests oppose war: a truce in Ukraine at least for Christmas.

Today's news: South Korean police also opened an investigation into President Yoon for the crime of ‘insurrection’; In Hong Kong, Chief Executive John Lee dismisses two ministers; Iranian Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi released from prison for three weeks for health reasons; Manila clamps down on agencies sending domestic workers to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Today's news: Tense summit in Ankara with Iranian foreign minister over Syria offensive; Cambodian court convicts 13 Filipino women hired for surrogacy on charges of ‘human trafficking’; Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP to lead the Maharashtra government: Ukraine war lowering the level of the Volga.

Today's news: 9 dead in Israeli raids in South Lebanon as ceasefire falters; Truong My Lang's appeal against death sentence rejected in Vietnam, must raise $9 billion to avoid gallows; Public punishment at the Golden Temple in Amtistar for leader of a Sikh political party; In Georgia President Zurabisvili rejects Prime Minister's ultimatum to resign.

Today's news: UN summit on plastic pollution treaty ends without agreement in Busan; At least 19 dead in Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu from Cyclone Fengal; BBC investigation reveals tomatoes grown in China with Uyghur slave labour sold as ‘Italian’ pasta sauce in British supermarkets; Tension between Thailand and Myanmar over Burmese coast guard firing at Thai fishing boats.

Today's news: Calcutta hospital suspends treatment for Bangladeshi patients in retaliation to violence against Hindus; Taiwan President Lai visiting his Pacific Island allies against Chinese pressure; A document signed by over 1400 Korean Catholic priests calls for Yoon's resignation; Baidu is granted a licence to test self-driving vehicles in Hong Kong.

Today's news: the fragile truce between Lebanon and Israel (which attacks Hezbollah positions) holds; Singapore and Thailand sign agreements to strengthen cooperation; Delhi negotiates a minerals pact with Mongolia and goes in search of lithium in the Himalayas; Teheran sells 92% of its oil exports to China, with a minimum discount of 30%.

Today's news: in Pakistan, Khan's party suspends protest after overnight police raid with massive arrests. Up to 40% higher prices for vegetables in Malaysia due to bad weather conditions. In Japan 4,000 sites used as disaster relief centres are located in environmentally hazardous areas. UN mission reports more than 250 cases of arbitrary arrests among journalists at the hands of the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Today's news: Iraqi population rises to 45 million; Vietnamese ‘wandering monk’ reportedly renounces poverty vow for supporters behind threats from Hanoi; After boycotting the Tokyo ceremony, South Korea yesterday pays tribute to fellow citizens ‘enslaved’ in Japanese mines during World War II.

Today's news: Seoul and Kuala Lumpur signed a cooperation agreement in minerals and defence; Dozens of arrests in Islamabad among supporters of former PM Khan, who protest in defiance of bans; Buddhist monastery in Thailand under investigation for using corpses in meditation practices; Beijing tightens controls after series of mass killings.

Today's headlines: Pakistan is shaken by protests and unrest after a recent terrorist attack. South Korea accuses Russia of sending air defence equipment to North Korea. In Japan, public libraries will sell books to those who do not use online stores. In the Philippines, the Marcos and Duterte clans are increasingly at loggerheads.

Today's news: The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant and a senior Hamas leader; Police kill 10 Maoists killed in Chhattisgarh; Putin says Ukraine war is becoming a global conflict; Singapore has the highest number of identity frauds in East Asia in 2024.