Asia Today

Today's news: No chance of finding 55 passengers missing from the landslide that swept away their buses in Nepal; Alliance of minority groups agree four-day truce with the Burmese army in Shan State; Islamabad reaches agreement with the IMF on a seven billion dollar loan; Kuwait announces the discovery of a huge new oil field.

Today's news: partial IDF withdrawal from Gaza after a week-long offensive; Kathmandu towards new coalition government following parliamentary no-confidence vote for K.P. Sharma Oli; Thailand increases visa-free countries to 93 to boost tourism (and trade); 'Wandering' monk Thich Minh Tue reappears after a month.

Today's news: Arvind Kejriwal, chief minister and leader of an opposition party, remains in jail in India Delhi. Pyongyang sends military delegation to Russia, first meeting after Putin-Kim summit. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi: NATO accusations of aid to Moscow in Ukraine war 'unfounded'. Syriac Archbishop recalls Iraqi Christians' resilience after ten years of ISIS persecution.

Today's news: Bangladesh suspends government job applications aafollowing student protests; Rights groups ask Thailand not to extradite degar activist to Vietnam, torture feared; Scandal in China over edible oil in tanks used to transport toxic substances; In 2024 Israel took more land in the West Bank than in the last 20 years.

Today's news: Chinese human rights lawyer Chang Welping released from prison but confined to Hainan Island; Controversy in Seoul over the statements of a politician who linked the suicide rate to the 'dominant' role of women; A resolution was introduced in the US House calling for an investigation into the death of Father Stan Swamy three years ago in India.

Today's news: In Myanmar more than a quarter of public schools are closed due to the war; New Caledonia elected a pro-independence candidate to the Farnese National Assembly for the first time; North Sumatra court acquitts former government official accused of slavery; Indian universities are strengthening relations with Israel.

Today's news: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at NATO summit to discuss Pyongyang's threat to Europe; Viktor Orban met with Xi Jinping on a 'peace mission': the Philippines reinforces rice agreements with Vietnam, of which it is the first buyer; Hareetz says the Idf on 7 October ordered the 'Hannibal' directive.

Today's headlines: Extreme weather events continue across China. In Taiwan, a member of the ruling party in charge of relations with mainland China was arrested. In Indonesia, data lost to a cyberattack has not yet been recovered. To leave Turkmenistan, citizens must carry cash to prove that they are not planning to emigrate.

Today's news: the Philippines and Japan are about to finalise a mutual security agreement; In Myanmar thousands displaced by heavy rains; Israel approves new illegal settlements in the West Bank; Niqab banned In Dagestan.

Today's news: seven countries allowed to intervene in the genocide trial against Myanmar for its actions against the Rohingya. Japan eliminated the use of floppy disks. North Korea recalls its students living abroad for 'political indoctrination'.

Today's news: Indonesia wants to impose new tariffs on Beijing's exports, Philippines initiative of swapping plastic waste for rice meets success, Turkey closes border crossings with Syria after a series of clashes; Moscow against admitting Russian athletes without a flag to the Olympics.

Today's news: coal use reaches record levels in Indonesia and the Philippines ; Pakistan's government plans to begin a new phase of expelling Afghan refugees, while the Taliban meet with UN officials in Doha; North Korea shifts the transmission of its television programmes from a Chinese satellite to a Russian one; Chinese President Xi Jinping is visiting Central Asia from today.