Asia Today

Today's news: One of Hezbollah's leaders eliminated in southern Lebanon; Chinese President Xi Jinping said more efforts are needed in the fight against corruption; Former Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif is free to participate in the upcoming elections; Polling stations open for the Bhutan runoff.

Today's news: in Bangladesh unsurprising victory for PM Hasina; Japan earthquake death toll rises to 161; Maldives government suspends three officials who insulted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media; Supreme Court in India intervenes on convictions of Gujarat riots in 2002; Citizenship process simplified in Russia.

Today's news: Defense Minister Gallant unveils first Israeli plan for post-war Gaza; Myanmar regime announces amnesty for 9,652 prisoners,except political prisoners with long sentences; In Wuhan, the Chinese Communist Party adds two children to the sculpture extolling the one-child policy.

Today's news: Delhi local government chief (and Modi opponent) targeted by federal agency for an excise duty scam; China's BYD overtakesTesla in electric cars sales; Bangladesh and India among Moscow's biggest debtors; Record fine to Korean video game giant; A Russian soldier born in 2005 the youngest soldier to die at the front in Ukraine.

Today's news: bad weather hits Japan's earthquake damaged areas; Indian government negotiates with truck drivers after strikes over hit-and-run law; 2023 marked China's highest average temperature ever; New Year message from Russian political prisoners: 'Believe, fear, forgive'.

Today's news: provisional death toll in Japan earthquake rises to 30, people are still digging under the rubble; Israel's Supreme Court rejects Netanyahu's justice reform; The 'banker of the poor' Yunus convicted of labour exploitation in Bangladesh; Kazakhstan no longer considers the Afghan Taliban a terrorist movement.

Today's news: South Africa has filed a complaint for genocide against Israel with the Hague Court; Argentina officially confirms it will not join the Brics on 1 January 2024; Singapore raises taxes on electronic cigarettes; In Kazakhstan 50 requests for help per day against violence against women.

Today's news: High Court allows party members to visit Imran Khan ahead of February 8 elections; Iran executes four people linked to Mossad, Israel's missiles continue to kill civilians in Gaza; Beijing revives deal with Myanmar for Kyaukphyu port; Activist Tony Chung seeks political asylum in Britain after 43 months in prison

Today's news: Muslim prisoners in Siberian jails went on hunger strike against religious discrimination. In Seoul over 1,000 military personnel carried out a series of defence drills, simulating an attack by North Korea. The Philippines will open four new medical departments in universities in as many provinces of the country.

Today's news: China won't join US in curbing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea; In Japan, the world's largest nuclear power plant is about to be switched on again; Ousted from the Russian presidential election is journalist Ekaterina Duntsova, the only one to condemn the invasion of Ukraine;The Philippine army attacks the New People's Army rebel base.

Today's news: Israeli raid in Damascus kills Iranian general Mousavi. Russian dissident Aleksej Naval'nyj has been tracked down, secretly moved to a camp for lifers. Eighteen dead in Indonesia nickel smelter fire, President Widodo calls for more security. Malaysia at risk of flooding, as in 2014: displaced 25,000 people.

Today's headlines: Laos’s debt tops 112 per cent of its GDP. Chechnya starts to take in Palestinian refugees. Malaysia wants to attract more wealthy foreign retirees. All of Japan’s prefectures, except Tokyo, will see a population decline by 2050 over 2020. China blocks some flights between Russia and China.