Asia Today

Today's other headlines: Taylor Swift's shows in Singapore spark a row. A church reopens in Laos. The number of Indians seeking asylum in the UK is up. The singer and author of "Baraye", the anthem of the protests caused by the death of Mahsa Amini, gets three years in prison.

Today's news: Tokyo sends mini-drones and robot-snakes to one of the Fukushima reactors to prepare for the removal of highly radioactive waste; Israel aims to build new settlements in the West Bank, nearly 15 thousand housing units; Burmese junta hits a market in Rakhine State, at least 12 dead; In Russia, controls on mobile phones and apps increase.

Today's news: Vientiane aims to build one of the largest 'wind farms' in the region; India heart of global aviation industry by 2040; Bangkok wants to pass a law this year that will only allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes; South Korea sends military personnel to hospitals amid young doctors' strike.

Today's news: Beijing strengths law on state secrets to include those related to 'work'. Mayors of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv confirmed in local elections in Israel. The fourth spill of treated Fukushima water into the ocean is expected today. Hanoi ready to ratify UN convention on trade union freedom by the end of the year.

Today's news: Japan's record low in new births and marriages; Afghan Taliban publically execute a man convicted of murder; Seoul imposes a deadline on (youth) white coat protest; Anti-Muslim hatred grows in India, also linked to the 7 October attack and Gaza war.

Today's news: China's space agency names launchers that will put a man on the moon by 2030; Thousands of Filipinos take to the streets against Marcos' constitutional reform on the 38th anniversary of his father's ouster; Indians spend less on food, increase resources for TVs and fridges; New on-shore gas field discovered in Saudi Arabia.

Today's news: Imran Khan appeals to the International Monetary Fund demanding independent verification of the vote before negotiations; Taiwan's TSMC opened its first microchip factory in Japan; Egyptian economy collapses as tourism, gas and Suez Canal hit by war in Gaza; In Russia more victims of the repression of crimes of opinion under Putin than in the thirty years from Kruschev to Andropov.

Today's news:since 10 February rise in births in China for the year of the dragon; Some Indian states ban candyfloss: Nostalgic videos about the Suharto dictatorship go viral in Indonesia; Armenia restructures its army.

Today's news: Farmers' march in India suspended for two days due to one death in clashes with police; Palestinian attack on a check-point near Jerusalem; US authorities indicte a Japanese man accused of trafficking nuclear material from Myanmar to Iran; Papua New Guinea wants to call in Australian police to quell ethnic violence in the Highlands; In Tajikistan thousands of entrepreneurs go out of business because of corruption.

Today's news: Pakistan's parties reach coalition agreement; Bangladesh under pressure to take in more Rohingya refugees from Myanmar; Highways in China close due to heavy snowfall; Japanese efforts to rebuild Ukraine.

Today's news: In India, the World Hindu Council calls for a lioness to be renamed a deity. Lionel Messi released a video to apologise for the missed match in Hong Kong. In Indonesia at least 71 people died of exhaustion after the election count. Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon. Tourism between Russia and North Korea.

Today's news: In Russia more than 400 protesters arrested for taking to the streets in the wake of Naval'nyj's death; A survey reveals that nearly 70 per cent of Japan's 108 tsunami-prone coastal municipalities would be unprepared for the disaster; The police forcibly keep protesting farmers out of New Delhi; Thaksin Shinawatra returned to freedom; After Cop28 the United Arab Emirates set a record for non-oil exports.