Takaichi formally re-elected as Japan's prime minister with a goal of pushing to the right
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's goals include an increase in military power, more government spending and strengthened conservative social policies.
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US tech giants announce India deals at AI summit in Delhi
Nvidia – the world’s most valuable company – said it was teaming up with three Indian cloud computing providers.
Pakistan PM Sharif to seek clarity on troops for Gaza in US visit, sources say
ISLAMABAD, Feb 18 - Before Pakistan commits to sending troops to Gaza as part of the International Stabilization Force it wants assurances from the United States that it will be a peacekeeping mission rather than tasked with disarming Hamas, three sources told Reuters.
EU-India trade deal is what world needs, not tariffs, Finland PM Orpo says
HELSINKI, Feb 18 - The EU-India trade deal will create opportunities and is what the world needs instead of tariffs, Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said, after meeting with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Wednesday.
China gives Lithuania punishing silent treatment over Taiwan
When Lithuania challenged China over Taiwan four years ago, it expected argument or outrage. It got silence. What began as a bold stand for democracy and human rights collided head-on with China’s unyielding One China principle. In 2021, Lithuania tested one of China’s most
Suspect in Thai shooting surrenders after realising his actions caused panic, closure of 17 schools
The suspect said he never imagined that his actions would cause such a huge disturbance to students.
Man loses leg to fireworks explosion in Johor
The victim was playing with the firework in front of his house amid the Chinese New Year celebration.
Russia tells European nations who accuse it of poisoning Navalny with dart frog toxin to provide proof
MOSCOW, Feb 18 - Russia is demanding that European countries who accused Moscow of poisoning Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny with a dart frog toxin provide concrete data to support their allegation, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.
Thailand hopes to be 'bridge' for Myanmar and ASEAN, foreign minister says
BANGKOK, Feb 18 - Thailand hopes to bring Myanmar back into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) nearly five years after a military coup, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said on Wednesday after meeting his Myanmar counterpart.
Twelve killed in China's Hubei as firecracker store explosion triggers blaze
BEIJING, Feb 18 - Twelve people were killed on Wednesday when a store selling firecrackers exploded and caught fire in China's Hubei province, burning 50 square metres of the premises, state broadcaster CCTV reported.
Video shows great white shark circling divers in Australia
Rescuers alerted the pair to the large predator slipping through the waters on Feb 15.
Indian university faces backlash for claiming Chinese robodog as own at AI summit
A professor claimed that a robotic dog made by Chinese firm Unitree had been made by the university.
3 bodies found at helicopter crash site in south-west Japan volcanic crater
The authorities will attempt to recover the bodies, the local fire department said.
Sun, sand and empty beaches: Trump oil squeeze chokes Cuba's tourism
VARADERO BEACH, Cuba, Feb 18 - Cuba's Varadero peninsula is a postcard of a tropical paradise: turquoise waters, powder-white sand and palm trees.
11 Johor divisions of Malaysia’s Bersatu announce dissolution
More divisions had reportedly announced plans to dissolve after the expulsion of deputy president Hamzah Zainudin.
Japan to ban in-flight use of power banks from April
The ban will extend to charging smartphones via onboard power outlets.
Russia says Ukraine peace talks in Geneva were difficult, but business-like
MOSCOW, Feb 18 - Russia's chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said on Wednesday that U.S.-mediated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Geneva had been difficult but business-like, and that a new round of talks would be held soon.
Merz questions German need for future manned fighter jet amid FCAS trouble
BERLIN, Feb 18 - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has questioned whether developing a manned sixth-generation fighter jet still makes sense for his country's air force, referring to the troubled FCAS project that seeks to build such a jet.
Turkey foreign minister to attend Trump's Board of Peace meeting in Washington
ANKARA, Feb 18 - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will travel to Washington in lieu of President Tayyip Erdogan for the inaugural meeting of U.S. President Donald Trump's \"Board of Peace\" on Thursday, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
Beijing slams US appointment of Tibetan rights envoy
China accused the United States of “using Tibet-related issues to interfere in China’s internal affairs”.
Asahi beverage group confirms 110,000 personal data records leaked
The cyberattack in September caused a system failure, forcing Asahi to suspend shipments of beer and food products.
Tarique Rahman won big in Bangladesh. Far bigger tests await him
The new leader faces no shortage of issues domestically and in the near abroad that need urgent tending and deft handling.
Kremlin says neither China nor Russia have carried out secret nuclear tests
MOSCOW, Feb 18 - The Kremlin said on Wednesday that neither China nor Russia havecarried out secret nuclear tests, noting Beijing had denied U.S. accusations that it had done so.
A stable and smart BRICS route to de-dollarization
By any honest reading of history, the international monetary system was never neutral. It was a political settlement, forged in 1944 at Bretton Woods, that elevated one country’s currency to the status of global money. That settlement—shaped by the ideas of Harry Dexter White
Thailand hopes to be bridge between Myanmar and ASEAN, says kingdom’s foreign minister
Myanmar has been engulfed in nationwide conflict and repression since a military coup in 2021.
No more fainting spells: Cat gets pacemaker implant in milestone for Thai animal healthcare
The eight-year-old female shorthair named Pepsi, had been collapsing as many as four times a day pre-procedure.
Defunding the Taliban without starving the Afghan people
The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee has approved the bipartisan No Tax Dollars for Terrorists Act, marking a significant legislative move to prevent American taxpayer funds from directly or indirectly benefiting the Taliban or other designated terrorist groups in
K-pop group BTS’ big comeback show puts some wedding plans in Seoul on edge
Some couples have said they even considered significant changes to their wedding plans.
Epstein tried to build web of powerful ties across Middle East, documents show
DUBAI, Feb 18 - The departure of the chief executive of Dubai port giant DP World is the biggest fallout in the Middle East from U.S. Department of Justice documents which show that disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein tried to build a powerful network of political figures and
‘Shameless’: Indian prof’s claim at AI summit that her university developed robot dog sparks uproar
The robot – a model sold by China's Unitree – appeared at a booth run by Galgotias University.
Chinese visitors to Japan drop again as tensions keep simmering
The impact has rippled through Japan’s retail sector, with duty-free sales falling.
Malaysia announces 30% fare discount for electric train service on all routes during Ramadan
The discount will be available starting Feb 18.
South Korea’s death penalty in spotlight as prosecutors seek execution for ex-leader Yoon
The country has not carried out capital punishment in almost three decades, despite its courts continuing to hand down death sentences.
Bangladesh PM names Cabinet after election win
The 50-member Cabinet announced in a gazette notification issued late on Feb 17.
Ukraine peace talks end in Geneva after Zelenskiy says Russia stalling
GENEVA, Feb 18 - Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Geneva ended abruptly on Wednesday after only two hours, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy saying that the discussions had been \"difficult\" and accusing Russia of deliberately seeking to delay progress
Australia bans citizen trying to return from IS camp in Syria
The person temporarily banned is among a group of 34 who this week attempted to leave the camp for Australia.
South Korean civilians sent drones to North 4 times after Lee became president, harming ties: Seoul
Drones crashed on two occasions in North Korea, according to investigations.
Time to put China on the hook for overfishing
Unfortunately, I have another thing for you to worry about. There are three types of environmental harm. The first kind is local — think air pollution and water pollution. This kind of activity hurts people who are geographically close by — when factories dump crap in the
Poland bars Chinese-made cars from military sites over data security fears
WARSAW, Feb 18 - Poland has barred Chinese-made vehicles from entering military facilities due to concerns their onboard sensors could be used to collect sensitive data, the Polish Army said on Tuesday evening.
Takaichi reappointed as Japan PM following landslide election win
She has pledged to bolster Japan’s defences to protect its territory and waters.
How Japan should respond to Trump’s Project Vault
TOKYO — Project Vault represents a structural shift in how the United States will compete for “manufacturing-ready” critical minerals. Japan’s current Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry–Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security’s case-by-case approach risks
In letter to Iowa friends, Xi offers reassurance over Sino-American exchanges
“Chinamaxxing”, the online trend of adopting Chinese culture, surged in popularity among America's Gen Z.
Australia to ban citizen from returning to country under rarely-used terror laws
34 Australians were briefly freed on Feb 16 before returning to Damascus for holding inadequate paperwork.