MAINZ, Germany Dec 9 - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday rejected a blistering attack on European democracies by the Trump administration, which issued a strategy paper last week declaring that the continent faced \"civilizational erasure\".
The disaster caused by Cyclone Ditwah has affected more than two million people.
KATHMANDU, Dec 9 - An anti-graft panel in Nepal has charged 55 officials, including five former ministers and a Chinese contracting company, with corruption in the construction of a Chinese-funded airport in west Nepal, officials said on Tuesday.
The UN said several provisions under the national security law did not comply with international human rights law.
Singapore is sending its largest contingent to the Games with 930 athletes set to compete in 48 sports.
Thailand has ruled out dialogue, saying the military had the full backing of the government to carry out its operations.
BANGKOK, Dec 9 - Cambodia is open to immediate bilateral talks with Thailand to bring a halt to a raging border conflict, a top adviser to its prime minister said on Tuesday, after the neighbours accused each other of violating a truce brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump.
WASHINGTON, Dec 9 - The U.S. House of Representatives is due to vote this week on the final version of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, a nearly $1 trillion bill setting policy for the Pentagon that Congress has passed for 63 straight years.
The question is to what extent is the conservative, pro-military leader engaging in performative political theatre?
The law will take effect on Dec 10.
The ban is being closely watched by other countries considering similar age-based measures.
They are using the local language to express frustration against concert scalpers from China.
With overall emissions set to remain stable, all eyes are on what Beijing does next.
SYDNEY, Dec 10 - Australia at midnight (1300 GMT) on Wednesday became the first country in the world to ban social media for children under 16, blocking them from platforms including TikTok, Alphabet's YouTube and Meta's Instagram and Facebook.
JAKARTA, Dec 9 - A fire swept through a seven-storey office block in Indonesia's capital Jakarta on Tuesday, killing 22 people, police said.
NEW DELHI, Dec 9 - At least half a dozen executives from top Indian arms makers, including Adani Defence and Bharat Forge, attended rare meetings in Russia this year to discuss potential joint ventures, three people familiar with the matter said.
The White House has released its national security strategy, a document put out by every US presidential administration in order to spell out its foreign policy priorities. These documents are legally required to be released by Congress and are typically written by a committee.
BRUSSELS, Dec 9 - European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Tuesday that criticism of liberties in the bloc should be aimed elsewhere and at \"Russia perhaps\", referring to a White House strategy document critical of EU policies.
MOSCOW, Dec 9 - The Kremlin said on Tuesday that European claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to restore the Soviet Union were wrong and that claims Putin plans to invade a NATO member were complete stupidity.
The Thai foreign minister underlined that it was up to its neighbour to de-escalate the conflict.
CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, Dec 9 - Pope Leo stressed the need to continue with dialogue aiming at a \"just and lasting peace\" during a meeting on Tuesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Vatican said in a statement.
Analysts say it is difficult to ascertain who triggered the latest hostilities amid conflicting claims, swirling speculation and limited transparency from both governments.
ROME, Dec 9 - Italian cooking, already celebrated around the world, is poised for a new accolade: formal recognition as a cultural treasure from the United Nations' cultural agency, UNESCO.
Many workers in the building, which was used as a sales and storage office for a drone company, were out for lunch when a battery started sparking in a storage and testing area.
An election commission spokesman said the Nepal election was on track for March 5, 2026.
Police said a drone battery that exploded on the first floor had likely ignited the fire.
JAKARTA, Dec 9 - A fire broke out at a seven-storey building in Indonesia's capital Jakarta on Tuesday, local broadcaster Kompas TV reported, with 13 people confirmed dead and some still trapped inside.
A reward of 200,000 yuan (US$28,280) is being offered for information or assistance leading to the arrest of each wanted individual.
French national Tom Felix has denied all charges since police arrested him in 2023.
TOKYO, Dec 9 - American actor and playwright Jeremy O. Harris was released from custody in Japan on Monday after his arrest last month on suspicion of attempting to smuggle drugs into the country, a police spokesperson said.
The freeze order covers the assets of Congressman Eric Yap and his brother Edvic Yap.
The country’s manufacturing sector has welcomed the reforms, however, saying that clearer rules will attract more investment.
There was no breach of South Korea's territorial airspace, the country's Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
The moving process began on Dec 8 and will be wrapped up by Christmas.
The blaze was likely triggered by “electrical firecrackers”, according to investigators.
The NagaWorld logo appeared on the jackets worn by Cambodian athletes.
India's aviation regulator told IndiGo to submit a revised schedule by Dec 10.
STOCKHOLM, Dec 9 - In a bustling kitchen at Stockholm's city hall, chefs have gathered to prepare an intricate dinner with a secret menu - and a family twist - for the scientists and royalty converging at the Nobel Prize banquet in Sweden this week.
Once the poster child of on time budget air travel in India, IndiGo is in the midst of an unprecedented crisis. What happened?
Officials warned that the bill to rebuild could soar to US$7 billion (S$9.08 billion).
COLOMBO, Dec 9 - Sri Lanka's fragile economic recovery will be delayed as Cyclone Ditwah's devastation of homes, roads and vital crops pushes more families into poverty, with officials warning the bill to rebuild could soar to $7 billion.
MOSCOW, Dec 9 - Russia's top general, Valery Gerasimov, said on Tuesday that Moscow's forces were advancing along the entire front line in Ukraine and were targeting surrounded Ukrainian troops in the town of Myrnohrad.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the magnitude 7.5 quake raised the chances of similar or larger tremors in the coming days.
PESHAWAR, Pakistan Dec 9 - Militants stormed a security checkpoint in Pakistan's northwest near the Afghan border, killing six soldiers, three police and security sources said on Tuesday.
Bai Tianhui exploited his positions between 2014 and 2018 to illegally accept money and assets.