Brain-dead organ donors in Japan hit record high of 134

Japan's organ donation numbers remain low, compared to other countries.

Death toll in Indonesia floods passes 500

Another 500 people are missing, while thousands more have been injured, after a cyclone hit the region.

New Delhi’s land is sinking rapidly – and scientists say the risks are on the rise

Researchers have tied the problem to widespread over-extraction of groundwater, particularly in lower-income neighbourhoods where piped water is scarce.

At trial of South Korea's Unification Church head, prosecutors allege luxury bribes

SEOUL, Dec 1 - The trial of the head of South Korea's Unification Church started on Monday, with prosecutors portraying Han Hak-ja as keen to exert political influence and accusing her of using Chanel bags to bribe former First Lady Kim Keon Hee.

Hong Kong arrests 13 for apartment tower fire, blames use of renovation material

HONG KONG, Dec 1 - Hong Kong authorities said on Monday they had detained 13 people for suspected manslaughter in a probe into the city's deadliest fire in decades, pointing to substandard renovation materials for fuelling a blaze that has claimed at least 146 lives.

Australia’s bow to Trump’s America is past its use-by date

Clinton Fernandes has established himself as one of the most original and insightful analysts of Australian security policy. An early career with the Australian Army Intelligence Corps no doubt gave him an inside view of the ideas that influence security policy in this country.

Hong Kong authorities say netting on buildings that caught fire did not meet code

Initial tests had suggested the netting was up to standard, but investigators had not been able to check all of it earlier due to the fire.

Trial begins for former South Korean president Yoon over Pyongyang drone allegations

The former leader allegedly sent the drones to goad North Korea into retaliatory action.

Sri Lanka's cyclone death toll climbs to 355, with 366 missing

ByteDance rolls out AI voice assistant for Chinese smartphones

The AI assistant is powered by ByteDance’s popular Doubao large language model.

Sri Lanka’s cyclone death toll climbs to 355, with 366 missing

Officials said train and flight services resumed after being disrupted last week, although schools stayed closed.

Taiwan says test flights of US fighter jets to start in December

However, Taipei warned of “very serious delays” in delivery.

Landmine casualties hit 4-year high as states exit ban treaty

GENEVA, Dec 1 - Deaths and injuries from landmines and unexploded ordnance hit a four-year high in 2024, driven by conflicts in Syria and Myanmar as well as European countries moving to withdraw from the treaty banning their use, a new report showed on Monday.

Southeast Asia storm deaths near 700 as scale of disaster revealed

PALEMBAYAN, Indonesia, Dec 1 - Rescue teams in western Indonesia were battling on Monday to clear roads cut off by cyclone-induced landslides and floods, as improved weather revealed more of the scale of a disaster that has killed close to 700 people in Southeast Asia.

South-east Asia storm deaths near 700 as scale of disaster is revealed

Millions are now sifting through the massive destruction wrought by a rare tropical storm.

Japan plans national database to track foreign ownership of real estate, land as it weighs new rules

Currently, the nationality of buyers must be registered for farmland acquisitions but not for condos.

Putin grants many categories of Chinese citizens visa-free access to Russia for up to 30 days

MOSCOW, Dec 1 - President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed a decree granting visa-free access to Russia for up to 30 days for many categories of Chinese citizens, including tourists, business people, academics, artists and sports people.

The rot eating at China’s war machine

China’s drive to build a modern, high-tech military is increasingly undermined by a widening corruption crisis that is raising doubts about its true strength. This month, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released a report mentioning that China’s

Japan oysters dying ‘en masse’, likely due to warmer sea, say officials

The rate of ocean warming has more than doubled since 1993.

Coupang data leak: S. Korean police tracing IP addresses, looking into possible tech weaknesses

Coupang said the breach did not expose customers' payment details or login credentials.

Asian markets mixed as traders eye US data ahead of Fed decision

Ukraine talks show risk of dealmakers replacing diplomats

Recent reports about the role of Donald Trump’s special envoy, American businessman Steve Witkoff, in the Ukraine peace negotiations have raised wider questions about why political leaders turn to business figures in high-stakes diplomacy – and whether this can ever work. A

Tajikistan says five people have been killed in cross-border attacks from Afghanistan in past week

ALMATY, Dec 1 - Five people have been killed and five more injured in two attacks launched from neighbouring Afghanistan over the past week, Tajikistan's presidential press service said on Monday.

Malaysia PM Anwar says no major Cabinet reshuffle on the cards, but still ‘need to fill vacancies’

There are currently three unfilled Cabinet posts, with one more expected on Tuesday after Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz ends his tenure as senator.

Hong Kong student detained for urging probe into deadly fire leaves police station

Mr Miles Kwan left the Cheung Sha Wan Division police station in a taxi on Dec 1 afternoon.

China repairing Trump’s broken ‘invisible hand’

In the waning days of 2025, as global markets grapple with rising uncertainty, a document from Beijing has emerged as a beacon of free-market economic logic and rationality, inspiring hope for a more open and efficient future. Adopted on October 23 by the Communist Party of

Bamboo becomes identity issue for some Hong Kongers after blaze

Some early media coverage questioned whether the bamboo poles had contributed to the fire.

Conservative Asfura, backed by Trump, takes slim lead in Honduras presidential election

TEGUCIGALPA, Dec 1 - Nasry Asfura, the Conservative National Party candidate backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, leads Honduras' presidential election with just over 40% of votes counted, preliminary results showed on Monday.

Sons of Pakistan’s jailed Imran Khan voice fear for his safety

The family has had no direct or verifiable contact with Khan, despite a judicial order for weekly meetings.

Sons of Pakistan's jailed Imran Khan voice fears for his safety

KARACHI, Dec 1 - The sons of Pakistan's jailed former prime minister Imran Khan fear authorities are concealing \"something irreversible\" about his condition after more than three weeks with no evidence that he is still alive, one of them said.

Seoul mayor indicted over alleged illegal polling payments

India orders mobile phones preloaded with government app to ensure cyber safety

The move is likely to antagonise Apple and privacy advocates.

British MP Tulip Siddiq sentenced to two years in prison in Bangladesh graft case

The verdict was delivered in absentia.

Malaysia introduces Bill to curb school bullying as cases spike

The number of bullying cases in the South-east Asian nation rose 18 per cent to 7,681 in 2024.

China’s grand plan to dominate global publishing

If current trends hold, China is on track to become the most influential force in global publishing within the next decade. Its rise is powered by domestic growth, a focused expansion strategy, rapid advances in scholarly publishing and the early adoption of digital technology.

Over 120,000 home cameras hacked for 'sexploitation' footage

The cameras were located in private homes, karaoke rooms, a Pilates studio and a gynaecologist's clinic.

Tulip Siddiq MP given jail sentence in Bangladesh after trial in her absence

The former minister and niece of Bangladesh's ousted former leader, who received a two-year sentence, says the charges are politically motivated.

Thailand extradites Vietnamese activist: Lawyer

A Vietnamese court sentenced the activist in absentia in January 2024 for terrorism offences.

Taiwan's first domestically-built submarine misses delivery deadline

Singapore executes three men for drug offences over two days

This brings the country's total number of executions to 17 this year - the highest since 2003.

South Korean teen’s death reignites debate over privacy; shop had spread images of her shoplifting

Her father said she collapsed under "fear and despair".

South Korea special prosecutor indicts Seoul mayor for violating political funding law

Oh is accused of running an opinion poll through the broker and having a third person pay for the poll.

Runner hit by truck during South Korean marathon dies

He was hit by a truck while running on a lane that had been closed to traffic for the race.

Taiwan’s first domestically built submarine misses delivery deadline

The original target was to deliver the submarine by the end of November.

Police comb fire-ravaged Hong Kong apartments, death toll at 146

Police have completed sweeps of four of the seven towers that were engulfed in the city’s deadliest fire.