N. Korea’s Kim visits hot tubs, BBQ joints at lavish new mountain resort

The new resort is located in Samjiyon in North Korea’s mountainous north.

Screams for help and panic as tourists rescued from fatal Laos ferry disaster

People scrambled to safety as the ferry sank on the Mekong River, with a local woman and two children feared dead.

Australian state set to pass tougher gun laws after Bondi attack

The government has proposed capping most individual gun licences at four firearms and allowing up to 10 for farmers.

Commentary: China travel is cool again for foreign tourists

In China, consumers have all the bargaining power and the tourism industry is one example, says Bloomberg Opinion's Shuli Ren.

Who watches the watchmen? Malaysia’s authorities under scrutiny after controversial actions

A fatal police shooting of three men and a raid by balaclava-clad officers raise questions on accountability.

At least two civilians killed in Aleppo violence as Syrian government, SDF trade blame

Dec 22 - At least two civilians were killed and several wounded in a wave of attacks in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on Monday, with government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces trading blame for the deaths.

Sri Lanka cyclone caused $5b in damage, says World Bank

Cyclone Ditwah killed more than 640 people in November.

China likely loaded more than 100 ICBMs in silo fields, Pentagon report says

WASHINGTON, Dec 22 - China is likely to have loaded more than 100 intercontinental ballistic missiles across three silo fields and has no desire for arms control talks, according to a draft Pentagon report which highlighted Beijing's growing military ambitions.

Malaysian cops find makeshift bombs in Negeri Sembilan apartment after report of explosion

The public is advised not to speculate on the matter.

Pakistan strikes $4 billion deal to sell weapons to Libyan force, officials say

KARACHI, Dec 22 - Pakistan has reached a deal worth over $4 billion to sell military equipment to the Libyan National Army, four Pakistani officials said, despite a U.N. arms embargo on the fractured North African country.

Iran holds missile drills in various cities, state media say

DUBAI, Dec 22 - Iran held missile drills in various cities on Monday, state media reported, citing unnamed sources and witnesses, in what was the second such reported exercise in a month.

Bangladesh editors warn of ‘fight for survival’ as mob violence targets media

The killing of a prominent youth leader has sparked widespread protests and death threats against media outlets.

Indonesia bans British porn star Bonnie Blue for 10 years

Police said they seized a dark blue pickup truck labelled Bang Bus during their Dec 4 raid.

The truth about Japan’s rising anti-foreign sentiment

Studies based on repeated surveys show that while belief in major international conspiracies—such as anti-vaccine narratives and climate change denial—has declinedsince before Covid, some domestically rooted anti-foreigner conspiracy theories persist in Japan, especially those

Nvidia aims to begin H200 chip shipments to China by mid-February: Sources

China replaces commanders overseeing Beijing, Taiwan operations

These moves signal that the purge of the country’s top military echelons is still ongoing.

Swiss court admits Indonesian islanders climate case against Holcim

ZURICH, Dec 22 - A court in Switzerland said on Monday it would admit a legal complaint against Swiss cement maker Holcim which alleges the company is doing too little to cut carbon emissions and hence contributing to global warming.

Two Singaporeans arrested in JB after fighting in police station

The fight broke out after one of the suspects' wife called out the other suspect for spilling beer on her.

Thailand, Cambodia to hold ceasefire talks on Dec 24, as ASEAN calls for ‘maximum restraint’

Wednesday’s planned meeting will take place in Thailand’s Chanthaburi province - near the border with Cambodia - under an existing joint border framework, says Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow.

The Quad needs institutional armor against personality politics

This article first appeared on Pacific Forum and is republished with the authors’ permission. Read the original here. In November 2025, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping exchanged phone calls to arrange mutual state visits in 2026. This was a remarkable rapprochement that came mere

Timeline: How the Bondi Beach mass shooting unfolded

Gunman Naveed Akram first caught the eye of Australia’s intelligence agency in 2019.

Cambodia, Thailand defence officials to meet on Dec 24 for truce talks, says Thai foreign minister

Thailand said it wanted a “true ceasefire” with a firm commitment from Cambodia.

Malaysia’s ex-PM Najib to appeal decision denying house arrest plea, claims royal power diluted

A High Court judge in Malaysia ruled that the King cannot grant clemency without involving the Pardons Board.

Japan’s flagship H3 rocket fails to launch satellite

The second-stage engine “terminated prematurely” after the rocket blasted off, according to JAXA.

High-level Turkish team to visit Damascus on Monday for talks on SDF integration

ANKARA, Dec 22 - A high-level Turkish delegation will visit Damascus on Monday to discuss bilateral ties and the implementation of a deal for integrating the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into Syria's state apparatus, a Turkish Foreign Ministry source said.

China says US seizure of ships ‘serious violation’ of international law

BEIJING, Dec 22 - China's foreign ministry on Monday said the United States' seizure of another country's ships was a serious violation of international law, after the U.S. intercepted a China-bound oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast.

China complains about Japanese official visiting Taiwan as Taipei pushed for cooperation

Japan vote moves world’s biggest nuclear plant closer to restart

A regional assembly in Niigata where the nuclear plant is located voted in favour of the restart.

Taipei knife attack: Suspect began planning assault as early as April 2024, police say

Police say Chang Wen, 27, purchased items with possible offensive or defensive uses, including tactical gloves, a gas mask, a protective shield and industrial alcohol.

New Zealand says agreed free trade deal with India

Japanese woman probed over alleged attempt to enter BTS’ Jungkook’s home

The incident follows a series of similar cases involving unauthorised attempts to access Jungkook's private property.

China to impose duties of up to 42.7% on EU dairy

Why the US-led Pax Silica tech alliance snubbed India

The Pax Silica alliance, formally launched in Washington, DC, on December 11, 2025, signals a definitive strategy to redraw the geopolitical map for the age of artificial intelligence. Its name, fusing the Latin Pax with Silica, deliberately evokes the concept of Pax Americana,

South Korea tax agency conducts special audit of Coupang following data leak, Yonhap says

The company is facing potential sanctions following a massive leak of customer information.

Air India 777 aircraft turns back after drop in engine oil pressure, regulator says

Air India has been under intense scrutiny in 2025 after the June 12 crash of a Boeing Dreamliner killed 260.

Football Association of Malaysia to lodge police report over falsified heritage player documents

FAM said it wants the police to investigate how the document falsification took place and who was responsible.

Fancy healthier durians? Sabah spotlights lower-sugar, rare red varieties in tourism push

In recent years, the East Malaysian state has hosted durian bazaars, festivals and competitions to promote its local harvests.

Seoul to boost crowd safety measures in popular shopping area Myeong-dong over holiday period

Up to 50,000 people are expected to be in Myeong-dong on Christmas eve.

South Korean presidential office’s return to the Blue House is more than just a logistical reset

The move has triggered a series of relocations, including Defence Ministry units displaced by the original move.

Homemade bombs thrown before Bondi mass shooting but failed to detonate, police tell court

The gunmen allegedly threw homemade pipe and tennis ball bombs at a crowd before the mass shooting.

Southeast Asia bloc meets to press Thailand, Cambodia on truce

Renewed fighting this month has killed at least 22 people in Thailand and 19 in Cambodia, and displaced more than 900,000 on both sides, officials said.

North Korea’s record-breaking year for crypto theft

The cryptocurrency ecosystem faced another challenging year in 2025, with stolen funds continuing their upward trajectory. Chainalysis’ analysis reveals a shift in crypto theft patterns, characterized by four key developments: the persistence of North Korea, 0r the Democratic

Taiwan tightens security after deadly attack shocks the island

Armed police were stationed at major subway stations in Taipei.

Australia’s fighting image fixed in time, left behind by reality

This writer is old enough that his view of Australia and Australians was only reinforced by the laconic, tough-as-nails Crocodile Dundee. Instead it was formed much earlier from a photo of Australian troops (at least what was left of them) in formation after stopping the