Disinformation spreads on social media after Japan quake

Fake videos believed to have been created using generative AI are also going viral.

Australia social media watchdog sees common cause with US as age ban begins

SYDNEY, Dec 10 - The regulator overseeing Australia's world-first teenage social media ban rejected the \"technological exceptionalism\" championed by mostly U.S.-based platforms and said a groundswell of American parents wanted similar measures.

Indonesia’s Semeru volcano erupts, dozens of homes buried by rain lahar, hundreds flee to hills

The volcano has been active recently, having previously erupted on Nov 19 and Dec 5.

North Korea fires artillery salvo in military training, South says

Indonesia welcomes Rio, first panda born in country

Reproducing giant pandas is considered one of the greatest challenges in wildlife conservation.

Australian billionaire Rinehart denied rooftop helipad for new headquarters

The helipad could limit future high-rise development and raise noise issues for nearby residents.

Australia says it will meet ‘challenges’ of AUKUS nuclear submarine timeline

A Pentagon review found areas to ‍put the deal on the “strongest possible footing”, a US official said.

Australia says it will meet 'challenges' of AUKUS nuclear submarine timeline

SYDNEY, Dec 10 - Defence Minister Richard Marles said Australia was \"very self-critical\" as it looked to address challenges, including skilling its workforce, for the AUKUS nuclear submarine programme, ahead of AUKUS defence ministers ‍meeting ​in Washington.

US criticises Chinese radar incident, says commitment to Japan unwavering

WASHINGTON, Dec 9 - The United States on Tuesday for the first time ‍criticised ​the actions of Chinese ‍fighter jets that aimed their radars ​at ​Japanese military aircraft last week, incidents that Tokyo described as \"dangerous\".

Russian bombers join Chinese air patrol near Japan as Tokyo-Beijing tie strains

TOKYO/MOSCOW, Dec 9 - Japan has scrambled jets to monitor Russian and Chinese air forces conducting joint patrols around the country, the Japanese defence ministry said late Tuesday, amid rising tensions between ‍Tokyo ​and Beijing.

Death strikes stranded evacuees in isolated Sumatra shelters

Although airdrops have continued, the joint search and rescue task force has yet to reach thousands of isolated residents.

Elon Musk’s X says barring under-16s in Australia ‘not our choice’

X was the last of 10 restricted social media platforms to set out how it will implement Australia’s ban.

Alternative social media apps surge as Australia teen ban starts

Lemon8, a video and photo sharing app powered by TikTok, is currently the most-downloaded free app on Apple’s App Store.

Indian couple trolled over skin colour after wedding video goes viral

Rishabh Rajput and Sonali Chouksey received congratulatory messages peppered with "jokes and memes".

Hundreds of thousands of Thais and Cambodians flee again after new wave of fighting

Each side blames the other for firing the first shot, as shelling resumed across parts of the border, killing at least 10.

Osaka tourism endures heavy hit as China-Japan tension simmers

Chinese visitors are Japan’s biggest spenders, accounting for a fifth of the nation’s ¥8.1 trillion tourism revenue.

Nationalist politician Sohei Kamiya aims to revitalize Japan

Japan’s new right-wing prime minister Sanae Takaichi is riding high in the polls, but Sohei Kamiya’s new nationalist party, Sanseito, which rose to prominance in the Upper House (House of Councillors) election last July, continues to advance in local elections and is making an

Britain sanctions Russian, Chinese entities over disinfo, cyber threats

China releases audio to say it notified Japan of drill in radar incident

Tokyo has strongly protested the Dec 6 action by the Chinese military aircraft.

Thai leader Anutin’s hard line on Cambodia clash risks irking Trump

Cambodian former premier Hun Sen accused Anutin of using attacks on his country to gain votes in the upcoming elections.

US Golden Dome moves forward as questions mount over feasibility

This month, Air & Space Forces Magazine reported that at the Reagan National Defense Forum, US Space Force General Michael Guetlein, head of the Golden Dome program, revealed that the ambitious air and missile defense shield ordered by US President Donald Trump in January will

IN FOCUS: What’re the dynamics in Malaysia’s opposition pact PN 3 years into PM Anwar’s term?

With crucial state polls preceding Malaysia’s 16th General Election due by early 2028, Perikatan Nasional's path forward hinges on solving Bersatu’s leadership crisis and getting more non-Malay support, say party insiders and analysts.

China wants to own Industry 4.0 – but India wants it open

China has taken the lead in Industry 4.0, the next wave of technology that integrates industrial systems like factory automation, robotics, cyber-physical systems, sensors, the internet of things (IoT), 5G and logistics. India’s strategic question is not whether China will lead

Zelenskiy says he is open to elections if US ensures security

KYIV, Dec 9 - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday he was prepared to hold elections within three months if the U.S. and Kyiv's other allies could ensure ‍the ​security of the vote.

Hong Kong grapples with mental health crisis after Tai Po inferno

Counsellors’ accounts shed light on depth of trauma facing victims and volunteers alike.

China, Quad and the rare earths mineral competition in Myanmar

As the US-China rivalry spirals, it is spilling over into new domains, particularly those involving rare earth minerals, regional supply chains, and emerging technologies. Countries with fragile political systems but high geoeconomic value are increasingly turning into theaters

EU close to deal on Russian assets, summit to go on until agreement - Costa

DUBLIN, Dec 9 - The European Union is very close to a solution to finance Ukraine in 2026 and 2027 that would have the support of at least a qualified majority of EU countries, the chairman of EU summits, Antonio Costa, said on Tuesday.

Shells of unknown origin land near military airport in Damascus, Syrian state TV says

Dec 9 - Shells of unknown origin fell in the vicinity of Syria's Mezzah military airport in the ‍capital ​Damascus on Tuesday, the ‍state-run Al Ekhbariya TV reported.

Chinese astronauts install debris protection aboard space station

BEIJING, Dec 10 - Chinese astronauts have installed protection against \"space junk\" aboard the permanently inhabited station Tiangong, according to China's manned spaceflight authorities, a month after a ‍docked ​vessel was damaged for the first time.

Chinese astronauts install debris protection aboard Tiangong space station

A window was cracked in November by a tiny piece of debris travelling at high velocity.

Zelenskiy says 'refined documents' on peace plan will soon be sent to U.S

KYIV, Dec 9 - Ukraine and its European partners will soon be ready to present the U.S. with \"refined documents\" on a peace plan to end the war with Russia, ‍President ​Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday, following days of high-stakes shuttle ‍diplomacy.

All out support for Zelensky’s hard line means sinking NATO

Two things happened on Monday, December 8, when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Keir Starmer, prime minister of the United Kingdom, Emmanuel Macron, president of France and Friedrich Merz, chancellor of Germany. Zelensky made it clear (and expanded on the

Germany's Merz: Europe must become less dependent on United States

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\".

Trump to send farmers $12 billion to offset Trump tariff losses

The federal government will provide $12 billion to US farmers who have been hurt by “unfair market disruption,” President Donald Trump said at a White House roundtable event Monday. Trump said repeatedly the funding was available thanks to tariff revenues, framing his

Anguished Sri Lankans queue for care after deadly cyclone

The disaster caused by Cyclone Ditwah has affected more than two million people.

Nepal charges 55 officials, Chinese firm in airport graft case, officials say

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.

UN troubled by Hong Kong clampdown after fire

The UN said several provisions under the national security law did not comply with international human rights law.

Visual spectacle and message of unity at 33rd SEA Games opening ceremony in Bangkok

Singapore is sending its largest contingent to the Games with 930 athletes set to compete in 48 sports.

Cambodia ‘ready at any time’ for talks to end Thailand conflict, PM adviser says

Thailand has ruled out dialogue, saying the military had the full backing of the government to carry out its operations.

Cambodia 'ready at any time' for talks to end Thailand conflict, PM adviser says

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.

Troop pay, Ukraine and social issues - Congress takes up the 2026 NDAA

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.

Tough-talking Thai PM Anutin brings border conflict with Cambodia to the brink

The question is to what extent the conservative, pro-military leader is engaging in performative political theatre.

What’s my age again? The tech behind Australia’s social media ban

The law will take effect on Dec 10.

Australia social media ban for children under 16 takes effect in world first

The ban is being closely watched by other countries considering ​similar age-based ​measures.

Malaysian Mandopop fans turn to Malay in resistance against China’s ‘yellow cows’

They are using the local language to express frustration against concert scalpers from China.

China’s climate balancing act: Mixed signals over coal undercut clean energy drive

With overall emissions set to remain stable, all eyes are on what Beijing does next.

Australia social media ban takes effect in world first

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.

Fire rips through seven-storey building in Jakarta, killing 22 people

JAKARTA, Dec 9 - A fire swept through a seven-storey office block in Indonesia's capital Jakarta on Tuesday, killing 22 people, police said.

Top Indian arms makers held rare meetings in Russia on potential joint ventures, sources say

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.