Why the Dalai Lama decided not to break from tradition on his successor
His decision reflected the fine line that even a modernising Dalai Lama must tread.
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New Zealand’s South Island braces for further heavy rains, some homes evacuated
Local authorities have warned of landslides and surface flooding.
US, India push for trade pact after Trump strikes deal with Vietnam: Sources
But disagreements over US dairy and agriculture remained unresolved.
Ho Chi Minh City is the shopping haven you’ve been sleeping on: 10 fashion labels and thrift stores to hit up
From edgy independent labels to eclectic vintage troves, the Vietnamese city is the next Asian fashion shopping destination to check out. And it’s only a short flight away.
Commentary: Thai PM’s suspension threatens more than the Shinawatra legacy
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s suspension amid an ethics probe into a leaked phone call comes at a bad time, even if Thailand is no stranger to political volatility, says Control Risks’ Harrison Cheng.
Commentary: A prophesied disaster likely won’t strike Japan this weekend
Despite advances in tectonic science, earthquakes can’t be predicted. But perhaps there’s something to be said for keeping people on their toes, writes Gearoid Reidy for Bloomberg Opinion.
'Be careful, they are watching you': Tibet is silent as Dalai Lama turns 90
The BBC speaks to Tibetans in Aba, which has long been at the heart of resistance to Chinese rule.
EU presses China on rare earths and Ukraine war
BRUSSELS - The European Union's top diplomat urged China's foreign minister on Wednesday to end restrictions on rare earths exports and warned that Chinese firms' support for Russia's war in Ukraine posed a serious threat to European security, the EU said.
Saudi Arabia, Indonesia sign several deals worth around $27 billion, state news agency says
CAIRO - Saudi Arabia and Indonesia signed several deals and memos of understanding worth around $27 billion between private sector institutions in several fields including clean energy and petrochemicals, the Saudi state news agency SPA reported on Wednesday.
Israeli Likud party ministers urge Netanyahu to annex West Bank
Cabinet ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party called on Wednesday for Israel to annex the Israeli-occupied West Bank before the Knesset recesses at the end of the month.
Iranian nuclear program degraded by up to two years, Pentagon says
WASHINGTON - The Pentagon said on Wednesday that U.S. strikes 10 days ago had degraded Iran's nuclear program by up to two years, suggesting the U.S. military operation likely achieved its goals despite a far more cautious initial assessment that leaked to the public.
Trump says he will put 20 per cent tariff on Vietnam's exports
President Trump says goods from Vietnam will face a 20 per cent tariff, lower than the initial 46 per cent levy announced in April.
Pope Leo tells Turkish first lady he might visit Turkey in November, presidency says
ISTANBUL and VATICAN CITY - Pope Leo told Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan that he aims to visit Turkey at the end of November, according to a readout of their meeting at the Vatican on Wednesday by the Turkish presidency.
Hong Kong proposes legal recognition for same-sex couples registered overseas
HONG KONG - The Hong Kong government is proposing to establish a registration system for same-sex couples who are married or registered overseas to receive legal recognition, according to an official document released on Wednesday.
Dalai Lama says only his organisation can name his successor; Beijing pushes back
China says the succession must comply with religious rituals, historical conventions, and Chinese laws and regulations.
Dalai Lama says he will have a successor who won’t be picked by China
The Tibetan spiritual leader says his team will find the next Dalai Lama as Beijing attempts to assert control.
Indonesian influencer given 7-year Myanmar prison sentence
The influencer was arrested by the Myanmar authorities in December.
Hong Kong govt proposes recognising same-sex couples’ rights
The policy paper limited the scope to healthcare-related rights and rights related to one's death.
Russia urges Azerbaijan to repair ties with Moscow amid diplomatic crisis
MOSCOW/BAKU - The Russian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday urged Azerbaijan to restore its ties with Moscow to a level befitting \"strategic cooperation\" after saying that certain forces were trying to wreck the two countries' relationship.
Azerbaijan demands punishment for death of brothers in Russian police custody
BAKU - Azerbaijan demanded on Wednesday that Russia punish those responsible for the deaths of two Azerbaijani men in police custody, refusing to back down in a growing diplomatic dispute.
Who is the Dalai Lama and why does he live in exile?
The Dalai Lama, now 90, remains at the centre of China's complicated relationship with Tibet.
Drinking of alcohol to be banned at Malaysia’s Port Dickson public beaches
Existing by-laws did not specify that drinking alcohol in public places was an offence.
'A taste of China': Luckin Coffee’s US debut draws cheers from Chinese media and consumers
The Chinese coffee giant's entry into the US marks a new milestone for the company over its rival Starbucks, which has been seeing falling market shares in China.
Bangladesh ex-PM Hasina in absentia gets six months in jail for contempt of court
DHAKA - Bangladesh's ousted and self-exiled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was sentenced to six months in prison by the country's International Crimes Tribunal on Wednesday in a contempt of court case, a top prosecutor said.
Hiroshima mayor urges Trump visit after US President’s A-bomb comments
Mr Trump likened the 1945 atomic bombings on Hiroshim and Nagasaki to recent US air strikes on Iran.
Japan invokes national interest amid struggling tariff talks with US
It has yet to secure a trade deal after nearly three months of negotiations.
Seoul’s first water bus offers scenic commute, but challenges remain
It is set to official operate in September 2025.
Bangladesh court sentences ex-PM Hasina to prison for contempt
The contempt conviction stems from Hasina’s remarks about 227 murder cases against her.
Data platforms such as Stocktwits may hurt long-term forecasts
Since the beginning of the century, the number of satellites orbiting Earth has increased more than 800%, from less than 1,000 to more than 9,000. This profusion has had a number of strange and disturbing repercussions. One of them is that companies are selling data from
Absence with significance: Why Xi Jinping is skipping BRICS for the first time, and what’s at stake
Chinese Premier Li Qiang will travel to Brazil instead to attend the annual meeting. Despite the optics, analysts say President Xi's no-show doesn’t indicate a retreat from the intergovernmental grouping.
Commentary: Xiaomi made a cheap Ferrari EV. Who needs luxury carmakers?
Western luxury automakers should fear the increasingly sophisticated (and cheap) electric vehicles that China is churning out, says Chris Bryant for Bloomberg Opinion.
South Korean population could drop by 85% in next 100 years: Study
In the worst-case scenario, South Korea’s population could drop to 7.53 million by 2125.
Is another military coup on the horizon for Thailand after PM Paetongtarn’s suspension?
Since absolute monarchy ended in 1932, the kingdom has had 13 successful military coups and several other attempted ones.
Bali’s snake fruit farmers face economic hurdles despite global honour for agricultural system
The scaly fruit has been a pride of Bali’s for centuries, and its farming system has been globally recognised for its agricultural heritage.
Surge in Afghans driven from Iran in spy hunt after Israel attacks
Iran has deported home tens of thousands of Afghans in the past few weeks.
Indian farmers push back against importing genetically modified crops from US
The issue of allowing genetically modified US crops into India's agricultural market has been a sticking point in ongoing trade talks between both sides.
India minister’s dismissal of Asean members as ‘China’s B team’ hits confidence in trade pact
The Asean-India Trade in Goods Agreement was signed in 2009.
Japan PM determined to protect national interests amid tariff stalemate
This comes after US President Donald Trump indicated that he could impose a tariff of 30 or 35 per cent on imports from Japan - well above the 24 per cent rate he announced on Apr 2 and then paused until Jul 9.
What is the trust that will identify the Dalai Lama's successor?
DHARAMSHALA, India - The Dalai Lama said on Wednesday his Gaden Phodrang Trust would have the sole authority to recognise his future reincarnation, rejecting any role for China in choosing who succeeds him as the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhists.
Kanye West blocked from entering Australia over Hitler song
Kanye West has long sparked controversy over his anti-Semitic remarks and has declared himself a Nazi.
Japan’s railgun strikes at China’s hypersonic shadow
Japan’s prototype ship-mounted railgun marks a bold step toward fast, affordable missile defense as it works to fill crucial gaps revealed by China’s hypersonic weapons and limited interceptor supplies. This month, The War Zone (TWZ) reported that Japan has fitted the test
Australia says it cancelled Kanye West’s visa over Heil Hitler song
Home Affairs Minister says the country has enough problems already: We don’t need bigotry.
Australia says it cancelled Kanye West's visa over 'Heil Hitler' song
SYDNEY - Kanye West, also known as Ye, has had his Australian visa cancelled after he released “Heil Hitler”, a song promoting Nazism, the country’s home affairs minister said on Wednesday.
Inquiry finds British committed genocide on Indigenous Australians
It is the country's first formal "truth-telling" inquiry that ran for four years from 2021.
S. Korea’s role in a Taiwan crisis on which North might piggyback
This article was first published by Pacific Forum. It is republished here with permission. The new president of South Korea remains cautious in articulating a position on a potential Taiwan contingency. Still, public and policy discourse within Korea has been active, often
Thai police raid luxury home in Chiang Mai, nab 17 foreigners over alleged US$14 million scam operation
The police said the scam operation is believed to have cheated more than 100,000 Chinese victims.
