Crisis in India-Bangladesh relations spirals amid violent protests

Recent deadly protests in Bangladesh are further straining Delhi's already frayed tied with Dhaka.

US delays announcement of China chip tariffs until 2027

The move, which preserves Mr Trump’s ability to impose the duties, seeks to dial down tensions with Beijing.

Australia’s New South Wales passes tougher gun, anti-terror laws after Bondi Beach shooting

Most individual gun licences will be capped at four firearms, while farmers will be permitted to own up to 10 guns.

Australian state passes tougher gun, anti-terror laws after Bondi Beach shooting

SYDNEY, Dec 24 - Australia's most populous state on Wednesday passed sweeping new gun and anti-terror laws following the recent mass shooting on Bondi Beach, tightening firearm ownership, banning public display of terrorist symbols and strengthening police power to curb protests.

Syria ministers meet Putin to discuss defence, economic cooperation, SANA says

Dec 23 - Syria's foreign and defence ministers met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday to discuss expanding military, political and economic cooperation, with a focus on strategic collaboration in defence industries, Syria's state news agency SANA reported.

'Sophisticated' and ‘thriving in secrecy’: What’s beneath Indonesia’s underground baby trafficking trade?

Lawyers and experts say a complex web of social and economic pressures, along with a widespread lack of understanding about legal adoption procedures, has contributed to a lucrative baby trafficking trade in Indonesia.

Malaysia downplays Nilai homemade blast amid regional jitters over recent attacks

Experts noted that the residential location suggests a personal dispute rather than terrorism.

China cries foul after topping ASPI tech rankings

China now leads the world in nearly 90% of the “critical technologies” that can significantly boost or endanger national interests, according to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s latest Critical Technology Tracker report. In ASPI’s five-year window covering 2020–24,

Venezuela resorts to floating storage as onshore tanks fill up amid ship seizures

Dec 23 - Venezuela's state-run oil company PDVSA has started filling up tankers with crude and fuel oil it has in storage as inventories mount amid moves by the U.S. to seize Venezuela-linked ships, according to company documents and shipping data.

Bangladesh summons Indian envoy as protest erupts in New Delhi

Japan delegation highlights regional peace in talks with Taiwan’s Lai

Taiwanese President Lai thanked Japanese lawmakers for their support for Taiwan.

Germany deports criminal to Syria as pressure mounts on migration

BERLIN, Dec 23 - Germany deported a convicted criminal to Syria on Tuesday for the first time since the start of a 14-year-long civil war there as the government in Berlin tries to show voters it is addressing their worries about migration.

Malaysian police bust drug lab on Penang durian orchard

One suspect died during the raids in an attempt to escape, the police said.

K-pop concert to be held in Hong Kong and aired in mainland China: Organisers

Myanmar nationals caught with 10 drones in Bangkok: Police

Myanmar ranks third globally – behind only Ukraine and Russia – for the number of drone sorties recorded.

K-Pop concert to be held in Hong Kong and aired in mainland China on Feb 6-7

An unofficial ban on cultural exchanges between China and South Korea has been in place since 2017.

K-Pop concert to be held in Hong Kong and aired in mainland China, organisers say

SEOUL, Dec 23 - Pop concert will be held in Hong Kong in February and aired across mainland China by a state-run broadcaster, the organiser said, amid growing hopes of cultural exchanges between China and South Korea after nearly a decade of an unofficial ban.

Taiwan metro attack suspect’s parents apologise after deadly stabbing

The father said his son's "heinous crimes" had caused irreparable damage and suffering on the victims and their families.

Taiwan metro attack suspect's parents apologise after deadly stabbing

The 27-year-old suspect’s parents knelt and apologised for their son’s actions, promising full cooperation with investigators.

Japan govt to cut passport application fee by nearly half

The goal is to raise the ownership rate of Japanese passports, which stood at 17.8 per cent in 2024.

Trump’s Fed chair choice could stoke stagflation risks

US President Donald Trump has signaled in an interview with the Wall Street Journal he is close to announcing his pick for the next chair of the US Federal Reserve. With inflation again increasing amid widespread focus on the crisis of affordability, Trump’s appointment will be

Thailand-Cambodia border meeting in doubt over venue row

Cambodia asked to hold talks in Kuala Lumpur but Thailand said the bilateral border committee meeting would go ahead in Thailand's Chanthaburi province as planned.

No white Christmas: South Korea to brace itself for cold snap from Dec 25 but snowfall unlikely

Snow is expected only in some mountainous areas in Gangwon Province, mainly overnight between Dec 23 and 24.

Taiwan deports mother of Thai girl allegedly forced into Japan sex work

The girl contacted the authorities in Japan for help in September.

Slop, vibe coding and glazing: AI altering the global lexicon

For us linguists, the flurry of “word of the year” announcements from dictionaries and publishers is a holiday tradition as anticipated as mince pies. The words of the year aren’t just a fun peek into new slang and language changes, they also tell us quite a bit about the

Japan weighs 2,000-3,000 yen fee for new pre-travel screening system

The electronic travel authorisation programme is aimed to be launched in fiscal 2028.

Hundreds protest in New Delhi over killing of Hindu man in Bangladesh

Demonstrations were also held in other parts of the country, including Jammu and Kashmir territory.

China delays plans for mass production of self-driving cars after accident

Regulators approved last week only two of the nine camakers that had submitted plans to sell self-driving cars.

AGI dread owes more to sci-fi than real machine learning

Few subjects today get more attention or generate more anxiety in the West than artificial intelligence, particularly the prospect of artificial general intelligence, or AGI, a hypothetical system that surpasses human capabilities and slips beyond human control. For some, AGI

UN says Myanmar junta using 'brutal violence' to force people to vote

Myanmar's junta is set to preside over voting starting on Sunday, touting heavily restricted polls as a return to democracy five years after it ousted the last elected government, triggering civil war.

China implies US hypocrisy over nuclear disarmament

Mr Lin Jian said the most urgent task for the US is to fulfil the responsibility for nuclear disarmament.

China’s second attempt at completing a reusable rocket test fails

The country has yet to successfully complete a reusable rocket test.

UN says Myanmar junta using ‘brutal violence’ to force people to vote

Armed anti-junta groups are using the same tactic to keep people away.

Taipei knife attack: Pride and heartbreak as mother mourns son who died trying to stop assailant

Yu Chia-chang, 57, was killed confronting the attacker during Taipei’s deadly knife attack on Dec 19. His mother has since spoken publicly as Taiwan moves to honour his heroism.

Thai authorities rescue two lions, three bears found caged at Cambodian casino near border

The male and female lions, the two bears and the sun bear were all in critical condition.

Five Pakistani police personnel killed in ‘gun and bomb’ attack

The vehicle was first targeted with improvised explosives, said the provincial police.

Five Pakistani police personnel killed in 'gun and bomb' attack

PESHAWAR, Pakistan Dec 23 - Five Pakistani police personnel were killed on Tuesday when their van was ambushed in a bombing and shooting attack in the country's northwest, provincial police said, as Pakistan struggles with a resurgence of militant violence.

‘Has Kuaishou gone mad?’: Cyberattack floods Chinese video platform with explicit content

Regulators and media reports have previously flagged shortcomings in the platform's youth safeguards.

India to provide $580 million to cyclone-ravaged Sri Lanka

Cyclone Ditwah caused floods and landslides that inflicted about US$4 billion in damage.

Professors in South Korea took students’ exams to avoid department shutdown

A professor who took 29 tests for his students also graded them all himself.

Vietnam's next leadership taking shape as January congress nears

Chinese envoy urges Thailand-Cambodia to resume ceasefire as soon as possible

Beijing has been pushing for peace between the ASEAN neighbours “in its own way”.

Nankai Trough earthquake: Not all evacuation towers in Japan ready for major tsunami

Tsunami evacuation towers are designed for rapid, temporary evacuation to higher elevation in coastal communities.

Japan grapples with growing bear threat amid record number of attacks

Bear attacks have killed a record 13 people in Japan this year, prompting emergency measures that make it easier for local governments to authorise hunters to shoot bears in populated areas.

Vietnam’s next leadership taking shape as January congress nears

Mr To Lam is viewed as the leading contender to keep the country’s most powerful post.

North Korea's Kim Jong Un tours hotels with daughter, lauds economic progress

SEOUL, Dec 23 - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended the opening ceremonies of hotels in a tourist zone of the country with his daughter Ju Ae, as he sought to highlight the country's economic progress before a key party congress due to take place early next year.

IndiGo crisis reveals why India’s new air safety rules are vital

Pilots in India have been pushing for longer rest hours to boost safety.