How Myanmar's junta-run vote works

Who is running and how is a winner decided? Here's what you need to know about the Myanmar elections.

How Myanmar’s junta-run vote works, and why it might not

Here are some key questions surrounding the heavily restricted polls.

Myanmar junta stages election after five years of civil war

Campaigners, Western diplomats and the UN's rights chief have condemned the month-long vote, citing a ballot stacked with military allies and a stark crackdown on dissent.

The Asian danger from Trump’s spheres-of-interest approach

For Japan, South Korea and other Asian security allies, the good news about America’s new National Security Strategy when it was published on December 5th was that they were not treated as shockingly badly as were the Europeans. Unlike the UK and the European Union, they were

Voting begins in Myanmar’s restricted election after five years of civil war

With former leader Aung San Suu Kyi remaining in jail, critics doubt the elections will be meaningful.

First and second largest economies in charts and figures

One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do.Two can be as bad as one.It’s the loneliest number since the number one. Aimee mann China is the world’s second largest economy. Despite having outgrown all other economies since its 1949 founding, the People’s Republic of China

Whodunnit? Vietnam’s online sleuths step up their game, tracking true crime

Citizen sleuths face a thin line between vigilantism and criminality, experts say.

Putin says Ukraine in no hurry to reach peace, agencies report

MOSCOW, Dec 27 - Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia could see Kyiv was in no hurry to end the Ukraine conflict by peaceful means, Interfax news agency reported on Saturday.

Taiwan rattled by 7-magnitude quake

The quake shook buildings in the capital Taipei and had a depth of 73km.

Taiwan rattled by 7.0-magnitude earthquake

There have been no reports of major damage from across the island and no tsunami alert was issued after the quake, Taiwan's fire department said.

China welcomes Cambodia-Thailand ceasefire, plans talks

Cambodia and Thailand agreed on Dec 27 to a second ceasefire in recent months.

Even as Najib faces two decades in jail, damaging divisions haunt Malaysia over 1MDB scandal

While Malaysia's politicians deal with the ramifications of Najib's jailtime, reforms to prevent another 1MDB stall.

Cambodia, Thailand have agreed terms on new ceasefire. Will it hold?

Cambodia and Thailand had remained locked in intense combat even while they engaged in ceasefire talks.

Japan’s year-end homecoming rush peaks as long holiday begins

Japan’s year-end travel rush peaks as families crowd trains and airports, heading home for rest and reunion.

Two dead in 50-vehicle pile up on Japan highway

A further 26 people are injured in the crash on a highway in central Japan, police say.

China issues draft rules to govern use of human-like AI systems

Users must be informed they are dealing with AI when they log in to a service and at two-hour intervals.

Malaysian PM Anwar welcomes latest Cambodia-Thailand ceasefire

The conflict has killed at least 41 people and displaced almost one million people on both sides of the border.

China issues draft rules to regulate AI with human-like interaction

The draft lays ‍out a regulatory approach that would require providers to warn users against excessive use and to intervene when users show signs of addiction.

Singaporean, 5 others hurt in car and excavator crash in Ipoh

A woman was trapped between the front and rear seats of the car.

As Hong Kong’s ‘king of umbrellas’ retires, a vanishing craft takes a final bow

Mr Yau Yiu-wai’s family has been in business since 1842, but times have finally caught up.

Spanish family missing after tourist boat sinks near Labuan Bajo in Indonesia

The search has been hampered by difficult weather and sea conditions, says the rescue mission coordinator.

Spanish family missing after tourist boat sinks in Indonesia

The Labuan Bajo port authority attributed the sinking to high waves of up to 3m.

China passes revised foreign trade law to bolster trade war capabilities

The revision focuses on areas such as digital and green trade, along with intellectual property provisions — key improvements China needs to make to meet the standards of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire begins after weeks of deadly clashes

Almost one million people were displaced when hostilities resumed earlier this month after the first truce broke.

At least 7 killed in Vietnam after bus overturns

The bus carrying 19 passengers overturned on a mountainous road in Vietnam's northern province of Yen Bai, ‌state-run media reported.

Thailand and Cambodia sign truce to halt fierce border conflict

BANGKOK, Dec 27 - Thailand and Cambodia agreed on Saturday to halt weeks of fierce border clashes, the worst fighting in years between the Southeast Asian countries that has included fighter jets sorties, exchange of rocket fire and artillery barrages.

China revises aviation law to regulate drones, tighten safety rules

China has implemented “interim regulations” for unmanned aircraft starting from 2024.

Thailand and Cambodia sign ceasefire agreement

Thailand and Cambodia sign ceasefire agreement to halt fierce border conflict

"Both sides agree to maintain current troop ⁠deployments without further movement," their defence ministers said in ‍a joint statement on the ceasefire, to take effect at noon local time (1pm in Singapore) on Saturday (Dec 27).

Thailand and Cambodia halt fierce border conflict with second ceasefire

"Both sides agree to maintain current troop ⁠deployments without further movement," their defence ministers said in ‍a joint statement on the ceasefire, to take effect at noon local time (1pm in Singapore) on Saturday (Dec 27).

Conflict and fear sap campaign energy ahead of Myanmar election

In Mandalay city, about 600 km north of Yangon, the lack of campaigning is palpable, with no sustained canvassing for votes just days ahead of the polls, two residents say.

Myanmar goes to the polls amid civil war and humanitarian crisis

Dec 27 - Myanmar heads to the polls on Sunday as it battles a civil war that has ravaged parts of the country as well as one of Asia's worst humanitarian crises.

Man arrested over attack at Japan rubber factory where he previously worked

This follows an attack on Dec 26 that left 15 employees injured.

Japan’s wedding industry faces battle to adapt to changing culture amid drop in number of traditional ceremonies

As the industry experiences more large-scale bankruptcies, the search is now on for ways to survive.

Indonesia grants Christmas remissions to over 16,000 prisoners, including graft convicts

Officials said the move would help reduce state spending.

2 dead, 26 injured in 67-vehicle expressway pile-up north-west of Tokyo

Police said the vehicles likely skidded on the icy surface as snow fell.

2 dead, 26 injured in 50-vehicle expressway pile-up north-west of Tokyo

Police said the vehicles likely skidded on the icy surface as snow fell.

Myanmar election: military seeks legitimacy amid war, exclusion

On Sunday December 28, Myanmar goes to the polls for the first phase of its first general election since the military coup of February 1, 2021. After several extensions, the State Administration Council, controlled by the military (Tatmadaw), lifted the state of emergency on

1MDB trial verdict: Former Malaysian PM Najib admits to feeling ‘alone’ in struggle for freedom

He said he remained confident in the country’s judicial process, regardless of the outcome.