Rest of Asia
IMF says it reaches a staff level agreement with Pakistan to disburse $1.1b
Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund on Wednesday reached a staff level agreement which, if approved by its board, will disburse $1.1 billion for the debt-ridden South Asian economy, the global lender said..The funds are the final tranche of a $3 billion last-gasp rescue package Pa
South Koreans to wake up a year younger tomorrow
South Koreans will become at least a year younger from Wednesday as the nation adopts a new law to join the international standard of age counting
Cambodia election / Opposition party loses bid to overturn ban
Cambodia’s main opposition party yesterday lost a bid to overturn its ban from the upcoming elections, paving the way for long-serving leader Hun Sen to run a one-horse race. Last week, the National Election Committee (NEC) refused to register the
Asia water, energy supplies at risk
Climate-related disruptions to the crucial Hindu Kush-Himalayan water system are posing risks to economic development and energy security in 16 Asian countries, and concerted action is needed to protect regional water flows, researchers said yesterday.
South China sea / Philippines rebukes Beijing for ‘dangerous manoeuvres
The Philippines yesterday accused China’s coast guard of “dangerous manoeuvres” and “aggressive tactics” in the South China Sea, in another maritime confrontation between the two countries at a time of simmering geopolitical tension.
China flies drone around Taiwan
A Chinese uncrewed combat aircraft has flown around Taiwan, the island’s defence ministry said, showcasing Beijing’s ability to attack its fall-back east coast
China warns Taiwan leader over US visit
External pressure will not stop Taiwan engaging with the world, President Tsai Ing-wen said yesterday as she left for the United States, hitting a defiant note after China threatened retaliation if she met US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
N Korea tests new nuke-capable drone
North Korea yesterday claimed it had tested an underwater nuclear attack drone able to unleash a “radioactive tsunami”, as it blamed recent US-South Korea
South Korea, US fire missiles into the Yellow Sea
South Korea and the US military conducted rare missile drills and an American supercarrier repositioned east of North Korea after Pyongyang flew a missile over Japan, one of the allies’ sharpest responses since 2017 to a North Korean weapon test.
Indonesia probes elite officers as stadium disaster death toll rises
Elite Indonesian police officers were under investigation yesterday over a stadium stampede that killed 131 people including dozens of children in one of the deadliest disasters in football history.
North Korea fires ballistic missile: Seoul
North Korea fired a ballistic missile yesterday, Seoul’s military said, just days after a US aircraft carrier arrived for joint drills with the South in a show of force against Pyongyang.
Free Russian fertilisers to developing world!
President Vladimir Putin said Russia was ready to provide more than 300,000 tonnes of Russian fertilisers stuck in European ports to the developing world for
N Korea fires two cruise missiles
North Korea fired two cruise missiles yesterday, Seoul’s defence ministry said, ending a month-long lull in Pyongyang’s record-breaking spate of weapons tests
Russia, North Korea will expand ties
Russian President Vladimir Putin told North Korean leader Kim Jong Un the two countries will “expand the comprehensive and constructive
10 Chinese planes crossed Taiwan Strait median line
Ten Chinese aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait’s median line, an unofficial barrier between China and Taiwan, yesterday, the Taiwanese defence ministry said.
N Korea ’ready to mobilise’ nuke weapons
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country was “ready to mobilise” its nuclear deterrent in any future military clash with the United States and South Korea, state media said yesterday.
South Korea becomes 7th nation to join elite space club
The successful launch of South Korea’s homegrown space rocket Nuri, officially the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-II, on Tuesday added the country as the seventh nation in the world to have developed a space launch vehicle that can carry a satellite of more than 1 ton. The list begins with Russia, the US and France. China, Japan and India later joined the exclusive club of spacefaring nations.
‘It is very hard to find work’
R.M.R Lenora stood in a snaking queue outside Sri Lanka’s Immigration and Emigration Department headquarters for two days last week, hoping to get a passport and, with it, a chance to leave a country wilting under an economic crisis.