Asia Pacific

At least 178,000 homes submerged and nearly 7,000 hectares of crop impacted.

Military exercises set to take place in Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea are likely to upset China.

Regional bloc’s response has fallen short because of lack of leadership, failure to grasp gravity of rights abuses.

Authorities order investigation of news outlets, impose curbs on messaging app Telegram to clamp down on movement.

Officials tell Reuters Indonesia turned down a US request to allow its P-8 Poseidon planes to land and refuel there.

Arakan Army says it abducted three candidates of Aung San Suu Kyi’s party ahead of November 8 election.

The fintech firm plans to list simultaneously in Hong Kong and on Shanghai’s STAR Market in weeks, Reuters reports.

Gov’t says it is offering scheme to allow children of summarily executed men to claim 5,000 euros ($5,890) compensation.

Indian army says it apprehended the PLA soldier after he strayed across a contested de facto border in the Himalayas.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry says the violence ensued when two Chinese diplomats gatecrashed an event in Fiji.

Chinese corporate leaders say they do not see much difference in policies of Donald Trump and Joe Biden towards China.

New report documents torture, lack of due process and rampant corruption in North Korea’s pre-trial detention system.

Document alleges reporting might have affected ‘national security’ or the Thai people’s ‘good morals’.

Gross domestic product grew by 4.9 percent in the third quarter after a 3.2 percent expansion in the March-June period.

The CNRP has been outlawed, its leaders jailed and exiled, functionaries targeted, but it continues to survive.

In ‘historic shift’, incumbent prime minister delivers biggest election victory for her Labour Party in 50 years.

Fewer refugees than ever before are likely to be resettled in 2020 as the US, Australia and other countries cut places.

Protesters defy ban, arrests to rally in central Bangkok for a fourth day, as prime minister suggests talks.

Landslide in Quang Tri province comes days after another mudslide killed 13, mostly soldiers, in neighbouring region.

Protesters demand the removal of PM Prayuth Chan-ocha who first took power in a 2014 coup.

Canadian PM defiant after China’s ambassador to Ottawa, Cong Peiwu, warned against the granting asylum to HK activists.

Voting could see PM Ardern strengthen her government or face more challenges from Judith Collins and the conservatives.

The prime minister’s resignation is a key protest demand, along with reform of the country’s monarchy.

Any release of the water is expected to antagonise Japanese fishermen and raise concerns in neighbouring countries

Prime minister’s first overseas trip since his September appointment to show commitment to Southeast Asia.

Tens of thousands gather in the Thai capital demanding reform and calling for police to free arrested activists.

New Zealanders go to polls on Saturday with the ruling Labour Party set to benefit from Ardern’s response to COVID-19.

Shares of Big Hit Entertainment surge on South Korean market debut, as company uses social media to boost audiences.

UNHCR appeals for solidarity ahead of donor meeting with US, UK and EU aimed at raising more funds.

Since the 2014 coup more than 90 people have been prosecuted under the lese majeste law and 43 have been sentenced.

The Netherlands holds Russia responsible and has started legal proceedings at the European Court of Human Rights.

Government action follows months of student-led street protests that saw royal motorcade heckled.

The destroyer USS Barry sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday in what the US Navy said was a ‘routine transit’.

New research finds corals on vast Australian reef increasingly unable to recover from heat-caused bleaching.

Beijing has refused to deal with the US coordinator, seeing the role as interference in its internal affairs.

Chinese president calls for speedier upgrade of military equipment as he urges soldiers to “focus on war preparedness”.

Demonstration is the latest in three months as protesters challenge establishment forces in the army and palace.

The delay in meetings follows the opposition leader’s claim that he has enough support to become prime minister.

Administration proposes sale of more sophisticated weaponry to the self-ruled island as China ratchets up pressure.

Relations between Canada and China have deteriorated since 2018 when a top Huawei executive was arrested in Vancouver.

Demonstrators show unprecedented open dissent towards monarchy as pro-democracy activists plan another rally.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi calls Washington’s plan for an Indo-Pacific alliance a ‘security risk’.

Anwar Ibrahim rose to deputy prime minister before he was sacked in 1998 and re-emerged as a figurehead for reform.

Anwar says he has necessary support as government battles public anger over resurgence of COVID-19.

Sale covers truck-based rocket launchers, long-range air-to-ground missiles, and external sensor pods for F-16 jets.

Rights groups express alarm at countries expected to secure seats on the UN’s top human rights body.

Seoul urges Pyongyang to commit to past disarmament pledges and resume inter-Korean talks.

First-hand testimonies, images obtained by Amnesty show the Myanmar military’s ‘utter disregard for civilian suffering’.

Most of the 23 victims were washed away by floodwaters as nearly 46,000 people have been evacuated from affected areas.

At least 17 passengers killed, 29 injured when a bus collided with a train in Cha Choeng Sao province near Bangkok.

Rainfall leaves two dead in Cambodia, five in Vietnam as incoming tropical depression expected to worsen situation.

Australian researchers’ findings on SARS-CoV-2 virus reinforce need for hand washing and effective cleaning.

Ardern’s Labour Party is expected to win October 17 polls with a wide lead over the conservative National Party.

The coastal city will test all nine million residents during the next five days with some areas locked down.

Unusual predawn parade held to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the governing Workers’ Party.

In speech marking island’s National Day, President Tsai Ing-wen also called for dialogue with China.

Police say the group is suspected of providing the boat and funds to help the 12 activists trying to get to Taiwan.

Yang Hengjun disappeared after arriving in Guangzhou in January 2019 and has not been allowed to see his family.

Arrest of Indonesian woman follows a series of deadly bombings in Jolo in the southern Philippines.

Analysts say crisis-hit North Korea likely to hold large military parade on Saturday to showcase new, powerful missiles.

Clashes with police and many arrested amid rising opposition to law that is supposed to boost investment.

Outrage as government moves to more than double fees for degrees in the humanities and social sciences.

China is the biggest economy to back the initiative so far. Neither the United States nor Russia have signed up.

Elliot Broidy was allegedly hired by Malaysian fugitive financier Jho Low to try and get 1MDB probe dropped.

Senior official warns amphibious landings are difficult, but also repeats US calls for Taiwan to boost defence spending.

Report says 130,000 Rohingya live under ‘squalid, abusive’ conditions; calls for an end to their ‘abitrary detention’.

Prosecutors say infections in at least 80 people were traced to the 24-year-old man, who taught at a school in Incheon.

Germany leads statement expressing ‘grave concern’ and calling for immediate and unfettered access to Xinjiang region.

Vietnam accused of ‘scorched-earth’ approach to dissent after late-night arrest of Pham Doan Trang at her home .

Australia’s science agency finds volume of microplastics on seafloor more than double the plastic pollution on surface.

Jo Song Gil, who was North Korea’s acting ambassador to Italy, disappeared with his wife in early November 2018.

South Indians who got UK citizenship in 1997, find spouse income rules an impossible hurdle in effort to find security.

Teacher’s union denounces education bureau’s move to de-register teacher; Carrie Lam vows to get rid of ‘bad apples’.

Poll shows surge in unfavourable perceptions of China, but US President Donald Trump also viewed with distrust.

New economic stimulus measures are expected to push Australia’s budget deficit to a record $167bn due to coronavirus.

Taiwan air force scrambled more than twice as much in 2020 to intercept Chinese planes crossing island’s buffer zone.

Quad grouping of foreign ministers seen as a platform to strengthen US solidarity with regional allies against China.

Opponents say the new law allows contractors to remain in place for life and weakens environmental protections.

Easing of COVID-19 measures before midnight on Wednesday means there will be no limit on gatherings in Auckland.

Feisty marsupial released in sanctuary in an attempt to revive population ravaged by a contagious facial cancer.

Vorayuth Yoovidhya crashed his car in 2012, killing a police officer, but charges against him were dropped.

Most voters choose to remain part of France, instead of backing independence, in second of three possible referendums.

Kenzo Takada, 81, died at the American Hospital of Paris in Neuilly-sur-Seine, his spokesman says.

At least 4,600 hectares affected by the blaze, which displaced more than 100 people in South Island’s Lake Ohau.

Elderly people in privately-run care homes account for about three quarters of the country’s COVID-19 deaths.

Voters in southern Pacific archipelago will choose whether to break away from France in second independence referendum.

Premier calls on state to ‘stay the course’ after large groups of people head outside to celebrate relaxed regulations.

Taiwan’s defence ministry said the Canadian warship sailed into Taiwan Strait from the South China Sea.

Official investigating the disappearance of a rare albino barking deer was shot in the offices of Songkhla Zoo.

Holy See asserts right to move forward on China accord over appointment of bishops after Pompeo meeting.