Asia

Japan on Tuesday (Oct 19) kicked off its first official day of campaigning ahead of the Oct 31 general election, with a media poll showing support for the ruling party easing, in a blow for recently installed prime minister Fumio Kishida.…

Myanmar's military government has freed hundreds of political prisoners from the notorious Insein prison, including Ms Aung San Suu Kyi's party spokesman and a famous comedian Zarganar, local media reported. Minutes after military ruler…

Poachers in Vietnam have shot dead five critically endangered langurs, a type of monkey killed for bushmeat and traditional medicine, state media said on Tuesday (Oct 19). Rangers and police found the dead grey-shanked douc langurs…

At least 25 people have died in landslides and floods triggered by heavy rains in southwestern India, officials said on Sunday (Oct 17), as rescuers scoured for survivors in muddy debris and the military flew in emergency supplies.…

The Malaysian government will dish out doses of discomfort to those who do not have valid reasons to refuse a Covid-19 vaccination, said Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin. "Sorry to say, we will make life very difficult for you if you're…

Two top Chinese infectious diseases specialists have in recent days hinted that China could be moving towards easing its zero-tolerance policy towards Covid-19 as more of the population gets vaccinated. In what appears to be a…

A large explosion tore through a Shi’ite mosque in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar during Friday prayers (Oct 15), killing at least 32 people and wounding 68, Afghan state news agency Bakhtar said, the second massive attack in a week…

Hong Kong teachers might have to pass a test on the city's national security law, a top government official said, as the local education system is remade to foster greater loyalty to Beijing. Examinations would bring requirements for…

The mayor of a Taiwanese city launched a task force on Friday (Oct 15) to look into whether negligence played a part in a fire at a residential building that killed 46 people. The fire in the 40-year-old housing block in…

Malaysia may become an ageing nation earlier than predicted after the country recorded the lowest fertility rate in four decades with fewer babies born in 2020, according to the Statistics Department. "Looking at the last 10…