Asia News

  • At least 50 dead in flooding in northern Afghanistan, interior ministry says
    on May 11, 2024 at 2:28 am

    KABUL — At least 50 people have died, and more than 100 were injured in Afghanistan in flooding following heavy rain in the northern province of Baghlan on Friday (May 10), a spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior said, adding that the death toll may rise. Ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qaniee said there […]

  • India court details sexual harassment charges against former wrestling body chief
    on May 11, 2024 at 1:59 am

    NEW DELHI — A Delhi court on Friday (May 10) informed the ex-chief of India's wrestling federation, a powerful member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party, of charges of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation against him. Several Indian wrestlers came out in protest last year seeking criminal action […]

  • Taiwan rattled by 5.8 magnitude earthquake; no immediate reports of damage
    on May 10, 2024 at 9:03 am

    TAIPEI — A 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck off Taiwan's east coast on May 10, the island's weather administration said, with no immediate reports of damage. The earthquake shook buildings in the capital, Taipei. The quake, off the coast of Hualien county, had a depth of 10km. Taiwan has been hit by around […]

  • Philippines calls for Chinese diplomats to be expelled for disinformation
    on May 10, 2024 at 7:09 am

    MANILA — The Philippines' national security adviser called on May 10 for Chinese diplomats to be expelled over an alleged leak of a phone conversation with a Filipino admiral, in a significant escalation of a bitter row over the South China Sea. China's embassy in Manila had orchestrated "repeated acts of […]

  • South Korea's Yoon apologises over handbag scandal, pledges focus on economy
    on May 10, 2024 at 2:27 am

    SEOUL — South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol conceded on Thursday (May 9) that his ruling party's crushing election defeat last month reflected the government's failure to improve people's lives, and apologised for a scandal involving his wife. He continued to reject calls by opposition lawmakers for a […]

  • No joke: Crane operator lowers Thai official into manhole to help woman retrieve winning lottery ticket
    by Lim Kewei on May 9, 2024 at 9:24 am

    Striking the lottery is a battle won — but it's not over till it's over. One woman living in northeastern Thailand learnt that the hard way when she was nearly unable to claim her prize, no thanks to a gust of wind which swept the ticket away. According to Thai media Sanook, the 54-year-old punter was on […]

  • Eva Air stewardesses lauded for bravery after breaking up mid-air scuffle between 2 men
    by Bhavya Rawat on May 9, 2024 at 8:43 am

    The life of a flight attendant is not all glitz and glamour. Oftentimes, the job entails dealing with unhappy passengers with a smile on their face. Three Eva Airlines air stewardesses, however, recently went the extra mile to de-escalate a fight between two male passengers. About three hours into a 11.5-hour flight […]

  • Vietnam arrests official engaged in UN talks on labour reform
    on May 9, 2024 at 7:40 am

    HANOI — Police in Vietnam have arrested a senior official involved in talks with international organisations on labour reforms, state media said on Thursday (May 9), adding that the action was linked to disclosure of classified information. The detention of Nguyen Van Binh follows months of arrests of […]

  • Japan to start hunting fin whales after 5 years of commercial whaling
    on May 9, 2024 at 4:18 am

    TOKYO — Japan will add large fin whales to its list of commercial whaling species, government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi said on Thursday (May 9), five years after leaving an international body that regulates the commercial hunt of the marine mammals. Japan resumed commercial whaling in its territorial […]

  • South Korean town rattled by wrong emergency alert over '70 large dogs' on the loose
    on May 9, 2024 at 3:36 am

    SEOUL — An emergency text message alerting residents of a rural South Korean town to watch out for 70 ferocious dogs on the loose had to be quickly withdrawn after it turned out only three canines had wandered off a farm in the area, officials said. The alert on May 8 from the Dong-gu district office in […]