Asia News

  • Philippines' VP Sara Duterte a no-show for questioning over Marcos threat
    on December 11, 2024 at 8:40 am

    MANILA — Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte failed to appear on Dec 11 for questioning over a purported threat to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, choosing instead to send a letter denying an allegation she made a "grave threat" to his life. Duterte, an influential ally of Marcos until […]

  • Friend for life: Mourning dog in Thailand dies at owner's funeral
    by Dana Leong on December 11, 2024 at 7:20 am

    Heartbroken by its owner's death, a dog in Thailand cried at the funeral and died on Dec 4. According to Khaosod, the dog named Judo had been raised by its owner since it was a puppy. Judo's owner was a 75-year-old woman Somfoi. She was survived by her 46-year-old daughter, Natiwan. At […]

  • South Korea police raid Yoon office over failed martial law as impeachment vote looms
    on December 11, 2024 at 6:38 am

    SEOUL — South Korean police raided the office of President Yoon Suk Yeol, a presidential security official said on Wednesday (Dec 11), in a widening investigation into the embattled leader's failed attempt to impose martial law. Separately, Kim Yong-hyun, former defence minister and a close confidant […]

  • China says it takes 'necessary measures' to defend sovereignty over Taiwan
    on December 11, 2024 at 6:21 am

    BEIJING/TAIPEI — China's government said on Wednesday (Dec 11) that it takes "necessary measures" to defend the country's sovereignty and will not tolerate "separatist" activities, as Taiwan reported another rise in Chinese warplanes near the island. Beijing's military has yet to comment on the […]

  • South Korea police chief arrested as Yoon impeachment looms over failed martial law
    on December 11, 2024 at 4:11 am

    SEOUL — South Korea's police chief became the latest top official to be arrested, Yonhap news agency said on Wednesday (Dec 11), in a widening investigation into President Yoon Suk-yeol's failed martial law that has plunged the country into a constitutional crisis. The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) […]

  • South Korea ex-defence minister accused of role in martial law attempts suicide, official says
    on December 11, 2024 at 3:56 am

    SEOUL — Former South Korean Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who is accused of playing a lead role in the failed imposition of martial law on Dec 3, has tried to commit suicide inside a detention centre, a justice ministry official told parliament. SINGAPORE HELPLINES Samaritans of Singapore: […]

  • UN envoy warns against sending refugees back to Syria too soon
    on December 11, 2024 at 3:23 am

    BERLIN — The UN special envoy for Syria said on Tuesday European nations should not rush to repatriate refugees to the country following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government, and he urged foreign players, including Israel, not to intervene militarily. Syria remained in disorder three days after Assad's […]

  • Rebel-backed figure takes charge as Syria's interim prime minister 
    on December 11, 2024 at 3:17 am

    DAMASCUS — Syria's new interim leader announced on Tuesday (Dec 10) he was taking charge of the country as caretaker prime minister with the backing of the former rebels who toppled President Bashar al-Assad three days ago. In a brief address on state television, Mohammed al-Bashir, a figure little […]

  • Tears and hope as Syrians return home from Turkey
    on December 11, 2024 at 2:39 am

    YAYLADAGI, Turkey — Ala Jabeer cried as he prepared to cross from Turkey into Syria with his 10-year-old daughter Sirin on Dec 10, thirteen years after the war forced him to flee his home. He returns without his wife and three of his children, who died in devastating earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria in […]

  • Syrians scour disfigured corpses for signs of detained loved ones
    on December 11, 2024 at 2:31 am

    DAMASCUS — Using only the light on their mobile phones, wailing men and women examined disfigured bodies lying in a darkened hospital morgue in Syria's capital for signs of their relatives who had disappeared into Bashar al-Assad's notorious prison system. Dozens of corpses — blackened, […]