An 11-year-old girl went out to buy a birthday gift for a friend. She never came home. West Bengal, India, has been gripped by violent unrest following the rape and murder of an 11-year-old Muslim girl in Surjyapur village, Baruipur, on the outskirts of Kolkata. Her body was pulled from a pond on Sunday, a…
A deadly measles outbreak has claimed hundreds of children’s lives in Bangladesh, overwhelming hospitals and reversing years of progress against the disease. Bangladesh is battling its worst measles outbreak in years, with government figures showing nearly 750 deaths since March, most of them children. The country has also recorded more than 120,000 confirmed and suspected…
Japan’s first mayor to take maternity leave has ignited a nationwide conversation about motherhood, politics and gender equality. Maternity leave has become a national talking point after Shoko Kawata announced she would step away from her duties for four months ahead of the birth of her first child. The 35-year-old mayor of Yawata will become…
Chinese authorities have concluded that the pilot who flew a small aircraft into the Beijing CITIC Tower last week intentionally caused the crash due to personal reasons. Officials identified the pilot only by his surname, Liu, a 66-year-old Beijing resident. According to investigators, he suffered from chronic insomnia and anxiety, and his personal diary contained…
China says the US-based Myanmar scholar is under investigation for activities linked to national security. China has confirmed the arrest of US scholar and Myanmar analyst U Min Zin, accusing him of espionage and endangering national security. The scholar, who serves as executive director of the Myanmar Institute for Strategic and Policy Studies (ISP-Myanmar), was…
Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to make a rare trip to North Korea for high-level talks with Kim Jong Un. China has announced that President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea from June 8 to 9. This comes at the invitation of leader Kim Jong Un. It will be Xi’s first visit to Pyongyang…
A massive explosion in northern Myanmar has left dozens dead and injured in one of the region’s deadliest accidents this year. At least 46 people were killed and 74 others injured after a huge explosion ripped through Kaung Tat village in Myanmar’s Shan State on Sunday, according to rescue workers. The blast occurred in an…
Japan has pushed back against China’s accusations of militarism, arguing that Beijing’s growing military arsenal poses a greater concern. Japan’s Defence Minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, criticised China’s rapid military expansion and lack of transparency during a security summit in Singapore. He dismissed claims that Japan was pursuing a “new militarism” and insisted the country’s defence buildup…
Rescuers have freed four more villagers trapped inside a flooded cave in Laos, bringing the total number of survivors rescued to five. The four men were brought to safety on Saturday after spending 10 days trapped inside a narrow cave system. Thai rescue teams confirmed the successful operation, which came a day after another survivor…
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says Washington remains committed to Asia despite ongoing global security challenges. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Pete Hegseth reassured Asia-Pacific allies that the United States is not shifting its focus away from the region while managing conflicts elsewhere, including tensions involving Iran. Hegseth said the US can meet…
