War & Conflict

Burmese 'stopped from seeking shelter' in China: NGO

Fighting between the Burmese military and an ethnic armed group has displaced 23,000 people in Kachin State.

Asia Pacific

China ship enters strait, Taiwan warns against 'panic'

Chinese aircraft carrier sails into Taiwan Strait amid increasing tensions between mainland and island territory.

Weather

Severe flooding leaves 30 dead in southern Thailand

Torrential rain causes floods and mudslides across Thailand’s southern provinces affecting more than a million people.

Asia Pacific

Samsung leader summoned as suspect in S Korea scandal

Prosecutor summons Samsung leader Jay Lee over donations made to firm linked to scandal involving president's friend.

Health

WHO: Smoking will kill eight million a year by 2030

Study conducted with US National Cancer Institute says 80 percent of deaths occur in low and middle-income countries.

China

Japan, S Korea scramble jets after China flies bombers

Japan and South Korea say Chinese military planes flew over East China Sea and the Sea of Japan for hours on Monday.

Asia Pacific

North Korea threatens missile launch anytime, blames US

US defence chief, meanwhile, vows to shoot down any ICBM tests near American territory - or that of its allies.

Australia

Australian health minister probed in property scandal

Susan Ley insists she did not break any laws when she bought a house during a government-funded trip.

South Korea

Monk critical after sex slavery protest immolation

Buddhist monk sets himself on fire in demonstration against agreement with Japan on compensation for wartime sex slaves.

Pollution

China to launch 'environmental police' force

World's largest greenhouse gas emitter will deploy squad targeting polluters to combat toxic air crisis.

Floods

18 dead as torrential rains submerge Thailand's south

Heavy downpours and flooding ravages southern provinces with more than 700,000 affected over the past week.

Asia Pacific

Taiwan's president heads to US amid China dispute

Tsai's US stopovers come after she incensed China by her phone call to Donald Trump to congratulate him on his victory.

Politics

Opposition holds mass rally in the Nepalese capital

Nepal opposition leader vows not to pass constitutional amendment, as tens of thousands protest proposed change.

Politics

Sex slave statue sparks Japan-South Korea row

Ambassador recalled in protest against statue symbolising victims of Japanese wartime sex slavery.

Asia Pacific

Philippine police recapture 40 of 158 escaped prisoners

Security forces say inmates on the run in remote farmlands after jailbreak blamed on Muslim rebels.