China’s military accused the United States of undermining regional stability and provoking confrontation, just days after the top generals of the two countries held their first talks in more than a year. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said on Monday that it had conducted air and naval drills near Taiwan and the South China Sea, in response to what it …

A Vietnamese university student who broke into an Apple office in Singapore twice to steal and return electronic devices has been sentenced to 11 months’ jail. The 22-year-old student, whose name was not disclosed, pleaded guilty to two counts of housebreaking and one count of theft in a district court on Monday. According to the prosecution, the student was studying …

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered his military to accelerate its war preparations and adopt offensive measures to deter potential adversaries, state media reported on Monday. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Kim made the remarks during a meeting of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea on Sunday, where he also approved …

Russia on Monday warned Japan against supplying Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, saying such a move would be seen as a hostile act and could have serious consequences for regional security. The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it was “deeply concerned” by media reports that Japan was considering providing Ukraine with Patriot systems, which are capable …

The year 2024 could be a turbulent one for Asia, as several geopolitical flashpoints could escalate into conflicts or crises, according to analysts and observers. One of the most contentious issues is the future of Taiwan, which China considers a renegade province that must be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary. Taiwan, however, has its own democratically elected …

The Philippines has attracted four groups to bid for the $10 billion expansion and operation of the Manila international airport, one of the biggest infrastructure projects under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.‘s administration. The Department of Transportation said on Tuesday that it received proposals from the following consortiums: Metro Pacific Investments Corp., Megawide Construction Corp., and GMR Infrastructure Ltd., which currently …

Hundreds of Indonesian workers staged a protest on Tuesday outside a Chinese-owned nickel plant in Central Sulawesi province, where a furnace explosion killed 13 people and injured dozens more on Sunday. The workers demanded justice and compensation for the victims, as well as better safety standards and working conditions at the plant, which is part of the Indonesia Morowali Industrial …

Lee Sun-kyun, a popular South Korean actor who starred in the Oscar-winning film “Parasite,” was found dead in a car in a park in Seoul on Wednesday, in what police suspect was a suicide after weeks of an intense investigation into his alleged drug use. Lee, 48, was discovered by police and emergency officers in an unconscious state in the …

Japan has decided to revise its self-defense policy and allow its military to strike enemy bases in the event of an imminent attack, as it faces growing threats from China’s military expansion and aggression. The decision, announced on December 15, 2023, marks a significant shift from Japan’s pacifist constitution, which renounces war and limits the use of force to self-defense. …

Malaysia’s first crowdfunded film, Pendatang, has garnered more than 400,000 views on YouTube since its release on December 1, 2023, despite being rejected by the country’s film censorship board. The film, directed by Zahir Omar and produced by Adrian Teh, tells the story of four friends who embark on a road trip across Malaysia to escape their personal problems. Along …