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Over 1 million Afghans migrated in last 4 months

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 6, 2022

KABUL More than one million Afghans have migrated over the last four months, local media reported citing the New York Times. According to Tolo News, most of the migrants crossed border areas into Iran and Pakistan. The head of a…

Australia urges Myanmar to free detained economist

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 6, 2022

SYDNEY Australia's foreign minister called on Sunday (Feb 6) for the "immediate release" of economist Sean Turnell, who has been detained by Myanmar's military junta for the past year. Turnell, an Australian economics professor, was…

Where is North Korea getting the resources to test missiles and buy arms?

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 5, 2022

Robert E Kelly North Korea has pursued an aggressive missile testing schedule this year – seven rounds of launches in less than a month. It has also hinted at the resumption of nuclear weapons tests. All these violate UN sanctions on the…

Russia and China tell NATO to stop expansion, Moscow backs Beijing on Taiwan

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 4, 2022

MOSCOW Russia and China called in a joint statement on Friday (Feb 4) for NATO to halt its expansion while Moscow said it fully supported Beijing's stance on Taiwan and opposed Taiwanese independence in any form. The joint statement,…

Climate change is causing ‘super-extreme’ weather events, scientists say

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 4, 2022

Just one month into 2022, a slew of extreme weather events have crippled major U.S. metro areas, causing power outages in Massachusetts, a daylong traffic jam in Virginia and the cancellation of hundreds of flights. These are all connected…

Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi faces new bribery charge in string of cases: State TV

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 4, 2022

Myanmar's military government announced a new bribery charge against deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Thursday (Feb 3), the country's state broadcaster reported. Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, 76, is on trial in nearly a…

UN calls for halt to Myanmar violence, return to democracy

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 3, 2022

UNITED NATIONS The U.N. Security Council called Wednesday for an immediate cessation of violence throughout Myanmar as the country’s military coup entered a second year, and it reaffirmed support for the country’s democratic transition…

How Saudi Arabia will pass power to its crown prince when his ailing father dies

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 2, 2022

Saudi Arabia may be nearing a transition between King Salman and his heir Mohammed bin Salman. Salman is elderly and infirm and MBS, 36, looks set to rule for decades. Here's how a royal transition would happen, and how it could…

Sri Lanka repays debtors as citizens go hungry

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 1, 2022

Sri Lanka supermarket shelves are bare and restaurants are unable to serve full meals due to acute food shortages and high inflation. Families, like that of travel agent Banduka Karunaratne in Colombo, are eating two meals a day, if at…

‘The situation is dire’: Inside Afghanistan’s ‘fast unraveling’…

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 1, 2022

MAIDAN SHAHR, Afghanistan A diet of rice, beans and crusts of dry bread drove Sakina’s family to the verge of starvation. Her 2-year-old son’s irregular heartbeat sent her into the snow and freezing cold of Afghanistan’s mountains in a…

Pakistan plans to borrow $3 billion from China, $2 billion from Russia and Kazakhstan

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 31, 2022

ISLAMABAD The federal government has decided to seek $5 billion in loans from China, Russia and Kazakhstan as the country make desperate efforts to stabilise forex reserves, it was reported on Monday. Pakistan plans to borrow $3…

Kim Jong Un Is Ready to Exploit U.S. Distraction in Ukraine

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 31, 2022

The specter of U.S. troops in combat on the European mainland is a blessing for North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. Washington’s preoccupation with Ukraine evokes the nightmare of wars on either side of the globe, and Kim seems pretty sure the…

Myanmar: Why once peaceful protesters are now choosing violence

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 31, 2022

In the first hours after the military grabbed power in a shock coup in Myanmar one year ago, there was little public reaction. No one seemed to know how they should react, and Aung San Suu Kyi, the woman who had led opposition to…

Scientists on alert over rising cases caused by Omicron cousin BA.2

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 31, 2022

CHICAGO The highly transmissible Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus - the most common form of which is known as BA.1 - now accounts for nearly all of the coronavirus infections globally, although dramatic surges in COVID cases have…

Myanmar nun who faced down a junta

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 28, 2022

Almost a year after she knelt in the dust to beg Myanmar police not to shoot anti-coup demonstrators, Sister Ann Rose Nu Tawng still shakes at the memory of the day she says God saved her. A photo of the Catholic nun in a simple white…

Life near eastern Ukraine’s front line: ‘I don’t want war, I’m no…

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 26, 2022

AVDIIVKA, Ukraine Since 2014, under the shadow of war, an octogenarian ex-schoolteacher who lives in a roofless house near the line of contact in eastern Ukraine has clung with all his might to the house he once shared with his wife.…

China calls for Central Asia community with shared future

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 26, 2022

BEIJING President Xi Jinping called on Tuesday for building an even closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future in order to promote the countries' high-quality development, the region's prosperity and stability, as well as…

Uzbekistan earns better rating for advancing economic reforms

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 24, 2022

Zaki Shaikh When the economies of other Central Asian nations are struggling, the rating agencies have upgraded Uzbekistan due to its external and fiscal buffers. Factors contributing to a higher growth rate than its neighbors are…

In Kashmir, India batters press freedom and journalists

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 23, 2022

SRINAGAR, India For five years, Sajad Gul wrote about conflict wracking his homeland, a disputed Himalayan territory where a violent armed rebellion and India’s brutal counterinsurgency have raged for over three decades. That changed…

Install Netaji’s hologram statue at India Gate

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 23, 2022

NEW DELHI In a first, India will begin the Republic Day celebrations from January 23, Sunday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi installing a hologram statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at India Gate on the leader's 125th birth…

Asean challenge: Myanmar under Cambodia chair

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 22, 2022

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) may face a bigger challenge on Myanmar issues in 2022 as the group's semblance of unity may be tested under the leadership of Cambodia, the group's rotating chair for this year.…

Nepal imposes tough restrictions as virus cases set record

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 21, 2022

KATHMANDU Nepal’s capital shut schools, ordered citizens to carry vaccination cards in public, banned religious festivals and instructed hotel guests to be tested every three days as it battles its biggest COVID-19 outbreak. The chief…

Snowstorm brings more misery for Syrians at IDP camps

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 21, 2022

Sheikh Bilal camp, Syria The residents of the Sheikh Bilal Camp for internally displaced people in Afrin, northwestern Syria, are struggling to keep their homes intact after a fierce winter storm brought more than a foot of snow. As…

US and China should create direct communication channel to avert conflict over Taiwan

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 20, 2022

The United States and China should negotiate "guard rails" and create a direct and open communication channel so its leaders can contact each other quickly over Taiwan to avert conflict, said Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong on…

Armenia fires at Azerbaijani border positions for hours

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 12, 2022

Armenian forces fired at border positions of the Azerbaijani army for hours starting late on Tuesday night, Azerbaijani authorities said on Wednesday. Armenian troops stationed in the Basarkechar and Shamshaddin regions used “small arms…

Russia calls security talks with US ‘difficult’ but ‘professional’

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 11, 2022

MOSCOW Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov called Russian-US talks held Monday in Geneva on security guarantees "difficult, deep, professional and concrete," with the two sides not trying to soften or circumvent thorny issues.…

Prospects dim as US, Russia prepare to meet over Ukraine

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 10, 2022

WASHINGTON With the fate of Ukraine and potentially broader post-Cold War European stability at stake, the United States and Russia are holding critical strategic talks that could shape the future of not only their relationship but the…

Nine black American climbers attempt to scale Mount Everest

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 6, 2022

A team of nine black climbers is attempting to scale Mount Everest to tackle the mountain's 'intentional lack of access for black people' and mountaineering's 'colonial history'. The Full Circle Everest Expedition, which climbing leader…

New cold war and Taliban takeover among key geostrategic developments of 2021

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 26, 2021

Iftikhar Gilani The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the military coup in Myanmar, and a new cold war, with the countries once again withdrawing into blocks, were among the major developments witnessed in 2021. As curtains are about…

Himalayan glaciers melting at ‘exceptional rate’ due to global warming

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 21, 2021

Glaciers in the Himalayas are melting at an "exceptional" rate because of global warming, threatening the water supply of millions of people in Asia, according to a study published on Monday. The researchers found that the Himalayan…

Myanmar junta court postpones Suu Kyi verdict

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 21, 2021

YANGON A Myanmar junta court on Monday postponed giving its verdict in Aung San Suu Kyi’s trial for illegally importing and possessing walkie talkies, a source with knowledge of the case said. The Nobel laureate has been detained…

China-Nepal freight train service launched, links Qinghai, Kathmandu

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 19, 2021

The China-South Asia freight train service linking Haidong, Northwest China's Qinghai Province and Nepal has been launched, beefing up the country's ever-expanding rail freight network, which has made the China-Europe freight train service…

Bangladeshi women migrants working abroad face discrimination

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 18, 2021

DHAKA Tens of thousands of female Bangladeshi migrants across the world, especially in the Middle East, are facing deprivation, despite their activeness in boosting their host countries' economy. According to the records of the South…

Europeans reimpose restrictions as omicron sweeps continent

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 18, 2021

LONDON Nations across Europe are moving to reimpose tougher measures to stem a new wave of COVID-19 infections spurred by the highly transmissible omicron variant, triggering calls for protests from Paris to Barcelona. As case numbers…

Iran nuke talks adjourn, Europeans say pause disappointing

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 17, 2021

VIENNA Talks aimed at salvaging Iran’s tattered 2015 nuclear deal with world powers adjourned Friday to allow the Iranian negotiator to return home for consultations after a round marked by tensions over new demands from Tehran.…

Climate disasters affect 57 million in Asia-Pacific as risks

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 17, 2021

57 million people in Asia and the Pacific have been severely affected by climate-related disasters this year, adding to the misery of many suffering from the Covid-19 pandemic, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent…

First batch of Saudi humanitarian aid delivered to Afghanistan

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 17, 2021

RIYADH Saudi Arabia has delivered its shipment of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, the state media reported on Thursday. The Saudi airlift organised by King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center consisted of six planes with 197…

Russian, Chinese presidents discuss bilateral ties

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 16, 2021

MOSCOW Bilateral relations between Russia and China is “a shining example of interstate cooperation in the 21st century”, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday. Putin was speaking at a video conference with his Chinese…

German court hands life term to Russian over ‘contract killing’

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 15, 2021

BERLIN A German court on Wednesday sentenced a Russian man to life in prison for shooting dead a former Chechen commander in a Berlin park in broad daylight, a murder prosecutors say was ordered by Moscow. Judges in Berlin found the…

No place for Daesh/ISIS in Afghanistan: Taliban

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 9, 2021

KABUL, Afghanistan The Afghan interim government has arrested over 670 militants of Daesh/ISIS, also known as the Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP or ISIS-K), during the last three months, the Taliban spokesman said, adding that…

Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan ally to tap economic potential

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 8, 2021

Zaki Shaikh Two Central Asian nations, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have decided to take their relations to the next level upgrading them from interstate relations to forging an alliance dictated by a mutual desire for closer international…

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi convicted in further blow to democracy

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 6, 2021

Aung San Suu Kyi, the civilian leader of Myanmar who was ousted in a de facto coup this year, was convicted of incitement and another charge Monday and sentenced to four years in prison — in a trial widely criticized as a further effort by…

What is a quantum computer?

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 5, 2021

Quantum computers are machines that use the properties of quantum physics to store data and perform computations. This can be extremely advantageous for certain tasks where they could vastly outperform even our best supercomputers.…

Biden, Putin to talk next week as tensions grow over Ukraine

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 4, 2021

MOSCOW President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin will speak in a video call Tuesday as tensions between the U.S. and Russia escalate over a Russian troop buildup on the Ukrainian border seen as a sign of a potential…

Nepal imposes ban on entry from 9 countries, amid ‘Omicron’ scare

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 3, 2021

KATHMANDU In a wake of global fear of new coronavirus variant Omicron, Nepal has decided to put a ban on nine countries including Hong Kong. A meeting of the council of ministers has decided to ban entry of passengers arriving from…

UN says it is ‘deeply concerned’ by India’s arrest of Kashmiri rights defender

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 2, 2021

Indian authorities have arrested Khurram Parvez, a key human rights defender in Jammu and Kashmir, the troubled Himalayan territory where a crackdown on dissidents has resulted in a spike in rights violations and a surge in violence.…

South Africa being punished with travel ban for detecting new variants quicker: President

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 2, 2021

JOHANNESURG South Africa’s president said Wednesday that the latest round of COVID-19-related travel bans is akin to punishing the country for its advanced genomic sequencing and ability to detect new variants quicker. “Excellent…

Earth’s Ancient Mountains Rose Up With Help From The ocean life

THE ASIA LIVE Nov 30, 2021

Without an explosion in ocean life more than 2 billion years ago, many of Earth's mountains might never have formed, according to new research. When tiny organisms in the shallows of the sea, like plankton, die and sink to the bottom,…

What we know and don’t know on new COVID variant

THE ASIA LIVE Nov 29, 2021

LONDON South African scientists identified a new version of the coronavirus that they say is behind a recent spike in COVID-19 infections in Gauteng, the country’s most populous province. It’s unclear where the new variant first…

Myanmar junta warns citizens against purchase of bonds issued by democratic forces

THE ASIA LIVE Nov 28, 2021

Naypyidaw, Myanmar Myanmar junta on Friday threatened to arrest people who will 'invest' in bonds offered by the supporters of democratic forces in the country. This came after the National Unity Government (NUG), an alliance of…

Drug trafficking in opiates, meth from Afghanistan poses serious threat

THE ASIA LIVE Nov 27, 2021

NEW DELHI Underlining the serious threat posed by drug trafficking from Afghanistan, the foreign ministers of Russia, India and China (RIC) have noted concerns regarding the dramatic change in the situation in the troubled country and…

Russia, India, China note concerns over Afghanistan situation, call for immediate, unhindered…

THE ASIA LIVE Nov 26, 2021

NEW DELHI Russia, India and China on Friday noted concerns regarding the dramatic change in the situation in Afghanistan and reaffirmed the importance of ensuring that the territory of Afghanistan should not be used to threaten or attack…

A silent killer is choking India’s capital

THE ASIA LIVE Nov 24, 2021

NEW DELHI Gulpreet Singh begs for food from a dirty hemp mat spread on the sidewalk outside Delhi's South Campus metro station. Like millions of Indians who survive on handouts or daily wages, the 84-year-old says he has no choice but…

Old Beliefs About Rampant Infant Deaths in Prehistoric

THE ASIA LIVE Nov 24, 2021

The rate of childhood death in prehistoric times was not nearly as dire as we've been led to believe, according to new research. It's often reported that nearly 40 percent of all prehistoric babies died within the first year of their…

250 Million Years Ago Seems to Have Had Multiple Causes

THE ASIA LIVE Nov 22, 2021

The end-Permian mass extinction (EPME) was quite the mass extinction event, wiping out 80-90 percent of land and sea species – and researchers have now identified a new contributing factor to this period of devastation. More informally…

Key aid group says Afghanistan’s most pressing need is cash

THE ASIA LIVE Nov 19, 2021

Afghanistan is facing a looming humanitarian crisis as aid organizations struggle with ways to pay doctors, nurses and others on the ground because there is currently no way to transfer salaries to bank accounts there, the head of the…

India’s Modi to repeal controversial farm laws

THE ASIA LIVE Nov 19, 2021

NEW DELHI Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday (Nov 19) he had decided to repeal three controversial farm laws against which farmers have protested for more than a year. "Today I have come to tell you, the whole country,…

Delhi air quality ‘very poor’ category, AQI at 332

THE ASIA LIVE Nov 19, 2021

New Delhi Delhi's air quality continues to remain in the 'very poor' category for the sixth consecutive day on Friday, according to the System of Air Quality & Weather Forecasting & Research (SAFAR). However, the overall Air…

U.S. asks Japan, China, others to consider tapping oil reserves

THE ASIA LIVE Nov 18, 2021

WASHINGTON The Biden administration has asked some of the world's largest oil consuming nations - including China, India and Japan - to consider releasing crude stockpiles in a coordinated effort to lower global energy prices, according…

US-China clash is not possible without destroying humanity

THE ASIA LIVE Nov 17, 2021

The United States and China view each other as technological and economic competitors, both sides must realise that a victor is not possible without risking the destruction of humanity. They must move away from this posture towards…

Three Ukrainian climbers First Ascent on Annapurna III

THE ASIA LIVE Nov 16, 2021

On November 6, 2021 three Ukrainian climbers—Nikita Balabanov, Mikhail Fomin, and Viacheslav Polezhaiko—made the first ascent of the coveted southeast ridge on Annapurna III. The 24,787-foot peak is nestled in Nepal’s Himalaya, and its…

Avalanche In Mustang : More than 150 mountain cows have disappeared

THE ASIA LIVE Nov 14, 2021

Beni, Nepal More than 150 mountain cows have disappeared in the torrential slide at Tukuche mountain in Thasang Rural Municipality of Mustang region. Netra Prasad Adhikari, chief district officer of Mustang,, said that the snow slide…

Biden, China’s Xi expected to meet basically on Monday

THE ASIA LIVE Nov 12, 2021

WASHINGTON US President Joe Biden and Chinese pioneer Xi Jinping were relied upon to hold a virtual highest point on Monday, sources told, in the midst of strains over an exchange, basic freedoms, and military exercises. Washington…

Taliban set up military tribunal to enforce Shariah law in Afghanistan

THE ASIA LIVE Nov 10, 2021

The interim Taliban administration announced on Wednesday the establishment of a military tribunal to enforce Islamic law in Afghanistan. The tribunal has been formed on the command of supreme leader Hebatullah Akhundzada to enforce…

Investors bet massive on climate fight however motives questioned

THE ASIA LIVE Nov 3, 2021

GLASGOW, Scotland Governments and large investors introduced fresh steps Wednesday to pour trillions of dollars into curbing world warming, reflecting the economic world’s developing embody of efforts to battle climate change as each a…

Life at 50 Degree Celsius

THE ASIA LIVE Nov 1, 2021

The climate disaster is no longer a future concern. In many components of the world, it has already begun. Millions of humans are living with excessive temperatures, dealing with a developing danger of flooding or wildfires. Here, 5…

Why climate progress is difficult

THE ASIA LIVE Nov 1, 2021

This weekend, world leaders will open the COP26 climate summit, the UN's annual climate alternate conference, in Glasgow. Some insist this event is crucial to the multinational battle to restrict the effects of climate change; others…

Australia lifts international journey ban

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 27, 2021

Australia will raise a ban on citizens traveling overseas without permission, the authorities announced Wednesday, with the country's border set to open to skilled workers and international students by the year's end. More than 18 months…

Sudan Military coup generals decided not to lose long-held power

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 26, 2021

Khartoum On Monday protection forces detained civilian leaders, such as Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who have shared power with the army following the ouster of the autocratic president Field Marshal Omar al-Bashir extra than two years…

UN World Food Programme warns of acute hunger in afghanistan

jose kalathil Oct 25, 2021

NEW DELHI Afghanistan – a record 22.8 million people - will face acute food insecurity from November, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report issued simultaneously in Rome and Kabul on Monday by…

Myanmar Monk’s reappearance brings solace in coup-hit

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 25, 2021

Sagaing (Myanmar) Now each morning, crowds of pilgrims line his path, hoping for a glimpse of the monk who has become an unwitting embodiment of hope and solace for thousands in the coup-wracked country. Myanmar has endured eight…

Uzbekistan holds polls with reformist strongman

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 24, 2021

Tashkent Mirziyoyev has been credited for launching what he calls a "New Uzbekistan", ending a decades-old system of forced labour and introducing constrained media freedom. He came to power in 2016 after the death of his mentor,…

Call for urgent global action against marine litter and plastic pollution

jose kalathil Oct 23, 2021

NEW DELHI A drastic reduction in unnecessary, avoidable and problematic plastic is crucial to addressing the global pollution crisis, according to a comprehensive assessment released on Friday by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), in…

Goodbye, Columbus

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 22, 2021

Long before Columbus crossed the Atlantic, eight timber-framed buildings included in sod stood on a terrace above a peat bog and move at the northern tip of Canada's island of Newfoundland, evidence that the Vikings had reached the New…

US bans Malaysian firm’s gloves over forced labour

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 21, 2021

The United States has barred imports from a Malaysian latex glove maker over alleged labour abuses, the latest firm from the country to face such a ban. The relatively affluent Southeast Asian nation is home to millions of migrant…

Bangladesh Hindu houses, temples, shops destroyed however no action: Taslima Nasreen

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 20, 2021

Bangladeshi-Swedish creator Taslima Nasreen over the ongoing violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. Taslima Nasreen said Hindu houses, temples, shops have been destroyed in Bangladesh, however, nobody has been brought to justice because PM…

Israel approves West Bank residency for 4,000 undocumented Palestinians

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 19, 2021

JERUSALEM Israel announced today that it approved registration as West Bank residents for some 4,000 Palestinians who have been living for years in the Israeli-occupied territory without official status. The decision affects 2,800…

Myanmar to free 5,000 jailed for anti-coup protests – junta chief

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 18, 2021

YANGON Myanmar will release more than 5,000 people jailed for protesting against the February coup which ousted the civilian government, the country's junta chief said Monday. A total of 5,636 prisoners will be freed to mark the…

China’s economic growth weakens amid construction slowdown

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 18, 2021

BEIJING China’s economic growth sank in the latest quarter as a slowdown in construction and curbs on energy use weighed on its recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. The world’s second-largest economy grew by 4.9% over a year ago in…

‘Why can’t we study?’ – Afghan girls still barred from school

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 17, 2021

KABUL Afghan teenager Amena saw dozens of classmates killed when her girls' school was targeted by an Islamic State bomb attack in May, but she was determined to continue her education. Now, like most secondary school girls in the…

Muslims, Hindus protest amid communal violence in Bangladesh

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 17, 2021

DHAKA Protests erupted for a second day in Bangladesh’s capital on Saturday, amid a wave of violence against local Hindus following a viral social media image perceived as insulting to the country’s Muslim majority. Some 10,000…

ASEAN excludes Myanmar junta from summit in rare move

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 16, 2021

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN Southeast Asian nations will invite a non-political representative from Myanmar to a regional summit this month, turning in an unprecedented snub to the military chief who led a coup against an elected civilian…

US calls Cambodia opaque over Chinese activity at navy base

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 13, 2021

PHNOM PENH The United States today accused Cambodia of lacking transparency about Chinese construction activities at its biggest naval base, and urged the government to disclose to its people the full scope of Beijing’s military…

134 Yemen rebels dead in latest Marib-areas strikes

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 12, 2021

RIYADH More than 130 Yemen rebels have been killed in air strikes south of Marib, the Saudi-led coalition said on Tuesday, but the insurgents seized a district 25 kilometres (16 miles) south of the strategic city, acccording to military…

Sydney ends lockdown after 4 months

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 11, 2021

SYDNEY Sydneysiders defied grey skies and drizzle to celebrate the end of almost 4 months of lockdown on Monday, hoping to put behind them a period of "blood, sweat and no beers" in Australia's biggest city. Sydney's more than five…

India, China discuss military standoff resolution during 13th round

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 10, 2021

NEW DELHI The 13th round of Corps Commander level talks between India and China have concluded after more than eight hours of discussion between both sides, Army sources informed. The discussion had begun in the Moldo on the Chinese…

“More We Achieve…”: Taiwan After Xi’s “Reunification” Remark

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 10, 2021

TAIPEI Taiwan will not bow to pressure by Beijing and will defend its democratic way of life, President Tsai Ing-wen said Sunday, following a spike in incursions by Chinese warplanes into its air defence zone. Self-governed Taiwan's…

How China flights near Taiwan inflame tensions

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 9, 2021

A recent spate of Chinese military flights off southwestern Taiwan has prompted alarm from the island, which Beijing claims as its own, and is increasing tensions in a region already on edge. The flights are one piece of a complex puzzle…

India, China to address military stand-off, hold 13th round of talks tomorrow

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 9, 2021

NEW DELHI India and China are set to hold on October 10, the 13th round of talks to address the ongoing military stand-off between the two Asian countries, according to Army sources. The sources also divulged that the talks will be…

Taliban destroyed Bamiyan Buddhas

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 8, 2021

BAMIYAN Taliban gunmen now stand guard at the gaping rock cavities that once housed two ancient statues of the Buddha — desecrated with dynamite by the Islamists during their last stint in power. The monuments in Bamiyan province had…

India, Nepal hold 5th Joint Working Group meeting on cross border railway links

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 8, 2021

NEW DELHI India and Nepal held the 5th Joint Working Group (JWG) and the seventh Project Steering Committee (PSC) meetings from 6-7 October 2021 in New Delhi, to review the implementation of ongoing cross-border railway links and overall…

French ambassador says Australia ‘childish’ to keep US subs pact secret

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 8, 2021

CANBERRA Australia’s assertion that it could not inform France of its top-secret talks with the United States and Britain to build nuclear submarines is “childish”, the French envoy to Canberra said today. Australia walked away from a…

UN expert calls for North Korea sanctions to be eased as starvation risk looms

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 7, 2021

GENEVA North Korea’s most vulnerable risk starvation after it slipped deeper into isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic and UN sanctions imposed for its nuclear and missile programmes should be eased, a UN rights investigator said in…

Death toll rises to 356 earthquake in Balochistan Pakistan

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 7, 2021

Quetta, Pakistan A strong earthquake in different parts of Balochistan has killed at least 356 people and injured more than 300,000 others Thursday morning. Aftershocks are still being felt in extraordinary areas. The earliest tremors…

Asean in talks on barring Myanmar junta chief from summit

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 6, 2021

Southeast Asian nations are discussing whether to exclude Myanmar's junta chief from a summit due to slow progress on a plan to address turmoil after a coup in the country earlier this year, a top diplomat said Wednesday. The Association…

Fumio Kishida starts work

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 6, 2021

TOKYO Fumio Kishida got to work as Japan's prime minister on Tuesday, holding talks with foreign leaders, a day after taking office and forming a Cabinet to meet challenges including reviving an economy battered by COVID-19. "I have a…

US envoy Sullivan to meet China’s top diplomat Yang amid Taiwan tensions

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 6, 2021

BEIJING US President Joe Biden’s national security adviser will hold talks with China’s top diplomat in Switzerland today and tomorrow, the South China Morning Post said, at a time of rising tension over several issues including Taiwan.…

Indian Air Force to have 35 squadrons of fighter jets next decade

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 5, 2021

NEW DELHI The Indian Air Force is unlikely to acquire its sanctioned strength of 42 fighter squadrons with the aid of the next decade even if all the deliberate acquisitions happen on time, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal V R…

US journalist held in Myanmar hit with second charge

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 5, 2021

YANGON An American journalist imprisoned via Myanmar's junta since May has been hit with a second criminal charge, his lawyer told today. Danny Fenster, the managing editor of Frontier Myanmar, used to be detained at Yangon…

Afghanistan’s health system at breaking point

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 4, 2021

KABUL At an overcrowded hospital in Afghanistan, the few remaining doctors and nurses try urgently to treat skeletal babies and malnourished children packed side by side on beds. The country's healthcare system is on the verge of…

Workers flee Vietnam as long lockdown eases

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 4, 2021

HANOI Tens of hundreds of people, usually migrant workers, left Ho Chi Minh City over the weekend as the largest city in Vietnam eased a months-long Covid-19 lockdown, triggering fears of labour shortages and extra disruption to…

US called on China to halt its “provocative” pressure on Taiwan

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 4, 2021

WASHINGTON The US called on China to halt its "provocative" pressure on Taiwan after a report number of each day incursions via Chinese warplanes, saying the military moves are destabilising and risk leading to "miscalculations". "The…

India, US reaffirm commitment to free, open Indo-Pacific

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 3, 2021

Washington US Defence Secretary Lloyd J Austin on Sunday that it was once an honour to meet India's Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat during his recent US visit, throughout which they reaffirmed India-US enduring dedication to a…

India matching Chinese troop build-up on disputed border

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 3, 2021

NEW DELHI The Indian army chief has said China is sending troops to their disputed border in “considerable numbers”, prompting a matching deployment with the aid of New Delhi in a development he called a “concern”. Tensions have been…

Thousands march for abortion rights in US

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 3, 2021

WASHINGTON Wearing pink hats and T-shirts and shouting "Hands off my body," tens of thousands of females took to the streets across the United States on Saturday in nationwide protests aimed at countering a conservative drive to restrict…

India all set to rise re-engage diplomatic and economic with Sri Lanka

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 2, 2021

New Delhi After a lean phase, India and Sri Lanka are set to re-engage at diplomatic and political levels amidst the massive economic disaster and the extreme COVID-19 wave that has gripped the island country. Foreign Secretary Harsh…

EU, Australia trade talks postponed amid subs row

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 1, 2021

SYDNEY A long-planned round of Australia-EU free trade talks have been postponed, a European official confirmed today, after fury over Canberra’s decision to cancel a major French submarine contract. “The FTA trade round has been…

Children Born Today Life full of Natural Disasters

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 1, 2021

Younger generations are getting to grow up during a very different world to that of their parents – and through no fault of their own. Compared to babies born in 1960, a series of new models suggest children born after 2010 will…

French ex-president Sarkozy given second jail term

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 30, 2021

PARIS A French court on Thursday handed former president Nicolas Sarkozy a one-year prison sentence for illegal financing of his 2012 re-election bid, dealing a fresh blow to the right-winger seven months after he received a jail term…

100 Chinese Troops Crossed Over Into Uttarakhand In August

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 30, 2021

New Delhi The de facto border between India and China remains contentious in several regions beyond Ladakh, details are emerging about the latest incursion by Chinese forces, this time in Uttarakhand's Barahoti region, North of the Nanda…

US, Singapore ‘deeply concerned’ for Myanmar

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 30, 2021

WASHINGTON Singapore and therefore the united states are "deeply concerned and anxious" about the plight of the people of Myanmar, Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan said on Wednesday. The people of Myanmar…

Afghan central bank drained dollar stockpile before Kabul fell: document

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 29, 2021

The Afghan central bank ran down most of its U.S. dollar cash reserves within the weeks before the Taliban took control of the country, according to an assessment prepared for Afghanistan's international donors, exacerbating the current…

China’s Belt and Road plans losing momentum as opposition debt mount, study shows

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 29, 2021

SHANGHAI China's vast Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is at risk of losing momentum as opposition in targeted countries rises and debts mount, paving the way for rival schemes to squeeze Beijing out, a new study showed on Wednesday (Sept…

Japan’s next PM Fumio Kishida after winning ruling party LDP election

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 29, 2021

TOKYO Japan’s former foreign minister Fumio Kishida is about to be sworn in as Mr. Yoshihide Suga’s successor as Prime Minister after he won the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s internal election on Wednesday (Sept 29). The Diet will…

Afghan’s Peace and Stability for Pan-Himalayas Region

bidhur dhakal Sep 28, 2021

Seven weeks after the Taliban took control over Kabul and, three weeks after the announcement of the new caretaker government by the Taliban; the world’s powers are yet to recognize the ‘Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan who is also the…

AirAsia X reports record quarterly loss of $5.9bn

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 27, 2021

KUALA LUMPUR Malaysia's AirAsia X Bhd on Monday posted a record quarterly loss of $5.9 billion, eight times more than a year ago, as a multi-billion-dollar provision to cover debts drove operating costs higher. It was the ninth loss…

Thai Border Force Arrested 11 Myanmar nationals for border-crossers illegal

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 25, 2021

KANCHANABURI, Thailand Thailand border force Saturday arrested 11 Myanmar nationals for illegal entry, including two women who had spent two nights lost during a forest after getting separated from a larger group that was caught on…

Quad coordinate diplomatic, economic, human-rights policies towards Afghanistan

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 25, 2021

Washington The first-ever in-person Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) Summit, leaders of the Quad nations during a joint statement said they're going to closely coordinate diplomatic, economic, and human-rights policies towards…

Biden hosts Australian, Indian, Japanese leaders for Quad summit

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 24, 2021

Washington President Joe Biden on Friday deepens his bid to cement US leadership of the Indo-Pacific against a rising China with the first in-person summit of the regional Quad group. Meeting within the White House, Biden and…

Kamala Harris ‘suo moto’ refers to Pakistan’s role in terrorism during meeting…

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 24, 2021

Washington US vice president Kamala Harris has 'suo moto', referred to Pakistan's role in terrorism, and asked the country to prevent supporting terror groups during the first-ever meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi,…

Tensions grow as US, allies deepen Indo-Pacific involvement

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 23, 2021

BANGKOK With increasingly strong talk in support of Taiwan, a new deal to supply Australia with nuclear submarines, and the launch of a European strategy for greater engagement in the Indo-Pacific, the U.S. and its allies are becoming…

Thousands Haitian migrants at US border keep hoping

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 23, 2021

Del Rio, Texas A pale yellow building next to a dusty football field within the border town of Del Rio in Texas represents hope for migrants eager to come to the US. those that have made it here have crossed the river and therefore the…

India- Myanmar border sees exodus as thousands flee fighting

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 22, 2021

Myanmar towns near the Indian border have fled after buildings were set aflame by artillery amid fighting between militia forces opposition military rule and also the army, according to residents and media reports. About 10,000 people…

Chinese hack targets Indian media, says Report

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 22, 2021

A U.S.-based private cybersecurity company said Wednesday it's uncovered evidence that an Indian media conglomerate, also as a police department and also the agency responsible for the country’s national identification database are hacked,…

South Korean President talks North Korea’s nuclear activities

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 22, 2021

UNITED NATIONS South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday (Sept 21) addressed the UN General Assembly and repeated a call for a declaration to formally end the 1950-1953 Korean War. “I once more urge the community of countries to…

Karnataka’s children are not healthy-over million ill, malnourished

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 21, 2021

BENGALURU Karnataka’s children need attention. Experts are worried over data thrown up by the Arogya Nandana campaign to screen the state’s children to trace their health. In 20 days of survey, of 53,82,106 children aged 0-18,…

Suu Kyi goes on trial for incitement, pleads not guilty

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 21, 2021

YANGON Myanmar's junta has put ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi unproved for incitement, her lawyer said on Tuesday (Sept 21), the latest during a list of charges that could see her jailed for decades. Ms. Suu Kyi and her National…

Wildlife traffickers creeping back as pandemic restrictions ease

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 21, 2021

SINGAPORE After a drastic reduction in wildlife trafficking during the pandemic, authorities in Southeast Asia must act swiftly to prevent smugglers from getting back in business once border controls are relaxed, consistent with a…

5 things Biden heads to the UN

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 21, 2021

President Biden will address the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday for the primary time as president as world leaders take in new York City in the week . The meeting comes as Biden faces outrage from France over a replacement…

France upset about a new security pact between US, UK, and Australia

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 20, 2021

France isn’t the only country upset about a new security pact between the US, UK, and Australia: Some Southeast Asian nations also are worried the partnership could provoke China and spur a regional race. The so-called AUKUS partnership,…

Australia had ‘deep and grave concerns’ over French submarines: Prime Minister Scott Morrison

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 19, 2021

MELBOURNE Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Sunday (Sept 19) that the French government would have known Canberra had “deep and grave concerns” about French submarines before the deal was torn up last week. France is…

Thousands homeless as Taliban eject Afghans

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 18, 2021

Kandahar, Afghanistan Ikramullah was at work on a car wash in Kandahar city on Saturday when he got an urgent call from his family. The 28-year-old rushed home to search out a group of armed Taliban fighters who had found his house,…

Cases of dengue higher started rising in Delhi

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 17, 2021

NEW DELHI Cases of dengue have started rising in Delhi. So far, the capital has recorded 158 cases as against 131 recorded in 2020 till this point of the year. within the second week of September alone, 34 dengue patients were found.…

South Asia’s winter smog, threat to ozone

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 16, 2021

LAHORE, Pakistan Although the worldwide phaseout of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) has helped protect the ozone layer, South Asia’s extreme smog, which is worsening each winter, is appearing to be the newest challenge to the ozone shield.…

Many Youngsters ‘frightened’ by climate change, survey shows

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 15, 2021

Three-quarters of young people surveyed in 10 countries have admitted to being "frightened" about their future due to global climate change. Over 45 percent said their feelings, including thoughts of distress or anxiety, spilled over and…

Malaysian govt under attack against ruling permitting mums to expire their citizenship to kids

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 15, 2021

KUALA LUMPUR The Malaysian government is being criticized by civil society organizations and one among its own Cabinet members for deciding to appeal against a landmark court ruling that equalized the rights of Malaysian mothers and…

With Taliban’s rise, India sees renewed threat in Kashmir

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 14, 2021

SRINAGAR, India India’s leaders are anxiously watching the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, fearing that it will benefit their bitter rival Pakistan and feed a long-simmering insurgency in the disputed region of Kashmir, where militants…

Taliban now in charge in a Kabul prison

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 14, 2021

KABUL Once, Kabul’s main prison was crowded with thousands of Taliban captured and arrested by the govt. On Monday, a Taliban commander strolled through its empty halls and cell blocks, showing his friends where he had once been…

Climate change could see 200 million move by 2050

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 13, 2021

BARCELONA, Spain Climate change could push quite 200 million people to go away their homes within the next three decades and build migration hot spots unless urgent action is taken to scale back global emissions and bridge the…

The complexities of 5G development in Asia

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 13, 2021

If robotics and cellular communications seem, strange bedfellows, it’s because the fifth generation of wireless, 5G development in Asia, is that the first to wirelessly address the necessity of such applications instead of just increasing…

South-east Asia economies on the brink

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 13, 2021

HANOI Even as they struggle with one among the world's worst Covid-19 outbreaks, nations across Southeast Asia are slowly realizing that they will not afford the economy-crippling restrictions needed to squash it. On the factory…

Zanzibar butterflies Isolated forest, support incomes

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 12, 2021

UNGUJA, Tanzania As a part of a push to conserve the natural environment within the Zanzibar archipelago, a Tanzanian charity has teamed up with farmers to rear butterflies under a scheme striving to offer residents a financial stake to…

India, Bangladesh coordination leaves hilsa fish in lurch

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 12, 2021

DHAKA, Bangladesh Bangladesh observes a 65-day-long ban to catch hilsa fish to permit its breeding, the continual fishing from the Indian side leaves this ban irrelevant, say experts. Hilsa is valued fish for the Bengali population…

US pulls missile defences in Saudi Arabia amid Yemen attacks

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 11, 2021

DUBAI Us has removed its most advanced missile defense system and Patriot batteries from Saudi Arabia in recent weeks, whilst the kingdom faced continued air attacks from Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The redeployment of the defenses from…

U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry will visit India on Sept. 12

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 11, 2021

Washington U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry will visit India from Sept. 12-14 “to discuss efforts to boost global climate ambition and speed India’s clean energy transition,” the State Department said on Friday.…

Singapore 500 migrant workers to be allowed into community

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 10, 2021

SINGAPORE A pilot program allowing migrant workers in dormitories to travel back to the community is about to start next week - nine months after the scheme was announced in December last year and quite 16 months after movement curbs…

People begin returning home in Syria’s Daraa after rebels’ evacuation

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 10, 2021

DAMASCUS Thousands of people commenced returning to their houses in Syria's southern province of Daraa on Thursday following the military's access to the previously rebel-held regions, state news agency SANA reported. The military…

150 Americans expected to fly out of Kabul

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 9, 2021

KABUL Two Qatari officials say they expect 100 to 150 Americans to fly out from Kabul’s airport in the coming hours. If confirmed, this would mark the first large-scale evacuation of Americans from Afghanistan since the last U.S.…

water crisis disastrous for Pakistan’s stability

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 9, 2021

Islamabad Pakistan is in the middle of a major water crisis and it may be disastrous for the country's stability. The water crisis has set off a series of protests and may hurt Pakistan's ailing economy as well as going to increase feuds…

Taliban money trail: How funding continued over 20 years

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 9, 2021

Kabul The blitzkrieg of the Taliban in Afghanistan is an issue of debate among experts. Apart from determination, a military conquest is also a battle of resources, so where did the Taliban get the funds to conduct their blitz through…

India, EU strategic convergence reflects ‘our positions’ on Afghanistan: Jaishankar

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 8, 2021

New Delhi External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that the strategic convergence between India and the European Union (EU) is reflected in "our positions" on key regional and global issues, including on Afghanistan and the…

Australian ministers will embark on joint visits to Indonesia, India, South Korea, US

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 8, 2021

Canberra, Australia Australia's Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Defence Minister Peter Dutton will be visiting Indonesia, India, South Korea, and the United States, Australia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. This…

Key players in the Taliban’s new government

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 8, 2021

KABUL Taliban on Tuesday announced prominent posts for their new government after they seized control of the country and ousted the previous regime last month. Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, who is on a UN sanctions list, was named as…

Intensive conflicts continue between resistance forces, Taliban in Panjshir

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 7, 2021

Intensive fighting continues in Afghanistan's northern Panjshir Province which didn't yield the Taliban radical development that held seized power in the country, a source near the National Resistance Front in the area told in the early…

Best Places for Trekking in Kashmir

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 6, 2021

Are you planning a trekking holiday in Kashmir in 2022? Well, first of all, congratulate yourself for making such a right decision. After all, nothing can compare to the experience of trekking amidst the astounding beauty of the…

EU lawmakers back Lithuania amid tensions with China

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 6, 2021

Brussels Members from the European Parliament expanded support for Lithuania on Friday after its decision to enhance ties with Taiwan despite threats from China, reported Focus Taiwan. More than 60 members from the European Parliament…

Around 1,000 people, including dozens of American citizens and Afghans waiting for departure

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 6, 2021

New York The Taliban are forestalling around 1000 people including many American citizens and Afghans holding visas to the US or different nations, from leaving Afghanistan, US media reports said on Sunday. Numerous planes are waiting…

Afghan refugees displaced kept in miserable conditions at US offices in Qatar

THE ASIA LIVE Aug 24, 2021

Staff at the US embassy in Kabul have dispatched a scorching assault over the treatment of Afghan refugees at American-run offices in Qatar, according to a State Department diplomatic cable obtained As indicated by the cable, staff…

Vultures At Risk; We Need to Save Them

THE ASIA LIVE Aug 22, 2021

Vultures. Animation characters in dried deserts regularly wish them to vanish, since revolving around vultures are a cliché harbinger of death. Actually, vultures in certain pieces of the world are at risk for vanishing. Also, as per late…

Biden focuses on evacuating Americans, Afghan partners

THE ASIA LIVE Aug 21, 2021

President Biden on Friday said his organization was thinking about "each chance and each signify" to get Americans and Afghan partners through Taliban designated spots and into the Kabul air terminal. Biden said Taliban aggressors are…