Trump to deliver more weapons to Taiwan Waltz

The president-elect will give the island all the defense systems it has paid for, the incoming national security adviser has said

Indian Army trains Kyrgyzstan Armed Forces for UN Peacekeeping

As a part of India’s commitment towards strengthening international partnerships for peacekeeping, the Centre for UN Peacekeeping in New Delhi conducted an online training capsule for the Kyrgyzstan Armed Forces on January 15 and 16.

Man detained over knife attack on Bollywood actor

Police in the Indian city of Mumbai have detained a man in connection with the knife attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, according to media reports.

More than half a million ‘TikTok refugees’ flock to China’s RedNote as ban looms

New users have piled in to the Chinese social media app RedNote just days before a proposed US ban on the popular social media app TikTok, as the lesser-known company rushes to capitalize on the sudden influx while walking a delicate line of moderating English-language content.

Biden announces steps to protect vehicle supply chains from China, Russia

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday unveiled measures aimed at protecting the United States from national security risks linked to the exploitation of its connected vehicle supply chains by China and Russia.

’’Stabbed in spine, wound on neck, hand’’: Saif Ali Khan is ‘out of danger’

Saif Ali Khan, 54, is “out of danger” as he continues to recover following treatment at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai after being injured in a scuffle with an intruder at his Bandra residence late Wednesday night.

Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan ’stabbed 6 times’ by intruder at his home

Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan suffered stab injuries after an unknown person intruded into his 11th floor flat in Bandra (West) suspected to commit burglary on Thursday. Bandra police said the unknown person fled away after attacking Khan when he woke up and had a scuffle with the intruder.

South Korea’s Yoon asks court to review legitimacy of his arrest

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has asked a Seoul court to review his detention as he faced renewed questioning by investigators on Jan 16 over his failed martial law declaration.

Italian prisons told to create ‘love rooms’ for sex

Italian prisons must allow inmates to make love to visiting partners, the country’s top court ruled.

Gaza ceasefire deal reached by Israel and Hamas

Israel and Hamas have agreed a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal following 15 months of war, mediators Qatar and the US say.

China’s strategic influence in Bangladesh: Soft power with political intent

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been strategically leveraging its soft power to influence Bangladesh, seeking to shape the country’s political landscape and public opinion in its favor.

Sri Lanka’s China dilemma: Strategic partnerships and the risk of overdependence

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is on a four-day visit to China from 14 to 17 January 2025. During his visit, he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other high-ranking officials to discuss bilateral ties and cooperation.

India sends second tranche of food grain assistance to Lesotho

India sent a humanitarian assistance consignment to the southern African nation of Lesotho comprising 1000 metric tonnes of sorghum (jowar) to help in addressing the food security issues in the country.

Taiwan’s NSB releases report on infiltration tactics used by China

Taiwan’s National Security Bureau (NSB) has released an analysis of China’s infiltration tactics, underscoring Beijing’s attempts to recruit active service members by using military veterans, Taiwan News reported.

Winter sports boom in China: a trillion yuan market in the making

At the National Alpine Skiing Center of China, ski instructor Xin Dawei is welcoming the busiest snow season in his 9-year career.

South Korea’s President Yoon arrested

South Korean investigators have arrested South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol over accusations of insurrection for briefly imposing martial law in a move swiftly overturned by the country’s National Assembly.

China’s foreign trade reaches record high

The total value of China’s foreign trade reached a record high of 43.85 trillion yuan in 2024, marking a 5 percent year-on-year growth, according to statistics from the General Administration of Customs of China.

Japan issues Tsunami advisory after 6.6 magnitude earthquake

Japan’s Meteorological Agency has issued a tsunami advisory after a 6.9 magnitude earthquake occurred off the coast of southwest Japan.

LA fires death toll rises to 24 as high winds expected

Weather forecasters in California are warning fierce winds which fuelled the infernos around Los Angeles are expected to pick up again this week, as fire crews on the ground race to make progress controlling three wildfires.

China’s cram school giant TAL steps up U.S. push amid crackdown at home

The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments over the fate of TikTok on Friday, questioning TikTok’s lawyer far longer than the attorney for the government.

India’s state-owned HSL in talks with Vietnam for submarine refits

New Delhi: India’s state-owned shipbuilding entity, Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), is reaching out to countries in Southeast Asia, especially Vietnam, amid the Indian government’s push to establish the country as a major defence products exporter and manufacturing centre.

Orthodoxy ’crippling’ Pakistan’s polio fight, worsening health crisis

Pakistan is grappling with a rising polio crisis, as the highly contagious Wild Poliovirus type 1 (WPV1)—the last remaining wild poliovirus serotype—continues to spread. In 2024, the country recorded 68 polio cases, a stark increase from just six cases in 2023.

Taliban ’do not see women as human’, says Malala

Malala Yousafzai has urged Muslim leaders to challenge the Taliban government in Afghanistan and its repressive policies for girls and women.

US government backs decision to withhold Wada payment after Chinese swimmers’ doping case

The United States Anti-Doping Agency has welcomed the decision of their country’s government to withhold a payment of $3.6 million (HK$28 million) to the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Trump avoids prison or fine in hush-money case sentencing

A judge has sentenced US President-elect Donald Trump to an ’’unconditional discharge,’’ bringing to an end the first criminal trial of a former US president.

With 1.2 bn subscribers India’s telecom sector is delving into AI and 6G advancements

With a subscriber base of 1.2 billion, the Indian telecom sector is now delving into Artificial Intelligence (AI) and pioneering 6G advancements. The sector has been on an extraordinary growth trajectory with average monthly wireless data usage soaring to 21.30 GB per user by October 2024.

Sri Lankan accused of sexually assaulting woman on flight to Australia

A man accused of sexually assaulting a woman aboard an international flight has been banned from leaving the country while his court case is underway.

Lebanon parliament elects army chief Joseph Aoun as president

Lebanon’s army chief Joseph Aoun has been elected as the country’s president, ending a power vacuum that lasted for more than two years.

India’s solar capacity to reach 214GW by 2030, 66% of incremental addition to come from solar: Report

India’s solar energy sector is on the brink of significant expansion, with the country aiming to achieve a 500 GW renewable energy capacity by 2030. A report by Kotak Institutional Equities forecasts that India’s solar capacity will grow from 82 GW in 2024 to 214 GW by 2030.

CDC is monitoring HMPV spike in China as US cases increase

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is monitoring reports of a spike in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China, as the US sees an increase in such cases.