Asia

Myanmar’s military leader Min Aung Hlaing has arrived on an official visit to Thailand, his first since he launched the coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government in 2021. The coup ignited a civil war, which has killed thousands of people and wrecked the economy. Min Aung Hlaing, …

The recent youth-led protests have weakened Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi “terribly”, says leading activist Sonam Wangchuk whose hunger strike galvanised the movement. Wangchuk told the BBC that the atmosphere in the country had changed following mass demonstrations which triggered the resignation of the education minister on 25 July. Young …

Former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina has vowed to return to her country in December, despite facing the death penalty there for crimes against humanity. Hasina, who denies the charges, was tried in absentia after fleeing to India during an anti-government uprising in 2024. On the second anniversary of being …

Pakistan’s government said the guidelines, issued on Sunday, are not to restrict media but to “provide an administrative mechanism” to verify media, facilitate access and co-ordinate reporting requirements. The new rules – called the Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines, 2026 – do not set out how long gaining permission, known as …

Australians have responded with a mixture of outrage and support after budget airline Jetstar announced it would start charging customers to use overhead lockers. From February the airline is scrapping its 7kg limit on hand luggage. Instead all passengers will be allowed a smaller bag that can fit under the …

Mary, another former content writer whose name we’ve changed, says her employer encouraged the use of AI as a productivity tool. Instead of making her job easier, she says it created additional responsibilities. “We had to edit more, fact-check more because the data AI produced was inaccurate,” she says. “Technically …

Three female lions at a Tokyo zoo have died of suspected heat-related illness, as Japan battles punishing summer temperatures. The three lions died within a week at the Tama Zoological Park in western Tokyo. Autopsies show that the lions, aged three to 15, had suffered from dehydration and multiple organ …

Two workers who died in a shopping mall explosion that followed a powerful earthquake in Japan last week were asked by a boss to re-enter the building to secure cash. Their employer, general goods store Habita, has apologised for the “loss of two precious lives”. The two were among 38 …

The detained Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been allowed to meet a delegation from the International Federation of the Red Cross, the first confirmed outside contact with her for two and a half years. In photographs of the meeting released by the military government Suu Kyi appeared to …

Tributes are pouring out across Nepal after an avalanche killed all 10 members of an expedition on Pakistan’s Broad Peak, six of whom were Nepalese. Among them was Nirmal Purja, also known as Nims, a British-Nepali climber most known for climbing the world’s 14 tallest peaks in just over six …

Japan and the US have confirmed that they jointly intervened last week to halt a slide in the yen to a fresh 40-year low. The joint intervention is the first since 2011, when both countries took coordinated action to weaken the yen after the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit …

Police also confirmed a note was found on him at the time of his arrest. Reports about the note’s alleged content have fueled the wider discussion about the role of social media. Under Malaysian law, the boy cannot be publicly identified as he is still a minor. His young age …

In 2022, Pradeep moved to Sikar for coaching, sharing a rented room with his older sister, Babita Kumari who was preparing for police recruitment exams. Two NEET attempts steadily improved his rank, bringing a government medical college within reach. Then came his third attempt in May this year. The paper …

Massive Attack has said it was “surprised and disappointed” by its treatment by Singaporean authorities after expressing pro-Palestine sentiments during a performance in the city-state. The group wrote on Instagram on Sunday that its members were “detained by the police, isolated and separately questioned”, with some subject to hotel room …

Back at Yebra’s centre, the team’s work is particularly timely with weather forecasters predicting a super El Nino this summer – which could increase the probability of extreme heat, drought and bushfires. “Our next fire season is looking like it’s going to be a bad one,” Yebra says. That concern …

Singapore authorities are investigating Massive Attack after the British band reportedly expressed pro-Palestinian sentiments during a performance in the city-state. According to local media reports and eyewitness accounts on social media, two members of Massive Attack held up a Palestinian flag at the show on Wednesday, and reportedly shouted “Free …

The 43-year-old was born in a small village in Nepal’s mountainous Myagdi district, located around 1,600m above sea level. He comes from a family of Gurkhas, a world-famous group of Nepalese soldiers who have served in the British Army for more than 200 years. Following the footsteps of his father …

Then came 20 July. Thousands of demonstrators defied a police ban and marched towards parliament, but were met with tear gas, baton charges and mass detentions. Junaid spent hours trying to account for missing students, finding drinking water, tending to those who had been injured and helping frightened protesters make …

“One day we will get our freedom back.” The 22-year-old has spent much of his adult life fighting for it. But now, after five years of civil war in Myanmar, he has had enough of war and political struggle. “I want to help our people as much as I can. …

The number of people who have died after a powerful earthquake hit southwestern Japan has risen to 28, authorities said on Thursday. Rescuers are still working to find survivors after the magnitude 6.8 earthquake hit Kumamoto prefecture on Kyushu island on Tuesday, causing widespread damage to houses and power lines. …