Chinese forces approached close to Taiwan coast to ’intimidate’ voters before key elections - sources

Taiwan’s military drove away four attempts by Chinese forces to approach the island’s sensitive contiguous zone last month, Taiwan security officials said, in what they see as a ramped-up Chinese campaign to ’’intimidate’’ voters before key elections.

Woman once branded ‘Australia’s worst female serial killer’ acquitted

The woman once branded ‘Australia’s worst female serial killer’ will seek a record compensation payout after she was acquitted of killing her four children following a 24-year fight for justice.

’’India plays leading role in AI’’: French Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on India hosting GPAI Summit

The French Minister Delegate for Digital Affairs, Jean-Noel Barrot on Wednesday stressed that India plays a leading role in AI by hosting the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GP AI ) Summit.

India’s economy follows China to reach rapid take off

India has been the world’s fastest-growing major economy in the last two years and is forecast to retain the top spot in 2024 as the urbanisation and industrialisation process reaches the rapid take-off phase.

Explainer: Why China, the Philippines keep fighting over tiny shoal

The Philippines on Monday described the actions of Chinese vessels against its boats carrying out South China Sea resupply missions over the weekend as a ’’serious escalation’’.

Dozens killed in Islamist militant attack on northwest Pakistan army base

The bomb and gun attack occurred in the district of Dera Ismail Khan on the edge of the lawless tribal regions bordering Afghanistan, the two security officials told Reuters.

Australia plans to halve migrant intake, tighten student visa rules

Australia on Monday said it would tighten visa rules for international students and low-skilled workers that could halve its migrant intake over the next two years as the government looks to overhaul what it said was a ’’broken’’ migration system.

Apple moves production AWAY from China: A quarter of new iPhones to be manufactured in India

One in four iPhones could soon be manufactured in India as Apple joins a growing list of companies seeking to reduce their reliance on China.

Health crisis as immunisation comes to a halt in G-B

The Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) government is under fire for its perceived apathy towards looming health threats in the region, leading to a critical halt in the immunisation programme in the vulnerable Diamer district.

Taiwan reports rare nighttime Chinese military activity nearby

Taiwan reported rare nighttime Chinese military activity around the island on Thursday, including aircraft crossing the sensitive median line of the Taiwan Strait, as Beijing continues such missions ahead of Taiwan’s January election.

PM Modi’s ’Wed in India’ call aims to redirect Rs 1 lakh crore spent on overseas weddings

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent call for ’’Wed in India’’ has set the stage for a potential influx of Rs 1 lakh crore back to the country, redirecting expenditures incurred on destination weddings abroad.

Baseball star joins LA Dodgers in record $700m deal

Baseball sensation Shohei Ohtani has joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in the biggest deal in the sport’s history.

Sri Lanka and India eye a gems and jewellery alliance

While the global economy grapples with uncertainties, Sri Lanka’s gems and jewellery industry has experienced a remarkable resurgence. This unexpected surge in exports has sparked a renewed focus on both bolstering the industry and addressing the challenges that continue to impede its full potential. Could India, a global leader in the gems and jewellery sector, be the key to unlocking Sri Lanka’s true brilliance?

How ’The Mango Tree’ became Colombo’s North Indian cuisine maestro

In the heart of Colombo, a city whose very name echoes the vibrant hues of mango leaves, there stands a mango tree that goes beyond being a mere symbol of foliage. ’The Mango Tree,’ an establishment founded in 2004, has evolved into a culinary landmark, offering authentic, affordable, and irresistible North Indian cuisine that has captivated the taste buds of Sri Lankans.

Japan adds Chinese nuclear weapons lab and others to WMD concern list

Japan revised on Wednesday its End User List, which provides exporters with information on foreign entities possibly involved in activities such as the development of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).

4 Indian women, including Finance Minister Sitharaman, rank in Forbes’ top influential list

New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has been ranked 32nd in Forbes’ list of the world’s most influential women, alongside notable women such as US Vice President Kamala Harris and musician Taylor Swift.

BBC News presenter apologizes after flipping the middle finger live on air

A BBC News presenter has apologized after flipping the middle finger live on air on Wednesday. Maryam Moshiri, the chief presenter at the British network, said she was ’’joking around a bit with the team’’ when she stuck up her middle finger just as the broadcast went to air.

Italy pulls out of China’s Belt and Road Initiative

BBC: Italy will pull out of China’s flagship Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the government has confirmed. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s administration notified Beijing that it would cease participating in the BRI ahead of a deadline a

Seychelles declares state of emergency after huge explosion

A state of emergency has been declared in Seychelles, after a massive explosion at an industrial area on the main island, Mahé, as well as flooding.

Bhutan & India on Joint Mission to Save Endangered Species in South Asia

In a landmark initiative, India, Bhutan, Nepal, and Bangladesh have joined forces to tackle the rampant issue of wildlife trafficking and trade in South Asia.

New Delhi investigating alleged illegal transplants at Apollo hospital in city

The New Delhi city government is investigating an Apollo hospital, part of India’s largest private hospital chain, after a media report linked it to the illegal sale by Myanmar nationals of their kidneys for organ transplants.

China’s exports slump seen slowing as pockets of demand emerge: Reuters Poll

Declines in China’s exports likely slowed in November, a Reuters poll showed on Wednesday, amid mixed signs factories in the world’s second-largest economy may be finding their footing after a bruising slump in demand.

Plight of Sri Lankan workers in Chinese-led project unveiled

Chinese infrastructure projects have become a significant source of employment for Sri Lankan workers in recent years. These projects, financed by the Chinese government’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), span various sectors, including construction, transportation, and energy.

Indian state poll results boost markets, ease fiscal risk, analysts say

India’s ruling nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party’s win in three out of four major state elections will boost sentiment in the country’s equity markets, potentially drawing higher foreign inflows on confidence in political stability, analysts said.

Mount Marapi: Eleven hikers killed as volcano erupts in Indonesia

Eleven hikers have been found dead near the crater of Indonesia’s Marapi volcano after it erupted over the weekend, rescuers say.

China’s economic heft sinks for first time in three decades

For most of us, weight loss is a positive. For an economy, not so much. New analysis showing that China’s global heft has declined for the first time since 1994 illustrates why its chances of overtaking the US economy are increasingly in doubt.

Indonesia heightens monitoring in response to ‘mysterious pneumonia’ outbreak in China

The Health Ministry has instructed healthcare professionals across the country to increase their monitoring of cases of respiratory illnesses following a recent outbreak of “mysterious pneumonia” in northern China.

India has walked the talk when it comes to climate action: PM Modi ahead of COP28

Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for Dubai on Thursday to participate in the World Climate Action Summit at the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28).

Released Palestinians allege abuse in Israeli jails

Palestinian prisoners released from Israeli jails say that guards carried out abuse and collective punishment in the weeks after the Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 October.

Pakistan carried out ’widespread abuses’ against Afghan refugees: Report

The Pakistan authorities committed ’’widespread abuses’’ against Afghans living in the country to compel them to return to Afghanistan leading to a situation of humanitarian crisis, Human Rights Watch said in a statement on Wednesday.