Asia

Fire kills 46, injures dozens in Taiwan

At least 46 people have lost their lives and dozens more have been injured in a fire that broke out in a residential building in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung.

US planning to resume Afghanistan flights

The US State Department plans to resume evacuation flights from Afghanistan by the end of this year. The move would help American citizens, residents and some visa applicants leave the country.

Taiwan says not to start war with China but to defend itself

Taiwan has ruled out the possibility of starting a war with China but stressed it will defend itself "full on" if attacked. Tensions between the two sides have escalated in recent weeks over a range of issues. China regards Taiwan as part of its own territory.

Taliban delegation in Turkey for talks

A Taliban delegation arrived in Ankara on Thursday for talks with Turkish officials. The new rulers of Afghanistan continue a diplomatic push for international support and recognition.

China says drills near Taiwan for peace, stability

China has defended its recent military exercises near Taiwan. The Asian power says the drills are aimed at protecting the country's sovereignty and integrity against Taipei's collusion with foreign powers.

China, India ramp up rhetoric in border row

Beijing and New Delhi doubled down on their rhetoric over border tensions on Wednesday. China and India held the 13th round of talks in an effort to settle the conflict, but failed to come to a compromise.

Taliban blasts west for keeping mum on Afghanistan dire situation

The Taliban warns Afghanistan is on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe. Meanwhile, representatives of the new rulers of Afghanistan, attending talks with the EU and US officials in Doha, say the west is keeping silent over the Taliban request to unfreeze Afghan assets.

Iran, China topping agenda of Blinken talks with Israel, UAE FMs

Iran’s nuclear programme and China will be at the top of the agenda of a trilateral meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his counterparts from Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Russia: Deliberate attempts escalating tension in Asia

The Russian foreign minister says deliberate attempts are being made to escalate the security situation in Asia. Sergey Lavrov attributes this to the military blocs seeking ‘the logic of the cold war and policy of containment.’

North Korea’s Un vows to build ‘invincible’ army

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to build an “invincible” military. He has also blasted hostile U.S. policies toward Pyongyang as well as its joint war games with neighboring South.

Turks believe Erdogan party to fall from power in next vote

Nearly 54 percent of voters in Turkey believe that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) will lose office in the general elections of 2023, a recent survey by private pollster Metropoll revealed.

Taliban to hold talks with EU-US envoys in Doha

Taliban representatives are to hold joint talks with EU and US officials on Tuesday in Doha, the bloc has confirmed. The new Afghanistan rulers, seeking international recognition and support, have recently held negotiations with US representatives.

China says conducted beach landing drills amid tension with Taiwan

China's military announced it has carried out beach landing and assault drills in a province directly across the sea from Taiwan amid heightening tensions between Beijing and the self-ruled island.

China, India talks to ease border tensions fail

Talks between Chinese and Indian army commanders to defuse border tensions ended in a stalemate and failed to ease months-long standoff which has sometimes led to deadly clashes, the two sides announced.

Hezbollah chief: Daesh aims to ignite civil war in Afghanistan

The leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah says the Daesh terror outfit aims to stoke tensions and plunge Afghanistan into a civil war. The comment comes days after dozens were killed and wounded in a Daesh-claimed attack on a mosque in the northern Afghan city of Kunduz.

Ex-Pentagon software chief: US has lost AI battle to China

Pentagon’s former software chief has admitted China is heading for global dominance and ‘and control of everything’ because of its advances in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning as well as cyber capabilities.

China condemns ex-Australian PM visit to Taiwan

China has lodged solemn representations with Canberra over former Australian Prime Minister's visit to Taiwan. Beijing has advised Australia to abandon the ‘Cold War mentality and ideological prejudice’.

China denounces Taiwan chief’s ‘anti-Beijing’ comments

China has slammed remarks by Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen during ‘national day’ speech. She said the island will not bow to pressure from Beijing and will continue to bolster its defense capability.

Taliban says U.S. not to recognize them as Afghan rulers

Following the recent face-to-face talks with the US officials in Qatar, the Taliban has announced Washington will not formally recognize them as the new Afghanistan rulers.

Taiwan says won’t ‘bow to China’s pressure’

Taiwan chief executive says Taipei hopes for easing tension with Beijing, but would not bow to its pressure. China’s President Xi Jinping has promised peaceful reunification with the self-governed island.

Taliban urges U.S. to unfreeze Afghanistan’s assets

The Taliban has called on the United States to unfreeze Afghanistan foreign assets. The request was made during the negotiations between the Taliban and the U.S. in Qatar on Saturday. This was the first direct talks between the Taliban and Washington since American troops evacuated Afghanistan in August.

Larijani: Iran Should Be Vigilant About Taliban, Afghanistan

Former Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani has called for “deeper vigilance” in the country’s diplomacy toward Afghanistan and the Taliban.

Taliban rules out cooperation with U.S. against Daesh

The Taliban has announced they will not work with the Unites States to fight against Daesh in Afghanistan. This as the terror group claimed responsibility for the Friday's deadly attack on a mosque in the northern Afghan city of Kunduz which killed and wounded dozens of worshippers.

China’s Xi: Taiwan independence a dead end

China’s President Xi Jinping has warned "Taiwan independence" drive goes against the trend of history and will lead to a dead end. Beijing considers the island as part of the People’s Republic of China.

Beijing: CIA China center shows cold-war mentality

The China Mission Center launched by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) reflects US Cold-War mentality, Beijing says. The CIA has announced the formation of a new China Mission Center which will focus solely on Beijing.

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