Japan protests as Putin makes first visit to disputed Kuril Islands
Russian President Vladimir Putin travelled to the Kuril Islands for the first time on Thursday, prompting Japan to lodge a formal protest over territory both countries claim.
Author · News Unlimited
Mei-Ling Tan
Based in Tokyo, tracking regional alliances, pan-Asian economic shifts, and Beijing's domestic policies.
Articles by Mei-Ling Tan
Beijing evacuates thousands as Typhoon Dolphin's remnants soak China
Forecasters warned Beijing could receive more than a third of its average annual rainfall within 24 hours, as the remnants of the year's most powerful typhoon to hit China pushed floodwaters and landslide risk into the capital.
Thailand suspends gun permits after school shooting kills nine
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered a freeze on new firearm licences after a 14-year-old boy killed his grandparents and six others before taking his own life. The bodies of the shooter and his grandparents were cremated this week as the government pledged tougher gun laws.
Indonesia shuts schools as wildfire haze spreads across region
Smoke from wildfires across Sumatra and Borneo has forced school closures in Indonesia and triggered air quality alerts in neighbouring Malaysia. Authorities have deployed dozens of aircraft, including cloud-seeding planes, as an El Nino-driven dry season worsens.
Canada and China forge new strategic partnership after years of frozen ties
Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to Beijing in January 2026, the first by a Canadian leader in nearly a decade, marked a decisive turn in relations between Ottawa and Beijing. The two countries have since moved to lower trade barriers and unlock billions in new export orders.
ASEAN Ministers Meet in Manila Over Iran, Myanmar and South China Sea
Foreign ministers from across the globe have gathered in Manila for the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, with the Iran conflict, Myanmar's civil war, and South China Sea territorial disputes dominating the agenda.
Typhoon Bavi batters East China and Taiwan, injuring 134
Typhoon Bavi made landfall in China's Zhejiang province on Saturday night before weakening to a severe tropical storm, leaving a trail of injuries across Taiwan and triggering the evacuation of nearly two million people across eastern China.
Samsung appliance workers to rally over chip division's giant bonuses
Workers in Samsung's smartphone, television and home appliance division plan to stage a protest on 16 July over a bonus deal that could give semiconductor colleagues up to 100 times more than they receive.
Taiwan revives Cold War-era anti-communist classes for military graduates
Taiwan's defence ministry has reinstated ideological education for military academy graduates after a 25-year pause, citing growing military pressure and infiltration threats from China.