World

North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles into the sea Tuesday, according to Seoul’s military, in what experts said could be a message to US President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration.The launch came as Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya visited South Korea for a series of meetings with top officials, with the Asian neighbours seeking to …

North Korea fires short-range ballistic missiles before Trump return Read More »

Millions of Hindu pilgrims are gathering in India to bathe in sacred waters for the six-week-long Kumbh Mela festival — from the very old to babies, cave-dwelling monks to science teachers.The millennia-old Kumbh Mela, a show of religious piety and ritual bathing — and a logistical challenge of staggering proportions — is held in the …

India’s Hindu pilgrims: a sea of humanity at Kumbh Mela Read More »

Authorities in Kyoto announced Tuesday plans for a big hike in hotel lodging taxes, as Japan’s picture-perfect ancient capital seeks to assuage grumbles from locals about too many tourists.Japan has seen foreign tourist numbers explode post-pandemic, with visitor numbers in 2024 expected to have hit a record of more than 35 million.But like other hotspots …

Japanese tourist hotspot Kyoto to hike hotel taxes Read More »

A Thai man serving a record sentence for insulting the monarchy has been hit with three more charges, a rights group told AFP on Tuesday.Mongkol Thirakot, 31, was sentenced last year to at least 50 years in prison on royal defamation charges for posts made on his personal Facebook account several years ago.The record-breaking sentence …

Thai man serving record royal insult sentence faces new charges Read More »

South Korea’s Constitutional Court opened the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday over his failed martial law bid, but quickly adjourned the first hearing after the suspended leader didn’t show up.Yoon’s December 3 power grab plunged South Korea into its worst political crisis in decades, after he directed soldiers to storm parliament …

Impeachment trial of South Korean President Yoon begins Read More »

The impeachment trial of South Korea’s suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol begins Tuesday, with the country’s Constitutional Court set to weigh whether to strip him of his presidential duties over a failed martial law bid.Yoon’s December 3 power grab plunged South Korea into its worst political crisis in decades, after he directed soldiers to storm …

Impeachment trial of South Korean President Yoon to begin Read More »

North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles into the sea Tuesday, according to Seoul’s military, in what experts said could be a message to US President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration.The launch comes as Japan’s foreign minister Takeshi Iwaya visits South Korea for a series of meetings with top officials, with the Asian neighbours seeking to …

North Korea fires short-range ballistic missiles into sea Read More »

NATO countries on the Baltic Sea will look to boost security when they meet in Helsinki on Tuesday, following the suspected sabotage of undersea cables widely blamed on Russia.They are expected to announce a NATO patrol mission monitoring activity “below, above, and on the sea surface”, researcher Iro Sarkka of the Finnish Institute of International …

NATO Baltic leaders set to boost security after cable ‘sabotage’ Read More »

The body that awards the Oscars said Monday it was cancelling its ritzy nominees’ luncheon, as Los Angeles grapples with enormous wildfires.The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences also moved its nomination announcement online, as Hollywood tries to navigate the somber mood at a time it would usually be celebrating award season.”We are all …

Glitzy Oscars nominees’ lunch cancelled after LA wildfires Read More »

Search teams with dogs fanned out looking for victims in Los Angeles on Monday, as firefighters girded for hurricane-force winds that could spark new blazes. With the disaster in America’s second biggest city in its seventh day, 24 people are known to have died — a toll expected to rise — and more than 90,000 people …

Search for bodies as LA firefighters brace for more wind Read More »