$446 million worth of seized drugs burned as illicit trade booms in Southeast Asia

The authorities in Myanmar destroyed more than $446 million worth of illegal drugs seized from around the country to mark an annual international anti-drug trafficking day

Australia’s High Court dismisses Russia’s bid for injunction to halt its embassy’s eviction

Australia’s highest court yesterday dismissed Russia’s request for an injunction that would have halted the eviction of its embassy from a site in the capital, Canberra.

New Zealand debates whether ethnicity should be a factor for surgery waitlists

New Zealanders this week were debating a thorny health care issue — whether ethnicity should be a factor in determining when patients get surgery. It turns

Australia’s online safety watchdog demands answers from Twitter on how it tackles online hate

Australia’s online safety watchdog has issued a legal notice to Twitter demanding an explanation of what the social media giant is doing to tackle a surge

UN expert urges a different approach to resolve the crisis in Myanmar

An independent expert working with the United Nations on the issue of human rights in Myanmar urged the international community yesterday to find a different approach to

Senator invites International Criminal Court to probe officers in war crime allegations

A senator invited the International Criminal Court to investigate what Australian military commanders knew about war crime allegations in Afghanistan in a bid to pressure Australia into

Days of sweltering heat, power cuts in northern India overwhelm hospitals as death toll climbs

A scorching heat wave in two of India’s most populous states has overwhelmed hospitals, filled a morgue to capacity and disrupted power, forcing staff to use books

North Korea calls failed spy satellite launch ‘the most serious’ shortcoming, vows 2nd launch

Top North Korean officials vowed to push for a second attempt to launch a spy satellite as they called their country’s first, and failed, launch last month

North Korea opens key party meeting to tackle its struggling economy

With leader Kim Jong Un in attendance, North Korea opened a key political conference to discuss improving its struggling economy and reviewing defense strategies in the face

Philippine billionaire looks to expand casinos beyond Manila

Andrew Tan, a billionaire from the Philippines, has set his sights on expanding his casino empire beyond the bustling streets of Manila. Alliance Global Group

Law created to stop Russia from building new embassy for security reasons

Australia’s Parliament passed legislation yesterday to prevent Russia from building a new embassy near Parliament House citing threats of espionage and political interference, as tensions

India, Pakistan brace for winds, flash flooding as Cyclone Biparjoy makes landfall

Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall yesterday evening as a vast swath of western India and neighboring southern Pakistan braced for flash floods, heavy rain and high winds. Rain pelted

Mayon Volcano spews lava in gentle eruption, thousands warned to be ready to flee

The Philippines’ most active volcano was spewing lava down its slopes yesterday, prompting officials to warn tens of thousands of villagers to be prepared to flee

Driver charged after bus carrying wedding guests in rolls over, killing 10 and injuring 25

The driver of a bus was charged yesterday after the vehicle carrying wedding guests rolled over on a foggy night in Australia’s wine country, killing 10

Seoul landmarks to be lit up in purple to celebrate K-pop band’s anniversary

Skyscrapers, bridges and other landmarks in South Korea’s capital will be lit up in purple as the country begins celebrating the 10th anniversary of K-pop band

Philippines raises alert level around volcano, villagers told to leave danger zone

Philippine officials yesterday raised the alert level for one of the country’s most active volcanoes after superheated streams of gas, debris and rocks cascaded down its upper slope in

Gov’t inquiry to look into 237 more foreign adoptions suspected to have laundered origins

South Korea’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission said yesterday it will investigate 237 more cases of South Korean adoptees who suspect their family origins were manipulated to facilitate

Court rejects bail request by former opposition senator who opposed deadly drug campaign

A Philippine court rejected on Wednesday a request for bail by a former opposition senator and justice secretary who criticized then-President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly crackdown on illegal

Malaysia, Indonesia end 18-year sea border disputes, vow to cooperate in defending palm oil industry

Malaysia and Indonesia signed agreements yesterday that ended longstanding maritime border disputes and vowed to bolster cooperation to fight “highly detrimental discriminatory” measures against palm oil.

Australia plans to ban swastikas and other Nazi symbols in legislation coming next week

Australia’s government plans legislation to ban swastikas and other Nazi symbols nationwide due to an increase in far-right activity, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said. While most Australian states

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