Asia News – Politics, Culture & Economic Updates

Miss Earth star passes away on her 26th birthday

Putri Andriani Juficha died aged 25, with her death announced on her 26th birthday date

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The Miss Grand Indonesia organisation announced Juficha’s death on Friday, August 14. She had also been a runner-up in the Miss Grand Indonesia 2025 pageant.

Thailand PM vows tougher gun laws after eight killed

He killed his grandparents before taking the gun to school, firing on teachers, staff

Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul

Lightning kills player, injures 9 during football game

Fatal strike hits pitch during regional tournament amid monsoon storm

The incident occurred during the Golok Cup regional tournament at Santiphap Stadium in Narathiwat province as players continued competing in heavy rain brought by the monsoon season.

Philippines, China trade blame after sea standoff

Manila and Beijing trade blame after water cannon clash near Scarborough Shoal

This handout screengrab taken on July 24, 2026 and released by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) shows a Chinese Coast Guard ship (back) firing water canon on a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ship near Scarborough Shoal, in the disputed South China Sea.

Michelin restaurateur faces jail over ant garnish

Two-Michelin-star restaurant allegedly served nearly 49,000 imported ants over four years

A two-Michelin-star restaurant owner in South Korea admits serving ants on sorbets but prosecutors say the garnish broke food safety laws. Photo for illustrative purposes only

Philippines lodges protest over China's racist AI video

Manila has called for the immediate removal of a China Daily video, editorial cartoons

Some screenshots of scenes from China Daily's AI-generated video depicting Filipinos as monkeys

UAE, ASEAN advance joint action plan to boost alliance

Fourth ACAD session reviews progress with focus on trade, investment, regional stability

UAE, ASEAN advance joint action plan for stronger regional partnership

China, India, Iraq...: Where Iran's $100b is frozen

Iran seeks access to billions held abroad as sanctions relief takes centre stage in talks

Iranian rial banknotes. Frozen overseas assets have become a key issue in negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

What the new Asia-GCC platform means for workers

New initiative to help countries work together for better access to social protection

From left to right: Valerie Schmitt, Mohammed bin Hassan Al Obaidli, Hans Cacdac, and Gladys Cisneros

Three months of paralysis: Hormuz remains a ghost route

Shipowners and insurers await stronger security guarantees as traffic remains sparse

A tractor tows a small boat through shallow water as cargo ships and industrial vessels are anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Monday, June 1, 2026.

Droughts, extreme heat: Is ‘super’ El Nino coming?

UN forecasts 80% chance of El Nino emerging between June and August as Pacific waters warm

Head of climate prediction services at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Wilfran Moufouma-Okia points on graphs displayed on a computer screen at the WMO headquarters in Geneva, on June 1, 2026.

India seals BrahMos deal with Vietnam, Indonesia next

Supersonic missile sales strengthen India’s strategic presence in the Indo-Pacific

The Vietnam deal is reportedly worth about Rs5,800 crore and includes coastal defence missile batteries, an initial batch of missiles, training and logistics support.

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