South Korea plans to approve abortion pills for the first time to promote women’s rights to health and safety, deepening debates over abortions in a country that until recently had imposed strict rules on the procedure.
Centenarians living in Japan exceed 100,000 for the first time
The number of people aged 100 or older in Japan surpassed a record 100,000 this year, the latest government figures show, underscoring the country’s rapidly aging and declining population.
A fire on a passenger ferry in the Philippines leaves at least 5 dead and dozens missing
Rescuers struggled on Thursday to get into a passenger ferry that had caught fire and burned overnight off the western Philippines, leaving five people dead and 86 missing, officials said.
Hong Kong court convicts Wall Street Journal publisher of deterring reporter from taking union role
A Hong Kong court on Thursday found the publisher of The Wall Street Journal guilty of trying to prevent one of its reporters from taking a leadership role in a local press union, but acquitted the company of a charge that it fired her because of her union activities.
Isao Harimoto, A-bomb survivor and Japan baseball great known as ‘Hit Machine,’ dies at 86
Isao Harimoto, the baseball great who survived the Hiroshima atomic bomb and still holds Japan’s hits record, has died.
Malaysia tops 2026 retirement destinations ranking
Malaysia has been named the world’s top retirement destination for 2026, with two other Southeast Asian countries also ranking among the 10 best places to retire, according to the Rumavi Global Relocation Index.
Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong’s first post-colonial leader, dies at age 89
Hong Kong ’s first post-colonial leader, Tung Chee-hwa, who struggled to cope with an Asian financial crisis and growing protests for democracy in the early years under Chinese rule, has died at age 89.
China is boycotting a major Asian art festival over the naming of a Taiwanese exhibition
A group of Chinese artists is boycotting a major art exhibition in South Korea over the organizers’ plans to use the name “Taiwan Pavilion” for an exhibition of works by Taiwanese artists.
Philippine vice president is ordered arrested for threats against the president
A Philippine court ordered the arrest of Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday over charges that she publicly threatened to have the president and two other people assassinated.
Rescuers pull 2 trapped workers from a hydropower tunnel 9 days after Nepal floods
Rescuers in Nepal pulled two workers alive from an underground tunnel at a hydropower plant Friday, raising hopes of reaching dozens of others believed to be trapped nine days after deadly floods swept away villages and submerged the Himalayan region in mud and debris.