North Korea has inaugurated its most significant warship to date, the 5,000-ton Choe Hyon, armed with nuclear-capable missiles. This development marks North Korea’s ambition to extend naval power far beyond its coastline. A photograph by North Korean state media featured Kim Jong-un at the commissioning ceremony held at Nampo port, southwest of Pyongyang. The Choe...
A Chinese naval flotilla arrived in the far eastern Russian port of Vladivostok on Tuesday. The four-day visit involves training and exchanges and reflects deepening military ties between Beijing and Moscow amid tensions with the United States and its allies in the western Pacific. The People’s Liberation Army Navy’s Task Force 83, including the training...
This week, China’s military shared footage highlighting a close encounter between a Chinese aircraft carrier group and a Japanese warship in the Western Pacific Ocean. These interactions have become more frequent as China’s navy expands its operations beyond coastal waters. U.S. defense planners often refer to these areas as the first island chain. The Chinese...
In Tacloban city, Philippines, two students initiated a tragic shooting spree at San Jose National High School on Monday, June 22, 2026. Armed with handguns, they killed three fellow students and injured seven others. Police quickly apprehended the suspects, aged 14 and 15. Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy, the regional police chief, reported that both attackers...
The recent World Cup match between Curaçao and Ecuador, which ended in a goalless draw, caught the attention of fans for different reasons. While many focused on the exceptional performance of Curaçao’s goalkeeper, who made 15 saves, fans in China had their eyes on Ma Ning, a top Chinese referee officiating the match. At 47,...
Caught in Cambodia’s Scam Machine: Part 1 The global scam industry employs countless workers, often in challenging and exploitative conditions. This first part of the investigative series sheds light on the intricate system keeping these scams afloat. Listen to discover the stories of those behind the operations. Download and listen to the episode through NPR’s...
In a significant operation, police in Vietnam have confiscated more than 400 cats from a cat meat crime ring in Ho Chi Minh City. This bust involved collaboration with animal welfare groups and was reported by local media. More than 40 of the rescued cats found their way back to their owners after the operation...
On Tuesday, Central Indonesia’s Sulawesi island experienced a 6.7-magnitude earthquake. The disaster resulted in one fatality, numerous injuries, and significant damage to homes and infrastructure. Residents of Palu, a city previously devastated by a quake and tsunami, were particularly impacted. The earthquake occurred inland, about 27 miles east-southeast of Palu, at a depth of 6...
On Tuesday, China denied the European Union’s allegation that its military trained Russian personnel who later participated in the conflict in Ukraine. Despite presenting itself as neutral in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, China has echoed Russia’s narrative, attributing the conflict to NATO expansion. Additionally, China has strengthened economic and diplomatic ties with...
Bu Ri lost his leg to a land mine in Myanmar decades ago. More recently, six of his family members have faced similar fates or worse. This highlights the devastation caused by the ongoing civil war in the region. John New Min, with fellow rebel soldiers, spent hours removing land mines set by Myanmar’s military....