Asia Pacific

Published: 25 February 2026 . The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has arrived in Beijing to begin his first official visit to China since taking office, underscoring a shift in Berlin’s diplomatic and economic engagement with the Asian powerhouse. The two‑day trip, scheduled from 25 to 26 February, comes at a pivotal moment in global politics as European leaders seek to balance deep commercial...

Published: 25 February 2026 . The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Japan has formally set a timeline to strengthen its air defence posture in the face of intensifying regional security concerns, announcing plans to station surface‑to‑air missile systems on Yonaguni Island, its westernmost territory located roughly 110 kilometres east of Taiwan, by March 2031. The move reflects Tokyo’s evolving defence policy and rising tensions with People’s Republic of China over...

Published: 24 February 2026The English Chronicle DeskThe English Chronicle Online In the northeastern Indian state of Manipur, a senior politician and veteran taekwondo instructor has taken on the formidable task of steering one of the country’s most conflict‑affected regions toward stability. Yumnam Khemchand Singh, 62, was sworn in recently as chief minister after nearly a year under direct federal administration, inheriting a state still deeply scarred by inter‑ethnic violence and...

Published: 23 February 2026 . The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online A devastating bus crash in Nepal has claimed the lives of at least 19 people, including a British national, and left another 25 injured, police and rescue officials have confirmed. The fatal accident occurred early on Monday morning when a crowded passenger bus veered off a mountain highway and plunged down a steep slope in the Dhading...

Published: 23 February 2026 . The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online A powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck off the coast of Malaysia, shaking the well-known tourist destination of Sabah and prompting concern among residents and visitors alike. The tremor, occurring offshore but felt widely across the region, caused panic as buildings swayed and people rushed outside. Seismic monitoring agencies, including the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the...

Published: 23 February 2026 . The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has refused to attend the International Criminal Court (ICC) pre-trial hearing concerning alleged crimes committed during his controversial “war on drugs.” The hearing marks a significant step in the ongoing legal scrutiny of Duterte’s administration, which has faced international criticism for alleged human rights abuses. Duterte, who led the Philippines from 2016...

Published: 23 February 2026 . The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been formally reappointed as head of the country’s ruling Workers’ Party, reinforcing his grip on power and signalling continuity in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s political direction. The decision, announced through state media following a high-level party meeting in Pyongyang, underscores the regime’s emphasis on stability, ideological unity and...

Published: 20 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online An extraordinary act of generosity has left officials in Osaka, Japan, both stunned and deeply grateful after a mystery donor gifted the city 21 kilograms of gold bars — worth approximately $3.6 million — to help fix its ageing water system. The astonishing contribution, announced by Osaka’s mayor at a press conference, has sparked curiosity and admiration as the city grapples...

Published: 20 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online The United States and Indonesia have finalised a major reciprocal trade agreement that will see Washington lower tariffs on Indonesian goods to 19 percent, deepening economic ties between the two nations and reshaping their long-standing trade relationship. The agreement was formally signed in Washington, D.C., by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, after months...

Published: 19 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Seoul is bracing for a landmark courtroom decision as former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stands on the brink of a verdict in a historic insurrection trial that could see him sentenced to the death penalty or life imprisonment for his role in a failed attempt to impose martial law in December 2024. The Seoul Central District...