Asia Pacific

Published: 8 June 2026 The English Chronicle Desk The English Chronicle Online At least 19 people have died after a powerful earthquake struck the southern Philippines, causing widespread damage to buildings, roads and infrastructure across several affected areas. Emergency officials said dozens of others were injured as rescue teams continued searching through damaged homes and collapsed structures following the quake. The earthquake triggered panic among residents, with many fleeing into...

Published: 8 June 2026 The English Chronicle Desk The English Chronicle Online At least three people have died after a powerful earthquake struck the Philippines, causing damage to buildings, triggering panic among residents and prompting emergency response operations across affected areas. Authorities said several others were injured as rescue teams assessed collapsed structures and searched for possible survivors following the strong tremor. The earthquake was felt across multiple regions, forcing...

Published: 8 June 2026 The English Chronicle Desk The English Chronicle Online Xi Jinping’s rare visit to North Korea has triggered intense international speculation over whether the trip is primarily about strengthening friendship with Pyongyang or increasing Beijing’s strategic leverage in a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape. Xi’s meeting with Kim Jong Un comes amid rising tensions across East Asia, ongoing military developments on the Korean Peninsula and growing rivalry between...

Published: 8 June 2026 The English Chronicle Desk The English Chronicle Online Families affected by the recent Air India disaster say the emotional trauma extends far beyond those who were on board the aircraft, as communities struggle to cope with fear, grief and lasting psychological scars after the crash. Relatives, neighbours and witnesses described how the tragedy has changed daily life, with some saying they “do not look at the...

Published: 8 June 2026 The English Chronicle Desk The English Chronicle Online Xi Jinping has arrived in North Korea for a rare official visit to meet leader Kim Jong Un amid rising geopolitical tensions and growing international focus on regional security in East Asia. The visit marks one of the most significant diplomatic engagements between China and North Korea in recent years, highlighting the strategic relationship between the neighbouring allies....

Japanese Bear That Injured Four Still Missing Published: 5 June 2026 The English Chronicle Desk The English Chronicle Online Police in Japan say an “extremely intelligent” bear that attacked four people remains at large as authorities continue search operations and safety warnings in affected areas. Officials reported that the animal was involved in multiple incidents that left four individuals injured, prompting emergency responses and increased patrols near residential communities. Local...

Published: 5 June 2026 The English Chronicle Desk The English Chronicle Online Countries across Asia are preparing for potentially severe impacts from an approaching El Niño weather pattern, with scientists warning of increasingly “unpredictable and extreme” climate conditions. Meteorologists say El Niño can disrupt global weather systems by warming parts of the Pacific Ocean, often triggering droughts, heatwaves, flooding and agricultural instability across large regions of Asia. Governments and emergency...

Published: 5 June 2026 The English Chronicle Desk The English Chronicle Online Japanese police say a bear managed to escape from a factory facility after opening a window from inside the building, triggering a large-scale search operation and renewed concern over increasing wildlife encounters in urban areas. The incident reportedly occurred in northern Japan, where workers discovered signs of damage inside the factory before authorities confirmed that a wild bear...

Published: 5 June 2026 The English Chronicle Desk The English Chronicle Online Australian authorities have seized illegal insects worth an estimated $200,000, including giant hissing cockroaches, in a major crackdown on wildlife smuggling and black-market exotic species trading. Border officials and environmental investigators said the operation uncovered a large collection of prohibited insects being trafficked through illegal import and breeding networks across the country. Among the seized species were Madagascar...

Published: 5 June 2026 The English Chronicle Desk The English Chronicle Online Chinese authorities have launched a sweeping crackdown on online micro dramas accused of promoting soft pornography, violence and excessive materialism, as regulators intensify control over digital entertainment content. The move targets the rapidly growing micro drama industry, where short-form episodic videos designed for mobile platforms have gained massive popularity among younger audiences across China. Regulators said many productions...