Asia Pacific

Published: 27 February 2026The English Chronicle DeskThe English Chronicle Online Pakistan launched a major military offensive against targets in Afghanistan on Friday, marking a serious escalation of tensions between the two neighbours. The strikes included air attacks on the Afghan capital, Kabul, and other provinces as Islamabad responded to what it described as “unprovoked aggression” by Afghan forces and militant groups along the shared border. The offensive comes amid rising...

Published: 28 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online While Wall Street and some global markets initially reacted positively to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down large portions of former President Donald Trump’s tariff regime, many Asian firms and exporters are far less celebratory, citing ongoing uncertainty and disrupted plans as the main reason for their restraint. The ruling, which invalidated a central legal basis for Trump’s...

Published: 28 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online While Wall Street and some global markets initially reacted positively to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down large portions of former President Donald Trump’s tariff regime, many Asian firms and exporters are far less celebratory, citing ongoing uncertainty and disrupted plans as the main reason for their restraint. The ruling, which invalidated a central legal basis for Trump’s...

Published: 28 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Two British men have been sentenced to prison in Bali after being caught attempting to smuggle large quantities of cocaine into Indonesia. The men, aged 28 and 31, were arrested at Ngurah Rai International Airport last year following a police investigation into international drug trafficking networks. Indonesian authorities reported that the men were found in possession of over...

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...