Asia

China’s economic illusion cracks as new analysis exposes deepenin

According to The Epoch Times, A December 22 report by international consultancy Rhodium Group estimates that China's real economic growth in 2025 likely ranged between 2.5 and 3 per cent, nearly half of the officially declared 5.2 per cent expansion.

2025-12-27T13:31:00.605453+00:00 IST

Over 50-vehicle pileup on Japan expressway kills 2, injures 26

Police said snowy conditions turned the road surface icy, causing several vehicles to skid out of control. This led to a chain-reaction crash spanning roughly 300 metres, according to Kyodo News.

2025-12-27T13:13:56.062761+00:00 IST

Afghanistan: Japan pledges USD 2 Million in Humanitarian aid

Japan has said that it will provide USD 2 million in humanitarian funding for assisting returnees in Afghanistan.

2025-12-27T13:08:43.106112+00:00 IST

Afghanistan: Power cuts deepen winter hardship for Kabul resident

Prolonged power cuts in Kabul during winter have increased public hardship. Residents report irregular electricity supply affecting daily life and work. Experts blame reliance on imported power and weak infrastructure, while the national utility says steps are being taken to reduce outages.

2025-12-27T12:52:51.132204+00:00 IST

Earthquake of magnitude 4.0 strikes Afghanistan

The earthquake occurred at a depth of 110km.

2025-12-27T12:52:07.746935+00:00 IST

Bangladesh: Minorities not safe as security situation worsens

"It is a decade-long exploitation and oppression, and we are continuously fighting for our survival. Nobody is paying heed to our cries. The latest situation is really bad," he said.

2025-12-27T12:12:38.278831+00:00 IST

Pakistan: Ambulance union announces nationwide service suspension

Ambulance Union Pakistan announced a nationwide suspension of private ambulance services after failed talks with authorities, citing neglect and unjust treatment, and warned services will remain halted until concrete action is taken to address operators' long-pending demands.

2025-12-27T12:11:23.251850+00:00 IST

China tightens control over Tibetans in Nepal, installs US Tech-e

The new reports coming from Nepal reveal that a large number of hidden surveillance cameras are being installed by China at every nook and corner in Kathmandu and Nepal border. These cameras are not being installed for anyone's safety but to keep an eye on the Tibetans.

2025-12-27T12:10:28.663516+00:00 IST

KP CM Afridi announces PTI rally at Minar-i-Pakistan

KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced a PTI rally at Minar-i-Pakistan as part of its street movement, visited families of jailed party leaders in Lahore, criticised government restrictions, and said PTI is preparing to intensify protests on Imran Khan's instructions.

2025-12-27T11:23:46.702983+00:00 IST

China tightens control in Tibetan regions

Chinese authorities have escalated political pressure on Tibetan communities in Amdo Golog following the detention of prominent Buddhist figure Chogtrul Dorje Tenzin. The development has intensified fears of expanding surveillance and coercive governance across Tibetan regions, Phayul reported.

2025-12-27T09:36:39.424472+00:00 IST

Islamabad sees protests over land rights dispute

Hundreds of landowners from Islamabad's C-16 and H-16 sectors in Pakistan staged a protest rejecting the Capital Development Authority's (CDA) recently announced Built-Up Property (BuP) awards, calling them discriminatory and detached from ground realities, as reported by Dawn.

2025-12-27T08:42:44.505783+00:00 IST

Ex-diplomat flags jihadist influence on Yunus amid B'desh protest

Former Indian diplomat Suresh K Goel on Saturday warned that the current relative calm in Bangladesh is "the calm before the storm", asserting that Chief Adviser of the interim government Muhammad Yunus's decision-making is being heavily influenced by jihadist elements following the widespread violence triggered by the death of Osman Hadi, one of the most prominent figures during the July Uprising last year.

2025-12-27T08:24:13.295976+00:00 IST

Japan: Man arrested for stabbing 15 Yokohama Rubber employees

Police on Saturday arrested one man in connection with a stabbing attack at the Mishima Plant of Yokohama Rubber Co. in central Japan, injuring a total of 15 employees, Kyodo News reported.

2025-12-27T07:41:11.846558+00:00 IST

Rising living costs persist despite official claims of stability

Despite government claims of economic stabilisation, the reality for millions of Pakistanis over the past year tells a far more troubling story. While official data suggests inflation has eased, everyday expenses continue to rise sharply, squeezing household budgets across the country, as reported by The Express Tribune.

2025-12-27T07:38:16.726445+00:00 IST

Silence surrounds disappearance of Baloch activist

Seven years after the enforced disappearance of Baloch activist Rashid Hussain, human rights organisations, families of the disappeared, and Baloch activists have renewed demands for accountability, accusing Pakistani authorities of continuing to conceal his fate, as reported by The Balochistan Post.

2025-12-27T07:20:48.853704+00:00 IST

KP CM Afridi criticises Punjab govt over PTI restrictions

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Friday criticised the government of the Punjab province in Pakistan for obstructing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activities during his visit to Lahore, alleging harassment of party leaders and workers by the provincial police, The Express Tribune reported.

2025-12-27T07:10:39.952996+00:00 IST

Trump hints at Putin talks ahead of Zelenskyy meeting

US President Donald Trump has indicated that he expects to hold talks with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, soon, ahead of his anticipated meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Florida on Sunday, as international efforts aimed at ending the four-year-long running war continue.

2025-12-27T06:01:36.886214+00:00 IST

Cambodia, Thailand agree on "immediate ceasefire"

Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to an "immediate ceasefire" effective from 12:00 noon (local time) on Saturday as part of a joint effort to de-escalate tensions along their shared border following weeks of intense clashes, which resulted in the death of over 100 people and the displacement of over half a million.

2025-12-27T05:07:56.911439+00:00 IST

Pakistan: Health sector crisis deepens in Rawalpindi

The year 2025 has been marked by severe challenges for Rawalpindi's health sector in Pakistan, with major public hospitals facing acute shortages of beds, staff and essential medical services despite billions of rupees spent on infrastructure upgrades, The Express Tribune reported.

2025-12-27T04:44:15.017845+00:00 IST

Governance gaps hurting Pakistan’s economy, urgent reforms needed

Pakistan requires immediate, coordinated and practical governance reforms to rebuild public trust, strengthen state institutions and improve economic performance, according to a comprehensive analytical review released by the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan (ICMA), The Express Tribune reported on Saturday.

2025-12-27T03:52:35.329628+00:00 IST

Taiwan detects 13 sorties of Chinese aircraft, 7 naval vessels a

In a post on X, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) said that 13 sorties of Chinese PLA aircraft and seven PLAN naval vessels were spotted operating around Taiwan until 6 am (local time).

2025-12-27T01:16:21.885421+00:00 IST