Location · 61 published stories · 19 outlets · All places
According to the Henley Passport Index, South African passport holders can travel to 101 destinations without a prior visa. The ranking places the country 50th or 96th globally, depending on the report, with regional highlights across Africa, Asia, the Americas, and the Caribbean.
China has unveiled plans for a massive ring road spanning over 25,000km along its land borders and coastline, aiming to boost development and national unity. The project, set for completion by 2030, will pass through regions with large ethnic-minority populations and faces geopolitical and ecological challenges.
At an APEC digital technology and AI forum in Chengdu, ministers issued a statement supporting open-source AI models, a rare consensus in a field often framed as a US-China contest. Across Asia, governments and start-ups are building on open Chinese systems, attracted by lower costs and local data control.
Myanmar's President Min Aung Hlaing completed a two-day visit to Thailand, his first since becoming civilian leader, aiming to gain regional legitimacy. The trip included a business forum and military talks, but critics say it is unlikely to change Myanmar's international standing.
Myanmar's detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi met with an International Committee of the Red Cross representative in Naypyitaw, marking her first publicized contact with a foreign official since the 2021 military coup. The meeting, announced by the government, has drawn cautious hope from her son, while questions remain about her health and the circumstances of the visit.
Kaohly Her, the first female mayor of St Paul, faces an independent investigation after a second senior police official alleged sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct. The new claims, reported by the Minnesota Star Tribune, describe a sexualized work environment and specific incidents, while an earlier complaint by Police Chief Axel Henry included allegations of inappropriate messages.
The UN migration agency said criminal networks are trafficking hundreds of thousands into online scam centres in South-East Asia, luring educated English speakers with fake job ads on social media. Victims face confiscated passports, physical abuse, and debt bondage, while global losses from such scams are estimated between $88bn and $114bn annually.
Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has denounced the ASEAN Regional Forum's call for denuclearization, stating that North Korea's status as a nuclear state is final and irreversible. She vowed to continuously update the country's nuclear capability, while analysts suggest the rebuke signals ASEAN's waning relevance to Pyongyang.
South Korea's weather agency issued its highest-level heat wave warnings for Daegu and other southeastern areas as temperatures soared above 38°C. The warnings cover 17 regions, with officials reporting rising heat-related illnesses and livestock losses.
Nearly two years after six tourists died from suspected methanol poisoning in Laos, authorities have charged a distillery owner with running an illegal business and selling harmful products, but families of the victims say the investigation ignored key evidence and the punishment is inadequate.
ASEAN foreign ministers gathered in Manila to address regional security issues, overshadowed by renewed fighting between the US and Iran. The conflict has disrupted energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, prompting the Philippines to declare a national energy emergency. The bloc called for a ceasefire and discussed Myanmar, South China Sea tensions, and energy security.
Lao authorities say they lack evidence to lay charges over the deaths of six tourists from methanol-tainted alcohol in Vang Vieng, citing the absence of autopsies. While the distillery owner faces lesser charges, Australia expressed frustration, and the British government has launched a campaign warning tourists about methanol risks.
A Lao distillery owner charged over the methanol poisoning deaths of six tourists, including two Australian teenagers, could face as little as three months in prison, prompting Australian government frustration. Canberra has raised its travel advisory for Laos, warning of crime, methanol poisoning, and a lack of transparency in the justice system. The families of the victims have expressed devastation at the severity of the charges.
President Xi Jinping announced a new 29-nation coalition, the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO), at the World AI Conference in Shanghai, calling for global cooperation in AI development. The initiative includes 5,000 research projects for developing countries and is seen as part of China's broader efforts to shape global AI governance.
Lao authorities have charged a distillery owner in connection with the 2024 methanol poisoning that killed two Australian teenagers and four other tourists. The charges, which carry penalties of up to four years in prison, have drawn criticism from victims' families and international officials.
The death toll from a fire at a Bangkok pub has risen to 32, with dozens still hospitalized. Police are investigating possible negligence, including potentially obstructed emergency exits, while authorities believe an electrical short circuit in a ceiling air conditioner may have sparked the blaze.
A fire at the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao bar and restaurant in Bangkok on Sunday night killed at least 28 people and injured more than 70. Investigators are examining possible obstructions at exits and electrical issues as the cause, while Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said smoke was likely the main cause of death.
Decades after the Vietnam War-era bombing of Laos, unexploded cluster munitions continue to maim and kill civilians, hinder development, and shape the country's future. As Laos prepares to host an international conference on cluster munitions, the story of one victim underscores the ongoing human cost.
An 11-year-old boy crashed his parents' pickup truck into a group of Buddhist monks on a pilgrimage in northeastern Thailand, killing nine and injuring more than a dozen. Police have not filed charges as they investigate the incident, and the boy remains in custody, awaiting questioning by child protection officers.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer concluded a two-day visit to New Delhi, with both sides reporting substantial progress in talks on a bilateral trade agreement. The visit aimed to finalize an interim deal and set the stage for a comprehensive BTA, though challenges remain over farm sector access and tariff rates.