Rubio defends Russia talks and criticism of Zelensky
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio pushed back against accusations that the Trump administration has given in to Russia even before talks on ending the Ukraine war begin, saying Washington first wants to see whether Moscow was "serious".
Read moreOnly one in six Japanese citizens has a passport, data shows
Only around one in six Japanese citizens hold valid passports, fresh data shows, with the number of residents travelling abroad slowly recovering but still below pre-pandemic levels.
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Mongolians warm up on culture at new winter festival
A festival in a frigid park on the edge of the world's coldest capital in February might not sound like a crowd-puller -- but in Mongolia an inaugural celebration of nomadic culture was in fine fettle this week.
Read moreAsian markets advance as Alibaba fuels Hong Kong tech rally
Asian markets rose Friday, with Hong Kong leading the way thanks to a surge in tech stocks led by ecommerce titan Alibaba.
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Japan cabinet approves 'emergency' urban bear shootings
Japan's cabinet approved a bill Friday allowing hunters to shoot bears in populated areas at their own discretion after human encounters with the wild animals hit record levels.
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Australia says China warned of 'live fire' drill off east coast
China warned Australia Friday of potential "live fire" naval drills in international waters off the eastern coast, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, as commercial flights were told to steer clear of the area.
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Pakistan face India in Champions Trophy clash with no room for error
Pakistan face arch-rivals India in a Champions Trophy blockbuster on Sunday in front of a sell-out Dubai crowd knowing that another defeat will virtually end their title defence.
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Nepal community fights to save sacred forests from cable cars
They appear tranquil soaring above Himalayan forests, but a string of cable car projects in Nepal have sparked violent protests, with locals saying environmental protection should trump tourism development.
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Trump tariffs leave WTO adrift in eye of the storm
The World Trade Organization's entire mission is overseeing global trade, but US President Donald Trump's tariff offensive has left it adrift.
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'Just two glasses': In Turkey, lives shattered by bootleg alcohol
Taskin Erduan thought he'd got a bargain: three litres of vodka for around $15. But it took only two glasses to kill the 51-year-old hairdresser who worked at an Istanbul salon.
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