Asia
China’s economy accelerates on robust exports as domestic weakness persists
China said Monday that its economy grew 4.5% for the July-September quarter from a year ago fueled by robust exports, moving closer to meeting its official annual growth target as the year nears its end.
Trucks line up as long-delayed China-North Korea bridge officially opens
China and North Korea officially marked the long-delayed opening of their most significant land border crossing on Thursday, aiming to rejuvenate trade and commerce after years of soured ties and pandemic-related disruptions to cross-border exchange.
China opens a joint airfield in Laos with construction ongoing and eyes on its military role
China’s new airfield in Laos is a work in progress, with satellite imagery showing many areas where construction appeared to be ongoing even as it was officially opened at a September ceremony.
North Korea says it tested cruise missiles designed to be fired from submarines
It’s unclear whether North Korea is capable of building the systems necessary for underwater missile launches, which would be more difficult for its neighbors to detect.
Taiwan says it plans to buy liquefied natural gas from Alaska pipeline project
Taiwan plans to buy 6 million metric tons (6.6 million U.S. tons) of liquefied natural gas annually from a U.S. project after extraction and could invest up to $4.4 billion in it, its economic affairs ministry said Wednesday, in what U.S. President Donald Trump touted as “one of the biggest deals ever made.”
Singapore pollution spikes and East Timor shuts schools as Indonesia wildfire haze intensifies
Pollution readings in Singapore reached their highest level this year on Wednesday while East Timor shut its schools for three days in response to intensifying smoke and haze from Indonesia’s wildfires.
U.S. halts prosecution of former CIA analyst accused of aiding South Korean intelligence
Federal prosecutors said Sue Mi Terry shared nonpublic government information and accepted luxury gifts in exchange for advocating South Korean government positions.
Indonesia relocates 8 orangutans into protected forest after rescue from wildfires
Eight endangered orangutans were released into a protected forest weeks after wildfires destroyed large swaths of their habitat in Indonesian Borneo, a conservation group said.
Why a wave of ‘cockroach’ protesters are defying India’s bid to stamp out their movement
Several leaders of India’s “cockroach” youth movement were detained in New Delhi on Tuesday after they entered a historic protest site in defiance of a police order, calling for the resignation of India’s election chief over the removal of 130 million people from the country’s voter lists.
North Korea’s Kim showcases missile capable of reaching U.S. as Trump signals possible meeting
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited a defense industry museum displaying an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States, state media KCNA showed Tuesday.