Eastern Asia

Hong Kong, Chinese officials condemn sanctions imposed by US

Washington has imposed sanctions on Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam and other top officials, prompting a sharp rebuke from Beijing.

US sanctions Hong Kong leader and other officials

As well as Carrie Lam, the sanctions target Hong Kong Police commissioner Chris Tang and his predecessor Stephen Lo; John Lee Ka-chiu, Hong Kong's secretary of security, and Teresa Cheng, the justice secretary.

Japanese monk releases beatboxing musical outreach amid Covid-19 lockdown

Yogetsu Akasaka reinvents himself during the state of emergency imposed in Japan over the coronavirus pandemic, when both his work as a musician and a monk overseeing funeral and memorial services dried up.

Hiroshima marks 75 years since US atomic bombing

On August 6, 1945, the world's first atomic bombing by the United States hit the Japanese city of Hiroshima and killed 140,000 people.

ByteDance defends strategy after Trump calls for US ownership of TikTok

China accuses the United States of "bullying" over the popular video app TikTok's handling of user data after President Donald Trump ramped up pressure for its US operations to be sold to an American company.

WHO and China in discussions to trace origins of coronavirus

Scientists think the novel coronavirus likely jumped from a wild animal, such as a bat, via an intermediary species, possibly the anteater-like pangolin. However, China says a full investigation may have to wait until the pandemic is under control.

N Korea has 'probably' developed miniaturised nuclear devices: UN report

The report by an independent panel of experts monitoring UN sanctions said several countries, which it did not identify, believed North Korea's past six nuclear tests had likely helped it develop miniaturised nuclear devices.

China suspends extradition treaty with New Zealand

Beijing's reprisal comes after New Zealand joined countries like Canada, Australia and the UK in ending extradition agreements in response to China's national security law on the territory.

An elderly couple running a laundromat give new life to old clothes

Wan-ji Chang and Sho-er Hsu have gone viral on Instagram modelling clothes left behind at their laundromat, encouraged by their grandson Reef Chang.

Hong Kong issues arrest warrants for anti-Beijing activists

Local media said six activists were wanted on suspicion of secession or colluding with foreign forces, crimes that the new law punishes with up to life in prison.

Hong Kong's Lam delays election after barring opposition candidates

The delay has marked a setback for the anti-China camp, which had aimed to win a majority of seats in the legislature. Joshua Wong, one of the disqualified candidates, said their resistance will continue despite crackdowns under the new security law.

Taiwan's 'Mr Democracy' Lee Teng-hui dies

The former leader known for his efforts to create a non-Chinese identity for Taiwan has died at the age of 97. He had been hospitalised since February.