South Korea has reported a record-breaking increase in its birth rate for the first five months of 2025, according to officials from Statistics Korea, as shared with AFP on Wednesday. The number of newborns in the country surged significantly, marking a notable shift in a long-standing demographic trend. Data Overview Period Number of Newborns Growth […]

A drone deployed by Myanmar’s military junta, which was targeting anti-coup fighters, crashed over the border into Thailand, prompting a formal protest from the Thai government. The incident, which highlights the increasingly hazardous spillover from Myanmar’s ongoing civil war, has raised concerns over security along the 2,400-kilometre (1,500-mile) frontier. Ongoing Spillover from Myanmar’s Civil War […]

The United States and Indonesia have reached an agreement to reduce tariffs and ease export restrictions on critical minerals, marking a significant development in trade relations between the two nations. The White House confirmed the deal on Tuesday, with President Donald Trump calling it a “huge win” for American companies. The deal, which was first […]

The United States announced on Tuesday that a senior envoy will travel to Europe this week for critical discussions focused on achieving a ceasefire and finalising a humanitarian aid “corridor” for war-torn Gaza, where famine is increasingly reported and authorities say civilians are dying of starvation. Steve Witkoff, an international negotiator under former President Donald […]

Lief flowed freely on Tuesday as Maikel Olivera, a 37-year-old Venezuelan national, returned to his family’s embrace after enduring four harrowing months in a Salvadoran prison. His release marked the end of a terrifying ordeal which he described as “hell”, endured alongside 251 fellow Venezuelan migrants. These migrants were recently repatriated from the notorious Centro […]

Ukrainian and Russian delegations are expected to meet in Istanbul on Wednesday for a third round of peace negotiations, marking their first face-to-face meeting in over seven weeks. This renewed diplomatic attempt comes amid heightened pressure from the United States to achieve a ceasefire, although expectations for any meaningful breakthrough remain low. Despite previous efforts […]