Tashkent recognized as the safest city in Central Asia

Tashkent has been officially recognized as the safest metropolis in Central Asia. According to the security rating compiled by the international analytical portal Numbeo based on the results of 2025, the capital of Uzbekistan recorded the highest result among all major cities in the region and ranked 51st in the world ranking. According to the […]

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Thai ruling party courts voters by vowing to end Cambodia conflict, close scam hubs

Bloomberg Thailand’s ruling party, which is seeking to retain power in next month’s election, has vowed to resolve the country’s conflict with Cambodia and clean up its image as a transit hub for trafficked scam victims. The conservative Bhumjaithai Party, which took power in September, has cast itself as the most suitable defender of Thai […]

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In Japan, fears of China’s antibiotics dominance spur calls for self-sufficiency

By Julian Ryall Medical professionals in Japan are concerned that China could dramatically ramp up trade pressure on Tokyo by adding antibiotics and ingredients for medicines to its list of exports subject to restrictions. Despite efforts over the last three years to increase domestic production of a range of commonly used medicines in Japan, the […]

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Philippines builds defense partnerships amid growing China aggression

MANILA: The Philippines and Japan have signed a new defense pact, adding to a growing list of security cooperation Manila has been forging with partner countries as it faces a growing Chinese presence in the disputed South China Sea. Philippine-Japan security ties have strengthened in recent years over shared concerns in the region, with the […]

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Bankim Chandra’s Vande Mataram to be main theme of India’s Republic Day parade

India has selected the national song Vande Mataram as the main theme for the Republic Day parade to be held in New Delhi on 26 January, marking 150 years since it was written. Bengali litterateur Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay composed Vande Mataram in the 1870s as a poem, and it remains a prominent cultural and patriotic […]

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Canada, China slash EV, canola tariffs in reset of ties

Canada and China struck an initial trade deal on Friday that will slash tariffs on electric vehicles and canola, as both nations promised to tear down trade barriers while forging new strategic ties during Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit. The first Canadian prime minister to visit China since 2017, Carney is seeking to rebuild ties […]

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Philippines enters its ‘hour of danger’ in Marcos vs Duterte clash

By Raissa Robles For the Philippines, 2026 promises to be a roller-coaster ride of political intrigue as President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr and his deputy lock horns in an existential clash that risks tanking the economy, dividing military loyalties and derailing Asean’s regional diplomacy. “It will be a very messy year both in politics and the […]

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China keeps pressure on Cambodia to target cross-border fraud and trafficking

By Zhao Ziwen Beijing is urging Phnom Penh to broaden its crackdown on Cambodia’s online fraud industry, keeping up pressure following the arrest and extradition to China of alleged fraud kingpin Chen Zhi. In a meeting with Phnom Penh’s interior and foreign ministers, Chinese ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin said criminal acts of online fraud, […]

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Uzbekistan Urges Diplomats to Actively Defend Citizens Abroad

By Sadokat Jalolova President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has directed Uzbekistan’s diplomats to take a more proactive role in protecting the rights of citizens living and working abroad, amid rising public concern over reported abuses during migration checks and raids in foreign countries. The issue was raised during a video conference chaired by Mirziyoyev on the performance […]

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Russian Foreign Ministry issues statement on Solovyov’s remarks on Central Asia

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova addressed comments by television journalist Vladimir Solovyov related to Central Asia and Armenia. Earlier, Russian television host Vladimir Solovyov had expressed that Armenia and Central Asia are more important to Russia than countries such as Syria or Venezuela, arguing that losing influence in these regions would pose a serious […]

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