Top Asian News 2:07 a.m. GMT

Trump to host Philippine president to discuss trade and security in Asia

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — President Donald Trump will host his Philippine counterpart in the White House “very soon” to discuss how the longtime treaty allies can further deepen their security and economic engagements, the Philippine ambassador to the U.S. said Friday. No date has been specified for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s meeting with Trump in Washington but Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez said that it would happen “very soon” this month. The allies have boosted mutual defense engagements, including large-scale combat exercises in the Philippines, to strengthen deterrence against China’s increasingly aggressive actions in the region. Among the proposed topics for discussion is strengthening “peace through deterrence,” Romualdez told The Associated Press by telephone, echoing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ’s remarks about the U.S.

Rubio says US and Russia have exchanged new ideas for Ukraine peace talks

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that the U.S. and Russia have exchanged new ideas for Ukraine peace talks after he met with his Russian counterpart in Malaysia Thursday. “I think it’s a new and a different approach,” Rubio told reporters after talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. “I wouldn’t characterize it as something that guarantees a peace, but it’s a concept that, you know, that I’ll take back to the president.” He didn’t elaborate. Rubio added that President Donald Trump has been “disappointed and frustrated that there’s not been more flexibility on the Russian side” to bring about an end to the conflict.

Bangladesh tribunal indicts ousted Prime Minister Hasina over deaths of protesters

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — A special tribunal indicted Bangladesh’s ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday by accepting charges of crimes against humanity filed against her in connection with a mass uprising in which hundreds of students were killed last year. A three-member panel, headed by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, indicted Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun on five charges. Hasina and Khan are being tried in absentia. Responding to the panel’s decision, Hasina’s Awami League party condemned the trial process and said the tribunal was a “kangaroo” court. The tribunal opened the trial on June 5.

What ex-South Korean leader Yoon faces following his new arrest over martial law

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Four months after his release, South Korea’s disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol was sent back to a detention center after a Seoul court issued a warrant for his arrest Thursday. Yoon’s brief, ill-fated imposition of martial law on Dec. 3 led to his indictment on charges that he directed a rebellion, which is punishable by life imprisonment or death. Prompted by concerns he might destroy evidence, Yoon’s arrest could mark the start of a prolonged period in custody as investigators pursue additional charges. Yoon defended his martial law decree as a necessary step to quash “anti-state” liberal opponents, accusing them of abusing their legislative majority to obstruct his agenda.

Japan urges China to stop flying fighter jets too close to Japanese military aircraft

TOKYO (AP) — Japan has demanded China stop flying its fighter jets abnormally close to Japanese intelligence-gathering aircraft, which it said was happening repeatedly and could cause a collision. Japan’s Defense Ministry said a Chinese JH-7 fighter-bomber flew as close to 30 meters (98 feet) to a YS-11EB electronic-intelligence aircraft of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force on Wednesday and Thursday. The ministry said it occurred outside Japanese airspace over the East China Sea and caused no damage to the Japanese side. China had no immediate comment on the latest incident. Previously, Beijing has alleged Japan flew close to its aircraft and was spying on China’s ordinary military activity and demanded Japan stop its actions.

Thousands celebrate baby hippo Moo Deng’s first birthday at a Thailand zoo

CHONBURI, Thailand (AP) — Thousands of excited fans flocked to a Thai zoo on Thursday to celebrate the first birthday of Moo Deng, the adorable baby pygmy hippo that has become a social media sensation. The Khao Kheow Open Zoo was overrun with Moo Deng fans on the first of four days of activities marking the hippo’s birthday. Children under 12 years old can enter the zoo, about a two hour drive from the capital Bangkok, for free throughout the extravaganza. Many of Moo Deng’s fans flew miles to see her. Among them was Molly Swindall, who traveled from New York for the celebrations.

Taiwan’s president watches live-fire drills with new US-made tanks

HSINCHU, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te watched live-fire drills with U.S.-made Abrams M1A2T tanks Thursday, as part of major annual exercises aimed at boosting the island’s ability to fend off threats from China. Four of the tanks fired individually, in pairs and as a group at a testing ground south of Taipei on the second day of the Han Kuang exercises that this year are the longest ever at 10 days. The tanks fire both while on the move and in a stationary position and at both stationary and moving targets, achieving 100% accuracy, according to the army.

Hong Kong police arrest 4 men linked to a Taiwan-based group and accuse them of subversion

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong police announced on Thursday that they arrested four people linked to a Taiwan-based group under a Beijing-imposed national security law, accusing them of conspiracy to commit subversion. Steve Li, Chief Superintendent of the National Security Department, said the arrests on Wednesday involved four men between 15 and 47 years old. They face up to life imprisonment if convicted. Police said their organization, reportedly called the Hong Kong Democratic Independence Union, was founded last year in Taiwan. The self-ruled island is one of the democratic territories where many Hong Kongers have emigrated to in recent years due to fears over Hong Kong’s sweeping security law.

Report on curbing antisemitism in Australia recommends threatening university funding

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australian universities would lose government funding unless they address attacks on Jewish students and potential immigrants would be screened for political affiliations under recommendations to the government made public on Thursday aimed at curbing antisemitism. Antisemitic incidents including assaults, vandalism, threats and intimidation had surged more than threefold in Australia in the year after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism Jillian Segal reported. Synagogues and cars have been torched, businesses and homes have been graffitied and Jews have been attacked in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia’s two largest cities where 85% of the nation’s Jewish population live.

Climate change makes South Asia’s monsoon season more prone to floods, landslides and heavy rains

BENGALURU, India (AP) — Each year from June to September, a series of heavy rains known as monsoons sweep through the Indian subcontinent, providing relief from heat, irrigating the country’s farms and replenishing its rivers. However, as global heat increases, the rain is becoming more erratic and intense, creating the conditions for deadly floods. Nearly 1,300 people died in India throughout 2024 due to heavy rain and floods. Hundreds of rain-related deaths have already occurred this year in the South Asian region, which includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Maldives and Nepal. Climate experts say the high temperatures and heavy rain are also contributing to the melting of glaciers in the mountainous Himalayan region, causing catastrophic flooding and landslides.