Top Asian News 1:20 a.m. GMT

Survivors still being found from Myanmar earthquake, but hopes begin to fade as deaths exceed 2,700

BANGKOK (AP) — Rescue workers saved a 63-year-old woman from the rubble of a building in Myanmar’s capital on Tuesday, but hope was fading of finding many more survivors of the violent earthquake that killed more than 2,700 people, compounding a humanitarian crisis caused by a civil war. The fire department in Naypyitaw said the woman was successfully pulled from the rubble 91 hours after being buried when the building collapsed in the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that hit midday Friday. Experts say the likelihood of finding survivors drops dramatically after 72 hours. The head of Myanmar’s military government, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, told a forum for relief donations in Naypyitaw that 2,719 people have now been found dead, with 4,521 others injured and 441 missing, Myanmar’s state MRTV television reported.

Chinese military conducts large-scale drills around Taiwan

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — The Chinese military conducted large-scale drills in the waters and airspace around Taiwan on Tuesday that included an aircraft carrier battle group, as it again warned the self-ruled democracy against seeking formal independence. The exercises involved navy, air ground and rocket forces and were meant to be a “severe warning and forceful containment against Taiwan independence,” according to Shi Yi, a spokesperson for the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command. No operational name for the drills was announced nor previous notice given. China considers Taiwan a part of its territory, to be brought under its control by force if necessary, while most Taiwanese favor their de facto independence and democratic status.

A fireball from a burst gas pipeline in Malaysia injures 145 people

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — A fireball that erupted from a burst gas pipeline soared into the sky outside Malaysia’s largest city and injured 145 people as it burned for several hours before being put out, authorities said Tuesday. National oil company Petronas said the fire started at one of its gas pipelines outside Kuala Lumpur. The inferno caused 20-story flames and a huge crater in an empty area near a residential neighborhood. Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad was quoted by the New Straits Times daily as saying 145 people including three children were injured. He said 67 people were still being treated at public hospitals, mostly for second and third-degree burns, while 37 others sought treatment from clinics and private hospitals.

South Korea’s Constitutional Court will rule Friday on Yoon’s impeachment

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s Constitutional Court will rule Friday on whether to formally dismiss or reinstate impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol — a decision that either way will likely deepen domestic divisions. The court has been deliberating on Yoon’s political fate after the conservative leader was impeached in December by the National Assembly, which is controlled by the liberal opposition, over his brief imposition of martial law that triggered a massive political crisis. Millions of people have rallied around the country to support or denounce Yoon. Police said they’ll mobilize all available personnel to preserve order and respond to possible acts of vandalism, arson and assault before and after the court’s ruling.

What to expect after South Korea’s Constitutional Court rules on the impeachment of President Yoon

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s Constitutional Court is poised to rule Friday on whether to dismiss or reinstate impeached conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol. This will determine his political fate, but it doesn’t mean the turmoil caused by Yoon’s short-lived imposition of martial law is over. Over the last few months, millions of South Koreans have taken to the streets to rally for or against Yoon. Rival politicians have shaved their heads, launched hunger strikes and filed a slew of lawsuits against each other. Whatever the verdict is, the divisions will likely get worse at home. This will complicate South Korea’s efforts to deal with U.S.

A look at the events leading up to Constitutional Court’s ruling on South Korean President Yoon

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Following months of deliberation, South Korea’s Constitutional Court will decide this week whether to uphold the legislature’s impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his brief imposition of martial law in December and formally remove him from office or restore his presidential powers. Friday’s decision follows weeks of massive rallies in Seoul, with protesters deeply divided between calling for his ouster or reinstatement, as the political turmoil caused by Yoon’s authoritarian push paralyzed state affairs, disrupted high-level diplomacy and rattled an already ailing economy. Here is a timeline of events: The Constitutional Court says it will announce its decision on April 4 on whether to uphold Yoon’s legislative impeachment and formally remove him from office or reinstate his powers.

Italy’s biggest union joins prosecution of farm owner over death of Indian migrant worker

ROME (AP) — Italy’s main trade union confederation on Tuesday said it was joining the prosecution of a farm owner charged with the murder of an Indian migrant worker who bled to death after his arm was cut off by a piece of equipment. Antonello Lovato, 39, has been accused of abandoning the injured and bleeding Satnam Singh, 31, and failing to call an ambulance following the incident in Latina, a largely agricultural province south of Rome, on June 17, 2024. Prosecutors originally considered charging Lovato with manslaughter, but raised it to murder with malice after the fact since he was aware the actions could cause death.

Japan’s Ishiba says he will push for US auto tariffs exemption

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Tuesday his government is making last ditch efforts to get U.S. President Donald Trump to exclude his country from an increase in auto tariffs due to take effect from Wednesday. Ishiba told reporters he is willing to fly to Washington to negotiate directly with Trump. The U.S. will begin collecting 25% tariffs on auto imports on Thursday, with taxes on fully-imported cars kicking in at midnight, U.S. time. The tariffs are set to expand to applicable auto parts in weeks to come. So far, Japan has not managed to win exemptions from the tariffs hitlist despite its status as the biggest U.S.

US sanctions 6 Chinese and Hong Kong officials over rights abuses. Beijing threatens to retaliate

HONG KONG (AP) — The United States sanctioned six Chinese and Hong Kong officials who it alleged were involved in “transnational repression” and acts that threaten to further erode the city’s autonomy. The six officials included Justice Secretary Paul Lam, security office director Dong Jingwei and police commissioner Raymond Siu. The sanctions are expected to further escalate tensions between Washington and Beijing, who are already locked in friction over trade tariffs and other issues like Taiwan. “Beijing and Hong Kong officials have used Hong Kong national security laws extraterritorially to intimidate, silence, and harass 19 pro-democracy activists who were forced to flee overseas, including a U.S.

A former South Korean lawmaker accused of sexual assault has been found dead

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A former South Korean lawmaker who had been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2015 has been found dead in Seoul, police said Tuesday. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said Chang Je-won was found dead in a studio in the eastern part of the capital Monday night and that a note was discovered at the scene. Police didn’t provide further details, citing the investigation into his death. Chang served three terms as a conservative lawmaker and was a key ally of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. He had been accused of sexually assaulting the woman at a hotel in November 2015, when he was vice president at a university in Busan.