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FRANCE 24’s coverage of political, social and geostrategic issues across Asia and the Pacific, including those affecting China, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, India, Pakistan and Australia.
Site URL: www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/
Feed URL: www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/rss
Posts: 62
Followers: 1
In Japan, support for the death penalty remains high
Published: March 3, 2026 13:22
Japan is one of the few countries that still use the death penalty. The most recent execution took place in June 2025, when a man was hanged for killing nine people back in 2017. Japan and the United States are the only G7 countries to use capital…
Kabul rocked by blasts as Afghan, Pakistani troops intensify border clashes
Published: March 3, 2026 05:02
AFP journalists in Kabul heard multiple explosions and gunfire on Tuesday as Afghan and Pakistani troops continued border clashes. Blasts echoed across the capital alongside anti-aircraft fire, while Afghanistan’s defence ministry said fighting with…
India and Canada strike 'landmark' uranium supply deal
Published: March 2, 2026 16:12
India and Canada on Monday agreed to a number of key trade accords that included cooperation on critical minerals and a "landmark" uranium supply deal for nuclear power, the countries' leaders said in New Delhi.
Pakistan deploys troops and imposes curfew after deadly Iran protests
Published: March 2, 2026 15:41
Pakistan on Monday deployed troops and imposed a three-day curfew in two northern cities following deadly protests sparked by the US-Israeli strikes that killed Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Several people were killed in violent protests…
The week in pictures: War in the Middle East, Trump’s State of the Union address and New York snow
Published: March 1, 2026 16:55
From the US-Israeli strikes on Iran to clashes along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, to Donald Trump’s State of the Union address and the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, FRANCE 24 looks back at the week's most striking…
Death of Ali Khamenei : Pro-Iranian regime protesters attack US consulates
Published: March 1, 2026 16:36
On Sunday in Karachi, at least nine protesters were killed during violent clashes outside the US consulate. The protesters rallied after US and Israeli strikes in Iran led to the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and attempted to force their way into…
Dubai influencers stunned by Iranian strikes
https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20260301-dubai-influencers-stunned-by-iranian-strikes
Published: March 1, 2026 16:25
Influencers gone to Dubai for its luxurious lifestyle are now watching, helpless and sometimes shocked, as Iran attacks the Gulf countries, retaliating against the large-scale Israeli-American air strikes operation that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Al…
War in Middle East: Tensions rise over Strait of Hormuz as tankers caught in crossfire
Published: March 1, 2026 15:33
At least three oil tankers sailing near the Strait of Hormuz came under fire Sunday as hundreds of vessels dropped anchor outside the narrow waterway between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. Tehran said it has closed navigation through the strait, used to…
With Khamenei dead, how will the Islamic Republic choose Iran's next supreme leader?
Published: March 1, 2026 13:35
After Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death in a wave of US-Israeli air strikes on Saturday, the Islamic Republic is having to choose a new supreme leader even as the bombardment continues. Here's what you need to know about Iran's tangled succession process.
'The limits of American power': Will killing Khamenei bring regime change in Iran?
Published: March 1, 2026 10:35
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed in a joint Israeli–US strike on Iran, a development that plunges the future of the Islamic Republic into uncertainty and heightens fears of wider regional instability. FRANCE 24 spoke with…
Live: Iran's chief of army staff and defence minister killed in airstrike, state TV says
Published: March 1, 2026 06:02
Iran's chief of army staff Abdolrahim Mousavi has been killed in airstrike targeting a meeting of the country's defence council, state TV reported on Sunday. Iran’s Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh is also reported to have died in the attack. Follow our…
Explosions heard in Kabul as Afghan forces open fire at Pakistani aircraft
https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20260301-explosions-kabul-afghan-forces-pakistani-aircraft
Published: March 1, 2026 03:18
An explosion and bursts of gunfire were heard in central Kabul on Sunday as the Taliban government said Afghan forces were responding to a new incursion by Pakistani aircraft. The unrest follows months of cross-border clashes that intensified on Thursday…
Iran supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei dies, killed in joint US–Israeli attack
https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20260301-iran-supreme-leader-ayatollah-khamenei-dies-killed
Published: March 1, 2026 01:53
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died at the age of 86 in a major attack on Iran launched by Israel and the United States, state media confirmed. As the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran since 1989, Khamenei was at the heart of the regime’s…
Iran strikes: Republicans back Trump’s strategy as Democrats warn of illegal war
Published: February 28, 2026 16:07
US Republicans rally behind Donald Trump over actions on Iran, while Democrats condemn the administration for what they call an illegal escalation, intensifying the partisan divide over America’s approach to the Middle East conflict.
US-Israeli strike on girls' school kills at least 85 students, Iran's judiciary says
Published: February 28, 2026 15:02
At least 85 students have been killed in US-Israeli strikes that hit an Iranian girls' school in Hormozgan province, Iran's judiciary said on Saturday. Washington has not commented on the reported strike.
What we know about the joint US-Israeli air strikes on Iran
Published: February 28, 2026 10:25
The US and Israel on Saturday launched a wave of air strikes against Iran, targeting what Israel said were dozens of military sites as well as the compound housing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose whereabouts remain unknown. Here is what we…
Live: Iran fires retaliatory missiles at Israel, US bases after air strikes
Published: February 28, 2026 06:38
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Washington had begun "major combat operations" in Iran after Israel and the United States launched a joint attack on the Islamic Republic Saturday. Tehran announced it is preparing to retaliate in response to…
Live: Two blasts rock Afghanistan's Jalalabad city as diplomatic efforts intensify
Published: February 28, 2026 06:03
Two loud explosions rocked Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday morning, as Pakistan said that 37 locations had been subject to aerial targeting since its operation began. This comes as the European Union called for both sides to de-escalate and…
Ignoring the optics: Modi stands firmly by Netanyahu in Israel
Published: February 27, 2026 16:40
In this edition of Access Asia, we explore what the recent visit by India's prime minister to Israel means for both sides. Narendra Modi's public embrace of Benjamin Netanyahu may have raised eyebrows at home, but it is part of New Delhi's broader…
Pakistan-Afghanistan 'open war': How and why we got here?
Published: February 27, 2026 13:29
Pakistan was once viewed as the sponsor and chief backer of Afghanistan’s Taliban movement. But when Islamabad declared “open war” on Kabul Friday, it marked a dramatic escalation of tensions between the two countries and underscored the regional security…
Philippines' ex-president Duterte killed thousands, ICC prosecutors say
Published: February 27, 2026 12:01
Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court on Friday said former president of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte killed thousands of people as part of a "war on drugs" campaign during his tenure as mayor of Davao city and then as leader of the country.…
Live: Pakistan strikes Kabul, declares ‘open war’ on Afghanistan after border clashes
Published: February 27, 2026 06:31
Pakistan conducted airstrikes in Kabul and three other Afghan provinces Friday, according to Afghan authorities, as Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif declared "open war" after his country ran out of “patience” following cross-border attacks.…
Why former Karabakh official Ruben Vardanyan isn't appealing his 20-year prison term in Azerbaijan
Published: February 26, 2026 21:05
Armenian-born billionaire Ruben Vardanyan was sentenced to 20 years in prison by an Azerbaijani military court on February 17 for his role in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh before it fell to Baku's forces in 2023. Speaking to FRANCE 24, his son…
Pakistan vows 'immediate response' after Afghanistan launches retaliatory attacks
Published: February 26, 2026 18:43
Pakistan said it would give an "immediate" response to a deadly attack on its forces by Afghanistan on Thursday, the latest in a series of ongoing border clashes between the neighbouring countries. Afghanistan said it had killed dozens of Pakistani…
Kim signals openness to US ties while calling South Korea ‘most hostile’
Published: February 26, 2026 00:34
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said on Thursday that Pyongyang could improve relations with Washington if its nuclear status is respected, while hardening his stance on Seoul by labelling it the country’s “most hostile” enemy. His remarks come amid…
North Korea's Kim pledges economic push as his sister is elevated at party congress
Published: February 25, 2026 22:48
Members of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party have been gathering in Pyongyang this week, where Kim Jong Un is pledging to boost the economy over the next fives years. While there's been no sign of his daughter, who's emerged as Kim's heir apparent, the…
Sri Lanka arrests ex-spy chief for ‘abetting’ 2019 Easter bombings
Published: February 25, 2026 06:17
Sri Lanks authorities on Wednesday arrested the country's former intelligence chief, Suresh Sally, for "conspiracy and aiding and abetting" the 2019 Easter bombings, which killed 279 people, according to an investigating officer. A whistleblower has…
Iran says students can protest, but must respect 'red lines'
Published: February 24, 2026 09:21
Iran's government said on Tuesday that students could continue protests but most not cross "red lines" such as disrespecting the national flag and other "sacred things". Students rallied at the start of a new semester on Saturday, following on from…
Canadian PM Mark Carney heads to India to boost trade and repair ties
Published: February 24, 2026 03:35
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney heads to India on Thursday for the first stop on an Asia–Pacific tour aimed at reducing trade reliance on the United States. Stops in Australia and Japan underscore Ottawa’s push to diversify alliances amid global…
Kim Jon-Un's sister promoted in rare North Korea party congress
Published: February 24, 2026 00:41
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, has been promoted within the ruling Workers’ Party, state media said on Tuesday, as a rare party congress in Pyongyang offers a closely watched window into the regime’s leadership dynamics and future…
'We have to avoid acts of provocation' with Cambodia, Thai FM says
Published: February 23, 2026 14:47
In an interview with FRANCE 24, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow called for de-escalation with Cambodia, warning that "further conflict means more losses". However, he dismissed Phnom Penh's territorial claims as "totally not correct" and…
China calls on US to cancel Trump-era tariffs following Supreme Court ruling
https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20260223-china-us-cancel-trump-era-tariffs-supreme-court
Published: February 23, 2026 03:32
China on Monday urged the United States to cancel unilateral tariffs announced by President Donald Trump after the US Supreme Court struck down many of his measures, ruling he lacked authority under a 1977 law. Trump responded by unveiling new global…
North Korea’s Kim re-elected Workers’ Party general secretary at congress
https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20260222-north-korea-kim-re-elected-ruling-party-congress
Published: February 22, 2026 22:49
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been re-elected general secretary of the ruling Workers’ Party at a rare congress, state media said Monday, calling the decision unanimous among delegates. KCNA said the country’s nuclear-based “war deterrence” had been…
Pakistan launches border strikes on Afghanistan
https://www.france24.com/en/pakistan-launches-border-strikes-on-afghanistan
Published: February 22, 2026 12:55
Islamabad said it carried out strikes along the border with Afghanistan early Sunday, targeting what it called hideouts of Pakistani militants it blamed for recent attacks inside Pakistan. The Afghan Red Crescent Society said more than a dozen people were…
Pakistan launches strikes in Afghanistan, ‘dozens’ killed and wounded, Kabul says
https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20260222-pakistan-launches-deadly-strikes-in-afghanistan
Published: February 22, 2026 05:15
Pakistan launched multiple cross-border strikes targeting "terrorist training camps and hideouts" in eastern Afghanistan, the information ministry said Sunday. Afghanistan's defence ministry said "dozens" of civilians, including women and children, were…
AI Summit in New Delhi, India: World leaders seek shared stance on AI
https://www.france24.com/en/ai-summit-in-new-delhi-india-world-leaders-seek-shared-stance-on-ai
Published: February 20, 2026 15:53
Dr Melanie Garson, Associate professor in international security, is our guest.
India AI summit in New Delhi: When AI amplifies the biases of users
https://www.france24.com/en/india-ai-summit-in-new-delhi-when-ai-amplifies-the-biases-of-users
Published: February 20, 2026 15:48
Rachel Adams, Founding CEOof thye Global Centre on AI Governance (GCG), is our guest.
World leaders, CEOs discuss AI governance at India summit: Who owns AI ?
https://www.france24.com/en/world-leaders-ceos-discuss-ai-governance-at-india-summit-who-owns-ai
Published: February 20, 2026 15:45
Antonio Casilli, Professor of Sociology, and Srinivas Kodali, Researcher, are our guests.
Dozens of fans flock to Japan zoo to see viral baby monkey Punch
Published: February 20, 2026 14:30
Dozens of fans flocked to a Japanese zoo on Friday to catch a glimpse of a baby macaque who shot to social media stardom months after being abandoned by his mother.
World leaders to present joint approach to AI at India summit close
https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20260220-global-leaders-joint-approach-ai-india-summit
Published: February 20, 2026 01:55
Dozens of world leaders and ministers are expected Friday to present a joint approach to artificial intelligence, concluding a five-day summit in New Delhi where industry figures urged faster oversight. OpenAI chief Sam Altman warned regulation is “urgent”…
Kim Jong Un opens North Korea’s 9th party congress, highlights economic gains
Published: February 19, 2026 23:49
North Korea has opened a major ruling party congress in Pyongyang, state media said on Friday, a rare gathering held roughly every five years that analysts say will set national priorities, including nuclear policy. The Workers’ Party congress is the…
North Korea flexes nuclear-capable rocket launcher ahead of key congress
https://www.france24.com/en/north-korea-flexes-nuclear-capable-rocket-launcher-ahead-of-key-congress
Published: February 19, 2026 12:04
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has unveiled a battery of huge nuclear-capable rocket launchers ahead of a key congress of the nation's ruling party, state media said Thursday. The 600-mm multiple launch rocket system was front and centre as preparations…
Pakistan becomes major drug hub as Afghanistan exports crisis
Published: February 19, 2026 11:36
Long considered a transit route, Pakistan is now emerging as a major hub for both drug production and consumption. This shift follows the upheaval triggered by the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
UK condemns 'appalling' 10-year sentence for British couple held in Iran
Published: February 19, 2026 08:07
A British couple detained in Iran since January 2025 have been sentenced to 10 years in jail for espionage, their family announced on Thursday. The UK government has condemned the prison terms for Lindsay and Craig Foreman as "completely appalling and…
Europe will be a 'safe space' for AI innovation, Macron tells India summit
Published: February 19, 2026 06:50
French President Emmanuel Macron told the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi that the EU would continue to "shape the rules of the game" regarding artificial intelligence in concert with allies, describing Europe as a "safe space" for innovation and investment…
North Korea's Kim Jon-Un unveils nuclear-capable rocket system
Published: February 19, 2026 02:54
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has unveiled a large array of nuclear-capable rocket launchers ahead of a rare congress of the ruling Workers’ Party, signalling the next stage of the country’s nuclear weapons programme.
South Korea sentences ex-president Yoon to life in prison for 2024 insurrection
Published: February 19, 2026 01:17
A South Korean court on Thursday found ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol guilty of leading an insurrection for his short-lived attempt to impose martial law in December 2024, sentencing the former leader to life imprisonment.
Court to deliver verdict in ousted South Korean president Yoon's insurrection trial
Published: February 18, 2026 21:58
South Korea's disgraced former president Yoon Suk Yeol could be banished to death row on February 19 when he faces court over his disastrous bid to impose martial law. Seoul's Central District Court will rule on insurrection charges against the…
Indonesia's picture-postcard island of Bali grapples with property frenzy
Published: February 18, 2026 12:37
Bali's picture-postcard image is cracking. On Indonesia's premium tourist resort, the race to build luxury villas and hotels has triggered an unprecedented property frenzy. Farmland is carved up into plots, coastline is privatised and bogus permits issued.
New Delhi and Kabul 'on the same page' for striking Pakistan, Pakistani defence minister says
Published: February 18, 2026 09:20
In an interview with FRANCE 24, Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif addressed the security situation in Pakistan, claiming that the terrorist attacks in the country are the result of a "proxy war" waged by India in complicity with the Taliban…
Macron's India charm offensive: Can defence deals draw Delhi closer to Europe?
Published: February 17, 2026 19:20
There’s trade deals, there's partnerships and then there's fighter jets. French President Emmanuel Macron is in Mumbai to put the finishing touches on a €30 billion sale of 114 Rafale jets. This third batch comes as France struggles to convince European…
From Lunar New Year prayers to high-tech displays, millions usher in the Year of the Horse
Published: February 17, 2026 17:47
Fireworks lit the skies and incense smoke filled the air as millions rang in the Lunar New Year on Tuesday. From bustling temple fairs in Beijing to a high-tech Spring Festival gala, the Year of the Horse began in a swirl of prayer, pageantry and…
Balancing act: How Modi’s strategic diplomacy boosts India’s influence
https://www.france24.com/en/balancing-act-how-modi-s-strategic-diplomacy-boosts-india-s-influence
Published: February 17, 2026 16:27
Narendra Modi has made India a diplomatic swing power, forging ties with both Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump while courting Europe and championing the Global South. Refusing to condemn Moscow and continuing to buy Russian oil, New Delhi’s…
France's Macron and India's Modi hail bilateral ties
https://www.france24.com/en/france-s-macron-and-india-s-modi-hail-bilateral-ties
Published: February 17, 2026 14:26
French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised growing ties as they met in Mumbai on Tuesday, balancing economic uncertainty upended by tariff policies under US President Donald Trump. FRANCE 24's Navodita Kumari reports…
France's Emmanuel Macron addresses press conference in India
https://www.france24.com/en/france-s-emmanuel-macron-addresses-ai-summit-in-india
Published: February 17, 2026 12:30
Watch French President Emmanuel Macron's speech in Mumbai, India.
Follow live: Macron, Modi hold joint press event in Mumbai on AI and defence
Published: February 17, 2026 11:25
French President Emmanuel Macron holds a joint press event with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai on Tuesday during his three-day visit focused on artificial intelligence cooperation, defence deals and strengthening strategic ties. Follow…
China rings in the Year of the Horse with colour and tradition
https://www.france24.com/en/china-rings-in-the-year-of-the-horse-with-colour-and-tradition
Published: February 17, 2026 10:37
With lanterns, red banners and traditional foods, China is ushering in the New Year. Tuesday marks the first day of the Year of the Horse, believed to bring optimism and opportunity. FRANCE 24's Jan Camenzind Broomby reports from the streets of Beijing.
Modi and Macron to hold talks on multibillion-euro fighter jet deal
https://www.france24.com/en/modi-and-macron-to-hold-talks-on-multibillion-euro-fighter-jet-deal
Published: February 17, 2026 10:22
All eyes are on India's Narendra Modi and France's Emmanuel Macron who are set to hold talks over a potential multibillion dollar fighter jet deal as the French president begins a three-day visit to New Delhi for an artificial intelligence summit, FRANCE…
Iran, US agree to 'guiding principles' for nuclear deal at Geneva talks
Published: February 17, 2026 03:32
Iran and the United States reached an understanding Tuesday on "a set of guiding principles" laying the groundwork for a broader deal during talks in Geneva, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Tuesday. This came as the US ramps up military…
Macron hails ‘acceleration’ of France-India ties amid ‘changing international order’
https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20260216-macron-visits-india-defence-ai
Published: February 16, 2026 22:57
French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday praised the "remarkable acceleration" of France's ties with India in response to the "changing international order". Macron met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai at the start of a three-day visit…
'India will have to find some ways to compensate Russia' in defence procurement pivot, expert says
Published: February 16, 2026 22:36
French President Emmanuel Macron begins a three-day visit to India on Tuesday, with talks focused on artificial intelligence cooperation and a potential multibillion-dollar Dassault Rafale fighter jet deal. France is seeking to expand its military…
Bangladesh's interim leader Yunus resigns, handing power to elected government
Published: February 16, 2026 16:56
Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus stepped down on Monday before handing over to an elected government led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its leader Tarique Rahman. Bangladeshi voters held national elections and endorsed sweeping…