UN committee recommends listing Great Barrier Reef as ‘in danger’

Australia to challenge recommendation, accusing UN officials of backflipping on their assurances ahead of the World Heritage Committee’s 44th session in China next month.

Myanmar army surround anti-junta resistance base in Mandalay

Since the army seized power in February and removed the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, groups of coup opponents known as “people’s defence forces” have sprung up across Myanmar.

Hong Kong leader Lam lashes out at criticism over Apple Daily raid

Apple Daily, the embattled anti-Beijing newspaper, has asked authorities to unfreeze some of its assets so it can pay salaries and avoid labour violations, and that its board will meet on Friday to decide if the newspaper will cease operations.

Taliban takes control of key Afghan district amid US troop withdrawal

Dozens of districts have fallen to the Taliban since early May when the US military began its final troop withdrawal.

Afghan official: Taliban fighters 'at gates of' northern Kunduz city

Taliban takes up positions on highways that connect strategic Kunduz city to neighbouring provinces, officials say, as fighting escalates between insurgents and government troops.

Hong Kong's Apple Daily to 'shut down' after asset freeze

Anti-China newspaper will shut its operations by Wednesday after authorities froze company's assets and most of its employees resigned, local media report.

Armenian PM's party far ahead in early election results

Early results from a post-war snap parliamentary vote in Armenia showed Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's party leading with 58.5 percent of the vote, far ahead of ex-president Robert Kocharyan's alliance with 18.5 percent.

Karzai: US has failed in Afghanistan

In a scathing interview, Afghanistan's former president Hamid Karzai offers frank assessment of US presence in his country.

Armenia votes in parliamentary election called after war defeat

The snap parliamentary election was called by Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in a bid to resolve public anger over the peace deal he signed after the disastrous war with Azerbaijan that triggered months of protests demanding his resignation.

Taliban: Only 'genuine Islamic system' can lead to Afghan peace

The Afghan Taliban said they are committed to peace talks as officials raised concerns over the stalling negotiations between the militants and government representatives in Qatar ahead of foreign troops' withdrawal in September.

US triples vaccine quota for Taiwan with 2.5M-dose shipment

The US shipment comes at a time when Washington has been working with Taipei to create secured supply chains for strategic items such as computer chips.

Media execs charged with national security law denied bail in Hong Kong

Chief editor Ryan Law and CEO Cheung Kim-hung are accused of colluding with foreign forces to undermine China's national security over a series of articles that police said called for international sanctions.