US imposes sanctions on Cambodian tycoon over scam centers

washington — The United States announced sanctions on Thursday on Cambodian businessman and ruling party senator Ly Yong Phat as well as several entities over alleged abuses related to workers who were trafficked and forced to work in online scam ce[..]

US Attorney General says he won't let Justice Department be used as political weapon

WASHINGTON — Attorney General Merrick Garland said Thursday he will not allow the Justice Department to be used as a political weapon, as he denounced conspiracy theories and dangerous falsehoods targeting federal law enforcement

Exclusive interview: US boosts diplomacy, security support in Somalia

MOGADISHU, SOMALIA/WASHINGTON — In an exclusive interview, U

VOA interview: Chairman speaks on Republicans' Afghan withdrawal report

WASHINGTON — U

Gunmen kill Pakistan polio vaccinator and police guard near Afghan border

Islamabad — Gunmen in northwestern Pakistan killed an anti-polio worker and a policeman guarding him Wednesday, the second attack on healthcare teams trying to carry out a national immunization campaign against the paralytic virus

Afghanistan, Turkmenistan begin work on long-delayed gas pipeline

ISLAMABAD — Taliban-ruled Afghanistan and neighboring Turkmenistan on Wednesday marked the resumption of work on a long-delayed gas pipeline designed to run through the two countries, Pakistan and India

Vietnam death toll from Typhoon Yagi at 141 as Hanoi faces flood risk

HANOI, Vietnam — The death toll in Vietnam from Typhoon Yagi has risen to 141, the government said on Wednesday as it warned that flood waters were causing the Red River to rise rapidly and threaten to inundate downtown districts of the capital Hanoi[..]

Pope Francis' visit puts Indonesia's religious freedom under spotlight

JAKARTA, INDONESIA — During his three-day visit to Indonesia last week, Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, urged Indonesians to live up to the promise represented by the nation’s own motto — “Unity in Diversity

Vietnam's export hub factories may face weeks of disruption after Typhoon Yagi

HANOI, VIETNAM — Typhoon Yagi severely damaged a large number of factories and flooded warehouses in northern Vietnam's export-oriented industrial hubs, forcing plants to shut, with some expected to take weeks to resume full operations, executives sa[..]

Indonesia's dwindling middle class seen dimming economic outlook 

KARAWANG, Indonesia — Rahmat Hidayat lost his job when the shoe factory he worked for closed down last year in the industrial town of Karawang in Indonesia's West Java

China, Philippines to discuss South China Sea dispute amid clashes  

Taipei, Taiwan — As China is set to host bilateral talks with the Philippines this month, their South China Sea dispute is expanding from sea to air, increasing the risk of military confrontation, analysts warn

European business confidence in China is at an all-time low, report says 

HONG KONG — China must reprioritize economic growth and reforms and boost investor confidence by leveling the playing field for all companies in the country, a European business group said Wednesday

Samsung Electronics plans global job cuts of up to 30%, sources say

SEOUL/NEW DELHI — Samsung Electronics, the world's top maker of smartphones, TVs and memory chips, is cutting up to 30% of its overseas staff at some divisions, three sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters

Threats in Indo-Pacific fuel debate over US nuclear redeployment

washington — Threats from China, Russia and North Korea have fueled debate in Washington about whether the United States should consider redeploying tactical nuclear weapons to the Indo-Pacific region, with leading U

North Korea fires ballistic missile toward sea, South Korea says

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the sea Thursday morning, South Korea's military said, days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to put his nuclear force fully ready for battle with its rivals