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North Korea 'detains American citizen'

An American citizen has been detained in North Korea as he tried to leave the country, South Korean media say.

The man was identified only by his surname, Kim.

What appeared to be new intercontinental ballistic missiles were paraded on Saturday
What appeared to be new intercontinental ballistic missiles were paraded on Saturday

N Korea missile launch fails day after military parade

A North Korean missile has detonated soon after launch, South Korean and US military officials have said, a day after Pyongyang warned the US amid rising tension in the region.

The US said a ballistic missile exploded within seconds of launch.

Hours earlier, North Korea paraded what appeared to be long-range ballistic missiles at a major military display.

North Korea warns US of 'powerful nuclear deterrent'

A North Korean official says his country is ready for war if the United States attacks as a US aircraft carrier group heads for the region. There is speculation that Pyongyang may conduct a sixth nuclear weapons test on Saturday.

Vice Foreign Minister Han Song-ryol told the Associated Press that  North Korea changed its military strategy two years ago when reports emerged of US-South Korea "decapitation-strike" training to stress pre-emptive actions of its own.

Pictures released by North Korea's state news agency show Kim Jong-un at the engine test
Pictures released by North Korea's state news agency show Kim Jong-un at the engine test

North Korea missile launch fails

A North Korean missile launch has failed, South Korean defence officials say, but it is unclear how many were fired or what exactly was being tested.

The US military said it detected a missile which appeared to explode within seconds of being launched.

The corruption scandal involving Park has plunged the country into political turmoil [Lee Jin-man/AP]
The corruption scandal involving Park has plunged the country into political turmoil [Lee Jin-man/AP]

Critics of South Korea's ousted Park call for her arrest

All eyes were on Seoul's presidential Blue House on Saturday as South Koreans awaited ex-president Park Geun-hye's reaction to her impeachment and preparations to move into her private residence.

Election authorities expressed concern over growing tensions in the lead-up to polls to elect a new president, while newspaper editorials called for an end to ongoing street protests.

A third person died on Saturday in hospital after clashes between pro-Park supporters and riot police, near the Constitutional Court which confirmed Park's impeachment.

Buddhist monk Wirathu is seen in a supporter's home in Yangon in 2015 [Soe Zeya Tun/Reuters]
Buddhist monk Wirathu is seen in a supporter's home in Yangon in 2015 [Soe Zeya Tun/Reuters]

Myanmar restricts Buddhist monk over hate speech

A Myanmar monk infamous for his bilious anti-Muslim tirades has been banned from giving sermons for a year by the country's top Buddhist body, an unprecedented slapdown on a man whose hate speech has galvanised religious tensions.

Wirathu, a monk once dubbed the "face of Buddhist terror", has led calls for restrictions on Myanmar's Muslim population, penning hyperbolic speeches warning of an Islamic takeover of the overwhelmingly Buddhist country.

A huge motorcade took Ms Park to her home in southern Seoul
A huge motorcade took Ms Park to her home in southern Seoul

Outsted South Korean leader leaves presidential palace after impeachment

Ousted South Korean leader Park Geun-hye has now left the presidential palace, two days after judges upheld parliament's decision to impeach her.

Ms Park, who has still not commented on the ruling, arrived at her home in southern Seoul amid waving supporters.

She has been impeached over her role in a corruption scandal involving close friend, Choi Soon-sil.

Ms Choi (centre) has been accused of bribery and corruption
Ms Choi (centre) has been accused of bribery and corruption

South Korea president Park Geun-hye ousted by court

South Korea's President Park Geun-hye has become the country's first democratically elected leader to be forced from office. Judges unanimously upheld parliament's decision to impeach Ms Park over her role in a corruption scandal involving her close friend, Choi Soon-sil.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) arrived with Premier Li Keqiang (right)
Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) arrived with Premier Li Keqiang (right)

China cuts growth target to 6.5% this year - Premier Li Keqiang

The Chinese growth target for this year has been cut to around 6.5%, down from 6.5 to 7% last year, Premier Li Keqiang has announced.

He was addressing the country's rubber-stamp parliament, the National People's Congress (NPC), which has gathered in Beijing for its annual session.

The Chinese economy expanded at its slowest pace in 26 years in 2016.

The landslide was caused by heavy rainfall, said authorities

Twelve killed in Bali village landslide in Indonesia

Twelve people, including two children, have been killed in a landslide on the popular Indonesian tourist island of Bali.

The landslide hit several villages in the Kintamani area at about 23:00 on Thursday (1500 GMT).

Man killed by tiger in Chinese zoo

A man has been mauled to death by a tiger after he entered its enclosure at a zoo in eastern China.

The tiger was then shot dead by a special forces unit from the local police, in the Sunday incident at the Youngor Zoo in the city of Ningbo.

China birth rate up after one-child rule change

Birth rates in China rose to their highest level since 2000 last year, despite a fall in the number of women of childbearing age, say officials.

The increase follows the relaxation of China's strict one-child policy a year ago.

Iraqi troops have made swift advances through the city in recent days
Iraqi troops have made swift advances through the city in recent days

Russia and Turkey in joint Syria strikes

The Iraqi army says it is preparing military operations to retake western Mosul, the last urban stronghold in Iraq of so-called Islamic State. The preparations follow a recent offensive which officials said on Wednesday had recaptured nearly all of the city's east.

The boat's passengers were returning from the Makar Sankranti celebrations [File: EPA]
The boat's passengers were returning from the Makar Sankranti celebrations [File: EPA]

India: Dozens drown as packed boat capsizes in Ganges

At least 19 people have died in India's eastern state of Bihar after a boat sank in the Ganges River, according to police.

Duterte won the 2016 presidential election on a platform of fighting the illegal drugs menace [RTVM]
Duterte won the 2016 presidential election on a platform of fighting the illegal drugs menace [RTVM]

Duterte: No one can stop me from declaring martial law

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has said he would consider declaring martial law if the drug problem deteriorates, adding "no one can stop" him from making such a decision.

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