Top Asia Pacific Breaking News: Latest Updates

MANILA, Philippines (AP) - The Philippines unveiled a major coast guard base Thursday on an island in the South China Sea to serve as a "steadfast sentinel of our sovereignty" in a disputed region closely guarded by China's forces. Chinese officials did not immediately react to the Philippines' opening of its coast guard district command on Thitu Island, which has been occupied by Filipino forces and civilians for decades but is also claimed by Beijing. Chinese coast guard and other government-linked ships frequently patrol outlying waters off the island, which is also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan. Chinese and Filipino forces have had tense but mostly minor confrontations in outlying waters in the past.

FUJIYOSHIDA, Japan (AP) - The trouble started with a beautiful photo. Social media was soon awash with the lovely view of Japan's snow-capped Mount Fuji looming over a red pagoda and the short-lived cherry blossoms that herald the approach of spring. Tourists wanting a similar shot soon packed this peaceful town at the foot of the mountain. The complaints were not far behind: chronic traffic jams; piles of litter; ill-mannered foreigners knocking on doors of private homes to borrow toilets; tourists relieving themselves in front yards. It got so bad officials in Fujiyoshida announced in February that they were canceling this year's annual cherry blossom festival, which started as a way to promote tourism a decade ago.

NAYPYITAW, Myanmar (AP) - Myanmar's parliament approved a cabinet Thursday that largely includes former generals and holdovers from the past military-led government under Min Aung Hlaing. Despite the formation of a new government following controversial elections in December and January, there's little signs of a return to civilian governance five years after he led the 2021 army takeover. Min Aung Hlaing will be sworn into office as president Friday, along with two vice presidents and cabinet members. Parliament Speaker Aung Lin Dwe said the appointments of 30 ministers were approved with no objections. According to the official list, 24 are current or former generals and military officers or are lawmakers from the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party.

NEW DELHI (AP) - Voters in India's Assam and Kerala states and the federally administered region of Puducherry began casting ballots Thursday in local elections seen as a test of support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party. The elections pit the BJP and its regional allies against a range of opposition parties. Assam and Puducherry are governed by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, while Kerala is ruled by the opposition. Two other opposition-ruled states, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, will vote later this month. The results for all five regions are expected May 4. The polls come while the public is concerned about rising energy costs and tighter cooking gas supplies due to the war in the Middle East.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - North Korea said Thursday its testing spree this week involved various new weapons systems, including ballistic missiles armed with cluster-bomb warheads, as it pushes to expand nuclear-capable forces aimed at rival South Korea. The report by North Korean state media came a day after South Korea's military said it detected North Korea firing multiple missiles from an eastern coastal area in its second round of launches in two days. North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency said the tests lasted three days starting Monday and also included demonstrations of anti-aircraft weapons, purported electromagnetic weapons systems and carbon-fiber bombs.

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - Australia has agreed to underwrite two companies buying fuel at inflated prices, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warning Thursday that supply disruptions would "have a long tail" even if the Iran ceasefire holds. The government had agreed to terms with Australia's largest suppliers Ampol and Viva Energy to underwrite contracts for gasoline and diesel bought on the spot market for prices above normal commercial rates, Albanese said. The government would also have the power to direct how that fuel was distributed, with a focus on regional and farming areas where gas stations have run dry in recent weeks, Albanese said.

SEOUL (AP) - Tens of thousands of BTS fans packed into a stadium near Seoul on Thursday to see the K-pop supergroup kick off their long-awaited world tour. Returning to the stage after a nearly four-year hiatus, RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook will perform a set drawing from both their catalog and new fifth album, "ARIRANG," their first since band members completed South Korea's mandatory military service. Despite pouring rain, the band's fans - including some hailing from Russia, the United States and Brazil - packed a stadium with a capacity for over 40,000 for the show, which marks the group's first headline tour performance since their 2021-22 Permission to Dance on Stage tour.

BEIJING (AP) - Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed not to escalate their conflict and to "explore a comprehensive solution" after several weeks of cross-border fighting that has killed hundreds of people, China's government said Wednesday after mediating talks. All the parties also agreed to keep the dialogue after seven days of peace talks mediated by China in the western Chinese city of Urumqi under China mediation, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said. "The three parties agreed to explore a comprehensive solution to the issues in the relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and clarified the core and priority issues that need to be addressed," Mao said during the daily briefing in Beijing.

HONG KONG (AP) - A subsidiary of a Hong Kong-based conglomerate started arbitration proceedings against Danish logistics and port group Maersk, accusing the company of aligning with Panama in a scheme to take over its port operations on the Central American country's critical canal. The Panama Ports Company, a unit of Hong Kong's CK Hutchison Holdings, said in a statement dated Tuesday that Maersk A/S had undermined a contract over the Hong Kong company's operations of ports at either end of the Panama Canal in order to pave the way for a new operator affiliated with Maersk to take over the Balboa terminal.

MUMBAI, India (AP) - Since it was first built in 1875, the Sassoon Dock in India's financial capital of Mumbai has been many things: a gateway for trade with the Persian Gulf, a bustling hub for traders and laborers, as well as a center for commerce in textiles, spices, and opium. More recently, it's been a major spot for the city's fish trade. But rarely has the harbor felt so muted. The boats sit crowded next to each other in the morning sun. Their colorful flags fluttering against the backdrop of Mumbai's high-rise skyline. Normally, the dock hums with life. Nets are unloaded.