CHINA: Beijing today banned three United States companies, unmanned vehicle maker Saronic Technologies, satellite technology company Aerkomm and subsea engineering firm Oceaneering International, have been added to China’s “unreliable entity list,” effectively banning them from trade with China, according to a statement by the Commerce Ministry.

The ministry said the companies have “engaged in so-called military-technical co-operation with Taiwan, severely undermining China’s national sovereignty, security and development interests.”

VIETNAM: Typhoon Ragasa weakened into a tropical depression early today as it entered north-eastern Vietnam, but it is still expected to bring heavy rains across the country’s northern provinces.

By Thursday afternoon, the typhoon’s sustained winds had weakened to a maximum 34mph.

Officials in Vietnam warned of possible flash floods, landslides and flooding in low-lying areas.

INDIA: Authorities in India enforced security restrictions in two main districts in the remote Ladakh region today. The restrictions came a day after four people were killed and dozens injured when police clashed with hundreds of protesters demanding greater autonomy from the Indian government for the Himalayan territory.

Officials banned assembly of more than five people in Ladakh’s Leh and Kargil districts following the violent clashes on Wednesday.

Police detained at least 40 people in Leh following the clashes, officials said.

DENMARK: Drones flew over four Danish airports overnight on Wednesday into Thursday.

Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen called the incidents a “hybrid attack” because the flights all occurred within roughly the same timeframe.

Mr Lund Poulsen said that it appeared a “professional actor” was behind the “systematic” flights. Authorities said there was no danger to the public.