New Zealand tightens English standards, widens philanthropy options for visas

The changes cover the Accredited Employer Work Visa and the Active Investor Plus Visa Growth category.

Oil slips to 2-week low as US-Iran talks continue, but no peace deal yet

Oil prices slid on optimism that the US and Iran were moving closer towards a peace deal, even though they remained at odds over key issues.

From silver travel to gig carers, how 6 changemakers in Asia are reimagining what it means to age

With accessible travel in Taiwan, tech-enabled caregiving in Hong Kong and digital upskilling in Indonesia, communities in Asia are starting to redefine the ageing experience. These are just some of the initiatives backed by the DBS Foundation.

As Indonesia, Malaysia mull tougher visa rules to counter foreign criminals and scammers, what are potential drawbacks?

Indonesia and Malaysia are considering tighter visa and immigration rules to combat criminal networks and scam syndicates that make use of foreigners, but experts caution that there are diplomatic and economic costs to consider.

Rubio accuses Hezbollah of trying to ‘drag Lebanon back into chaos’

“The era in which a terrorist group held an entire nation hostage is coming to an end,” Mr Rubio said.

She was told to marry in a country which bans girls' education. So she got in a taxi and fled

Nearly five years on from the school ban, young women say they have waved goodbye to their dreams.

Climbing to the top: Who’s next after Anwar

An election in Malaysia is due only in 2028 but contenders to PM Anwar Ibrahim's throne are already plotting their way to the top.

Chinese tech giants dangle record pay packets to court Singapore-trained AI graduates

China faces a 4 million shortfall in AI workers by 2030 and is looking to Singapore campuses to help fill the gap.

Netanyahu says Trump agrees Iran deal must remove nuclear threat

Posting on Telegram, Netanyahu said this would require dismantling Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities and removing enriched nuclear material from its territory.

Turkey orders police to evict ousted opposition leadership from headquarters

China launches rocket to send astronaut on year-long space mission as it eyes 2030 moon landing

The Shenzhou-23 mission will see a Chinese astronaut spend a full year in orbit for the first time.

GOP hawks alarmed as Trump mulls deal to end his Iran war

President Donald Trump revealed over the weekend that he is mulling a deal that would end his war with Iran, and some hawks within the Republican Party are expressing alarm. According to a Sunday report in The New York Times, many details of the agreement to end the war remain

China’s Xi attacked Japan’s rearmament during Trump summit, report says

Mr Xi’s criticism was the most heated part of the summit and caught US officials by surprise.

Europe needs to assume it’s on its own – and plan accordingly

If anyone still needed proof that the United States is an unreliable military partner, Donald Trump’s dizzying changes of mind about American troop deployments to Europe have gold-plated the evidence. Within just one week, the United States first said it was canceling the

China launches three-crew space flight as part of Moon ambitions

One of the crew will spend a full year in orbit to study the long-term effects of microgravity.

Thailand urges calm over S’pore’s Covid-19 spike; no severe outbreak from dominant NB.1.8.1 strain

Reported cases in Thailand have risen over the past month, but the number remains below the five-year median.

Anxious families await news of missing in China’s worst mining disaster in 16 years

Survivors say those running the mine – which the government is investigating – are “the worst”.

China’s worst mining disaster in almost two decades raises safety concerns

Toxic gases inside the mine shaft in Shanxi had exceeded safety limits for a long time.

Bangladesh invites bids for oil and gas exploration amid fuel crunch

The South Asian nation imports 95 per cent of its oil and gas, much of it from the Middle East.

One killed and many feared trapped under collapsed building in Philippines

A Malaysian man has died and about 20 people are feared trapped at the site near Manila, officials say.

Japan plans to scour social media to crack down on overstayers, illegal workers

It plans to establish a unit dedicated to cyber patrols.

Thailand to quarantine travellers from Congo even if they have no Ebola symptoms

As at May 22, it had recorded 10 travellers arriving from Ebola-affected areas, with all showing no symptoms.

India voices concern on US visas but sees alignment with top diplomat Rubio

US President Donald Trump has ramped up restrictions on visas used by Indian tech workers.

India, US discuss Middle East, trade as Rubio cites progress on Iran conflict

US top diplomat Marco Rubio said progress had been made on an outline that could help resolve the situation around the Strait of Hormuz

Eight men, including 2 Singaporeans, arrested in drug raid at KL hotel after guest dies

All suspects have been remanded for three days to assist in investigations.

Five in Bangladesh ambulance killed after collision with bus

All the victims were passengers of the ambulance.

Vietnamese police bust laughing gas trafficking ring with $1 million in turnover

Investigators found that the network operated through sophisticated and organised methods.

At least 24 killed in Pakistan train blast claimed by separatist militants

May 24 - A bomb blast hit a shuttle train carrying Pakistani security personnel and their families in the southwestern province of Balochistan on Sunday, officials said, in the latest major attack claimed by separatist militants.

Malaysia considering legal action against Facebook over ‘lack of cooperation’ to address scams

Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to get in touch with Facebook on the matter.

Seven trapped in Laos cave after heavy rain triggers flash floods

An eight villager who managed to escape informed local leaders and the authorities about the others.

Blast targeting train kills at least 20 in Pakistan

Officials say the train had been transporting military personnel home for Eid when it was attacked by armed separatists.

Rescuers search for two still missing after China mine blast kills 82

The blast at the Liushenyu shaft in Shanxi province on Friday was the country's worst mining disaster in nearly two decades, with 247 workers underground at the time.

Three dead and 17 missing after flooding in China's Chongqing

BEIJING, May 24 - The death toll has risen to three with 17 missing following flooding in the Chongqing municipality of southwestern China, China's state-run Xinhua reported.

3 dead and 17 missing after flooding in China’s Chongqing

The affected district was hit with sudden extreme rainfall overnight between May 23 and 24.

Johor declares May 25 a public holiday after state football team wins Malaysia Cup

The team defeated Kuching City FC 2-0 in the final to secure their fourth straight Malaysia Cup title.

5 people die as fire erupts in shop in China’s Hunan province

The cause of the fire at the store in Hengyang is under investigation.

Taiwan, China coast guards in standoff at top of South China Sea

TAIPEI, May 24 - The Taiwanese and Chinese coast guards were engaged in a tense standoff for the second day near the strategically located Pratas islands at the top of the South China Sea, Taiwan's Coast Guard said on Sunday.

Chinese ship leaves after tense stand-off near Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands

Taiwan’s coast guard said on May 23 it had spotted a Chinese coast guard ship heading to the Pratas.

Blast targeting train carrying military personnel kills dozens in southwest Pakistan

An explosive-laden car hit one of the train carriages that resulted in a big blast, an official said.

Shark kills man at Australia’s Great Barrier Reef in third fatal attack in 2026

It comes a week after a man was killed by a shark while spearfishing in Western Australia.

Man dies after shark attack on Australia's Great Barrier Reef

CANBERRA, May 24 - A 39-year-old man has died after being attacked by a shark at the Great Barrier Reef on Sunday, police said, the second fatal shark attack in Australia this month.

Heatstroke kills 16 in India as temperatures climb

Temperatures in several cities have hovered well above 45 deg C..