At least 32 dead after overcrowded bus plunges into ravine in Pakistan

The bus was travelling from Quetta to Peshawar, when it crashed in the Dana Sar mountain range.

Malaysia govt coup plot probe: Wife of ex-finance minister Zainuddin believed to be in Europe

Na’imah Abdul Khalid had earlier in 2026 rubbished claims of a plot to topple the government.

Sri Lanka arrests ex-navy chief on corruption charges

Wasantha Karannagoda also faces allegations of war crimes.

Pakistan syndicate allegedly smuggled human placentas, say police

The placenta was meant to be exported to be made into anti-ageing injections, say police.

Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing visits Laos in first trip to an ASEAN member state

Analysts say the visit is significant for regional geopolitical dynamics, as it signals a potential shift in how some members of the regional bloc are engaging with Myanmar's military-backed administration.

India investigating Tata data leak that exposed Apple iPhone secrets

India crèche worker arrested after allegations of putting toddlers in washing machine

The arrest came after videos allegedly showing crèche workers assaulting crying children surfaced online.

Signals beneath the noise

Subscribe now with a one-month trial for only $1, then enjoy the first year at an exclusive rate of just $99. Japan Inc. looks past the weak yenScott Foster writes that despite a 40-year low in the yen, rising bond yields and geopolitical headwinds, Japan’s corporate sector

Culture war killing America’s response to demographic decline

Birthright citizenship is the law of the land. The Supreme Court has once again ruled that the 14th Amendment gives automatic citizenship to anyone born in the US. This includes the children of illegal immigrants and temporary visa holders, both of which the Trump

China says Japan-India cooperation 'should not target' Beijing

"Cooperation between nations ... should not target or harm the interests of third parties," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said after talks between India and Japan.

China says Japan-India cooperation ‘should not target’ Beijing

Leaders of Japan and India earlier agreed to work more closely on critical minerals.

Drones spot sharks 73 times in two days off Sydney beaches

The authorities launched the expanded drone programme on July 1 after a spate of shark attacks.

Why coal-rich Indonesia can’t keep the lights on

A wave of rolling blackouts across Indonesia in mid-2026 has exposed one of the country’s biggest economic paradoxes: it is one of the world’s largest coal producers, yet it has struggled to secure enough fuel for its own power plants. Power outages across the Java-Bali grid —

China ramps up matcha production, seeks to surpass Japan in global market

The birthplace of tea is seeking to dominate the global matcha market.

Will the next Messi be a robot? RoboCup 2026 kicks off in South Korea

RoboCup 2026 kicked off on July 2 in Incheon with robot players.

China dismisses US, EU criticism of new ethnic law as ‘malicious smear’

The law, which went into effect on July 1, gives Beijing the basis to take action against people outside its borders.

China dismisses US, EU criticism of new ethnic law as 'malicious smear'

BEIJING/TAIPEI, July 3 - China dismissed U.S. and EU criticism of the country's new law on ethnic unity as a \"malicious smear\" and interference in its internal affairs on Friday, legislation one senior Taiwanese official likened to an imperial edict given its global sweep.

Surge in Indonesians seeking repatriation as Cambodia cracks down on scam centres

Cambodia has raided over 250 scam sites and deported nearly 50,000 foreigners.

Police probing daycare centre in India after videos show toddlers being put in washing machine

The alleged victims are toddlers between two and three years of age.

How drug gangs use social media to recruit Thai air crew as couriers

BANGKOK, July 3 - Early in the morning on June 18, a message from an unknown account slipped into the TikTok inbox of a flight attendant in Bangkok with a series of questions: \"Are you flying to Australia? Do you do carry-for-hire? What is your rate?\"

Alex Eala's historic Wimbledon run thrills boxing-obsessed Philippines

The 21-year-old has become the first Filipino to reach the third round of a Grand Slam in the Open era.

Forty killed as bus falls into ditch in Pakistan’s Balochistan

The bus was headed to national capital Islamabad from provincial capital Quetta.

Forty killed as bus falls into ditch in Pakistan's Balochistan

QUETTA, Pakistan, July 3 - Forty people were killed and eight others injured after a bus fell into a deep roadside ditch in Pakistan's southwestern province of Balochistan on Friday, a rescue agency and a government official said.

Malaysia PM Anwar announces $3 million boost for taxi industry rejuvenation

The Proton S70, a red sedan, has been selected as the country’s new official taxi model.

South Korean police officer accidentally kills woman she was sent to help

She ran over the collapsed woman with her patrol car around 12.45am on July 3.

Johor-Singapore SEZ master plan ‘should not be delayed further’, says chief minister in clash with government

Johor caretaker chief minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the launch of the zone’s master plan need not wait until the Singapore-Malaysia Leaders’ Retreat at the end of the year, prompting a swift rebuttal from Economy Minister Akmal Nasir.

S.Korea presidential office rejects Coupang, US claims of discriminatory treatment

SEOUL, July 3 - South Korea rejected claims by Coupang and a U.S. congressional report that the company was unfairly targeted over a massive data breach, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said on Friday at the presidential Blue House in Seoul.

Foreign man kissing female diver statue in Jeju sparks outrage

Video drew widespread criticism from Jeju residents and supporters of the island’s haenyeo culture.

India said to have issued notice to Telegram and Signal on concerns over usernames

Notices said to mark a further escalation of India’s policing of online platforms.

Crimea in emergency as Ukraine reaches for Putin’s ‘crown jewel’

Vladimir Putin has finally acknowledged that Ukraine’s relentless drone attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure are having an effect. Speaking to the ruling United Russia party on June 28, the Russian president confirmed that his country is facing “a certain shortage” of fuel

Taiwan lawmakers agree to review rival drone budgets

The opposition stripped out around $19b the govt had wanted for domestic drone procurement and other defence efforts.

Chinese firm UBTech sells hyper-real, 'always loyal' humanoid robots

The U1 robot can hold conversations and even be customised to resemble loved ones or celebrities. UBTech is targeting single people and those aged over 60, positioning the lifelike android as a companion to help combat loneliness.

Graft charges for pro-Duterte senator in the Philippines ahead of V-P impeachment trial

He is the second Duterte-aligned senator to be charged in just over a month.

South Korea’s president to attend NATO summit in Ankara and visit Mongolia

Lee Jae Myung will also attend the NATO defence industry forum and deliver a speech at a session.

South Korea's president to attend NATO summit in Ankara and visit Mongolia

SEOUL, July 3 - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will attend a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, from July 7 to 8, Seoul's national security adviser said on Friday.

Philippine sea strategy needs to put results above optics

Much has been said about the importance of the West Philippine Sea for Manila’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and resource access. However, there is a gap between those goals and the means to achieve them. The West Philippine Sea is Manila’s term for the portion of the

Heavy rain in Mumbai: Two dead including 11-year-old boy as govt issues orange alert

The authorities have advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel.

US envoy says Cook Islands minerals are a top priority

WELLINGTON, July 3 - The new U.S. ambassador to New Zealand and several Pacific island nations said on Friday that securing Cook Islands seabed minerals was a top priority, and that China's push for influence in the Pacific carried risks for small island states.

Indonesian military recovers body of American pilot killed by rebels in Papua

The West Papua National Liberation Army shot dead American pilot Nicholas F Gosselin and set his plane on fire after it landed in the Yahukimo region of Highland Papua province.

6.2-magnitude earthquake strikes off eastern Indonesia, no tsunami threat

The jolt struck around 58km west of Tobelo, in North Maluku province at 11.31am local time.

Russian attacks kill 4, injure 10 in Ukraine overnight, officials say

July 3 - Four people were killed and another 10 injured in Russian overnight attacks on Ukraine, officials said on Telegram in the early hours of Friday.

Malaysia’s low unemployment masks deeper crisis of underemployed graduates

Some 2.06 million people in Malaysia were in skill-related underemployment in 2024, a figure that is trending up.

Catholic order faces financial ruin in Australia over abuse claims

It halted abuse compensation, leaving some victims feeling like their “suffering is being extended”.

Alleged bullying death of 16-year-old in Indonesia renews fears of school violence

The 16-year-old died from a blunt-force injury to the head.

Cossacks, volunteers help keep order at petrol stations in Russian Black Sea resort

July 3 - Cossacks and volunteers have stepped in to help city officials and police keep order and prevent conflicts at petrol stations in the popular Russian Black Sea resort of Anapa, as Ukrainian attacks worsen a countrywide fuel crisis.

Should workers get time off to mourn pets? South Korea remains divided

Around 29.2 per cent of households in South Korea had pets in 2025, the highest figure on record.

A realist reading of the Israel-Turkey rupture

There is a temptation, whenever two regional powers start hurling accusations of genocide and dictatorship at each other, to read the moment as a clash of civilizations or of irreconcilable values. The Turkey-Israel rupture invites exactly that kind of reading: Recep Tayyip

Afghans come home but risk exclusion without any ID

Afghan returnees deported from Pakistan often require an ID card to access work or education.

Magnitude 6.2 earthquake strikes off eastern Indonesia: USGS

The jolt struck at a depth of 120km, around 58km west of Tobelo.