Commentary: How China made cities less noisy
Electric vehicles, noise-reducing surfaces and no-honking zones are dampening the din of Beijing, says Eleanor Olcott for Financial Times.
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Trump administration tried to sell Ukraine a diplomatic debacle
A flurry of recent diplomatic activity has seen two competing peace plans for Ukraine emerge. The first, widely touted as a US plan, was apparently hashed out between Kremlin insider Kirill Dmitriev and Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s Russia point-man. The second,
Israel receives remains of hostage held in Gaza as Cairo hosts follow-up talks
CAIRO - Israel said it had received from the Red Cross on Tuesday the remains of a deceased hostage who had been held by Palestinian militants in Gaza, with the bodies of two still to be located more than six weeks into a fragile ceasefire.
Japan fires back at 'unsubstantiated' Chinese letter to UN
WASHINGTON - Japan has dismissed a Chinese letter to the United Nations accusing Tokyo of threatening armed intervention over Taiwan as \"inconsistent with the facts and unsubstantiated\".
UK to move with EU on Russian frozen assets, Starmer says
LONDON - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday told a Coalition of the Willing meeting that London was \"ready to move\" with the European Union on providing financial support to Ukraine based on the value of \"immobilised\" assets.
Barbs, jibes and spin by Chinese netizens over PM Wong’s remarks on Japan-China spat
From Hong Kong to Shanghai, a mix of online voices are clamouring to denounce Singapore.
France and Germany step up pressure on arms firms to resolve fighter impasse
PARIS/BERLIN - France and Germany are ratcheting up pressure on their industrial champions to rescue Europe's next-generation fighter as the 100-billion-euro ($115 billion) project teeters on the brink of collapse, sources close to the matter said.
Jakarta bans cat, dog and bat meat to prevent rabies transmission
Violators could face sanctions, ranging from written warnings to revoking business licences.
Brunei warns of flash floods, landslide risks
Brunei remains under the influence of the North-east Monsoon, which typically lasts until March 2026.
ASEAN re‑engagement with Myanmar ‘difficult’ even after polls, Thai foreign minister says
Myanmar is scheduled to hold a multi-phase general election starting on Dec 28.
What could Maduro offer Trump in potential talks? Oil
HOUSTON - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has the flexibility and the incentive to offer crude oil cargoes, which the country mostly sells to China, as a bargaining chip if Venezuela were to hold negotiations with the United States.
Singapore firms plug into China’s growing market for autonomous vehicles
MooVita inked a deal on driverless buses, while ComfortDelGro will manage robotaxi services.
What the Trump-Xi call reveals about their priorities on Taiwan, Japan and beyond
Clues of their respective agendas lie in what each side has chosen to emphasise - and omit - in their public statements on the call between US President Donald Trump and Chinese supremo Xi Jinping, analysts tell CNA.
Trump’s Ukraine plan: Realism mercifully returns to Washington
The howls of outrage from the foreign policy establishment over President Trump’s 28-point Ukraine peace plan tell you everything you need to know about why such a plan is necessary in the first place. After nearly four years of war, hundreds of thousands of casualties and
‘Just give them Gardenia’: Why a PAS politician’s remark on bread sparked backlash in Sabah
Sabahans mocked West Malaysian politicians’ perceived disconnect with their concerns.
Malaysia PM Anwar’s senior aide resigns after letter controversy
Mr Anwar said he had reprimanded the aide involved.
Indonesia increases patrols in Sumatra national park after attacks on task force
Across the archipelago, around 3.7 million ha of plantations have been seized.
Trump's battle with the BBC could threaten its global reach
LONDON - When the BBC launched an expansion into the U.S. in June, its head of news promised \"trust at a time of dramatic global uncertainty\".
Trump’s Xi and Takaichi calls ring market alarm bells
President Donald Trump picked up the phone twice in one day on Monday — first to China’s Xi Jinping, then to Japan’s Sanae Takaichi — with the world’s most important trading relationships sitting on a fault line. Investors should treat these calls as a market event and not as
Russia says amended US peace plan must reflect 'spirit and letter' of Trump-Putin summit in Alaska
MOSCOW - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that an amended peace plan for Ukraine must reflect the \"spirit and letter\" of understandings reached between President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump at their Alaska summit.
5.8-magnitude quake hits south-western Japan; no tsunami warning
The quake was also felt in the Oita Prefecture city of Taketa.
TSMC files lawsuit against former executive on security concerns
TSMC said the lawsuit is based on the terms of the employment contract between TSMC and Mr Lo Wei-Jen.
Sudan's warring factions have not yet accepted peace plan, Trump advisor says
ABU DHABI - The United States presented the warring Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) with a strong text for a peace plan but neither side has accepted it, senior U.S. envoy Massad Boulos said on Tuesday.
China pledges fresh Tonga investment as debt repayment looms
BEIJING - China's President Xi Jinping pledged fresh investment in Tonga when he met King Tupou VI of the South Pacific island nation in Beijing on Tuesday, as the Asian giant works to extend its influence across the Asia-Pacific.
Why Goldman Sachs is so optimistic about China
TOKYO – Something very few political wonks saw coming in 2025 was the extent to which China would get the better of Donald Trump. To be sure, few serious economists thought the US president’s tariffs would end well. But count the ways Chinese leader Xi Jinping — through
China completes first emergency mission to Tiangong space station
The emergency launch was a first for China, successfully delivering medical supplies, spare parts and groceries to astronauts on board the permanently inhabited space station.
US dangles F-35s as Saudi hunts edge in shifting Mideast skies
The US is dangling the F-35 stealth fighter before Saudi Arabia, igniting a new scramble for airpower dominance in the Middle East. This month, US President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman announced a landmark defense agreement in Washington that
How to read Trump right and why he and Xi get along
Our expert guest explains why he predicts both Trump and Xi will seek good vibes in 2026.
Pakistan denies deadly strikes after Afghanistan vows retaliation
Residents are searching through the rubble of a collapsed house and preparing graves for victims.
Malaysian court brings forward decision on ex-PM Najib’s house arrest bid to Dec 22
The house arrest case has stirred intrigue in Malaysia.
Malaysian court brings forward decision on ex-PM Najib's house arrest bid to December 22
KUALA LUMPUR - A Malaysian court will decide on December 22 whether jailed former prime minister Najib Razak can serve his sentence under house arrest, just days before delivering its verdict in another major case he faces over the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal.
Vietnam drowning in misrule, deflection and censorship
Severe flooding in south-central Vietnam has killed scores, displaced thousands and submerged entire districts. International news outlets have framed the event as the result of extreme rainfall. But for people living in Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen and Dak Lak, this was not merely a
Deadly floods hit South-east Asia as more rain forecast
Heavy rainfall is typical for this time of year, but recent downpours have been notable for their intensity and impact.
Australian delivery workers set to gain minimum pay in landmark deal with Uber Eats, DoorDash
Under a draft agreement released, the workers would earn at least A$31.30 (S$26.40) per hour.
'Return' to China not an option for Taiwan's people, premier says responding to Xi
Xi told US President Trump on Monday that Taiwan's "return to China" at the end of World War II was a key part of Beijing's vision for the world order.
Scammers in Malaysia using fake wedding invite links to dupe victims into sending money
The scammers would impersonate someone else and message their contacts to ask for money.
Delirium, painkillers: Swimmers conquer Hong Kong seas to circumnavigate Lantau in 21 hours
The swimmers were accompanied by a small flotilla including three kayaks and a yacht.
China pledges Tonga fresh investment as debt repayment looms large
BEIJING - China’s President Xi Jinping pledged fresh investment in the South Pacific island nation of Tonga in a meeting with King Tupou VI in Beijing on Tuesday, as China works to deepen its influence across the Asia-Pacific region.