Johor eateries may raise prices as Middle East crisis bites

Prices have increased for things like plastic products and fuel.

Pharma giant drops supplier after AFP deforestation investigation

Investigations found links to clearing of Indonesian forests home to critically endangered orangutans.

US will indefinitely extend ceasefire, unclear if Iran agrees

WASHINGTON/DUBAI, April 22 - U.S. President Donald Trump said he would indefinitely extend the ceasefire with Iran to allow for further peace talks, although it was not clear on Wednesday if Iran or Israel, the U.S. ally in the two-month war, would agree.

Australia asks Roblox, Minecraft to detail child safety measures

Companies that do not comply may face penalties and potential civil action.

New Zealand minister slammed for ‘butter chicken tsunami’ comments

The comments were widely condemned as racist by Indian community groups in New Zealand.

Fourth man charged over mistaken identity kidnap murder of Sydney grandfather

Police say Chris Baghsarian, 85, was not the intended target of the February kidnapping.

Durians arrive earlier and tastier in Penang

Durian sellers said the lack of rain this year has made the fruit more flavourful and creamier.

US, China forge rival fusion chains as Europe weighs role

China and the United States are extending their rivalry beyond artificial intelligence and space into fusion energy, widely seen as a virtually limitless, carbon-free power source. Both are racing to build domestic capabilities while securing supply chains for future reactors.

Body found after bear attack, possibly Japan’s first such death in 2026

If confirmed as a fatal bear attack, it would be the first such death in Japan since Nov 3.

Robots emerge as China’s new export engine amid rising global demand, potentially reshaping jobs

As China ramps up exports of robots and AI, global buyers are turning to automation to tackle risky and repetitive jobs, raising questions about how work will change.

From big US orders to many small buyers: What China’s largest trade fair says about its new export reality

At the Canton Fair held twice yearly in Guangzhou, exporters are adapting to smaller orders and a wider mix of buyers as shifting demand reshapes global trade - testing whether new markets can match the scale once provided by the West.

A Kashmir tourist hotspot became a deadly bloodbath. A year on, the pain remains unbearable

A year after militants killed 26 people in Indian-administered Kashmir, families are trying to cope with their losses.

4 schoolkids at home, 1 dying phone: Digital poverty is holding back Malaysia’s needy children

During the pandemic, 37 per cent of Malaysian students, or about 1.7 million children, lacked devices for online learning.

2026 Balikatan exercises will highlight Manila’s more ‘active defense posture’

Experts note that Philippines remains anchored in alliance with US, but will assert more agency over own defense.

Who is calling the shots in Iran?

Following the last round of talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad, Iran’s foreign minister and negotiator Abbas Araghchi declared in a post on X on April 17 that the Strait of Hormuz was “completely open.” This came after he also signaled that his government

Large Hadron Collider results hint at undiscovered physics

Recent findings from research we have been carrying out at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at Cern in Geneva suggest that we might be closing in on signs of undiscovered physics. If confirmed, these hints would overturn the theory, called the Standard Model, that has dominated

US commander warns Taiwan not to ‘starve the chicken’ on defence, pass stalled budget

A proposed US$40 billion (S$50 billion) in extra defence spending is stalled in Parliament.

US commander warns Taiwan not to 'starve the chicken' on defense

WASHINGTON, April 21 - The head of the U.S. command for the Indo-Pacific region on Tuesday stressed the importance of Taiwan passing its stalled defense budget, saying the United States \"can't want Taiwan's defense more than they want it itself.\"

Singapore has to act to regulate social media use for adolescents: Ong Ye Kung

Its options for doing so are still open, he said at the close of his visit to China.

Israel punishes soldiers who desecrated crucifix in southern Lebanon

JERUSALEM, April 21 - Israel’s military removed two soldiers from combat duty and placed them in military detention for 30 days after they destroyed a crucifix in southern Lebanon, it said on Tuesday.

US did not move THAAD defence system from South Korea to Middle East, general says

The US-made THAAD system is used for high-altitude interception of ballistic missiles.

India firecracker warehouse blaze kills eight: Police

The local media said the fire broke out during preparations for a Hindu festival.

Taiwan firm speeds up drone development amid China pressure

Taipei plans to bolster the island’s air defence systems and is placing increased emphasis on the role of drones.

Sick American basketball player jailed in Indonesia over cannabis gummies pleads for early release

The Texan admitted to importing 132 cannabis gummies but to help relieve the symptoms of Crohn's disease.

The US counterterrorism czar without a counterterrorism plan

This article was first published by ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. March unfolded like a stress test for US counterterrorism authorities. The month opened with a gunman in an Iranian-flag shirt killing three people at a bar in Texas. Then,

Worker dies after being trapped in equipment at Tokyo Dome amusement park

The 24-year-old had been working on the “Flying Balloon” attraction at Tokyo Dome City Attractions.

Counting a billion people: Inside India’s mega census drive

The census is being held in two phases at a cost of US$1.25 billion, according to the government.

Europe should focus on own security as global threats mount, Dutch intelligence agency says

THE HAGUE, April 21 - Europe must take greater responsibility for its own security, the Dutch military intelligence agency MIVD said on Tuesday, citing pressure on long-standing Western alliances and China's support for Russia's war in Ukraine.

Bangladesh fuel crunch forces hours-long wait at the pump

The government insists there is no crisis.

Indonesia rights bodies find widespread abuses in 2025 protests

Eleven people died during riots that saw some officials' homes and government buildings ransacked.

NATO criticises Russian and Chinese nuclear stances, urges cooperation with US

BRUSSELS, April 21 - NATO criticised Russian and Chinese nuclear arms policies on Tuesday and urged both countries to work with the United States to establish greater stability and transparency at an upcoming international conference.

Indonesia court throws out case against minister over 1998 mass rape denial

A fact-finding report found at least 52 alleged cases of rape in the unrest.

Ukraine hits Russian oil pumping station, part of Druzhba pipeline

April 21 - Ukrainian drones struck an oil-pumping and dispatch facility in Russia's Samara region overnight, an official from Ukraine's SBU security service said on Tuesday.

‘Zombie drug’ openly sold at some vape outlets in Malaysia

Furanylfentanyl, a derivative of fentanyl, is extremely dangerous and can cause severe addiction.

Taiwan blames Chinese pressure for cancelled Africa trip

Taiwan leader postpones trip to Eswatini after overflight permits revoked

Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar unexpectedly revoked the charter’s overflight permits, said a Taiwanese official.

Taiwan president cancels Africa trip blaming Chinese pressure

TAIPEI, April 21 - Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said on Tuesday he had cancelled his trip to Eswatini this week, after his government accused China of pressing three other African countries to revoke permission for his aircraft to fly over their territories.

Japan lifts evacuation orders for April 20 earthquake

The evacuation orders were issued for over 180,000 people across five prefectures.

Modi turns Parliament setback into campaign weapon in polls

Mr Modi has now seized on the defeat to cast himself as a champion of women’s representation.

Italian mail blunder and mistrust hinder crackdown on Chinese gangs

PRATO, Italy, April 21 - China's formal reply to an Italian request for mutual legal assistance never made it past a Rome mailroom.

China cuts petrol, diesel price caps for first time since Iran war began

Beijing has raised maximum retail prices for gasoline and diesel three times since March.

Malay ruler of Negeri Sembilan can be ousted. His chieftains are now trying to do just that

Negeri Sembilan's Menteri Besar also faces calls for removal amid the dispute over the Malay ruler's ouster.

Hong Kong government seeks to seize $16 million from jailed tycoon Jimmy Lai

HONG KONG, April 21 - The Hong Kong government is attempting to seize more than HK$127 million ($16.22 million) from jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai after the city's biggest national security case, according to a court document released on Tuesday.

Two Filipino workers held hostage, killed by employer in Lebanon

The employer has since been arrested and is now in police custody.

To sack or not: PM Anwar and PKR’s dilemma on fierce critic Rafizi

Former economy minister Rafizi Ramli’s persistent attacks on the government and his party are likely to damage Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s standing ahead of national and state polls, but sacking him may not be an option, analysts say.

Middle East tensions push up costs, dampen sentiment in India’s housing market

Rising material prices and cautious buyers are weighing on India’s property sector, with developers warning of possible price hikes if global uncertainty persists.

Indonesia passes long-awaited law to protect domestic workers

The group was previously not legally classified as workers, meaning they were forced to operate in an informal and unregulated economy, exposed to exploitation and abuse.

World’s top condom maker Karex to raise prices sharply as Iran war strains supply chain

Karex plans to raise condom prices by 20 to 30 per cent and possibly more.