World Cup fever sweeps Seoul as South Korea prepares for Mexico clash

Businesses in the country’s capital have reported a surge in interest following the national team’s victory against the Czech Republic last week.

Australia says net migration down as far-right popularity surges

International student numbers are falling as the government instead prioritised skilled workers.

Tokyo govt to work with start-ups to ward off bears; possible measures include AI detection system

Tokyo will also lift the ban on bear hunting from next fiscal year.

South Korea’s hair-loss insurance proposal sparks backlash

Critics say scarce health insurance funds should go first to severe and rare diseases.

South Korean lawmakers launch probe into ballot paper shortages

Hospital in South Korea says amputated leg found in recycling waste was discarded by mistake

The leg is believed to have been amputated from an elderly woman who was being treated at the hospital.

War in Iran spurs solar boom in oil-dependent South-east Asia

Homeowners and businesses are installing solar panels to reduce the sting of soaring energy costs.

Japan’s World Cup clean-up praise meets scepticism at home

The country's men were criticised for not applying the same standards of behaviour back home.

Ad listing for $7m Tokyo apartment with ‘invisible man’ goes viral

Property promo goes viral as green-suited “ghost” steals the show.

Hong Kong hoists highest rain signal, closes schools

Residents have been advised to take shelter and be on guard for severe flooding.

Australia opens first carbon refinery, making new products from captured CO2

The demonstration plant can potentially capture 2,500 tonnes of CO2 a year.

South Korea parliament launches probe into election ballot shortages

SEOUL, June 18 - South Korea's parliament on Thursday launched a 45-day parliamentary investigation into the National Election Commission after ballot-paper shortages disrupted voting in the June 3 local elections, approving the plan at a plenary session.

South Korea Parliament launches probe into election ballot shortages

Ballot shortages occurred at 91 polling stations nationwide, with voting briefly suspended at 26 during the local elections.

China seeks to curb 'unfair' competition in food delivery sector

Under the new rules, platforms may not "indirectly coerce" merchants into participating in subsidy schemes through allocation of user traffic, and must not force merchants and delivery drivers to bear the costs of subsidies.

China seeks to curb ‘unfair’ competition in food delivery sector

Proposed new rules target subsidy campaigns by platform operators that artificially reduce prices.

Thailand revives $38.6 billion coast-to-coast corridor to rival Malacca Strait

Residents are opposed to the plan, which could upend fishing and farming communities.

India keeps undermining the Bangladesh reset it claims to want

When Bangladesh’s newly elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman took office earlier this year, there was a tentative hint that New Delhi and Dhaka might finally transcend the bitter recriminations that followed ex-leader Sheikh Hasina’s dramatic ouster in a 2024 uprising, from

Malaysia’s carbon tax delayed due to Middle East uncertainties: Minister

The carbon tax would be limited to selected sectors, namely steel, cement and energy.

‘Indahouse’: New Zealand minister quotes British TV character Ali G in Parliament

Politician Winston Peters quoted a fictional character during his opening address at a parliamentary hearing.

South Korea sees heat-related ER visits rise sharply and braces itself for a hotter summer

South Korea has already seen 300 people visit emergency rooms for heat-related illnesses this summer.

Why dropping ‘Indo-Pacific’ clarifies the Pentagon’s China strategy

On June 16, the US Department of Defense announced that the US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) will officially revert to its previous name, the US Pacific Command (PACOM). The move reverses a decision made during President Donald Trump’s first term to include “Indo” in the

Landmark court battle: Pain-riddled South Korean man fights for right to die

Eight in 10 South Koreans support assisted dying, according to a 2024 survey.

South Korean police quiz executive in Starbucks ‘Tank Day’ fiasco

Head of Starbucks operator Shinsegae's audit team was questioned by the police as a witness.

South Korean police quiz executive in Starbucks 'Tank Day' fiasco

The retail conglomerate Shinsegae, which operates Starbucks Korea, had previously identified a series of negligent acts leading up to the promotion, including officials signing off without checking the design file.

Taiwan hopes new US arms sale package can be approved soon, president says

Lai said the US security commitment to Taiwan has not changed.

Dead fish washing up on South Korea’s east coast may be linked to tuna surge, warming seas

One of the region’s most productive fishing grounds could be undergoing an ecological shift.

The unavoidable prisoner: Aung San Suu Kyi at 81

On June 19, Aung San Suu Kyi turns 81 in military custody. Myanmar’s military says it moved her in late April to a “designated residence,” but her family remains cut off, with no independent confirmation of her condition or exact whereabouts. More than five years after the

Modi reports 'significant progress' in US-India trade talks after Trump meeting

Asked if the US and India are close to a trade deal, Trump told reporters in Evian that they were "very close".

North Korea recalls its ambassador to Britain after sanctions on children’s camp, report says

London in May claimed the camp is involved in deporting and indoctrinating Ukrainian children.

North Korea recalls its ambassador to Britain after sanctions on children's camp, report says

SEOUL, June 18 - North Korea has recalled its ambassador to Britain just a month after he took up the post, downgrading diplomatic relations in response to British sanctions on a children's camp, North Korea-focused website NK News reported.

More CCTVs planned across 15 local councils in Malaysia

The councils include Kluang, Jempol, Taiping, Tawau and Kuala Selangor.

Living in the dark: India learns to live with hotter summers

Climate change is causing heatwaves in India to become longer, more frequent and more intense.

Lululemon apologises after Great Wall drum sparks China backlash

Social media users objected to the use of a Japanese drum at the site.

South Korea's Lee leaves G7 with Trump's pen after talks about peace on the peninsula

SEOUL, June 18 - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung left the G7 summit in France with the souvenir of a pen from U.S. President Donald Trump and the promise of a golf game after a dinner discussion he described as making progress over the issue of North Korea.

Japan’s defence chief challenges China’s military spending data

Academics generally doubt that China’s headline defence spending figures capture its total outlays.

Vodafone Australia network outage hits thousands, services being restored

More than 8,000 customers reported facing network issues early in the morning.

US-Iran deal sparks record highs for Asian stocks, drags on oil

The interim peace deal extends a ceasefire announced in April by another 60 days, to allow the two sides to negotiate a final truce.

China’s unusually heavy downpours fill dams and put crops at risk

Average rainfall in China since April 1 has been 12 per cent higher than normal.

Taiwan criticises China’s ‘irrelevant’ World Cup viewing offer

Neither Taiwan nor China qualified for the World Cup.

Stuffed toys and surfboards: Japan’s used-goods market booms overseas

In Japan, the thriving second-hand goods market has doubled in value since 2010.

Trump says Japan’s Takaichi his ‘biggest fan’ among world leaders

Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, has refrained from criticising Trump over the Iran war.

Full MOU text revealed as Trump justifies ending Iran war

Foreign policy analysts and peace advocates expressed relief Wednesday that the end of the unprovoked US-Israeli war on Iran could be in sight, as the US government released the text of the memorandum of understanding reached this week by the Trump administration and Iranian

Japan ramping up defence is 'critical' to prevent war, Defence Minister Koizumi tells BBC

Japan needs to revisit the pacifist posture that has defined it since World War Two, Shinjiro Koizumi says.

‘Fear of being left behind’: Why Thailand is joining Indonesia in OECD membership push

Bidding to join the international Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development shows Southeast Asian economies are trying to use global standards to raise credibility, attract investment and lock in domestic reforms, experts say.

World Cup: After 'massive confidence booster' from first win, South Korea targets victory over Mexico

With home advantage and fervent support, Mexico seems to be the favourite for the top-of-the-group clash against South Korea. CNA's Matthew Mohan is in Guadalajara ahead of the match.

Why is India betting on coal gasification and could progress be a slow burn?

India recently approved a US$3.9 billion scheme to turn more of its vast coal reserves into gas. Even as its energy security ambitions gather pace, experts warn that scaling up the centuries-old technology will likely be a slow burn.

Commentary: Beijing cracks down on cross-border investment but it is up to something grander

Hong Kong is being repositioned as a controlled gateway between two worlds, says Enodo Economics’ Diana Choyleva.