Asos co-founder dies after Thailand balcony fall
Quentin Griffiths co-founded Asos in 2000 and remained a significant shareholder after leaving the firm five years later.
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Trump’s trade coercion tests Japan’s economic strategy
Subscribe now with a one-month trial for only $1, then enjoy the first year at an exclusive rate of just $99. Takaichi’s mandate to be put to the test by WashingtonScott Foster reports that despite a commanding domestic mandate, Takaichi faces mounting pressure from Washington
UN touts panel for ‘human control’ of AI as leaders weigh message
The UN chief called for governance of AI that is led by science.
Proposed RTS Link fare of $5 to $7 ‘affordable’ for many Malaysians, but may still be steep for some
Lower-income workers and those used to taking the bus or riding motorcycles to Singapore may find it costly.
Spring weather in South Korea till Feb 21 before sudden temperature drop
Temperatures are expected to drop sharply.
Chinese start-up’s gongfu robots fire up tech-wary investors
Investors pushed up shares in robotics firms even as the broader market sagged.
Indonesia steps up in US-backed Gaza mission, and into a complex geopolitical gamble
The country's acceptance of the deputy commander role signals ambition but also gives it greater exposure.
India showcases homegrown AI models to spark its own ‘DeepSeek moment’
Indian AI startups unveiled homegrown models at the AI Impact Summit, signalling global ambitions, though analysts say a China-style “DeepSeek moment” may still be some way off.
Thai court extends sentence for lawyer who called for monarchy reform
Mr Arnon Nampa was a prominent figure during youth-led democracy movement protests in 2020.
Indonesia, US sign trade deal, finalising 19 per cent tariff rate and no levy on goods like coffee
Jakarta's pledge to buy more fuel from the US is significant for Singapore, Indonesia’s largest refined petroleum supplier.
Victorious Takaichi promises 'strong and prosperous' Japan
"China is intensifying its attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion in the East China Sea and the South China Sea," says Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
Japan’s Takaichi vows to break with ‘fiscal austerity’ to spark economic revival
This underlines her administration’s commitment to revitalising the economy.
Japan PM Takaichi warns of China ‘coercion’, vows security overhaul
Her four-month tenure has been marked by a diplomatic dispute with China.
Japan PM Takaichi warns of China 'coercion', vows security overhaul
TOKYO, Feb 20 - Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warned of growing Chinese \"coercion\" in her first post-election speech to parliament on Thursday, and pledged to overhaul defence strategy, ease curbs on military exports and strengthen critical supply chains.
South Korea's ex-President Yoon apologises after life sentence over martial law
SEOUL, Feb 20 - Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol apologised on Friday for his short-lived declaration of martial law in December 2024, a day after a Seoul court sentenced him to life in prison for masterminding an insurrection.
US imports more from Taiwan than China for first time in decades
US purchase of goods from China plunged 44 per cent in December from 2024.
Ex-South Korea leader Yoon apologises for martial law crisis
Yoon Suk Yeol is facing a life sentence after a court found him guilty of insurrection.
Indonesia to take deputy commander role in Gaza peacekeeping force: US general
Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had previously said that the country’s military will be deployed strictly for humanitarian purposes and not combat operations.
China’s submarine surge testing Pacific’s undersea balance
China’s accelerating nuclear submarine buildup is no longer just a shipyard story, but a strategic test of whether faster production can be converted into real leverage against US sea power in the Pacific. This month, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS)
US, China jets briefly face off near South Korea, Yonhap says
US fighter jets reportedly left an airbase in Pyeongtaek for drills above international waters on Feb 18.
Indonesia’s Riau province intensifies livestock vaccination amid foot-and-mouth disease outbreak
The number of cases in Riau in 2026 has already surpassed the total number of cases in 2025.
Hainan Free Trade Port is the future of globalization
For decades, globalization was widely accepted as an almost inevitable trajectory. The more open an economy, the prevailing logic held, the greater its prospects for growth. Frictionless ports, low tariffs, investment deregulation, and unrestricted capital flows were treated as
'Win-win' for both countries: Indonesia secures 19% tariff in US reciprocal trade deal
The deal takes effect 90 days after both sides complete the related legal procedures, but changes could still occur if both sides agree, said Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto.
Malaysian comedian Nigel Ng, aka Uncle Roger, expecting first child with wife Sabrina Ahmed
On Friday (Feb 20) morning, Malaysian comedian Nigel Ng and his lawyer wife, Sabrina Ahmed, jointly announced that they are expecting their first child.
Mystery donor gives Japanese city $3.6m in gold bars to fix water system
Osaka's mayor says he is 'lost for words' and that he has 'nothing but appreciation' for the gesture.
Underage accounts may be removed from digital platforms, Indonesian minister says
The minimum age limit policy is expected to take effect in March.
Thai cops go undercover as lion dancers to nab suspected thief
A video released by police showed festive lion dancers approaching the suspect before an officer suddenly emerged from the head of the costume and pinned him to the ground.
US and Indonesia finalise deal to cut tariffs to 19%
Washington will set a 19% tariff on most Indonesian goods in exchange for lower trade barriers for US goods
Suspect used ChatGPT in planning drug killings in South Korea: Police
She asked ChatGPT questions like what happens if one takes sleeping pills with alcohol.
Malaysian Medical Association calls for stronger action against illegal clinics in Kuala Lumpur
Foreign nationals were found to be allegedly posing as doctors and dispensing controlled medicines.
Revealed: The billions given to charity by ordinary Indians every year
India’s real philanthropy engine isn’t billionaires - it’s everyday household giving, a new survey finds.
Rubio softens the tone but makes same demands of Europe
When US Secretary of State Marco Rubio took the stage at the Munich Security Conference on February 14, the hall was braced for turbulence. They got something quite different. A standing ovation followed a speech that was notably, and deliberately, conciliatory in tone, a
New Zealand seeks to abolish dedicated Environment Ministry
The axed department will be folded into a new mega-ministry.
Japan zoo’s lonely baby monkey Punch wins hearts, and even a few friends
A series of widely shared online posts have made him the star of Ichikawa City Zoo.
The Chinese AI app sending Hollywood into a panic
Clips of Deadpool and other film characters have sparked alarm within Hollywood over copyright infringement.
North Korea’s Kim opens 9th Party Congress citing economic achievements
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the economy had overcome recession.
North Korea convenes 9th Party Congress, KCNA reports
SEOUL, Feb 20 - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the economy had overcome recession and the country accomplished major economic goals over the past five years as he announced that the Ninth Party Congress opened on Thursday, state media KCNA reported. The congress is the
Trump mixes diplomacy and flattery at peace board meeting
WASHINGTON, Feb 19 - World leaders who accepted the invitation of President Donald Trump to join his new peace board were greeted in Washington on Thursday with a mix of fanfare and personal flattery.
From sand to supply chain power: Can India weaken China’s grip on rare earths?
Announced in India’s Union Budget this month, the proposed Rare Earth Corridor across Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu marks what analysts say is New Delhi’s bid to convert mineral reserves into strategic clout.
Commentary: Sluggish Indonesia market clouds aviation outlook for Southeast Asia
A large contraction in domestic air travel within Indonesia will impact the regional outlook in Southeast Asia, says aviation analyst Brendan Sobie.
Commentary: India is having its AI moment at global summit
Behind the star-studded AI Impact Summit, there’s a question of whether India can shape the future of AI and be a model for the Global South, says former foreign correspondent Nirmal Ghosh.
Music that once made religion unappealing to India’s youth is now drawing them in
Such concerts are held in stadiums, cafes and community halls, drawing in swarms of revellers.
Japanese Americans used nature to cope with WW II imprisonment
With a stroke of a presidential pen, the lives of Izumi Taniguchi, Minoru Tajii, Homei Iseyama and Peggy Yorita irreparably changed on February 19, 1942. On that day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, which set in motion their wartime incarceration
Negotiating under naval guns
The latest escalation in US-Iran tensions is not merely another spike in the familiar cycle of provocations and negotiations. Following an agreement in their second round of Geneva talks on February 17 that supposedly gave Iran two weeks to come up with proposals fulfilling
India leads Global South AI power grab
The AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi is signaling something far more consequential than a commitment to India’s “inclusive technology.” It’s signaling scale. The government’s IndiaAI Mission carries an allocation of roughly $1.25 billion to expand domestic AI capacity.
Israeli settler killed Palestinian-American teen in the West Bank, local health ministry says
RAMALLAH/JERUSALEM, Feb 19 - A 19-year-old Palestinian-American citizen shot by an Israeli settler in the West Bank has died from his wounds,
Don’t overlook Sinocentrism: China’s historical memory and Japan
This article, first published by Pacific Forum, is republished with permission. China’s response to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s November 7, 2025, remarks to the Diet that a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan could arise in a “Taiwan contingency” has largely been
Five countries commit troops to Gaza international security force, commander says
WASHINGTON, Feb 19 - Five countries have committed troops for an international security force for Gaza, the commander of the force said on Thursday during a meeting of President Donald Trump's newly created Board of Peace.
Trump says US needs to make meaningful deal with Iran, cites good talks
WASHINGTON, Feb 19 - President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States had to make a meaningful deal with Iran, citing good talks with the Middle Eastern country.
Trump gets pledges for Gaza reconstruction and troop commitments at inaugural Board of Peace talks
Nine members of the Board of Peace have agreed to pledge US$7 billion toward a Gaza relief package and five countries have agreed to deploy troops, says the US president.
