India monsoon starts almost 40% short as El Nino curbs rain

It is hampering the growing season for staples and disrupting key sectors like construction.

China's Cai Qi cements spot as Xi confidant as head of Communist Party school

BEIJING, June 18 - China officially appointed its fifth-ranked leader Cai Qi as head of the Communist Party's central ideology school, cementing his position as one of President Xi Jinping's closest and most trusted confidants.

Why US presidents end up cursing Benjamin Netanyahu

When the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, ordered a strike on the Lebanese capital of Beirut on June 14, Donald Trump was not amused. Fearing that the attack threatened an agreement with Iran on ending the war between the two countries, the US president lashed out.

Trump or Prevost?: US, Catholic Church and the global poor

The real beginning is with Rerum Novarum, the encyclical that Leo XIII (the predecessor of Leo XIV) issued in 1891. In 1891, the Church had lost the Papal State, which it had held for over a thousand years, for some twenty years. It was no longer one of the major forces in

Men jailed over work for Chinese intelligence in UK

They were found guilty of assisting a foreign intelligence service, an offence under the National Security Act.

Two men jailed in Britain for spying for China

LONDON, June 18 - Two men, including one who worked as a British immigration officer, were jailed on Thursday after being convicted of spying on prominent pro-democracy dissidents now based in Britain on behalf of Hong Kong, and ultimately China.

The robot wingmen the US hopes can outlast China’s missiles

Facing a shrinking fighter force and a surging Chinese air arm, the US Air Force is betting that robotic wingmen — not more manned jets — will decide who controls the skies over the western Pacific. This month, multiple media outlets reported that the US Air Force awarded

Thailand to auction off yacht linked to accused fraudster Benjamin Mauerberger

Thailand regularly auctions off seized assets, with the proceeds transferred to the state.

Indonesia taps insider Jeffrey Hendrik to revive world’s worst stock market

Investors are closely awaiting MSCI’s decision on whether to downgrade Indonesia.

Smartphone catches fire on flight leaving Tokyo’s Haneda airport; no injuries

The plane departed for London after safety checks were completed.

Zelenskiy says 'Moscow will burn' if Russian strikes continue

KYIV, June 18 - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday heavy drone attacks on Russia were retaliation for a strike that damaged a historic monastery in Kyiv this week, and that \"Moscow will burn\" if attacks continue.

Singapore regains top spot in competitiveness ranking; Asian economies put up strong showing

Hong Kong came in second and Taiwan was fourth in IMD’s World Competitiveness Rankings this year.

China defends critical minerals export controls, calls for end to ‘small cliques’ after G-7 statement

It comes after G-7 leaders agreed to step up coordination to cut their countries’ reliance on China.

UN food agencies seek $202 million to shield 8.8 million people from El Niño

ROME, June 18 - The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization and World Food Programme on Thursday appealed for $202 million to help protect 8.8 million people across 22 high-risk countries from the looming El Niño weather pattern.

From Australia to Europe, countries move to curb children's social media access

GDANSK, June 18 - Australia in December became the world's first country to ban social media for children under 16, blocking them from platforms including TikTok, Alphabet's YouTube and Meta's Instagram and Facebook.

Wave of Persian Gulf oil set to swamp Asian refiners when ships sail out of Strait of Hormuz

Refiners locked in purchases from places like the US, while China had largely stayed out of the market.

Why Xi is walling in China’s money – and why it won’t work

TOKYO – China’s latest fix for its ailing economy: build a better birdcage. The metaphor runs deep in Chinese culture, where enclosures for pet birds have long captured the tension between freedom and control — the belief that markets, like captive creatures, need defined

South Korean leader books golf with Trump after 'pinky promise'

North Korea's Kim Yo Jong condemns G7 call for denuclearisation as violation of sovereignty

SEOUL, June 18 - North Korea's Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un, condemned a G7 call for the country's denuclearisation as a violation of its constitution and an infringement of sovereignty, state media KCNA said on Thursday.

What JB can learn from Penang and Kuching before the RTS arrives

For transport planners, the challenge is to understand the different ways people move through each city.

Japan mother sues state over teen’s ‘hostage justice’ death

The mother said her daughter weighed only 20kg five months after her release from jail.

Republic of Departure: Why Manila never stops exporting its top talent

Manila’s International Airport, the worst in Southeast Asia and perpetually under renovation, serves as the departure hall for more than two million Filipino workers whom the state contracts out annually to foreign employers. The passengers are nurses, seafarers, engineers and

China says ‘welcomes’ Iran-US signing deal to end Middle East war

Beijing urged both sides to continue their cooperation in a second round of negotiations.

HSBC’s Australia unit to pay $31.7 million fine over scam protection failures, court rules

HSBC failed to maintain adequate controls over its internal transfer systems between May 2023 and May 2024.

China unveils white paper on global governance, calls for stronger Global South representation

This comes as Beijing seeks to position itself as a champion of multilateralism amid growing geopolitical tensions.

ASEAN engages Russia while G7 isolates it

The arrival of leaders from across Southeast Asia in the Russian city of Kazan for the ASEAN–Russia Commemorative Summit on June 17-18, 2026, represents far more than a routine diplomatic gathering. Partially overlapping with a Group of Seven (G7) meeting in France, where

Indonesia on track to launch B50 biodiesel programme on July 1, minister says

Its plan comes in response to the oil supply disruptions that followed the Iran war.

How India sparred with Telegram days ahead of blocking the app

The Indian government invoked emergency powers to block Telegram in the country until June 22.

South Korea launches company to manage US$350 billion US investment pledge

The Korea-US Strategic Investment Corporation will manage and implement a US$350 billion investment pledge.

Bird flu kills 13,000 seal pups on remote Australian island

Researchers found the Heard and McDonald Islands littered with seal carcasses in October 2025.

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 prioritises 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

Home owners 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.