China's Xi Jinping to make rare visit to North Korea

Xi will be in North Korea from 8-9 June, a rare visit to the isolated regime that is a longstanding ally of Beijing.

Why Xi Jinping is going to North Korea to court Kim Jong Un

Xi is expected to use the two-day summit to project a united front between allies against the West.

‘Financially-challenged’ South Korean Olympic speedskating champion vows to pay child support

The 46-year-old was sentenced to 18 months in jail for not paying child support to his ex-wife.

UNESCO-listed Himeji Castle found damaged after Typhoon Jangmi

About 4 sq m of plaster peeled off near the lattice windows of a turret on the north side of the main keep.

South Korean riot police clear protesters after ballot shortage blockade

Electoral staff were forced to stay overnight inside polling stations until the morning of June 5.

Indonesia denies finance chief Purbaya is quitting as markets slump

Talk of Purbaya’s possible departure had spread amid deepening concerns about the country’s economy.

Sino-West trade strains deepen on new tariffs and rules

New US tariffs and tougher EU regulations heighten pressure on China, raising the risk of retaliation and broader global trade conflagration. Mounting trade tensions involving China have become a significant source of concern for the global economy, reflecting a broader trend

Taiwan, China coast guards in renewed standoff at top of South China Sea

TAIPEI, June 5 - The Taiwanese and Chinese Coast Guards were engaged in another tense standoff near the strategically located Pratas Islands at the top of the South China Sea on Friday, Taiwan said, the second time in a fortnight that this has happened.

Taiwan, China coast guards in renewed stand-off at top of South China Sea

Taiwan's Coast Guard said the two ships are engaged in “intense verbal exchanges”.

‘Extremely intelligent’ bear at large in Japan after hurting four people

It dodged capture despite efforts by hunters and responders equipped with traps and anaesthetic guns.

Australia seizes 100,000 cockroaches in bug-breeder bust

They found Madagascar hissing cockroaches and dubia roaches in a raid in Bathurst, west of Sydney.

Japan seeks to replace up to 5 nuclear reactors by 2040s, 14 by 2050s

Japan aims to source 20 per cent of the country’s electricity from nuclear power in fiscal 2040.

How I learned to stop worrying and love American monopolies

For many years, I was a big proponent of the idea that increased market power was harming the US economy in various ways. In the 2010s, in the economics world, circumstantial evidence began to pile up, implicating increased industrial concentration as the culprit behind a

Bear opens window in factory escape, Japanese police say

The bear had earlier attacked four people in an industrial part of Fukushima, in Japan's north-east.

New Zealand capital Wellington flooded with faeces after wastewater failure

Wellington Water said the overflow in the suburb of Island Bay was the result of a blocked main.

Asian stocks take another hit from AI, Middle East worries

Malaysia’s Anwar facing crucial test of support as two states call early elections

Significant losses could weaken his coalition’s prospects at a general election due by early 2028.

China cracks down on soft porn, violence and materialism in viral micro dramas

Micro dramas have surged in popularity, but drawn criticism for often sensationalist content.

China's Xi to visit North Korea as Beijing seeks deeper Pyongyang ties

BEIJING/SEOUL, June 5 - Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea from June 8 to 9, state news agency Xinhua said on Friday, his first trip in nearly seven years as Beijing looks to reassert ties with Pyongyang.

Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit North Korea on Jun 8 and 9

This will be the Chinese supremo's first overseas trip of the year, and comes shortly after his recent meetings in Beijing with both United States President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in May.

Japan steps up cooking oil collection efforts in race for sustainable aviation fuel

Japan is scrambling to procure a tenth of airline fuel from sustainable sources by 2030.

China’s Xi to visit North Korea on June 8 to 9 in first visit since 2019

Beijing has long been North Korea’s primary backer.

Website tracking Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s S. Korea itinerary draws more than 70,000 visits

Investors are closely watching his visit for clues on Nvidia’s next partnerships in the country’s AI supply chain.

Australian far-right One Nation does U-turn on seizing foreigners’ homes

A top representative of the party said earlier it would force permanent residents to sell their homes.

Giant hissing cockroaches among $200,000 worth of illegal insects seized in Australia

Authorities say the roaches, some as big as the palm of a hand, were likely sold as food for pet reptiles.

Negeri Sembilan state assembly to be dissolved on Jun 5; polls to be held within 60 days

The 16th Negeri Sembilan state election was not initially due until November 2028.

South Korean Starbucks probe: arbitrary power in justice’s name

South Korea’s Starbucks marketing controversy is no longer only about a badly judged campaign. It has become a test of whether democratic memory will restrain arbitrary power or reproduce it. Police are now investigating Shinsegae Group chairman Chung Yong-jin and former

War heats up as Russia, Ukraine trade drone and missile attacks

Over the past month, there has been a notable increase in the intensity of the air war in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Strikes in mid- and late-May and early June have been characterised by significantly larger numbers of drones and missiles deployed by Russia in single

Outsourcing jobs in Philippines and India come under threat as workers race to adapt to AI

Millions of employees power the world’s two outsourcing giants, but automation is starting to replace tasks they once handled. When will the full scale of disruption hit and how might they have to rethink the future, CNA’s Insight asks.

As Indonesia tightens spending, Prabowo's travel-heavy diplomacy comes under scrutiny

Critics question whether Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto’s overseas trips are producing measurable economic and political returns at a time when the administration is championing spending cuts and budget efficiency at home.

Commentary: Have the US and India become regional rivals?

The US now views India less as a strategic partner to be nurtured than as a regional and economic rival to be contained, says this writer.

Beijing vows to retaliate as EU warns of China Shock 2.0

Beijing has threatened to retaliate after the European Union’s executive body called for a more robust response to the surge in cheap Chinese goods flooding its markets. Amid fears that a new wave of Chinese exports was gutting European manufacturing, the European Commission

Manuscript mysteries: Going back in time to decode India’s rich heritage

India is embarking on one of its most ambitious efforts to conserve, digitise and catalogue ancient manuscripts.

Explainer-How Trump's ceasefires are failing to stop Middle East violence

June 4 - Residents of Gaza, south Lebanon, northern Israel and Kuwait were all under fire this week despite U.S.-arranged ceasefires supposedly in force in their regions.

Negeri Sembilan state assembly to be dissolved on June 5

Talk of snap polls began making its rounds at the end of April.

First IAEA report on Iran's nuclear programme since February shows little change despite war

VIENNA, June 4 - The U.N. nuclear watchdog sent a report to member states on Thursday with no major changes to its assessment of Iran's nuclear programme, despite three months of U.S.-Israeli war with the stated aim of preventing Iran from building an atomic bomb.

Bondi Beach attack hero charged with assaulting father: Reports

Ahmed al-Ahmed said the reports are “fake information” and “not true at all”.

Bangladesh says it foiled multiple attempts by India to force people into the country

This revives a dispute over alleged undocumented migration.

Russia’s Afghan pivot risks entanglement in old traps

As Russia deepens cooperation with Afghanistan’s rulers, it faces a growing tension between regional influence, connectivity ambitions and its own security concerns. Few countries have warned more consistently about the dangers emanating from Taliban-ruled Afghanistan than

Israel’s military creep killing Gaza peace plan

In recent days, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the Israeli army to seize 70% of Gaza – a sizeable increase from the 60% it currently controls. This follows an updated map sent to aid agencies in Gaza in late March featuring a new “orange line” demarcating

Thai watchdog to sue Meta over Facebook scam ads targeting users

Satellite images show suspected structure at disputed South China Sea atoll, later removed

It may have been a floating raft or buoy, and a barrier stretching across it.

Indonesia to ‘refocus’ free meal measures on more remote areas, official says

The programme's allocation had earlier been slashed by 67 trillion rupiah (S$4.77 billion).

Indonesia to 'refocus' free meal measures on more remote areas, official says

JAKARTA, June 4 - The Indonesian agency overseeing President Prabowo Subianto's flagship free meals programme will \"refocus\" its measures by cutting back on new kitchens and targeting recipients in more remote areas, its new chief said on Thursday.

Brunei's sultan announces cabinet shake-up, appoints sons as ministers

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, June 4 - Brunei's ruler announced a major cabinet reshuffle on Thursday, creating new key portfolios and appointing two of his younger sons as ministers, in a sign of potential succession planning in the tiny oil-rich sultanate.

Brunei Sultan announces Cabinet shake-up, appoints sons as ministers

This Cabinet shake-up is Brunei's first since 2022.

Indonesia arrests deputy immigration minister on graft charges

JAKARTA, June 4 - Indonesia's anti-graft agency has arrested the country's deputy minister for immigration affairs, a spokesman said on Thursday, making him the second high-profile government official in two days to face corruption charges.

Filipino on trial for being part of Cambodia scam syndicate says she travelled there for an office job, wanted to return home

The 35-year-old woman is accused of belonging to a criminal group in Phnom Penh and of conspiring to cheat people in Singapore via government official impersonation scams.

India sees 'perfect complimentarity' with Venezuela in energy trade amid Gulf crisis

NEW DELHI, June 4 - India and Venezuela sought to boost their ties in the energy sector on Thursday with New Delhi saying that Caracas sees it as a preferred partner in the sector at a time global oil supplies have been disrupted by the Middle East crisis.