South Korea’s Yoon Suk Yeol: from rising star to jailed ex-president

A panel of judges completed his humiliation by sentencing him to life in prison after finding him guilty.

Telegram dismisses Russian claim that foreign spies can read soldiers' messages

MOSCOW, Feb 19 - Telegram says it has not found any breaches of its encryption, dismissing a Russian government allegation that foreign intelligence services can see messages sent by Russian soldiers via the messaging app.

Martial law gambit made convict of South Korea's Yoon, once a lawman

SEOUL, Feb 19 - Ousted South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol, a former prosecutor who took gambles to win power, finally fell victim to his own recklessness, people who knew him said, through a belief that he could crush political enemies by declaring martial law.

What to know about the trial of South Korea’s ousted leader

Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to life imprisonment on Feb 19.

Why Big Oil wants no part of Trump-seized Venezuela

After the US captured Venezuela’s president at the start of 2026, Donald Trump promised to “unleash” the country’s oil supply. He wanted companies to invest US$100 billion to get hold of it. Big Oil though, seems less than keen on that idea, appearing to consider Venezuela too

Pakistan compensates families of victims in mosque suicide attack

The families of the 40 victims in the Feb 6 attack received more than US$700,000 (S$887,000) in total.

Police declare Australian bar a crime scene over ‘hate symbols’

Under recent hate-crime legislation, it is an offence to display Nazi and other hate symbols.

South Korean court hands life term to ex‑President Yoon in insurrection trial

Yoon Suk Yeol was found guilty on charges of abuse of authority and masterminding an insurrection, stemming from his December 2024 attempt to impose martial law.

Mark Carney’s middle-power masterclass

There’s been a lot of talk about middle powers lately. Nothing new there, perhaps, but this time there’s also been some middle-power action. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has single-handedly demonstrated that not only is it possible for leaders of middle powers to think

South Korea’s ex-president Yoon sentenced to life in prison over insurrection in martial law case

Prosecutors sought the death penalty in January.

Indonesia, US firms sign trade, investment deals worth $48.7 billion

Deals were signed for the mining, energy, agribusiness, textiles, furniture and technology sectors.

Bill Gates pulls out of India's AI summit amid Epstein files controversy

The Gates Foundation said the decision was made to "ensure the focus remains on the summit's key priorities".

12 cops in Malaysia arrested for alleged US$51,000 crypto robbery

The officers allegedly forced a group of Chinese nationals to transfer cryptocurrency in exchange for their release after a house raid.

Watch: Thai police go undercover as lion dancers to catch thief

Wanted for multiple counts of theft, the suspect was caught outside a temple on the outskirts of Bangkok.

Sabah body parts murder: Search ongoing for dismembered victim’s arm and leg

Four suspects, a father and his three children, are still under remand to help the investigation.

Australian police probe threatening letter to country’s largest mosque ahead of Ramadan

The latest letter is the third such incident in the lead-up to Ramadan.

Australian police probe threatening letter to country's largest mosque ahead of Ramadan

SYDNEY, Feb 19 - Australian police said on Thursday they had launched an investigation after a threatening letter was sent to the country’s largest mosque, the third such incident in the lead-up to the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

How China plans to dominate global trade long after Trump

BEIJING, Feb 19 - China sees an opening to turn President Donald Trump's tariffs to its advantage by reshaping global trade in ways that would insulate its $19 trillion economy from U.S. pressure far into the future.

Australia rejects foreign threats after claim of China interference

This comes after a media report alleged Chinese police had pressured food delivery riders in Australia.

Lee’s AI-fueled Kospi boom masks reform evasion

By one metric, Lee Jae Myung’s eight months as South Korean president have been a smashing success, with the stock market more than doubling on his watch. Before Lee’s election in June, he ran on a Kospi 5,000 platform that struck many as fanciful. At that time, the benchmark

RTS Link fares may cost around S$5 to S$7 per trip, more ‘cost-effective’ than car travel: Loke

Fares for the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link are expected to be announced in the second-half of 2026, said Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

Fourth impeachment complaint filed against Philippine V-P Sara Duterte

The complaint was filed hours after she threw her hat into the ring for the 2028 presidential election.

China widens anti-corruption net to catch ‘quasi-naked officials’

Top graft-busters are quietly stepping up scrutiny of "quasi-naked" officials with children living overseas, with some losing promotion opportunities and jobs.

As it happened: Former South Korea leader Yoon Suk Yeol sentenced to life in prison for insurrection

Masterminding an insurrection carries a maximum sentence of the death penalty or life imprisonment under South Korean law.

Indian university told to leave AI summit after presenting Chinese robot as its own, sources say

The move by Galgotias University prompted sharp criticism, with social media users quickly identifying the robot as the Unitree Go2, sold by China's Unitree Robotics.

Australian presenter apologises for drinking before slurred Olympics report

Danika Mason also blamed the cold, after talking about coffee and iguanas in her live cross.

India AI summit stumbles as Bill Gates pulls out, chaos mounts

The Gates Foundation said he will not deliver his address to ensure the focus remains on the summit's key priorities.

Asian markets rally after Wall St tech-led gains

Bill Gates pulls out of India AI summit; anger mounts over organisational lapses

Deadly Indonesia floods force a deforestation reckoning

President Prabowo Subianto said the priority now is to protect the environment.

Indonesia’s diving paradise Derawan Island faces mounting waste crisis

The island generates more than 46 tonnes of waste per day.

Bangladesh’s new PM pledges price stability

Mr Tarique Rahman said his government would dismantle market syndicates that exploit consumers.

Bangladesh's new PM pledges price stability

DHAKA, Feb 19 - Bangladesh’s new Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has pledged to stabilise prices during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, restore the rule of law and advance economic and infrastructure reforms following his party’s landslide victory in parliamentary elections.

Radio Free Asia says it resumes broadcasts to China

Flood victims in Malaysia face grim Ramadan after deluge

The victims’ food supplies were swept away and electrical appliances damaged.

Kuantan family murder: Witness heard argument that morning

According to the police, the suspect had no record of mental treatment or previous criminal offences.

South Korea braces itself for verdict in ex‑president Yoon’s insurrection trial

Prosecutors have sought the death penalty in this case.

South Korea braces for verdict in ex‑President Yoon's insurrection trial

SEOUL, Feb 19 - A South Korean court is due to rule on Thursday on whether former President Yoon Suk Yeol is guilty of masterminding an insurrection over his botched attempt to put the country under martial law in December 2024.

North Korea's Kim Jong Un says new military goals to be set at party congress

The party congress will be the first major gathering of top leaders since 2021.

Martial law, protests and a president tried for insurrection: How did South Korea get here?

A court is due to deliver its verdict in the insurrection trial of Yoon Suk Yeol.

North Korea flexes nuclear-capable rocket launcher ahead of key congress

Mr Kim Jong Un is expected to detail the next phase in North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme in the coming days.

Cambodian national dies in ICE custody in Indiana

WASHINGTON, Feb 18 - A detainee died in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Indiana on Monday, with the cause of death under investigation, ICE said on Wednesday, marking at least the seventh death in 2026 in federal immigration custody.

US senators in Ukraine call for pressure on Russia, not just talks

WASHINGTON, Feb 18 - Democratic U.S. senators traveling in Ukraine and neighboring countries on Wednesday vowed to return to Washington and push for stiff new energy sanctions and other legislation to put pressure on Russia to end its aggression against Ukraine.

What lessons can India take from SE Asian nations in attracting foreign investments?

The survey compiles and analyses data from government and other official sources, and makes policy recommendations.

Fewer hurdles for Indian diaspora investors, but more needed to sweeten the deal: Analysts

The Indian government has taken measures to ease tax and procedural hurdles.

Batam seeks to boost digital economy with data centres and IT training - but talent gap persists

CNA speaks to local leaders and businesses in Indonesia’s Batam on how Nongsa Digital Park is anchoring the city’s push to become a regional digital economy hub, even as challenges around talent and sustainability remain.

Tokyo’s strategic US investment surge puts China on edge

Japan has begun deploying the first tranche of what is expected to become a sweeping investment wave into the United States following the landslide election victory last week of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party. The initial batch, worth about US$36

Iran issues notice over planned rocket launches on Thursday

DUBAI, Feb 18 - Iran issued a notice to airmen (NOTAM) that it plans rocket launches in areas across its south on Thursday from 330 GMT to 1330 GMT, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration website showed on Wednesday.