Bangladesh’s increasingly hardline religious currents pose deep social challenges

The real test rests with PM Tarique Rahman’s BNP-led govt, which has pledged firm action against terrorism and religious militancy.

‘Quantum entanglement’: Love song asserts China’s South China Sea claims

Experts say music video aims to humanize China’s coast guard while reflecting Beijing’s stance in the disputed sea.

Exclusive: Kim Aris warns ASEAN against legitimizing Myanmar military government

Aung San Suu Kyi’s son demands proof of mother’s life, urging world leaders to prioritize rights over diplomacy.

Treasury's Bessent welcomes Pakistan's reforms, push to return to capital markets

WASHINGTON, July 22 - U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met Pakistan's finance minister on Tuesday, welcoming the country's push to implement economic reforms and prepare for a return to international capital markets, Treasury said in a statement on Wednesday.

Senior Chinese leader Wang Huning tours Tibet, stresses ethnic unity, stability

BEIJING, July 22 - China's fourth-ranking leader, Wang Huning, called on Tibet to safeguard social stability, enforce a new ethnic unity law and bring Tibetan Buddhism into closer alignment with Communist Party priorities during a visit to the region this week.

Philippine, Chinese foreign ministers trade protests over South China Sea encounter

MANILA/BEIJING, July 22 - The foreign ministers of the Philippines and China met in Manila on Wednesday and both made \"strong\" protests over an encounter between the two countries' vessels this week in contested South China Sea waters.

Food, fury and supporters near and far keep India protest alive

NEW DELHI, July 22 - A steady stream of food delivery riders carrying meals, snacks and bottled water is helping sustain a youth-led protest movement that has sprung up in the heart of India's capital.

ASEAN’s external partnerships key to regional resilience: Vivian Balakrishnan

British woman jailed for blackmail after accusing banker of rape in Hong Kong

Isabel Rose was convicted of trying to extort £100,000 from the UK banker and perverting the course of justice.

Myanmar’s ‘no single government’ line is doing the junta’s work

Myanmar coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing’s arrival in Vientiane, Laos, on July 3, his first state visit to an ASEAN member since crowning himself president in April, has produced a familiar chorus in the region’s policy commentariat. Myanmar, the argument runs, no

Explainer-Why is a proposed US-Saudi nuclear pact causing alarm in Washington and the Middle East?

DUBAI, July 22 - The Trump administration backs a nuclear energy pact with Riyadh allowing Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium and process spent atomic fuel, two sources have said, a move that may worry regional states concerned about weapons proliferation.

Greece advises fleet to boost security in Black Sea after attacks

ATHENS, July 22 - Greece has advised Greek-flagged commercial ships to upgrade security measures when sailing in the Black Sea following a string of attacks on tankers over the past days, according to a shipping ministry advisory seen by Reuters.

Rubio meets Chinese foreign minister, discusses laying groundwork for Xi's US visit

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of an ASEAN gathering and discussed the need to lay the groundwork for a "very positive visit" to Washington in September by President Xi Jinping.

Houthis ‘Gate of Tears’ threat deepens global inflation grief

On Monday (July 20), the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen announced they would impose a “maritime embargo” on Saudi Arabia, in what could mark a dangerous escalation in the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran. The Houthis have indicated they plan to target

Malaysia will not bow to pressure over Israeli entry ban, says PM Anwar

He said Malaysia was also not in contravention of any international laws for having such policy in place.

Bangkok’s Airport Rail Link derailment disrupts services

A carriage derailed at the rail link's maintenance depot, reducing service to one train.

India student protests keep up pressure on Modi government

The protesters, most of them young students, got a major boost after opposition parties threw their weight behind their movement, staging a sit-in outside the prime minister's residence.

Iran’s Hormuz choice: trust pays, coercion doesn’t

History suggests geography can be a nation’s greatest economic asset or its greatest geopolitical liability. Whenever maritime arteries have been disrupted — whether by war, conflict or political confrontation — the economic costs have extended far beyond the countries directly

Network School heading to Kazakhstan after Johor operations halted

The Johor government said the company breached licencing conditions, including operating without a valid licence.

Thailand presses on with Cambodia border fence after 2025 clashes

Thailand has completed the first section of a permanent border fence along parts of its frontier with Cambodia.

Rubio says he discussed China President Xi’s US visit in meeting with Wang Yi

Rubio said it was important both countries can talk irrespective of differences.

Rubio meets China’s Wang Yi at regional gathering where Iran war looms large

Rubio said it was important both countries can talk irrespective of differences.

AI needs US-China cooperation. Elon Musk can help

Despite his controversies and contradictions, Elon Musk may prove an unlikely force in moderating US-China rivalry and the AI risks it amplifies. In June, following SpaceX’s listing, Musk became the world’s first trillionaire — a remarkable milestone, but one that crystallized

Amnesty International calls for investigation into Pakistani strikes in Kabul

KABUL/ISLAMABAD, July 22 - Amnesty International on Wednesday called for an investigation into Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul four months ago, labeling them a \"possible war crime.\"

Japan PM Takaichi says she was finally able to get 5 hours of sleep

Sanae Takaichi noted that she used the three-day weekend to catch up on household chores she had been putting off.

Can India’s national space agency keep its top scientists on board as the private spacetech sector booms?

As India’s private spacetech sector takes off, competition for its most experienced scientists is raising questions about how the country can build a thriving commercial space industry without hollowing out the institution that helped make it possible.

Why are scientists leaving India’s national space agency - and will tighter exit rules keep them there?

As India’s private spacetech sector takes off, competition for its most experienced scientists is raising questions about how the country can build a thriving commercial space industry without hollowing out the institution that helped make it possible.

‘Leg hair harassment’: Tokyo’s ‘Cool Biz’ campaign runs into hairy problem

Shorts beat the heat, but exposed shins are testing Tokyo’s tolerance for workplace hair.

‘Hopes dashed’: Network School members voice frustration after Forest City campus ordered to close

Some members of the tech startup community told CNA they are cutting short their stay in Johor and returning home after authorities ordered the Network School to cease operations immediately.

Chicken back on the menu at KFC Japan as cyber-hit food producer Nichirei restores operations

The company said it is implementing security measures in consultation with an external security firm.

Fresh South China Sea tensions add urgency to ASEAN-China code of conduct talks: Analysts

The latest flashpoint has cast a shadow over this week’s ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila, which is also being attended by United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

South Korea's Lee to visit South America and Germany, attend AI summit in US

SEOUL, July 22 - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will visit San Francisco, Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Germany from July 24 to August 3, the presidential office said on Wednesday.

Canada FM urges Middle East de-escalation, calls South China Sea confrontation ‘troubling’

Anita Anand was speaking on the sidelines of an ASEAN meeting.

Australia’s Penny Wong says region faces choice about its response to South China Sea ‘aggression’

China’s foreign ministry said Australia was not party to the South China Sea issue.

Seoul mayor faces risk of losing office after political funds conviction

Oh Se-hoon is widely regarded as a leading figure in the main conservative opposition People Power Party.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon faces risk of losing office after political funds conviction

SEOUL, July 22 - A South Korean court on Wednesday convicted Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and fined him 10 million won ($6,759) over a political funds case linked to opinion polls conducted ahead of the 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election.

Hong Kong jails British woman over false rape accusation

She was previously convicted of blackmail.

Xi’s national team rides again to save swooning tech stocks

TOKYO — Chinese stocks just had a remarkable week, with stellar news from startup Moonshot AI delivering a DeepSeek-like jolt to a fragile market. Its new AI model reminded investors how fast China Inc. is closing the technology gap with Silicon Valley. But as China’s “new

India's Modi government under growing pressure as 'cockroach' protests intensify

The CJP got a boost on Tuesday when the opposition Congress party demonstrated outside the PM's house.

Airbus, Kawasaki team up to send Eurodrone sub-hunting

Japan’s Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Airbus Defence and Space (Airbus D&S) to collaborate on long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The agreement covers operations combining the Eurodrone with KHI’s P-1 maritime

Japan sizzles in first 'brutally hot' days of the year

TOKYO, July 22 - Japan sizzled under sweltering, life-threatening heat on Wednesday, with temperatures expected to top 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in some cities in what the government has newly designated as a \"brutally hot day.\"

South Korea Michelin starred restaurant owner faces jail for ant sorbet

Under South Korean law, only 10 insect species are approved for human consumption.

Extreme rainfall threatens north as China enters peak flood season

The northern regions are expected to get up to 50 per cent more rainfall than usual.

Japan temperatures soar over 40C, marking first 'cruelly hot day'

The term was introduced in April by the weather agency to describe days when temperatures reach 40C.

India rebukes its aviation watchdog over conflict-of-interest lapses, documents show

A January DGCA document summarised concerns over the regulator’s handling of conflicts of interest.

Myanmar’s Min Aung Hlaing to meet Thai PM on Aug 6-7 in Bangkok

Thailand has been leading a push for Myanmar’s reintegration.

Myanmar's Min Aung Hlaing to visit Thailand on August 6-7

July 22 - Myanmar junta chief turned president Min Aung Hlaing will make an official visit to Thailand on August 6-7, the Thai foreign minister told AFP on Wednesday, marking the latest attempt by the war-torn country's new administration to gain international legitimacy.

South Korea’s far right is on the rise – with MAGA’s backing

South Korea is often regarded as an example of a young and vibrant democracy. Merely two years ago, mass protests thwarted a self-coup attempted by the sitting far right President Yoon Suk-yeol. However, due to an array of social factors, the support of wealthy donors like

Heavy rains wreak havoc in parts of India, 26 dead in Assam

GUWAHATI, India, July 22 - At least 26 people have died this week in India's northeastern state of Assam due to flooding after incessant rain, authorities said, with more thunderstorms and strong winds expected to hit several parts of the country's north and east on Wednesday.