China set for latest space launch, with Hong Kong astronaut aboard
The Shenzhou-23 mission will carry 3 astronauts to the Tiangong space station.
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How a ‘cockroach’ jibe united India’s disgruntled jobless youth
The Cockroach Janta Party has already overtaken the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party on Instagram.
US arms sales to Taiwan unrelated to Iran war, source says
The official says the US has more than enough munitions to serve all of Trump’s strategic goals.
US Secretary of State Rubio starts first visit to India on heels of US-China summit
He will also take part in a meeting of foreign ministers of the so-called Quad - Australia, India, Japan and the US - four democracies seen as a counterweight to China's presence in the Indian Ocean.
Malaysia rolls out new rules for digital platforms to better protect minors from Jun 1
Online service providers will need to include safeguards that limit account registration and ownership by those under the age of 16. They will also need to implement stronger content governance on their platforms.
Rubio’s trip to India signals US need to repair ties
Mr Rubio's trip will include stops in Kolkata, Agra, Jaipur and New Delhi.
Death toll jumps to at least 82 in China coal mine blast
May 23 - The death toll from a gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China's Shanxi province has jumped to at least 82, state media Xinhua reported on Saturday, with nine still missing.
‘A minute to get around it’: Australia’s social media ban still has plenty of holes
Many younger Australians say that their social media usage has hardly changed.
More than 80 killed in China coal mine blast: State media
A total of 247 workers were underground at the time of the blast.
More than 80 dead in China coal mine blast
Over 240 miners were underground at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi Province when the accident occurred on Friday night.
Xi Jinping’s praise of ‘Make America Great Again’ a major signal
Western mainstream media and podcasters have dismissed the Trump-Xi summit in Beijing. When you listen to Jake Sullivan and Aaron Friedberg, China hawks from diagonally opposite political background – the liberal elite of the Democratic party and the Republican neoconservative
North Korea's powerhouse women footballers are in Seoul to fight for title
They beat the South Korean club to progress to the final of the Asian Women's Champions League.
New Zealand unveils defence boost for fleet and drones
WELLINGTON, May 23 - New Zealand's government has allocated NZ$1.58 billion ($924.62 million) in new defence funding in its 2026 budget, with a strong focus on maritime security, including drone systems and fleet renewal, Defence Minister Chris Penk said on Saturday.
Could biofuels be the antidote that Asia needs for oil shocks?
The shift to biofuels raises risks of higher food prices, deforestation and massive water consumption.
China uses for the first time new rules to counter ‘improper’ foreign jurisdiction over its firms
The shift towards enforcement comes as foreign pressures on its companies grow.
ULVAC to make rare earth melting furnaces in Japan
If you’ve been following the slow-motion strategic panic over critical minerals, you know that Japan, Australia, the US, Canada, Europe and others are busy talking about China’s dominance both of rare earth mining and refining and of the production of rare earth magnets. Those
Trump call with Taiwan’s Lai not yet planned, sources say
A call between the two leaders would be unprecedented and risks roiling Washington’s ties with Beijing.
Bangladesh’s paramilitary problem cannot be rebranded
Bangladesh’s rulers have a habit of renaming institutions when they become politically radioactive. Roads are renamed after coups, and laws after public outrage. The practice is usually useless. Now, the same survival instinct is being applied to the Rapid Action Battalion
Greenlanders boo new US consulate, urge Trump envoy to ‘go home’
Hundreds of Greenlanders demonstrated outside the new US Consulate in Nuuk on Thursday as President Donald Trump’s envoy signaled that Trump still seeks to control the self-governing Danish territory that straddles the Arctic and Atlantic oceans. Various Greenlandic politicians
How Xi Jinping is rewriting the rules of global power
There is an old Chinese proverb that says the skilled hunter does not chase the rabbit — he positions himself where the rabbit must eventually run. Xi Jinping, whatever his many critics may argue, has been extraordinarily patient. And now, in the span of a few remarkable weeks,
Third Qatari LNG tanker heads through Hormuz to China, data shows
LONDON, May 22 - A Third Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker is transiting the Strait of Hormuz and heading to China, ship-tracking data showed on Friday, as a Qatari negotiating team arrived in Tehran to try to help secure a deal to end the war with Iran.
Two-state Israel-Palestine solution is Washington’s empty liturgy
When the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres declares, once again, that “the only way” out of the Israeli-Palestinian impasse runs through two states, one is reminded less of a policy proposal than of a Latin Mass. The words are sacred. They are repeated on
Rahman’s first foreign trip will shape Bangladesh’s new direction
Three months into his premiership, Tarique Rahman still hasn’t left Bangladesh on an official foreign visit. That restraint is itself a diplomatic act. For a leader who spent 17 years in London exile, returned to win a landslide election, and now governs a country of 170
Thailand tightens Ebola checks for Congo and Uganda arrivals
Thailand was currently receiving around six to seven travellers a day from the two countries.
Bangladesh’s rare ‘Donald Trump’ buffalo becomes Eid sensation
DHAKA, May 22 - A rare albino buffalo with flowing blond hair has become an unlikely celebrity in Bangladesh ahead of the Eid al-Adha festival, drawing crowds of curious visitors who say the animal bears a striking resemblance to U.S. President Donald Trump.
Formula milk inclusion in Indonesia’s free meals programme draws opposition
Paediatricians have urged the government to reassess the inclusion of formula milk in the programme.
China to crack down on ‘illegal’ cross-border securities activities
The move intensifies scrutiny of capital outflows, which are strictly controlled by China.
China to expand public service access for migrant workers
BEIJING, May 22 - China issued guidelines on Friday to expand coverage of basic public services to people who don't have household registration in the cities where they work, a move that could help more migrant workers access urban public services.
Inflation, instability, and escalation
Subscribe now with a one-month trial for only $1, then enjoy the first year at an exclusive rate of just $99. Japan faces a long, hot summer of inflation and tighteningScott Foster reports that Japan is entering a difficult period of inflation, rising bond yields and monetary
S’pore-China ties based on mutual benefit, with opportunities in AI, ageing: SM Lee
Issues of economic dependence and national identity can be managed, he said.
China restricts more drug precursor exports to US
China is the primary origin of precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl, a highly potent opioid underpinning a deadly drug epidemic in the United States.
Thousands clash with Bangladesh police over alleged child rape
Bangladesh has seen a spike in reported cases of violence against women and children in recent months, fuelling widespread anger.
Pakistan’s balancing act in focus as PM Sharif heads to China
Analysts say Islamabad is seeking to strengthen ties with Beijing while navigating relations with the United States and Iran.
AI used to fake evidence that ended Korean actor's career, say police
Police are seeking an arrest warrant for a YouTuber who allegedly fabricated evidence to defame actor Kim Soo-hyun.
India warns of power use as demand peaks during heatwave
Temperatures in the capital New Delhi hit 43°C on Friday.
Samsung chip workers face colleagues’ resentment over bonus deal
Employees in other units feel they were systematically excluded.
EU deepens ties across Asia Pacific amid shifting global trade landscape
The bloc is seeking to diversify supply chains and strengthen its global position, as it recalibrates trade relations with the United States and China.
Thousands clash with Bangladesh police in outrage over rape of 4-year-old
Bangladesh has seen a spike in cases of violence against women and children, fuelling outrage.
Deals and words: Reading the tea leaves for the ‘historic’ Xi-Trump summit
Twists and turns can be expected for the rest of this year.
India seeks to stamp out viral ‘Cockroach’ youth party
The party’s Instagram handle, still online in India, has nearly 20 million followers.
China’s foreign minister to chair UN Security Council meeting in US, visit Canada
The New York leg of Mr Wang's trip follows a summit between Presidents Trump and Xi.
China foreign minister to chair UN Security Council meeting in US, visit Canada
BEIJING, May 22 - China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi will travel to New York and chair a high-level meeting of the UN Security Council on May 26, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Friday.
Prabowo’s export control move could boost Indonesia’s revenues, but experts worry about stronger state hand
The new initiative will tighten state control over key commodities such as coal and palm oil.
Premium Hokkaido melons fetch record $46,600 at season’s first auction
Known for their juicy orange flesh and sweetness, Yubari melons are often sent as gifts in Japan.
India capital’s motor-rickshaws get Trump makeover to mark US Independence celebrations
Drivers usually risk a fine if they display adverts on their vehicles.
Malaysia’s energy supply secure despite global uncertainties, says PM Anwar
The Malaysian government is working to ensure energy supply security can be extended until December.