AI summit statement delayed a day to ‘maximise’ signatories: India
New Delhi is hoping that the number of signatories to the declaration will eventually cross 80.
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Abandoned baby monkey finds comfort in stuffed orangutan, charming zoo visitors
ICHIKAWA, Japan, Feb 20 - At a zoo outside Tokyo, the monkey enclosure has become a must-see attraction thanks to an inseparable pair: Punch, a baby Japanese macaque, and his stuffed orangutan companion.
Over 1,000 displaced as floods worsen in Sabah’s north
Emergency agencies remain on high alert as forecasts indicate rainfall may continue into Feb 21.
Thailand to enforce nationwide gun control measures, with stricter background checks for ownership
The authorities will also continuously monitor the behaviour of current gun owners to ensure they remain qualified.
Brazil's Lula says Maduro should be tried in Venezuela, not abroad
SAO PAULO, Feb 20 - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Friday that toppled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro should face trial in his own country, not overseas.
Passengers flying out of Thailand to pay higher departure charge from June 20
Thailand's airport authority announced a new international departure passenger service charge of 1,120 baht (S$45.60).
Thai activist's jail term for royal insult extended to 30 years
Human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa rose to prominence in youth-led protests that saw tens of thousands take to the streets in 2020, calling for reform of the military-drafted constitution and the monarchy.
Two dead after cargo ship collides with fishing boat off central Japan
The two were among 13 aboard the fishing boat, which split into two in the accident.
Duterte’s ICC fight unfolds as daughter Sara eyes presidency
MANILA – The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague said Friday ex-Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte’s “confirmation of charges” hearing would proceed even after the former president rejected its jurisdiction over him. Duterte, 80, last week told the court he was
Australian PM plays down chance of referendum to remove British monarch as head of state
Albanese said he had a good relationship with King Charles, who he said loved Australia.
Kim Jong Un vows to boost living standards as he opens rare congress
He said North Korea had overcome its "worst difficulties" in the last five years, and was now entering a new stage of "optimism and confidence in the future".
UK foreign minister to meet Rubio amid tensions over joint air base
Feb 20 - Britain's foreign minister Yvette Cooper will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday, after President Donald Trump renewed his criticism of London for ceding sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, which is home to a U.S.-UK air base.
Osaka stunned by anonymous gold bar gift worth US$3.6 million to fix ageing water pipes
The gold bars weighed a total of 21kg.
Philippines says communication channels still open with Beijing on South China Sea
The Philippine foreign ministry says it will uphold "effective and principled diplomacy" in advancing the country's interests amid recent ill-tempered exchanges between government officials and the Chinese embassy in Manila.
Fans flock to Japan zoo to see viral baby monkey Punch
The abandoned macaque became an internet sensation after footage of him clinging forlornly to zookeepers and dragging around a stuffed orangutan toy was widely shared on X.
Eight feared dead after a bus with Chinese tourists sinks into Russia's Lake Baikal
MOSCOW, Feb 20 - Seven Chinese tourists and a bus driver are feared dead after a tourist bus driving across a frozen stretch of Lake Baikal in Russia's Siberia plunged into the water when the ice broke beneath it, local governor, Igor Kobzev, said on Friday via his channel in
7 Chinese tourists dead after bus sinks in Russia’s Lake Baikal
The world’s deepest lake, located north of Mongolia, is a popular destination for tourists.
Russia says no peace dialogue ongoing with Japan over territorial dispute
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in her inaugural address to parliament on Friday that Japan aims to resolve the territorial issue and conclude a peace treaty.
Former Philippines president Duterte will not attend ICC pre-trial hearings
AMSTERDAM, Feb 20 - Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte will not be present at pre-trial hearings in his case of alleged crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court next week, the court said on Friday.
Singaporean tech founders on building global companies in US
Two Singaporean founders share tips from their US start-up journeys
Co-founder of ASOS, Quentin Griffiths, dies in Thailand after balcony fall
BANGKOK, Feb 20 - Quentin Griffiths, who co-founded British fast-fashion retailer ASOS, has died after a fall from a balcony in Thailand, Thai police said on Friday.
Asos co-founder Quentin Griffiths dies in Thailand after balcony fall
Initial investigations suggest suicide and no indications of foul play.
Gold, stablecoins and Hong Kong’s market reality
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s recent remarks before the Senate Banking Committee have quickly entered the global financial conversation. Asked whether China might be developing digital assets backed by gold rather than the renminbi, Bessent said he “would not be
South Korea's ex-President Yoon apologises after life sentence over martial law
In a statement released by his lawyers, Yoon said that while he was sorry for the "frustration and hardship" brought upon the people by his martial law decree, he stood behind the "sincerity and purpose" behind his actions.
Ex-Philippine leader Duterte will not attend pre-trial ICC hearing, says court
ICC prosecutors have charged Duterte with three counts of crimes against humanity.
Asos co-founder Quentin Griffiths dies in Thailand after falling from Pattaya condo balcony
Thai police said Quentin Griffiths had been involved in two ongoing court cases that might have caused him stress.
IMF rebukes China’s model with its own credibility in tatters
As the International Monetary Fund takes China to task, the world’s “lender of last resort” is grappling with a new legitimacy crisis. It used to be a one-size-fits-all response to financial crackups that earned the IMF global ire. From the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis to the
Outspoken Laos lawmaker’s election exit sparks rare dissent
The announcement came just days before Feb 22’s poll, in which all 243 candidates contesting.
‘Democracy is working’: Analysts say Yoon conviction proves strength of South Korea’s institutions
A Seoul court that sentenced Yoon to life behind bars said the former president damaged South Korea’s democracy, but analysts say the landmark ruling proves the nation’s institutions are resilient, even as political divisions persist.
Malaysia’s top coalition party DAP weighs Cabinet roles, report says
The party suffered a setback during elections in 2025.
Asos co-founder dies after Thailand apartment block fall
Quentin Griffiths co-founded Asos in 2000 and remained a significant shareholder after leaving the firm five years later.
Trump’s trade coercion tests Japan’s economic strategy
Subscribe now with a one-month trial for only $1, then enjoy the first year at an exclusive rate of just $99. Takaichi’s mandate to be put to the test by WashingtonScott Foster reports that despite a commanding domestic mandate, Takaichi faces mounting pressure from Washington
UN touts panel for ‘human control’ of AI at global summit
The UN chief called for governance of AI that is led by science.
Proposed RTS Link fare of $5 to $7 ‘affordable’ for many Malaysians, but may still be steep for some
Lower-income workers and those used to taking the bus or riding motorcycles to Singapore may find it costly.
Spring weather in South Korea till Feb 21 before sudden temperature drop
Daytime highs in Seoul are forecast to fall to around 10 deg C on Feb 22 and further to about 3 deg C on Feb 23.
Chinese start-up’s gongfu robots fire up tech-wary investors
Investors pushed up shares in robotics firms even as the broader market sagged.
Indonesia steps up in US-backed Gaza mission, and into a complex geopolitical gamble
The country's acceptance of the deputy commander role signals ambition but also gives it greater exposure.
India showcases homegrown AI models to spark its own ‘DeepSeek moment’
Indian AI startups unveiled homegrown models at the AI Impact Summit, signalling global ambitions, though analysts say a China-style “DeepSeek moment” may still be some way off.
Thai court extends sentence for lawyer who called for monarchy reform
Mr Arnon Nampa was a prominent figure during youth-led democracy movement protests in 2020.
Indonesia, US seal trade deal with 19% tariff and exemptions for goods like coffee
Jakarta’s pledge to buy more US fuel is significant for Singapore, Indonesia’s largest refined petroleum supplier.
Victorious Takaichi promises 'strong and prosperous' Japan
"China is intensifying its attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion in the East China Sea and the South China Sea," says Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
Japan’s Takaichi vows to break with ‘fiscal austerity’ to spark economic revival
This underlines her administration’s commitment to revitalising the economy.
Japan PM Takaichi warns of China ‘coercion’, vows security overhaul
Her four-month tenure has been marked by a diplomatic dispute with China.
Japan PM Takaichi warns of China 'coercion', vows security overhaul
TOKYO, Feb 20 - Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warned of growing Chinese \"coercion\" in her first post-election speech to parliament on Thursday, and pledged to overhaul defence strategy, ease curbs on military exports and strengthen critical supply chains.
US imports more from Taiwan than China for first time in decades
US purchase of goods from China plunged 44 per cent in December from 2024.
Ex-South Korea leader Yoon apologises for martial law crisis
Yoon Suk Yeol is facing a life sentence after a court found him guilty of insurrection.
Indonesia to take deputy commander role in Gaza peacekeeping force: US general
Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had previously said that the country’s military will be deployed strictly for humanitarian purposes and not combat operations.
China’s submarine surge testing Pacific’s undersea balance
China’s accelerating nuclear submarine buildup is no longer just a shipyard story, but a strategic test of whether faster production can be converted into real leverage against US sea power in the Pacific. This month, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS)