Five Italians die in Maldives diving incident, foreign ministry says

ROME, May 14 - Five Italian nationals have died following a scuba diving accident in the Maldives, Italy's foreign ministry said on Thursday.

At Cannes, Japanese director Fukada says AI undermines the creative process

CANNES, France, May 14 - Using artificial intelligence to \"jump straight to the result\" could mean art fails to achieve its purposes of self-expression and to deepen our understanding of the world, Japanese filmmaker Koji Fukada said at the Cannes Film Festival on Thursday.

Antisemitism watchdog rips ‘blood libel’ smear vs New York Times

A Jewish-led organization dedicated to fighting antisemitism was among the groups and individuals who have condemned attacks on The New York Times and one of its most prominent columnists, who published accounts by alleged Palestinian victims of sexual abuse perpetrated by

‘Fire and water’: Xi warns Taiwan issue could rupture China-US ties

Analysts see the framing of the Taiwan issue as Beijing’s way of ensuring it is in the front and centre of Xi-Trump talks.

Trump encounters fanfare and a more confident China

Despite bilateral tensions, there was a sense of pride surrounding Mr Trump’s visit to China.

Getting to yes on reopening Hormuz

Originally published by Pacific Forum, this article is republished with permission. Iran’s response to the latest US peace proposal and President Donald Trump’s fulsome rejection of it is another setback for the cumbersome, indirect Iran-US negotiations being conducted through

Indian capital announces work-from-home days to weather fuel shortage

Government offices will have two work-from-home days a week for those able to work remotely.

Taliban detains three journalists in Afghanistan, UN says

KABUL, May 14 - Afghanistan's Taliban government has detained at least three journalists on unspecified charges, the United Nations mission there said on Thursday in a statement that called for the protection of reporters.

‘New positioning’ in Sino-US ties: What does ‘constructive strategic stability’ really mean?

Chinese President Xi Jinping says he and US President Donald Trump have agreed on a relationship based on “constructive strategic stability”. Analysts weigh in on what the "new positioning" means.

Narrative warfare and shadowy shots at middle-power diplomacy

Modern geopolitical competition is increasingly shaped not only by military capabilities or economic leverage, but also by the ability to shape narratives. States now compete simultaneously across diplomatic, informational and psychological domains, where perception can

India bans sugar exports for four months to protect supply

Raw sugar futures in New York slumped as much as 2.3 per cent to to 15.022 cents per pound.

Malaysian singer Namewee acquitted of drug-related charges

The Attorney General’s Chambers had accepted Namewee’s second representation to drop the charges.

Honda makes its first annual loss in 70 years

The firm will now pivot away from scrapping its target for all of its vehicles to be electric by 2040.

Flattery and fanfare as Trump welcomed to China - but thorny issues remain

The leaders of the world's two superpowers were all smiles for the cameras during the US president's visit to Beijing.

From pig farms to petrol prices, Anwar’s government is running out of easy answers

The Anwar administration is fielding disapproval from the palace to its own party members.

Iraq sought financial assistance from IMF as result of Iran war, source close to IMF says

WASHINGTON, May 14 - Iraqi officials have approached the International Monetary Fund about securing financial assistance as a result of the conflict in the Middle East, a source close to the IMF said on Thursday.

USS Doris Miller delay exposes latest cracks in US carrier power

The USS Doris Miller aircraft carrier’s latest construction delay is more than a shipbuilding setback — it is a warning sign for the future of US global carrier power. This month, multiple media outlets reported that the US Navy’s newest Ford-class aircraft carrier, the future

Vessel seized off UAE's Fujairah and heading toward Iranian waters, UKMTO says

DUBAI, May 14 - A vessel was boarded by unauthorized personnel on Thursday while at anchor northeast of the United Arab Emirates port of Fujairah and was heading towards Iranian territorial waters, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said.

No hugs, ancient Greece and KFC: Five highlights from Trump-Xi talks

Many in China joked Trump could enjoy KFC's “Crazy Thursday” – a discount campaign by the fast-food chain KFC.

Scientists dig up Southeast Asia's largest dinosaur in Thailand

May 14 - Along a meandering river in a warm and arid region that is now Thailand roughly 113 million years ago, a plant-eating behemoth almost 90 feet (27 meters) long browsed on the treetops without much fear of predators due to its sheer size. This was Nagatitan

Scientists dig up South-east Asia’s largest dinosaur in Thailand

The fossils of Nagatitan were first spotted by a villager in Thailand’s north-eastern province of Chaiyaphum.

China’s Xi expressed interest in buying US oil, White House says

China has not imported any US oil since May 2025 because of 20 per cent tariffs imposed during the trade war.

Afghanistan’s water crisis worsened in 2025: UN report

Drought prevalence rose to 64 per cent in 2025 from 34 percent the year before.

India condemns sinking of cargo vessel off Oman after suspected attack

NEW DELHI, May 14 - India said on Thursday that an Indian-flagged wooden cargo vessel had sunk while sailing through Omani waters following a fire from a suspected drone or missile strike.

Philippines warns of serious power cuts as heat, outages strain grids

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines warning of potential outages in Visayas and Luzon.

Letter lays bare growing Chinese investor unease over Indonesia’s business climate

The letter underlines how sudden policy shifts in Indonesia are not good for business.

Iran allowing transit of Chinese vessels in Strait of Hormuz, Fars news reports

DUBAI, May 14 - Iran has begun allowing some Chinese vessels to transit through the Strait of Hormuz following an understanding over Iranian management protocols for the waterway, the semi-official Fars news agency said on Thursday, citing an informed source.

Iran and UAE clash at BRICS foreign ministers' meeting

DUBAI, May 14 - Iran's foreign minister accused the United Arab Emirates of direct involvement in military operations against his country during a BRICS meeting in New Delhi on Thursday, Iranian state media reported.

Trump, Xi agreed Strait of Hormuz ‘must remain open’, says White House

China is directly affected by the lack of petroleum crossing the Strait of Hormuz.

'We are thirsty for justice': Philippine families demand senator face drug war charges

MANILA, May 14 - As tension and gunfire erupted inside the Philippine Senate, where Senator Ronald dela Rosa had taken refuge to evade arrest and later escaped, Llore Pasco, the mother of two sons killed in an anti-drugs campaign, said the scene felt painfully familiar.

Malaysian rapper Namewee acquitted of drug possession on second bid

The prosecution had rejected his first bid to have the charges of possessing methamphetamine and sildenafil – a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction – dropped.

Myanmar junta’s forced remittance rules pull in $7.1b

Rights groups say Myanmar’s system tying transfers to passport renewals may amount to violations.

Thai PM Anutin says clip of him vowing to reopen border with Cambodia ‘obviously AI’

Social media posts this week included audio purportedly of him speaking in Thai about plans to reopen the border.

US clears H200 chip sales to 10 China firms as Nvidia CEO looks for breakthrough

The stakes are significant, highlighting how the US-China tech rivalry is now snarling even approved trade, leaving the world's most valuable company and dominant chipmaker caught between dueling national priorities.

What is the Thucydides Trap and why did Xi raise it with Trump?

The term was popularised by Harvard political scientist Graham Allison in the early 2010s.

Malaysia to seek legal action, compensation in row with Norway over scrapped defence deal

Norwegian group Kongsberg said in 2018 it had agreed on a contract with the Royal Malaysian Navy.

Putin visit to China will take place very soon, Kremlin says

MOSCOW, May 14 - Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit China very soon and preparations for the trip are already complete, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

UN says can feed a million more Afghan children if wars stop

Fundraising has proven difficult, and the WFP has raised only eight per cent of 2026’s target amount for Afghanistan.

Gunfire in Philippine Senate: Stand-off shows extent to which Duterte bloc would protect their own

The stand-off turned the Senate into a shelter to protect fugitives, said analysts.

India opposition name Kerala leader after rare win

Congress lawmakers chose 61-year-old veteran leader V.D. Satheesan.

Taiwan says no surprises from Trump-Xi summit, China should end military pressure

The US is Taiwan’s most important international backer despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

Myanmar proposes death sentence for cyberscam offences

Russia says it's establishing 'full partnership' with Afghan Taliban

MOSCOW, May 14 - Russia is establishing a \"full-fledged partnership\" with Afghanistan's ruling Taliban and is encouraging other countries in the region to expand cooperation with Kabul, a senior Russian security official was quoted on Thursday as saying.

China renews import permits for US beef plants as Xi, Trump meet

The permits were renewed on May 14 and are usually valid for five years.

China urges caution over British Steel nationalisation plan

Britain took operational control of British Steel from ​its Chinese owner, Jingye, in April 2025.

Iran’s cyberwar reaches the families of American troops

The reported Handala leak should not be dismissed as another routine cyber incident. It is a sign that hostile actors now see personal information as a weapon of intimidation. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Iran-linked Handala Hack Team claimed it published the names

Philippine Senate to convene as court next week for VP Duterte impeachment

MANILA, May 14 - The Philippine Senate will convene as an impeachment court on May 18 ahead of the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, its president said on Thursday, with tensions flaring as the country's most powerful political clans face off.

Beijing state banquet sets the table for Trump-Xi diplomacy

Huaiyang food, known for its mild and subtle flavours, is likely to feature at the banquet.

China's Xi lauds 'new positioning' in ties with US

BEIJING, May 14 - China's President Xi Jinping hailed on Thursday a \"new positioning\" of ties with the United States that envisages cooperation with measured competition, following his summit with President Donald Trump.

Chinese public greets Trump in Beijing with AI memes, confidence

Mr Trump’s visit to Beijing has been the top trending topic on the microblogging site Weibo in recent days.