‘Not showmanship’: Aide hits back at critics of Prabowo’s foreign trips

Cabinet secretary rejects criticism of Prabowo's costly and frequent overseas trips.

Houthis and Al-Shabaab conspiring to choke Red Sea routes

In a region crucial to global trade, ideological rivals may now be working together. United Nations and American intelligence reports suggest that Yemen’s Houthi insurgents and the Somali group Al-Shabaab — considered Al-Qaeda’s strongest affiliate — are exchanging logistical

Cambodia launches UN-backed process to settle maritime dispute with Thailand

BANGKOK, June 2 - Cambodia on Tuesday said it informed the United Nations and Thailand that it had launched a compulsory conciliation process under international law aimed at resolving a long-running maritime boundary dispute with Bangkok.

China cracks down on 'ghost kitchens' in food delivery apps

"Ghost kitchens", which are listed on apps but have no physical stores, have raised food safety fears.

Norway obliged to speed up refund for cancelled missile deal, says Malaysian defence minister

Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said Oslo cannot absolve itself of responsibility.

Robot patrol dogs could be coming to Taiwan’s South China Sea islands

Taiwan military had expressed its need for such equipment, though it had not yet placed a formal order.

Robot patrol dogs could be coming to Taiwan's South China Sea islands

TAIPEI, June 2 - The Taiwan military's top weapons development institute showed off on Tuesday three robot patrol dogs that could one day be used on Taiwan's islands in the disputed South China Sea.

Desert shield: China hardening nuclear forces for a Taiwan war

China’s buildup at its remote Hami nuclear silo field reflects a broader effort to transform a historically vulnerable nuclear force into a resilient deterrent capable of surviving attack, constraining US intervention and reinforcing its position in a Taiwan contingency. Last

South Korea drops gender-neutral hospital room plan after backlash

The initial proposal drew strong opposition with more than 4,000 comments posted on the government’s website.

4 injured in bear attacks in north-east Japan, all conscious

Classes in primary school and junior high school were cancelled after reports of bear sighting

Cambodia begins UN process to resolve maritime dispute with Thailand

The conciliation process allows a panel of independent experts to examine a dispute and make recommendations.

Australian regulator orders Amazon, others to remove banned magnetic toys

It said small, powerful magnets can cause life-threatening injuries if swallowed by children.

The nightmare of Indonesia’s ’10 New Balis’ tourism dream

The idea of replicating Bali’s success across the Indonesian archipelago through the “10 New Balis” initiative was one of the country’s most ambitious economic development visions when it was first launched a decade ago. The objective was compelling: diversify tourist flows,

Taiwan leader says keeping political status quo is best to secure supply chains

Taiwan's position in the global AI supply chain is anchored by TSMC, the world's largest chipmaker.

Philippines sees surge in EV demand as high fuel prices drive shift

EV sales in the Philippines jumped 36 per cent in the first quarter this year as motorists sought alternatives to soaring petrol prices.

China adds data and AI to trade secret rules to block leaks

Companies must now implement protective measures, including by limiting file access by employee rank.

Taiwan says 2 dead in military training plane crash

Malaysia's social media account ban for under-16s kicks in on Jun 1, but questions remain

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had previously announced the social media ban on May 22, which sought to reduce youths’ exposure to harmful content on digital platforms.

Bollywood divided over bid to cap punishing work hours

Bollywood has long been known for punishing schedules, with shifts often stretching from 12 to 18 hours.

Hanoi curbs kerb culture as city clamps down on pavement vendors

The authorities said the crackdown will bring cleanliness and order to the city.

Steph Curry signs with Chinese brand after Under Armour split

Chinese firms have been vying to secure deals with big stars as they push to become global brands.

Pigeon feeders in Seoul face fines of up to $843 in June amid month-long crackdown

People caught feeding pigeons in the restricted areas can face fines of up to 1 million won (S$845).

Commentary: Shangri-La Dialogue shows how international cooperation is going back to basics

The question is not so much about whether multilateralism will endure, but how it is evolving, say Sarah Teo and Jane Chan from the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

Tropical storm Jangmi injures 9 in Japan, thousands without power

Public transport in Tokyo and nearby cities could face disruptions as the storm approaches.

Australia lifts minimum wage to match increases in inflation

They will get a 4.75 per cent pay rise to $920.69 a week from July.

China expands curbs on foreign deals, tech transfer after Meta-Manus block

The framework, which takes effect Jul 1, provides a comprehensive and formalised legal basis for China to force the unwinding of completed overseas transactions.

Chinese curbs risk derailing record Hong Kong home-buying spree

Demand for luxury homes could fall as the tougher rules weigh on buyers' ability to pay deposits.

Asia stocks skittish as Middle East anxiety offsets AI optimism

From hiking to hotpot, lonely consumers in China fuel a $9.4 billion companionship economy

The companionship economy includes paid partners for running, sightseeing and even eating hotpot.

New Zealand Prime Minister Luxon vows to keep nuclear-free stance

He said the country's nuclear-free status was non-negotiable.

Nvidia courts South Korea’s tech giants at Taipei dinner as AI push deepens

The dinner was the first time Jensen Huang hosted South Korean partners while in Taipei.

Nvidia’s AI chips sought by Chinese labs with ties to military

Some universities seeking Nvidia's chips are blacklisted by the US for advancing China’s military.

Japan faces shortage of bananas as Middle East impact spreads

Supplies of naphtha-derived ethylene, which it needs to ripen the fruit, are running low.

Australia says its wheat output will be shrunk by Iran war costs, dry weather

Australia's lowered harvest will put upward pressure on global food prices.

'Mornings and nights no longer exist' at 47C: A day in the hottest place in India

What a day in India's hottest district reveals about life on the frontline of extreme heat.

Commentary: The most concerning outbreak right now isn’t Ebola or hantavirus

Despite being the leading cause of vaccine-preventable child deaths worldwide, measles doesn’t garner much attention, says Hsu Li Yang of the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.

'Insane scale': A close-up look at scam compounds along Cambodia's border with Vietnam

In the second of a two-part series that looks into scam operations in Cambodia, CNA travels along the country’s eastern border with Vietnam, where new roads, casino zones and guarded compounds have transformed agricultural land into a frontier for online scams.

Trump says troops turned back from Beirut after Netanyahu call

Shortly after reporting emerged Monday that Iran was suspending talks with the United States over Israel’s ramped up assault on Lebanon, President Donald Trump claimed that Israeli forces headed toward Beirut have “turned back” and that Hezbollah has agreed that “all shooting

Israel’s Lebanon campaign: the risks of repeating failed lessons

Going into the war in Iran, the Israeli government seemingly had two intertwined goals: to bring down the Islamic Republic and rid Israel of its Hezbollah problem. The logic went that the Lebanese Shiite group – which has posed a persistent threat to Israel for 44 years – would

When national security becomes market logic

In recent weeks, Japan halted South Korean equity firm MBK Partners’ acquisition of machine-tool manufacturer Makino Milling Machine on national security grounds. Around the same time, the British government reportedly signaled discomfort with Bharti Enterprises’ plan to

Trump says talks with Iran continue

June 1 - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that talks with Iran were ongoing, despite a report that Tehran had suspended indirect negotiations with the United States to end hostilities.

Still too risky to move seafarers out of Gulf, U.N. agency boss says

ATHENS, June 1 - Despite the current ceasefire between the United States and Iran, it remains too risky to move the thousands of sailors stuck in the Gulf, the head of the U.N.'s shipping agency said.

Word nerds spend a weekend chasing Thailand’s Scrabble crown

“It’s all about the probabilities and playing the odds... you don’t need to know what the words mean," said a participant.

Iran eyes limited US deal to relieve economic strain and buy time

DUBAI, June 1 - Iran is pushing for a limited interim agreement with the United States in a bid to ease mounting economic pressure and stabilise the situation at home, while avoiding major concessions on its nuclear programme, according to sources and analysts.

As Trump attacks anew, Iran says Europe’s ‘appeasing aggressors’

Iran’s government on Monday condemned the European Union’s response to Iranian attacks on US military installations in the Middle East as “a masterclass in selective moral outrage” after the Trump administration launched new strikes against Iran over the weekend, with peace

Japan PM urges free passage through Hormuz in Iran President phone talks

Takaichi says they agreed to continue close communication towards a conflict resolution.