North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits naval vessel: Report

He stressed the need to enhance naval capabilities to deter a nuclear war.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits naval vessel, Rodong Sinmun says

SEOUL, June 6 - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited the naval destroyer Kang Kon to supervise the vessel's navigation test, stressing the need to enhance naval capabilities to deter a nuclear war, the country's Rodong Sinmun newspaper reported on Saturday.

Indonesia’s latest AI-generated earworm is an ode to its energy minister

The song Mas Bahlil Ganteng, or “Handsome Brother Bahlil”, blurs the line between political commentary and humour.

Is DRAM at a permanently higher plateau?

There are titles one should never write. “The End of History” is one. “Permanent Plateau” is another. As such, anything with the word “permanently” in it may belong on the same list, because the arrow of time tends to find such titles and use them for target practice. The

Study warns biodiversity loss could trigger wave of debt crises

LONDON, June 5 - Financial markets are underestimating the economic risks of biodiversity loss, potentially exposing countries to sovereign debt crises and sharply higher borrowing costs, according to research published on Friday.

Thousands demand South Korea vote re-run after ballot shortage

SEOUL, June 5 - Over 6,000 people protested on Friday night at a vote-counting centre in Seoul over a shortage of ballot papers, demanding a re-run after voting in local elections was disrupted, the Yonhap news agency reported.

Warrantless spying extension stalls in US Senate

Privacy advocates celebrated Friday after a Republican-led effort to extend warrantless spying powers failed to advance in the US Senate in the early hours of the morning, with seven GOP lawmakers joining every Democrat except Sen. John Fetterman in opposition. The failed vote

US says it issued sanctions on network smuggling Iranian LPG

June 5 - The U.S. Treasury Department said on Friday that it had imposed sanctions on a network of individuals, entities, and tankers smuggling Iranian-origin liquid petroleum gas disguised as Omani LPG to South and East Asia.

EU weighs rules to cut reliance on China through broader supply chains

BRUSSELS, June 5 - The European Commission is weighing legislation that could force companies in sensitive sectors to cut reliance on single suppliers - notably in China - and diversify to at least three sources, European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said on Friday.

‘No hope’: Four Indian sailors stranded off Turkey for 10 months on abandoned ship

They haven’t been paid for months, and cannot leave until a new crew arrives.

US territories have a voice in Congress but no vote – here’s why

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, millions of Americans who live outside the 50 states are excluded from full participation in its democracy. Roughly 3.6 million residents of US territories – including Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana

‘The ground is shifting somewhat’: ASEAN does not want an isolated Myanmar, says Thai foreign minister

Engagement is the best path towards peace and Myanmar’s eventual reintegration into the regional bloc, said Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow in an interview with CNA’s Saksith Saiyasombut.

US-China relations are driving South Korea’s distancing strategy

The US-China Summit of May 14, 2026 in Beijing was an attempt to mitigate great power competition and promote bilateral ties through “constructive strategic stability.” Chinese President Xi Jinping argued against the inevitability of the “Thucydides trap,” which expects an

China’s military says it tracked Dutch frigate in Taiwan Strait

Beijing last week said the HNLMS De Ruyter illegally intruded into the Paracel Islands archipelago.

What's at stake in Armenia's election on Sunday?

YEREVAN, June 5 - Armenia holds a parliamentary election on Sunday that pits the governing Civil Contract party, which is pursuing closer ties with the West, against an array of opposition parties, many of which are pro-Russian.

Japan overhauls post-war intelligence system amid rising security threats

The move comes as its adversaries wage sophisticated “grey-zone” operations.

Why is Australia buying used American nuclear submarines?

Following the recent announcement that Australia would acquire three submarines already in US service rather than two used submarines and one new one, AUKUS has again dominated headlines. AUKUS is a defense capability agreement between the United States, the United Kingdom and

Iran says it fired warning missiles and drones at US warships in Gulf of Oman

DUBAI, June 5 - Iran's navy said on Friday it had fired warning missiles and drones at U.S. warships in the Gulf of Oman, accusing the U.S. Navy of harassing maritime traffic and seizing commercial vessels and oil tankers, Iranian state media reported.

US forces board sanctioned tanker in Indian Ocean, Pentagon says

WASHINGTON, June 5 - U.S. forces conducted an interdiction of the sanctioned stateless oil tanker Davina overnight in the Indian Ocean, the U.S. military's Indo-Pacific Command said on Friday.

Negeri Sembilan election: Move to dissolve state assembly Anwar's ‘tit-for-tat’ response to Johor snap polls

Observers told CNA the move by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan in Negeri Sembilan is a “calculated effort” to pre-empt any momentum the Barisan Nasional might gain in Johor’s upcoming state election.

Senior Chinese official Cai Qi tapped as head of central party school

BEIJING, June 5 - Chinese President Xi Jinping's right hand man, Cai Qi, has been appointed as head of the elite Central Party School, a move analysts say cements his position as perhaps Xi's closest ally now entrusted with almost the entire communist party portfolio.

Negri Sembilan faces political uncertainty with state assembly dissolved, bid to appoint new ruler

Analysts say the move to call snap polls in the state is a calculated risk by Anwar's coalition.

Germany living on yesterday’s success

Subscribe now with a one-month trial for only $1, then enjoy the first year at an exclusive rate of just $99. Stagnation problem is worse than it looks for BerlinDiego Faßnacht argues that Germany’s weak economic performance has been masked by inherited wealth, rising

Family of ‘miracle’ Everest survivor demand probe into rescue efforts

The family were angry at what they described as the failure of rescue teams to locate him earlier.

Former Tibet government head sentenced to life in prison

Che Dalha illegally took in more than 158 million yuan (S$29.93 million) from 1999 to 2025.

Commentary: UMNO’s ‘selective confrontations’ in Johor, Negeri Sembilan seek to push Anwar into a corner. What's next?

The impending snap polls in Johor and Negeri Sembilan are not just state elections, but opening salvos by UMNO in a wider national power struggle that will test the foundations of Malaysia’s first genuine multi-coalition government, writes CNA's Leslie Lopez.

Hungary to stop issuing worker visas to people from three countries starting Friday

BUDAPEST, June 5 - Hungary's government will stop issuing worker visas to employees from the Philippines, Georgia and Armenia from Friday, a government spokeswoman said, calling the move a first step towards regulating the inflow of guest workers.

Thailand to join UN maritime arbitration with Cambodia, halts other two-way talks

It will only pursue negotiations on their contested boundary using a UN-backed mechanism.

Nature or nurture? What is behind the ‘Eldest Daughter Syndrome’

Being uber-responsible, people-pleasing, and a perfectionist are traits that first-born girls in Asia purportedly have

Thailand to appoint conciliators for UN-backed mediation with Cambodia, foreign minister says

Bhutan to give cash incentives to families for more babies

KATHMANDU, June 5 - The tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan is worried about its declining population and has announced cash incentives to families to produce more children.

Trump’s tariffs are back – and the timing couldn’t be worse for Asia

TOKYO — Like a horror film villain everyone thought was dead, Donald Trump’s tariffs are suddenly back — and the timing couldn’t be more unsettling for Asia’s embattled economies. Despite the US Supreme Court striking down his “Liberation Day” tariffs, Trump has wasted no time

India's exam marking fiasco leaves university hopes hanging in the balance for students seeking answers

Under a new digital marking system, answer booklets are scanned and assessed electronically, but students seeking reviews of their exam scripts have reported issues including blurred scans, missing pages and unchecked answers.

Smart glasses off, please: China cracks down on high-tech cheating ahead of gaokao

Candidates in several provinces face eyewear inspections as authorities look to keep smart glasses out of examination venues.

New Zealand to raise lawmakers’ travel ban directly with China, PM Luxon says

New Zealand and China have maintained a largely stable relationship in recent years.

Indonesia volcano erupts, forcing airport to close

The eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki on Flores Island sent volcanic material 2.5km into the air.

US-Europe split on Belarus is a gift to Putin

When it comes to relations with Belarus, the Trump administration has been pursuing a dual approach of late. In May 2026, President Donald Trump renewed the US national emergency on Belarus, noting that the government of longtime Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko still

South Korea election chief quits over ballot paper shortages

Rho Tae-ak said the ballot paper shortage had understandably raised distrust in the election process.

'Unrealistic' for Southeast Asia to meet Hegseth's defence spending demand amid Sino-US rivalry

Washington’s call for Asian allies to spend 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence is untenable given competing needs in infrastructure, healthcare and education, analysts say.

‘Pig Feast’: the film Jakarta doesn’t want you to see

The release of the investigative documentary “Pesta Babi” (Pig Feast) has triggered an unusually intense wave of public debate and political unease across Indonesia. Directed by Dandhy Dwi Laksono and Cypri Jehan Paju Dale, the film captures the systemic collision between

China to inspect eyeglasses to stop students cheating at gaokao exam

Proctors will pay particular attention to the size and shape of candidates’ glasses.

Thailand’s Thaksin to head to Dubai after royal pardon sets him free

The pardon was granted this week as part of a broader clemency programme marking Queen Suthida’s birthday.

Japan’s Takaichi eyes visit to India in early July for talks with PM Modi

Japan regards India as an important partner to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says robotics is South Korea’s next big sector, points to ‘some surprises’

He also said Nvidia had started hiring for its research and development centre in the country.