Singaporean part-time actor and family of three charged over Johor mall brawl

The fight had allegedly broken out after the wife of one of the suspects called out the other man for spilling beer on her.

Thai and Cambodia militaries hold talks on resuming ceasefire

The meeting is the most significant step since fighting re-erupted and follows separate, unsuccessful efforts by Malaysia, China and the United States to bring the ‌two countries to the table.

South-eastern Taiwan shaken by 6.1-magnitude quake; no immediate reports of damage

The quake shook buildings in the capital Taipei.

Southeastern Taiwan shaken by 6.1 magnitude quake, no immediate reports of damage

TAIPEI, Dec 24 - A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan's southeastern coastal county of Taitung on Wednesday, the island's weather administration said, with no immediate reports of damage.

Southeastern Taiwan shaken by 6.1 magnitude quake

There are no immediate reports of damage.

Japan’s TEPCO to partially restart world’s biggest nuclear power plant on Jan 20

Kashiwazaki-Kariwa was among 54 reactors shut after the Fukushima Daiichi plant meltdown in 2011.

Myanmar junta’s shift from battlefield to ballots faces long odds

Analysts say establishing a stable administration is far-fetched, as the civil war is still raging.

Myanmar junta's shift from battlefield to ballots faces long odds

Dec 24 - From inside a military base last week, Myanmar's junta chief Min Aung Hlaing announced who he wanted voters to pick in Sunday's general election, nearly five years after seizing power in a coup.

Myanmar's decade of turmoil: elections, coup and conflict

Dec 24 - Nearly five years after it seized power, Myanmar's military is moving ahead with a multi-phase general election starting on Sunday, despite conflict across the country.

Myanmar's election in numbers

Dec 24 - Myanmar will hold the first round of voting in a general election on Sunday in what its military government says will usher in a return to civilian rule following a 2021 coup.

Explainer-Why is Myanmar's junta holding an election during a civil war?

Dec 24 - Myanmar's military-led administration will hold a multi-phased general election starting on Sunday, even as a civil war rages across large parts of the Southeast Asian country.

Cambodia slams demolition of Hindu statue by Thai army

This follows more than two weeks of military clashes between the neighbours.

Vietnam’s censorship lawfare enters the AI age

When Asia Times published the analysis “Vingroup’s legal bullying doesn’t work in Germany like in Vietnam“ in November 2025, we pointed out that major conglomerates cannot easily use their deep pockets to stifle the press in Europe. Recent developments in December 2025 have

Bangladesh leader seen as likely next prime minister set to return from exile ahead of polls

DHAKA, Dec 24 - The Bangladesh Nationalist Party aims to gather five million supporters to welcome its leader Tarique Rahman home from nearly 17 years in exile on Thursday, a show of strength as he emerges as a leading contender for prime minister in February elections.

Taipei knife attack: Suspect had no income and relied on financial support from his mother, police say

From a NT$450,000 (US$14,325) lump sum to quarterly transfers, the findings shed light on how Chang Wen, 27, sustained himself and funded months of preparation before the assault.

Thailand’s Anutin picked as PM candidate in 'consequential' February polls

Anutin said he and his Bhumjaithai party were ready to return to power.

Singaporean artiste, family of three charged over Johor mall brawl

The four people had got into a brawl at the mall on Dec 21, 2025, at around 5.20pm.

Australian man charged after endorsing Bondi attack had weapons stockpile, police say

Martin Glynn, 39, was arrested after a tip-off about his support of a targeted attack on Jews in Bondi.

Thailand's Anutin picked as PM candidate in 'consequential' February polls

BANGKOK, Dec 24 - Thailand's caretaker leader Anutin Charnvirakul was picked by his party on Wednesday to stand as its candidate for prime minister in a general election in early February, as he bids to benefit from a wave of nationalism arising from an ongoing border conflict

Thailand sets demands ahead of four days of Cambodia peace talks

The discussions will mark the first bilateral dialogue since clashes reignited on Dec 7.

Many risks could tank Trump-class battleship ambition

The proposed Trump-class battleship, officially known as the BBG(X) guided missile battleship program, is planned to be the largest warship built by the United States since World War II. The entire project is riddled with gambles, any one of which could tank the project. Here

Taiwan celebrates Christmas once again after 25 years. Sort of.

Opposition parties earlier in 2025 passed a law to add or restore five public holidays.

Japan’s Rapidus set to rival TSMC and Samsung for chip supremacy

Rapidus, Japan’s effort to create a domestic chip-making alternative to TSMC and Samsung Foundry, is becoming a broad-based national industrial project of a kind Americans might dream about but that only China, Taiwan and South Korea could possibly match. The plan is to build a

China probe finds Taiwanese smugglers controlled vessel that damaged subsea cables

In June, a Taiwanese court sentenced the Chinese captain of a Togo-registered ship to three years' jail after finding him guilty of intentionally damaging undersea cables near Taiwan.

US warned Japan of N. Korean contingency during 1994 crisis, archives show

Pyongyang had refused to accept inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

China police crack down on errant private cinemas over alleged sex services

Such venues offer patrons private rooms to watch movies alone, as a couple, or in a group.

Trump’s transactional realism meets imperial overreach

As 2025 draws to a close, Donald Trump’s return to the White House has produced a foreign policy that defies easy categorization. The president who campaigned against endless wars and promised an “America First” doctrine has instead pursued what can only be described as

North Korean POWs in Ukraine seeking ‘new life’ in South

North Korean soldiers are instructed to kill themselves rather than be taken prisoner, says South Korea.

Taiwanese smugglers controlled vessel that damaged subsea cables, says China after probe

China previously accused Taiwan of "manipulating" possible Chinese involvement in the case.

Why markets aren’t buying BOJ’s rate hike spin

TOKYO – As 2026 approaches, the Bank of Japan finds itself in the unenviable position of a central bank that cried wolf. Last week, BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda’s board made good on its talk of higher interest rates, raising them to a 30-year high of 0.75%. Yet currency traders

Man in South Korea investigated after fiddling with airplane emergency door

During questioning, the man reportedly said he touched the cover playfully.

From sambal to swank: Why a Malaysian food influencer’s upmarket move struck a nerve

Observers say the issue isn't about fine dining as much as the loss of an everyman icon.

Bangladesh political heavyweight Tarique Rahman to end exile

Tarique Rahman is set to return to Dhaka on Thursday (Dec 25) after 17 years in exile and ahead of key elections.

Malaysia’s AGC rebuts claims by Najib’s lawyer that High Court ruling on house arrest dilutes royal power

The Attorney General’s Chambers also cautioned against attempts to incite or disrupt public order through misleading interpretations of the court's judgment.

Asian markets mostly up after US growth fuels Wall Street record

China strongly warned Japan not to send official to Taiwan in 1994, archives show

The records underscore how the Taiwan issue has long been a potential source of friction in Sino-Japanese ties.

From predator to plate: Japan bear crisis sparks culinary craze

The 13 people killed in bear encounters this year doubles the previous record.

US holds call with Palau on transfer of third-country nationals

WASHINGTON, Dec 23 - The U.S. on Tuesday said Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau spoke to Palau President Surangel Whipps about transferring third-country nationals to the Pacific Island nation, even after its lawmakers rejected a previous request from Washington on

Australia cancels British man’s visa after charges that Nazi symbol was displayed

The man also advocated for violence against the Jewish community on social media platform X.

Australia cancels British man's visa after charges of displaying Nazi symbol

SYDNEY, Dec 24 - Australia cancelled the visa of a British national after he was charged with displaying a banned Nazi symbol, the immigration minister said on Wednesday, as the country cracks down on antisemitism in the wake of a mass shooting at Bondi Beach.

Vietnam’s population to peak around 2059 as ageing accelerates

Ongoing urbanisation is projected to slow as the urban population approaches the 50 per cent mark.

Malaysia set to revive Melaka-Riau bridge project with feasibility study in 2026

The plan had been proposed several times since 1996.

Cheap childcare? South Korea’s Filipina caregiver programme found it wasn’t

South Korea had planned to expand the foreign caregiver programme, but it failed to gain traction.

Rivalries and rumours: How the new order of the Murdoch dynasty is playing out

Family feuds and strategic change are redefining who holds power inside the Murdoch empire.

Police step up security ahead of Christmas and New Year in Indonesia

The police have also deployed more than 11,000 personnel to disaster-affected areas.

Man finds snake in Malaysia toilet

A 15kg snake was also captured a day earlier.

Australia to deport British man charged with displaying Nazi symbols

The immigration minister said the man is an unwelcome "guest" in Australia.