Lithium battery truck fire forces closures, safety checks on road to Bangkok

Battery debris remained on the left lane of the road, with smoke and flames still being reported.

Asia • 10m

Modi eyes milestone win as key Indian states begin vote counts

Exit polls at the end of voting last week showed the BJP holding a slight edge over Ms Banerjee’s party.

Asia • 14m

Modi’s Hindu right targets gains in India’s elections: What to know

The results on May 4 will set the landscape before national elections in 2029.

Asia • 20m

Australia begins hearings into Bondi Beach attack and rising antisemitism

SYDNEY, May 4 - Australia began public hearings on Monday into the Bondi Beach mass shooting in December, part of a wide-ranging national inquiry with witnesses set to give evidence on their experience of escalating antisemitism in the country.

Asia • 21m

South Korean embassy accused of mismanagement at K-Culture event in Pakistan

Visitors claim event officials misled them to believe event was cancelled; embassy denies allegations.

Asia • 50m

Malaria cases hit record high in Indonesia as elimination challenges persist

Indonesia’s Health Ministry recorded 706,000 malaria cases across the archipelago in 2025.

Asia • 1h

Australian inquiry opens public hearings into Bondi Beach shooting

Members of Sydney’s Jewish community are expected to talk about their experience of anti-Semitism.

Asia • 1h

Philippines accuses Chinese ships of illegal marine research

The Philippine Coast Guard said it will deploy aircraft and vessels to drive away the Chinese ships.

Asia • 1h

Pregnant South Korean woman loses baby after she was turned away by 6 hospitals

She was taken to hospital by helicopter 3½ hours after she initially called emergency services.

Asia • 1h

‘I hate Chinese’: South Korean man gets suspended term for drunken racist outbursts

The man was found guilty of assault and destruction of property for two separate cases in 2025.

Asia • 1h

South Korean woman and jealous boyfriend jailed for stealing her ex-husband’s ashes

The remains were later discarded by the defendants.

Asia • 1h

Malaysia ramps up biodiesel use amid soaring energy bills

Rising fuel subsidies and global supply disruptions are pushing the country to accelerate biodiesel adoption.

Asia • 1h

Trump says US to help ships stranded in Strait of Hormuz as tanker hit by projectiles

DUBAI/DORAL, Florida, May 4 - A tanker reported being hit by unknown projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, a maritime security organisation said on Monday, shortly after President Donald Trump said the U.S. would start helping free ships stranded in the Gulf by the U.S.-Israeli

Asia • 2h

US calls Taiwan ‘trusted and capable’ partner, praises its ties with Eswatini

Eswatini is one of just 12 countries with formal diplomatic ties to Taiwan.

Asia • 2h

US calls Taiwan 'trusted and capable' partner, praises its ties with Eswatini

TAIPEI, May 4 - Taiwan is a \"trusted and capable\" partner of the United States and Taipei's global relationships, including with Eswatini, provide significant benefits, the U.S. State Department said of President Lai Ching-te's trip to the southern African kingdom.

Asia • 2h

Malaysia’s anti-graft agency to quiz ex-minister Rafizi Ramli over deal with British chip giant Arm

The probe relates to irregularities around semiconductor investments worth over $350 million.

Asia • 2h

‘Reset’ or ‘calculated stabilisation’? Why ties between China and the Philippines appear to be warming

After nearly four years of bilateral tensions, Beijing and Manila have signalled an intent to improve ties, but analysts say domestic and geopolitical pressures could limit how long the thaw lasts.

Asia • 5h

Trump says US will help free ships stranded in Strait of Hormuz

WASHINGTON, May 3 - President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the United States would begin an effort to free up ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday morning.

Asia • 6h

German chancellor downplays row with Trump after troop drawdown announced

The US President returned the number of American troops stationed in Germany to pre-Ukraine War levels.

Asia • 8h

Asian Development Bank offers help to Pacific countries hit by Iran war

Asia • 15h

Hezbollah pays steep price in battle to reverse its fortunes

BEIRUT, May 3 - Hezbollah has paid a heavy price for going to war with Israel on March 2: Israel has occupied a chunk of southern Lebanon, displaced hundreds of thousands of its Shi'ite Muslim constituents and killed as many as several thousand of its fighters, according to

Asia • 16h

Sanae Takaichi set for Australia visit to strengthen Japan alliance

The Japanese PM seeks to build on an updated regional strategy laid out in Vietnam.

Asia • 16h

Malaysia’s East Coast rail promises bigger economic pie for Pahang, but questions remain

While it has been touted as a cure for poor connectivity between the east coast and KL, ECRL is designed mainly for cargo.

Asia • 17h

China, Philippines trade accusations over South China Sea

Asia • 17h

Australia’s uncrewed planes, subs and drones could appeal to Asian navies: Analysts

The country has developed sophisticated uncrewed submarines and planes.

Asia • 18h

BN 'almost certain' to go solo in contesting Malaysia's next general election, says DPM Zahid

Barisan Nasional (BN)'s chairman and UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi however adds that there would still be a need to reach some understanding with other political blocs.

Asia • 19h