Taiwan minister makes rare visit to disputed South China Sea island

Kuan Bi-ling observed coast guard drills on Taiping Island, also claimed by China, the Philippines and Vietnam.

South Korea fines matchmaking agency over leak of sensitive user data

The company said it deeply regretted its failure to adequately protect its members’ personal data.

US stuck using $1 million missiles against Iran’s $20,000 drones

It may sound hard to believe, but the almost trillion-dollar US military is struggling to fight cheap drones in its war with Iran. Iran has built a simple drone, the Shahed, with a motorcycle-type engine, loaded it with explosives and successfully targeted its neighbors’ cities

Voting under way in key Indian states Tamil Nadu, West Bengal

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party is hoping to make inroads in the opposition strongholds.

Malaysia’s King says he will choose a new anti-graft chief

It is first the official confirmation that current head Azam Baki’s term won’t be renewed when it ends in May.

Malaysia's king says he will choose next anti-graft agency chief

KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 - Malaysia's King Sultan Ibrahim said on Thursday that he will select the next head of the country's anti-graft body, with the agency's current chief under growing pressure to resign over misconduct allegations.

Is China’s soft power rising, or is America’s just crumbling?

Soft power is notoriously hard to quantify, but it’s difficult to argue that global soft power has been shifting steadily toward East Asia in recent decades. A few years ago, I wrote a post about how South Korea became a cultural superpower on purpose, while Japan became one by

Iran tightens control of Hormuz after US calls off renewed attacks

WASHINGTON/DUBAI/ISLAMABAD, April 23 - Iran seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz as it tightened its grip on the strategic waterway after U.S. President Donald Trump announced he was indefinitely calling off attacks, with no sign of peace talks restarting.

Sellers in China trade hub Guangdong seek tariff reprieve from Trump visit

Factories in Guangdong province have borne the brunt of Mr Trump’s mercurial policies and a blistering trade war.

Flights delayed at Japan’s Haneda airport after international check-in system glitch

This comes just two days after the airport suffered a glitch in its air traffic control system.

China's Xpeng expects to start delivering 'flying' cars in 2027

The Chinese electric vehicle maker has received more than 7,000 orders for its flying cars, the majority of which are in China.

Fury as Indonesian court dismisses 1998 mass rape lawsuit

Rights groups called the ruling a major step backwards that further perpetuates impunity.

Chinese EV maker Xpeng expects to start delivering ‘flying’ cars in 2027

It also expects to start large-scale production of its humanoid robots in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Thailand moves to end 60-day visa-free stays to screen out unwanted visitors

Thailand is seeking to shift its tourism strategy towards higher-quality and longer-stay visitors.

Japan mulls social media age limits as global curbs spread

In Japan, teenagers spent nearly 70 minutes a day on social media on weekdays, almost double the overall national average.

Another American quagmire at Hormuz

There is a certain grim symmetry to watching Washington, in the spring of 2026, once again flailing about in the Persian Gulf — blockading Iranian ports, rattling sabers over a strait it cannot fully control and dispatching delegations to Islamabad in search of a diplomatic

Why China’s support for Iran has limits

Beijing showed little support for Tehran's defence besides criticising the attacks.

Negeri Sembilan’s royal dispute deepens as dissenters’ seats lay empty at state assembly

The state’s Malay ruler stressed that their absence would not affect the legality of the state assembly sitting.

‘Dancing in their hands’: Japan wig masters set stage alive

A fresh wig is crafted for each kabuki performance and customised for each actor.

South Korea’s air force apologises after audit blames 2021 jet collision on mid-air selfies

SEOUL, April 23 - South Korea's air force apologised on Thursday for a 2021 mid-air collision involving two fighter jets, a day after auditors said pilots were taking selfies and filming during the flight and held them responsible for the accident.

As more ASEAN states turn to Russia for fuel, will Moscow boost its influence in the region?

Asian countries have been especially affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Malaysian TikTok creator arrested for wearing police gear in viral video

The incident involves a video believed to be recorded for online content.

Ex-Jakarta agency head faces charges in deadly landfill collapse

The environment agency had failed to comply with administrative sanctions imposed since late 2024.

Over 1,000 people urged to evacuate as wildfires rage in north-eastern Japan

The local weather observatory had warned of dry air and strong winds in Otsuchi.

US intercepts three Iranian oil tankers in Asian waters, sources say

At least three Iranian-flagged tankers have been redirected from their positions near India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, shipping and security sources said.

Taiwan minister makes rare visit to South China Sea island for drills

It is the first time in seven years a minister had visited the island, which is also claimed by China.

North Korea, Russia aim to open new road bridge soon, KCNA says

The 850m bridge will connect to Russia’s highway system.

Japan’s ANA to introduce fuel surcharge to domestic flights amid rising costs

Japan Airlines is also set to introduce fuel surcharges to domestic flights in 2027.

South Korean fighter pilot fined over midair photos that caused crash

He has been ordered to pay $76,000 in damages.

High-stakes West Bengal election begins in India amid voter roll row

The poll is taking place against a controversy over a sweeping revision of electoral rolls.

Japan's Nikkei crosses 60,000 level for the first time on tech rally

SoftBank Group and other technology stocks gained and risk sentiment improved after United States President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran.

JB food guide: Actual hidden gem seafood in an Orang Laut village and rustic cafe under the trees

From hybrid salted egg black pepper crab in a nostalgic kampung to “gearbox” soup at a hand-built cafe under the trees, Mediacorp Gold 905’s Denise Tan discovers that the best way to taste Johor Bahru is to go back in time via the Second Link.

‘In the RTS era’: Sleepy Johor Bahru township set for spruce-up as small businesses ponder their fate

One of Johor Bahru’s older townships is seeing land prices surge ahead of the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link’s opening in January 2027, analysts say. This mirrors a wider shift in the state capital’s retail landscape.

Commentary: Why emerging markets are dismissing bad Iran news

The fact that developing nations’ equities are able to rebound despite the bloc’s vulnerability to energy shocks shows there’s value in this space, says Shuli Ren for Bloomberg Opinion.

China weathered Trump's tariffs - but the Iran war is taking a toll

The Middle East conflict is putting pressure on factory orders, costs and jobs in China's export-driven economy.

Lessons for new Apple CEO Ternus in Steve Jobs’s wilderness years

Apple has named John Ternus, its head of hardware engineering, as its next CEO. At the same moment, Apple is paying Google roughly a billion dollars a year to run the AI brain of Siri, because Apple’s own AI hasn’t been good enough. Apple’s hardware is excellent but the AI is

How the US-Iran war is costing China

The BBC’s Laura Bicker explains the economic costs and possible political wins for China brought on by the war.

Is Trump heading to a Pyrrhic victory in Iran?

President Donald Trump has claimed victory in the war in Iran even before the conflict is over. But despite the killing of the country’s leader and seriously degration of its military, there is an argument being made that the Islamic Republic has emerged all the stronger for

Turkey trying to revive Russia-Ukraine negotiations, Erdogan tells NATO chief

ANKARA, April 22 - Turkey is making efforts to revive negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and bring together the leaders of the warring sides, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in a meeting in Ankara, the Turkish presidency said on

US slams China’s pressure on African countries to block Taiwan president’s trip

Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar revoked permission for Taiwan's presidential plane to cross their airspace.

US slams China's pressure on African countries to block Taiwan president's trip

WASHINGTON, April 22 - The United States is concerned that several African countries revoked overflight clearances for Taiwan's president at China's behest, the State Department said on Wednesday, calling the incident an abuse of the international civil aviation system.

Myanmar considering 'good things' for detained Aung San Suu Kyi: Thailand

French soldier dies of wounds after attack on UN force in Lebanon

PARIS, April 22 - President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that a second French soldier had died following an attack on United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon last week, which he said was carried out by Iran‑backed Hezbollah.

Heat maps show largest greenhouse farm in North Korea at less than half capacity

The farm was said to be the area’s rebound from severe flooding, but it's not fully operational, analysts say.

Russia to stop Kazakh oil flows to German PCK refinery via Druzhba

FRANKFURT/MOSCOW, April 22 - Russia will stop the supply of Kazakh crude oil via the Druzhba pipeline to Germany from May 1, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Wednesday, forcing a major refinery near Berlin to make up the shortfall from elsewhere.

Trump extends ceasefire but continues blockade of Iran

President Donald Trump extended a two-week ceasefire for his and Israel’s war on Iran, but the US leader also said that a naval blockade of the Mideast nation will continue, and fears of fresh attacks remain high. Two weeks after threatening to take out the “whole civilization”

Indonesia finance minister floats, then backs off on Strait of Malacca levy

Finance minister says no to Malacca Strait fees despite Hormuz comparison.

Myanmar considering ‘good things’ for detained Aung San Suu Kyi, Thai minister says

Myanmar’s new president told him detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi was being well looked after.