Ex-S. Korea leader apologises for martial law crisis
Yoon Suk Yeol is facing life sentence after a court found him guilty for insurrection.
Headlines
- All
- Africa
- Asia
- Business
- Culture
- Environment
- Europe
- Gaming
- Markets
- Middle East
- Movies & TV
- Music
- Politics
- Science
- South America
- Tech
- World News
Indonesia to take deputy commander role in Gaza peacekeeping force: US general
Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had previously said that the country’s military will be deployed strictly for humanitarian purposes and not combat operations.
China’s submarine surge testing Pacific’s undersea balance
China’s accelerating nuclear submarine buildup is no longer just a shipyard story, but a strategic test of whether faster production can be converted into real leverage against US sea power in the Pacific. This month, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS)
US, China jets briefly face off near South Korea, Yonhap says
US fighter jets reportedly left an airbase in Pyeongtaek for drills above international waters on Feb 18.
Indonesia’s Riau province intensifies livestock vaccination amid foot-and-mouth disease outbreak
The number of cases in Riau in 2026 has already surpassed the total number of cases in 2025.
Hainan Free Trade Port is the future of globalization
For decades, globalization was widely accepted as an almost inevitable trajectory. The more open an economy, the prevailing logic held, the greater its prospects for growth. Frictionless ports, low tariffs, investment deregulation, and unrestricted capital flows were treated as
'Win-win' for both countries: Indonesia secures 19% tariff in US reciprocal trade deal
The deal takes effect 90 days after both sides complete the related legal procedures, but changes could still occur if both sides agree, said Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto.
Malaysian comedian Nigel Ng, aka Uncle Roger, expecting first child with wife Sabrina Ahmed
On Friday (Feb 20) morning, Malaysian comedian Nigel Ng and his lawyer wife, Sabrina Ahmed, jointly announced that they are expecting their first child.
Mystery donor gives Japanese city $3.6m in gold bars to fix water system
Osaka's mayor says he is 'lost for words' and that he has 'nothing but appreciation' for the gesture.
Underage accounts may be removed from digital platforms, Indonesian minister says
The minimum age limit policy is expected to take effect in March.
Thai cops go undercover as lion dancers to nab suspected thief
A video released by police showed festive lion dancers approaching the suspect before an officer suddenly emerged from the head of the costume and pinned him to the ground.
US and Indonesia finalise deal to cut tariffs to 19%
Washington will set a 19% tariff on most Indonesian goods in exchange for lower trade barriers for US goods
Suspect used ChatGPT in planning drug killings in South Korea: Police
She asked ChatGPT questions like what happens if one takes sleeping pills with alcohol.
Malaysian Medical Association calls for stronger action against illegal clinics in Kuala Lumpur
Foreign nationals were found to be allegedly posing as doctors and dispensing controlled medicines.
Revealed: The billions given to charity by ordinary Indians every year
India’s real philanthropy engine isn’t billionaires - it’s everyday household giving, a new survey finds.
Rubio softens the tone but makes same demands of Europe
When US Secretary of State Marco Rubio took the stage at the Munich Security Conference on February 14, the hall was braced for turbulence. They got something quite different. A standing ovation followed a speech that was notably, and deliberately, conciliatory in tone, a
New Zealand seeks to abolish dedicated Environment Ministry
The axed department will be folded into a new mega-ministry.
Japan zoo’s lonely baby monkey Punch wins hearts, and even a few friends
A series of widely shared online posts have made him the star of Ichikawa City Zoo.
The Chinese AI app sending Hollywood into a panic
Clips of Deadpool and other film characters have sparked alarm within Hollywood over copyright infringement.
North Korea’s Kim opens 9th Party Congress citing economic achievements
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the economy had overcome recession.
North Korea convenes 9th Party Congress, KCNA reports
SEOUL, Feb 20 - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the economy had overcome recession and the country accomplished major economic goals over the past five years as he announced that the Ninth Party Congress opened on Thursday, state media KCNA reported. The congress is the
Trump mixes diplomacy and flattery at peace board meeting
WASHINGTON, Feb 19 - World leaders who accepted the invitation of President Donald Trump to join his new peace board were greeted in Washington on Thursday with a mix of fanfare and personal flattery.
From sand to supply chain power: Can India weaken China’s grip on rare earths?
Announced in India’s Union Budget this month, the proposed Rare Earth Corridor across Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu marks what analysts say is New Delhi’s bid to convert mineral reserves into strategic clout.
Commentary: Sluggish Indonesia market clouds aviation outlook for Southeast Asia
A large contraction in domestic air travel within Indonesia will impact the regional outlook in Southeast Asia, says aviation analyst Brendan Sobie.
Commentary: India is having its AI moment at global summit
Behind the star-studded AI Impact Summit, there’s a question of whether India can shape the future of AI and be a model for the Global South, says former foreign correspondent Nirmal Ghosh.
Music that once made religion unappealing to India’s youth is now drawing them in
Such concerts are held in stadiums, cafes and community halls, drawing in swarms of revellers.
Japanese Americans used nature to cope with WW II imprisonment
With a stroke of a presidential pen, the lives of Izumi Taniguchi, Minoru Tajii, Homei Iseyama and Peggy Yorita irreparably changed on February 19, 1942. On that day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, which set in motion their wartime incarceration
Negotiating under naval guns
The latest escalation in US-Iran tensions is not merely another spike in the familiar cycle of provocations and negotiations. Following an agreement in their second round of Geneva talks on February 17 that supposedly gave Iran two weeks to come up with proposals fulfilling
India leads Global South AI power grab
The AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi is signaling something far more consequential than a commitment to India’s “inclusive technology.” It’s signaling scale. The government’s IndiaAI Mission carries an allocation of roughly $1.25 billion to expand domestic AI capacity.
Israeli settler killed Palestinian-American teen in the West Bank, local health ministry says
RAMALLAH/JERUSALEM, Feb 19 - A 19-year-old Palestinian-American citizen shot by an Israeli settler in the West Bank has died from his wounds,
Don’t overlook Sinocentrism: China’s historical memory and Japan
This article, first published by Pacific Forum, is republished with permission. China’s response to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s November 7, 2025, remarks to the Diet that a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan could arise in a “Taiwan contingency” has largely been
Five countries commit troops to Gaza international security force, commander says
WASHINGTON, Feb 19 - Five countries have committed troops for an international security force for Gaza, the commander of the force said on Thursday during a meeting of President Donald Trump's newly created Board of Peace.
Trump says US needs to make meaningful deal with Iran, cites good talks
WASHINGTON, Feb 19 - President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States had to make a meaningful deal with Iran, citing good talks with the Middle Eastern country.
Trump gets pledges for Gaza reconstruction and troop commitments at inaugural Board of Peace talks
Nine members of the Board of Peace have agreed to pledge US$7 billion toward a Gaza relief package and five countries have agreed to deploy troops, says the US president.
KPop stars scored the biggest global hit songs of 2025
APT by Rosé and Bruno Mars and tracks from KPop Demon Hunters were among the biggest hits of the year.
With somersaults, nunchucks, China’s humanoid robots thrill at CNY show – but can they make coffee?
The aim is for robots to do real work, and enter homes and shopping streets in pursuit of mass-market consumers.
Sweden pledges another $1.4 billion in military aid to Ukraine
STOCKHOLM, Feb 19 - Sweden announced on Thursday a 12.9 billion crown ($1.42 billion) military aid package for Ukraine that will include air defence, drones, long-range missiles and ammunition.
Japan panel approves stem cell medical products to treat heart disease and Parkinson’s
The products now await a final green light from the Health Ministry.
Yoon conviction stirs questions of judicial overreach
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to life imprisonment by a Seoul court on Thursday for spearheading an insurrection through his December 3, 2024, martial law decree. Yoon and other defendants, including his former defense minister, who was given 30
Nepal mulls over stricter safety rules for Everest climbers
Industry insiders say some foreign mountaineers are ill-prepared for what is a major test of endurance.
Malaysia police arrest man who allegedly vandalised ATMs in Kuala Lumpur
In total, 12 ATMs have been reportedly damaged.
Far-right leader Pauline Hanson’s crafty social media use in Australia fuels surging popularity
Like far-right groups in Europe, the veteran politician has projected her messages to great effect on social media.
Osaka gets $4.5m donation in gold to fix water system
The donation was made by someone who earlier had already given cash for the municipal waterworks.
Woman accused of using ChatGPT to plan drug murders
The 21-year-old woman is accused by authorities in South Korea of secretly administering drinks containing drugs to three men in their 20s.
Nearly 200 Southeast Asians, including 2 Singaporeans, served in Israeli military: IDF data
There were 111 Filipinos, 71 Thais, four Vietnamese, two Singaporeans and one Indonesian enlisted in the Israel Defence Forces as of March 2025, according to official data obtained by an Israeli non-governmental organisation.
Singapore PM Lawrence Wong to visit Malaysia on Feb 20 at the invitation of PM Anwar Ibrahim
The leaders are expected to discuss bilateral cooperation and issues of mutual interest during Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's "special visit", said Malaysia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
South Korea ruling party claims ex-President Yoon’s life sentence falls short of expectations
The alternative was a death sentence.
Modi’s AI unity pose turns awkward for Altman and Amodei
The episode, captured on camera and widely shared across social media, drew amused reactions online.
Modi's AI unity pose turns awkward for Altman and Amodei
NEW DELHI, Feb 19 - When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi nudged speakers at the India AI summit to join and raise their hands in a symbolic show of unity, most executives obliged. Two did not: rivals Sam Altman of OpenAI and Dario Amodei of Anthropic.