Hello Kitty shinkansen makes final run after 8 years of operation

The bullet train had carried around one million passengers since its debut in June 2018.

Grid reforms vital to powering Asean’s green growth: Report

The region’s grids urgently need more investment to expand and modernise.

Why Iran has already won the war

There is a moment in every great geopolitical confrontation when the outcome becomes structurally inevitable — long before anyone is willing to announce it. Rome understood this when Germanic tribes stopped retreating. Britain understood it in 1947, standing in Delhi with empty

2 men arrested over trespassing incident at enclosure of viral monkey Punch

Both have denied the allegations.

Train driver charged after deadly Bangkok bus collision

Singaporean man hospitalised in Taiwan after falling from Dragon Caves rock climbing area

The 25-year-old man lost his footing and fell from a slope about 7m high, Taiwanese media reported.

Malaysian Cabinet approves $3.2b Elevated Autonomous Rapid Transit project to ease JB traffic

The project was proposed almost two years ago to help disperse traffic.

Australia's property tax overhaul unpopular with voters, polls show

SYDNEY, May 18 - Australia's centre-left government is facing voter blowback after breaking election promises to roll out the biggest changes to investment taxes in decades in its latest budget, according to two closely watched polls.

Tributes flow after Australian shark attack victim named as father-of-two

Steven Mattaboni, 38, died on Saturday after a shark attack while spearfishing at Rottnest Island.

Taiwan will not provoke conflict nor give up sovereignty, says president

Lai Ching-te made his first direct response to Trump and Xi's meeting where they discussed Taiwan independence.

Like Suez for the Brits, Hormuz spells doom for US empire

Empires rise and fall. They do not last forever. Imperial declines follow a gradual shifting of the economic tides, but are also punctuated and defined by critical tipping points. There are many differences between the Suez Crisis in 1956 and the US war on Iran today, but

America’s Taiwan gap utterly exposed at Trump-Xi summit

The most revealing line of last week’s Trump-Xi summit was not delivered at the Great Hall of the People. It came afterward, aboard Air Force One, when the American president was asked by Fox News what he thought of the island that had dominated his two days of talks with Xi

Earthquake hits southwest China; thousands evacuate, buildings collapse

From indemnity to indispensability: China’s 125-year reversal

When eight foreign flags flew over Beijing in August 1900, no one in the Forbidden City could have imagined that the city would, 125 years later, host the president of the United States as a guest of honor and the president of Russia just days afterward. The contrast is almost

Philippines to convene court for Sara Duterte's impeachment amid political turmoil

Sara Duterte's impeachment trial could either kill off her 2028 presidential hopes, or strengthen her position as lead contender to succeed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Earthquake hits south-west China; thousands evacuate, buildings collapse

There were two confirmed deaths with one still missing, and four people were taken to hospital.

Philippines to convene court for VP impeachment amid political turmoil

MANILA, May 18 - The Philippine Senate was due to convene as an impeachment court on Monday that could decide the future of Vice President Sara Duterte, with a heated battle between two rival political camps set to be front and centre in the trial.

G7 finance chiefs seek to tackle imbalances as trade strains unity

PARIS, May 18 - G7 finance ministers gathering in Paris on Monday will try to find common ground on tackling global economic tensions and coordinating critical raw material supplies, even as geopolitical differences threaten to test the group's cohesion.

V-P Sara Duterte’s trial to open next phase of Philippine political turmoil

The political drama is rattling a country with a weak economy facing stagflation concerns.

Commentary: Are the glory days for Southeast Asian budget carriers over?

Skyrocketing fuel prices are starting to impact air travel in Southeast Asia with low-cost carriers particularly vulnerable, writes aviation analyst Brendan Sobie.

North Korea’s Kim calls for making border with South Korea an ‘impregnable fortress’

Mr Kim Jong Un stressed ideological loyalty and vigilance against the “archenemy”, South Korea.

North Korea's Kim calls for stronger frontline units to deter war, KCNA says

SEOUL, May 18 - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said plans to strengthen frontline units on the border with South Korea, as well as other major units, were key to \"more thoroughly deter war,\" state media KCNA reported on Monday.

International dive group joins Maldives search for missing Italians

Several fatalities have been reported in recent years but diving and water sports-related accidents are still relatively rare.

Trump and South Korea’s Lee discuss outcome of US-China summit

The Korean president found Mr Trump and Mr Xi's talks over affairs on the Korean Peninsula to be constructive.

Trump and South Korea's Lee discuss outcome of US-China summit

SEOUL, May 17 - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump held a phone call on Sunday and discussed the outcome of the U.S.-China summit meeting, the South Korean Blue House presidential office said in a statement on Sunday.

Anwar says ready to call GE and ‘fight’ BN after it signals intent to go solo in Johor

Speaking at a Pakatan Harapan (PH) convention, PM Anwar Ibrahim suggested that Barisan Nasional’s announcement that it would go solo in contesting upcoming Johor state polls was akin to threats that could amount to “betrayal” to their unity government partnership.

Train driver charged after deadly crash in Thailand

BANGKOK, May 17 - Thai police have charged a train driver with negligence after a crash on Saturday in central Bangkok in which a freight train collided with a public bus at a rail crossing, killing eight people and injuring 32.

Snap polls in Malaysia possible if unity government fractures, says PM Anwar

The PM also hit out at certain state governments for giving handouts just before the elections.

Former Malaysian ministers Rafizi and Nik Nazmi to quit PM Anwar’s PKR, give up MP seats

Rafizi Ramli, who was formerly economy minister, said the “kamikaze mission” was worth it as he wants to offer a political platform to those who believe that political power belongs to the people.

Ho Chi Minh City seizes over 8,000kg of unquarantined meat in large-scale food safety crackdown

The products lacked quarantine certificates and failed to meet veterinary hygiene standards.

Two ex-Malaysian ministers to vacate parliament seats, join new party

KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 - Two prominent former Malaysian ministers said on Sunday they would vacate their parliamentary seats and resign from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s ruling coalition party to join a small party that they would take over.

Train driver charged over fatal collision with bus in Bangkok

He was charged with negligence causing death and serious injury.

Philippine lawyers ask Supreme Court to reject senator’s plea to block ICC arrest

MANILA, May 17 - Philippine government lawyers have urged the Supreme Court to reject the bid of fugitive Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who is wanted for alleged crimes against humanity linked to his role in a bloody \"war on drugs\", to block his arrest and surrender.

Taiwan won’t be sacrificed, US arms sales a commitment, President Lai responds to Trump

Mr Lai also reiterated his stance that Taiwan was a “sovereign, independent, democratic country”.

'Taiwan independence' means we don't belong to Beijing, president says

TAIPEI, May 17 - The expression \"Taiwan independence\" means the island neither belongs to nor is subordinate to Beijing and that only the Taiwanese people can decide their future, President Lai Ching-te said on Sunday.

Malaysia PM Anwar’s staunchest critic Rafizi finds a new party – and a new fight

Former ministers Rafizi and Nik Nazmi have left the ruling PKR for the Malaysian United Party.

Hundreds of students fall sick in Indonesia's Surabaya after consuming state programme's free meals

Students complained of dizziness, nausea and vomiting, though most only required light medical examinations.

North Korean women footballers land in South Korea ahead of rare match

Nepali duo break own records on Mt Everest

Mr Kami Rita Sherpa scaled Mt Everest for a record 32nd time.

Nepali Sherpa scales Mount Everest for a record 32nd time

KATHMANDU, May 17 - A renowned Nepali Sherpa guide scaled Mount Everest for the 32nd time on Sunday, an official said, smashing his own record set last year.