Bali flooding prompts tourist evacuation: Official

There were no fatalities, said an official.

US forces seize third sanctioned oil tanker, Pentagon says

WASHINGTON, Feb 24 - U.S. military forces have captured a sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean after tracking it from Caribbean waters, the Pentagon said on Tuesday, adding that it was the third such interdiction.

Iran issues death sentence linked to January unrest, source says

DUBAI, Feb 24 - A revolutionary court in Tehran has issued a death sentence for an Iranian man accused of \"enmity against god\", which if confirmed would be the first such sentence linked to mass protests in January, a source close to the man's family said.

Iran nears deal to buy supersonic anti-ship missiles from China

The deployment of the missiles would significantly enhance Iran’s strike capabilities and pose a threat to US naval forces in the region, two weapons experts said.

Five years on, ‘Putin consensus’ faces Ukraine strain

Perceived wisdom has it that the longer a war goes on, the less enthusiastic a public becomes for continuing the conflict. After all, it is ordinary citizens who tend to bear the economic and human costs. And yet, as the war following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in

Malaysia curbs non-AI data centres as power squeeze looms

What's behind the latest tension between Afghanistan and Pakistan?

ISLAMABAD, Feb 24 - Tensions have heated up again between Islamabad and Kabul this week after Pakistan launched airstrikes on militant targets in Afghanistan.

Israel warns Lebanon of strikes if Hezbollah enters any US-Iran war, Lebanese officials say

GENEVA/BEIRUT, Feb 24 - Israel has warned Lebanon that it would strike the country hard, targeting civilian infrastructure including the airport, in the event that Hezbollah gets involved in any U.S.-Iran war, two senior Lebanese officials said on Tuesday.

Former Philippines president Duterte drew up ‘death lists’, boasted about murders: ICC prosecutor

Duterte faces three ICC counts of crimes against humanity.

Japan to deploy missile systems on island near Taiwan by 2031

This is the first time Japan has specified the timing of its deployment of surface-to-air missiles on Yonaguni island.

‘Alpha-male’ influencer Nick Adams dropped as US ambassador to Malaysia, claims he has been promoted

Adams’ nomination by US President Donald Trump last year had sparked controversy due to reportedly misogynistic remarks the right-wing commentator has made, as well as his public support for Israel in 2024.

China’s military purge taking toll on command and readiness, study finds

China's two highest-ranked generals have become ensnared in disciplinary investigations.

Rights group slams treatment of viral Japanese monkey

Punch's predicament has sparked huge interest online, spawning a devoted fanbase with large crowds thronging Ichikawa City Zoo.

Rights group slams treatment of Punch, the viral Japanese monkey

PETA called for Punch to be moved somewhere "he could live in a more natural environment”.

Thailand, Cambodia dispute exchange of fire at border

The countries signed a ceasefire agreement in late December but tensions on the border remain, with both sides trading accusations of truce violations.

Can ASEAN’s 50-year-old foundational peace treaty hold in a more uncertain world?

The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia has been seen for much of its history as a cornerstone of the region’s relative stability.

Kenyans trapped in Cambodia by trafficking scheme seek government aid to return home

NAIROBI, Feb 24 - More than 600 Kenyans lured to Cambodia by the promise of jobs who say they were kept there against their will in a trafficking scheme sought on Tuesday to force their government to bring them home.

Air India technical incidents such as fuel leaks hit 14-month high

Gunmen kill five police officers in north-west Pakistan near Afghan border

Pakistan has seen rising tension with neighbouring Afghanistan in recent weeks.

Malaysian minister calls for royal probe into anti-graft body’s ‘corporate mafia’ claims

DAP minister breaks ranks, says MACC must be cleared of all suspicion, not just shareholding.

Gunmen kill five police in northwest Pakistan near Afghan border, police say

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan, Feb 24 - Gunmen ambushed a police vehicle and killed five officials in northwest Pakistan on Tuesday, police said, as the South Asian nation struggles to quell a rising wave of militant attacks and faces renewed border tensions with neighbouring

‘SEAblings’ v Korea: Online spat reveals long-buried racial tensions

But many concur that the online war has gone too far.

‘Best choice’ as Malaysia opposition pact PN’s new chairman, but ‘many challenges’ await Dr Sam

Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar - the newly appointed chairman of Malaysia’s opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional - has his work cut out for him, say analysts.

South Korean health officials deny use of contaminated Covid-19 vaccines

They said that vaccines containing foreign materials were separated and stored apart from other doses.

Sabah resort in the soup for serving up pangolin dishes

No one is allowed to possess, keep or sell the pangolin or serve it as food in Sabah.

Avoiding Japan, Chinese tourists fuel rebound in Thai tourism

China accounted for 23 per cent of arrivals in Thailand during Chinese New Year.

Why India’s diaspora isn’t coming home

A few weeks ago, a post on X stopped thousands of Indians mid-scroll. A user recounted a conversation with a friend settled in Canada — educated, successful, with half a million dollars saved — who said, quietly but clearly: “I’m not coming back.” Not because he doesn’t love

CK Hutchison says Panama Canal port workers removed after court-ordered takeover

HONG KONG/PANAMA CITY, Feb 24 - Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison said on Tuesday Panama authorities had threatened its employees with criminal prosecution if they defied orders to leave two strategic canal ports at the centre of a legal battle that has embroiled Beijing and

Japan’s ‘Traitor Takaichi’ hit with online smear campaign using fake accounts

Using AI-generated images and simplified Chinese characters, a network of 3,000 fake accounts reportedly tried to sway Japan’s election.

Controversial Trump choice Nick Adams dropped as nominee for US envoy to Malaysia

Critics say Mr Adams’ exit clears the way for an envoy who understands Malaysia’s cultural complexities.

US ‘leading the fight’ against South-east Asian scam compounds, FBI official says

He said Chinese organised crime syndicates are targeting Americans with scams “every day”.

Russia investigating Telegram founder Durov as part of criminal case, Rossiyskaya Gazeta reports

MOSCOW, Feb 24 - Russia is investigating Telegram founder Pavel Durov as part of a criminal case on the \"facilitation of terrorist activities\", state-run newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported, citing the Federal Security Service (FSB).

After China, India is next on Canada’s foreign policy reset agenda

Ottawa is seeking deeper engagement with key regional powers amid a shifting geopolitical landscape.

Malaysian actress Amyza Aznan loses son to cancer; second child also battling disease

Her eldest son died after a year-long battle with stage three lung cancer.

Taiwan rattled by 5.6 magnitude quake, no reports of damage

The quake briefly shook buildings in the capital, Taipei. According to Taiwan's weather administration, the quake had a depth of 66.8km.

Australian gynaecologist accused of unneeded surgeries on women

Complaints about the doctor had been lodged by patients and clinicians over five years.

5.6-magnitude earthquake rattles Taiwan, no reports of damage

The quake had a depth of 66.8km, with the epicentre located 16.9km from Taipei.

Japan seeks to minimise impact of new US tariffs, officials say

Tokyo does not want to rock the boat ahead of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s US visit in March.

Russia supplying Iran new missile might for a US war

Having seen its high-end air defenses shredded in last year’s war, Iran is now signaling a shift toward a cheaper, more survivable way of blunting future US and Israeli pressure. This month, the Financial Times reported that Iran has secretly agreed to a roughly US$591 million

Seven killed in air ambulance crash in India's Jharkhand state

NEW DELHI, Feb 24 - All seven people on board a Beechcraft air ambulance that crashed in the Indian state of Jharkhand on Monday were killed, officials said on Tuesday, including two crew members, the patient and his relatives.

Taiwan parliament to discuss stalled special defence budget next week

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te last year proposed the budget to counter China, which has ramped up military pressure to force the island to accept its claim of sovereignty.

Yen to decide if Japan’s ‘iron lady’ is steely or rusty

When handling domestic political affairs, it can be harder for a prime minister to govern with a large parliamentary majority than with a small one, because discipline becomes difficult to impose on one’s own party. But when it comes to foreign affairs, there can be no doubt

Taiwan Parliament to discuss stalled special defence budget next week

There is now an agreement to schedule discussion on the government’s proposal on March 6.

Malaysia cracks down on unsafe express buses, including to Singapore. Is it enough?

After a string of serious crashes involving long-distance buses in recent years, Malaysia is pulling out the stops to improve safety and convenience for passengers.

Malaysian actress Amyza Aznan's eldest son dies at 23 one year after lung cancer diagnosis

Andre Mikhail died on Monday (Feb 23) evening, days after the Malaysian actress shared that her second son, Adrian Adam, had been diagnosed with bone cancer.

Probe under way after illness kills 72 tigers in Thai tourist park

Authorities say samples showed the canine distemper virus, but have not confirmed where it came from.

Taiwan seeks US assurances tariff deal terms will not change

Preferential tariff treatment for Taiwan’s semiconductor exports already agreed with the US will not change.