China issues new rules to keep senior military officials in check

This is the latest push in President Xi Jinping’s years-long effort to purge corruption from the armed forces.

Bangladesh probes hospital deaths of six newborns

Aged between one and three days old, they died within hours of one another.

ICC sets trial date for Philippines' Duterte over alleged crimes against humanity

THE HAGUE, May 27 - Judges at the International Criminal Court on Wednesday set November 30 as the start date for the trial of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, who is charged with crimes against humanity during his deadly war on drugs.

Duterte’s ICC trial for ‘crimes against humanity’ to start on Nov 30

The Philippines left the ICC in 2019, but the court ruled it has jurisdiction over alleged crimes between 2011 and 2019.

Russia warns Armenia it could end cheap fuel supplies if Yerevan stays on EU course

MOSCOW, May 27 - Russia said on Wednesday it had warned Armenia it would suspend or terminate the supply of cheap oil, gas and rough diamonds to the South Caucasus country if Yerevan pressed ahead with its bid to join the European Union.

Iran says draft deal with US would reopen Hormuz shipping, end naval blockade

DUBAI, May 27 - Iran's state TV said Tehran had obtained a draft of an initial, unofficial framework for a memorandum of understanding with the United States on ending their conflict.

Hong Kong school suspends principal for swearing at security guards in Singapore

The decision was taken because the principal’s behaviour fell short of public expectations, said the manager of San Wui Commercial Society Secondary School.

Taiwan president urges stronger US ties amid unease over Trump remarks

TAIPEI, May 27 - Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said on Wednesday the island hopes to strengthen ties with the United States and ensure peace in the Taiwan Strait, speaking at an event with Raymond Greene, Washington's top diplomat in Taipei.

US envoy warns Spain to be 'very careful' in deepening ties with China

MADRID, May 27 - Spain must proceed very carefully as it deepens its relationship with China to keep it out of critical sectors such as data, defence and telecommunications where Beijing seeks to dominate, Benjamin Leon, the U.S. Ambassador to Spain, said on Wednesday.

Iranian missile likely involved in attack on ship in Strait of Hormuz, South Korea says

SEOUL, May 27 - An Iranian anti-ship missile was likely involved in an attack on a cargo ship operated by local shipper HMM in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

Rescue teams find five trapped in Laos cave, search for two more continues

May 27 - Five people who had been trapped inside a cave in Laos for about a week were found alive on Wednesday, as dozens of Lao and Thai rescuers continued to search for two others, Thai volunteers said.

Five people found alive after week trapped in flooded Laos cave

The search is continuing for a further two villagers who are still missing, rescuers say.

Giant Messi statue in India to be removed over safety concerns

South Korea detains dissident who fled China in rubber boat

Dong Guangping, an activist and former police officer, spent hours at sea before reaching Korean waters.

5 of 7 people trapped in Laos cave found alive: Rescuers

Laotian and Thai rescuers are still searching for the other two.

Heatstroke casualties at the workplace in Japan hit record-high 1,803 in 2025

The number of fatalities, however, dropped from 31 to 19.

Is the Gulf losing its grip on the oil world?

One of the most striking features of the Iran war has been the resilience of the global oil market. Despite the disruption of flows through the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most important oil transit chokepoint, prices have generally hovered around US$100 per barrel – a lower

S. Korea’s mountain parks to offer tourists free safety gear rental to help prevent accidents

Foreign visitor-friendly guidelines will also be introduced.

Compliance wall: China rewriting world’s agriculture trade rules

Sharp contrasts have emerged across Asia’s agricultural trade landscape, revealing how China’s updated import rules are restructuring supply chains throughout the region. In Brazil’s Sao Paulo, Chinese meat buyers are willing to pay a premium for beef certified free from

IndiGo, Air India cut June-July domestic flights amid high jet fuel prices, sources say

It did not say which routes or how many flights would be affected.

Indonesia’s work-from-home policy has cut subsidised fuel use by 9%, says minister

The government will continue the policy, the minister said.

Anyone else tired of the Trump era yet?

I get a lot of flak from progressives for being a “both sides” kind of commentator. I spend a fair amount of time criticizing leftist ideology and expounding on the very real failures of progressive governance, both of which have gotten much worse over the last decade. Yes, I

China warns Quad ministers against provoking conflict

This comes after Quad nations raised concerns over stability in the East and South China Seas.

Taiwan capital hits highest temperature on record for May: Weather agency

In Taipei, temperatures reached 38.3 deg C on the afternoon of May 27.

South Korea says attack on ship in Strait of Hormuz likely involved an Iranian missile

A South Korean defence official said the firing of two missiles suggested an intention to cause damage.

Myanmar bleeds while ASEAN vacillates

The upcoming ASEAN-Russia summit may test whether ASEAN can keep Myanmar’s military leadership off the high-level regional stage it has so far denied them. Russia is preparing to host an ASEAN-Russia summit in Kazan from June 17 to 19 to mark 35 years of relations. The Kremlin

Heatwave strain on Vietnam power grid could get worse, industry ministry says

Temperatures in northern Vietnam have hovered around 40 deg C for days.

Japan Airlines to launch lunar transport service, allowing items to be preserved for the future

It will be the world’s first lunar transport service operated by an airline.

Philippines launches independent truth panel to probe ‘drugs war’ killings

Activists accuse police of systematic murders, cover-ups and staged crime scenes.

Philippines launches independent truth panel to probe 'drugs war' killings

MANILA, May 27 - A commission was launched in the Philippines on Wednesday led by a former International Criminal Court judge to investigate a bloody \"war on drugs\", aiming to document alleged extrajudicial killings and compile evidence for potential legal cases.

Modi warns of dangers as heatwave grips India

At least 16 people died of heatstroke in southern Telangana state last week.

Thailand cracks down on sham marriages, tightens checks on three at-risk groups

The government received complaints about marriage registration work at some registration offices.

Job ad for shepherds goes viral in China exposing labour market strains

Analysts expect the labour market to worsen in coming months.

China willing to work with Czech government to improve ties

HONG KONG, May 27 - China is willing to work with the Czech Republic to improve ties and revive a traditional friendship, Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Czech counterpart Petr Macinka, state broadcaster CCTV said on Wednesday.

China says Panama ties should not be subject to third-party interference: Report

China urged Panama to safeguard Chinese firms’ rights.

Major film union in India calls for boycott of superstar Ranveer Singh

Singh is facing industry backlash over his decision to exit from the upcoming Bollywood film Don 3.

Japan nuclear regulator eyes penalties for false reactor restart filings

The current law has no penalty for false filings.

‘Business as usual’: Fakes, piracy thrive in Vietnam as US tariff deadline nears

It is the only country in 13 years to be added to the worst category in the US ranking for IP rights.

Taiwan’s boom a leveraged bet on AI irrational exuberance

Taiwan has just vaulted past India to become the world’s No. 5 stock market, powered by an AI boom that’s fused investor frenzy with the dominance of the planet’s most critical chipmaker. The catalyst is unmistakable: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., up 46% this year,

China allows fresh urea exports amid Iran war-fuelled fertiliser crisis

Beijing previously banned fertiliser exports to protect domestic farmers.

For millions of Filipinos, owning a home is a dream the market was never built to fulfil

The focus is on investors rather than the ordinary Filipinos who cannot afford to live where they work.

South Korea detains Chinese man found at sea after report on fleeing dissident

SEOUL, May 27 - South Korean authorities are questioning a Chinese national found in a rubber boat off the west coast, the coast guard said on Wednesday, with a media report identifying him as likely to be a dissident who had repeatedly tried to flee China.

Taiwan to launch children investment accounts to lift birth rate

The move could provide a boost to the island’s booming wealth management sector.

Tibet-in-exile government leader sworn in

The government’s “sikyong”, or leader, Mr Penpa Tsering, was elected for a second term.

Trump’s $1.5 trillion military splurge destined to backfire

Earlier this month, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stood in front of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to defend the Trump administration’s record-breaking US$1.5 trillion military budget proposal for FY2027. According to the White House, this 66% year-over-year

Ugandan woman quarantined in India tests negative for Ebola

However, India did not say if she would be released from isolation.

Taiwan said to suspect Nvidia chips smuggled to China via Japan

The shipment went to Japan before eventually making it to Hong Kong.