Flash flood kills 4, leaves 4 others missing in northern Vietnam

Vietnam is prone to deadly storms and floods during the rainy season that peaks from July through September.

Negeri Sembilan election campaign begins after 103 candidates confirmed; BN, PN to campaign for each other

The 36 constituencies will see 11 straight fights, 21 three-cornered contests, two four-cornered contests and two five-cornered contests.

Laos says cannot determine cause of 2024 tourist deaths linked to tainted alcohol

Two Danish citizens, an American, a Briton and two Australians died in Vang Vieng in November 2024.

‘Four years isn’t enough’: South Korean students shaken by new US stay limits

The US on July 16 finalised a rule setting a four-year limit on the stay of international students.

India’s Skyroot launches Vikram-1 in first private orbital rocket mission

India is now the third country to achieve orbital launch capability through private enterprise.

India's Skyroot launches Vikram-1 in first private orbital rocket mission

BENGALURU, July 18 - Indian space startup Skyroot Aerospace on Saturday launched the country's first privately developed orbital rocket, a key test of national efforts to compete for a bigger share of the global commercial launch market.

Cash for quiet? Apartment residents in South Korea turn to paid noise settlements

Disputes over interfloor noise have been on the rise in South Korea.

Statues of Myanmar’s founding father Aung San disappearing

He is considered the father of modern-day Myanmar.

Japan Imperial Household law to permit adoption from cadet branch

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi won a legislative victory on Friday with the passage of a revision to the Imperial Household Law, but she faced significant criticism for her management of the Diet as the ruling parties voted to extend the legislative session from Friday until

Is vanadium the future of critical minerals? Kazakhstan hopes so

Vanadium is viewed as a critical mineral by the United States, the European Union, Russia, China and many other countries because of its importance to energy storage and industrial alloys. At the Astana Metals & Metallurgy (AMM) Congress, Ferro-Alloy Resources CEO Nicholas

Negeri Sembilan state election: Four high-stakes seats to watch amid a royal tussle

Negeri Sembilan faces a tight race in its state polls with two five-cornered fights, the first in 52 years.

From solo to symphony, China bids to fine-tune the AI race

Artificial intelligence should not be a solo performance by one country, but a symphony of international cooperation. That was Chinese President Xi Jinping’s framing on July 17, when he opened the 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in

Flash flood kills 4, leaves 4 others missing in Vietnam

HANOI, July 18 - At least four people were killed and four others were missing after a flash flood swept through a mountainous village in Vietnam’s northern province of Lai Chau, state media reported on Saturday.

Network School in Forest City told to shut down, Johor chief minister says

Inspections found that the company was operating from two premises but held only one valid licence.

What is China’s Moonshot AI and why is it roiling markets?

Stocks tumbled on concerns that the rise of China’s AI businesses could force US leaders to pull back on investments.

China’s Moonshot unveils AI model, fuelling tech rout

Chinese models have been offering pricing far below what is available from OpenAI and Anthropic.

End-times prophecy jumps from lunatic fringe to US elite belief

It recently emerged that tech billionaire Peter Thiel is running a secret society that brings together fellow CEOs and billionaires with political leaders. Members reportedly include figures like NATO supreme commander Alexus Grynkewich and the son-in-law of US President Donald

Indian activist moved to hospital after 20-day hunger strike to protest country’s exam system

Bangladesh shelves India reset as tensions trump trust

Driven by shifting domestic political dynamics and a transforming regional landscape, Bangladesh’s new prime minister, Tarique Rahman, who came to power after a landslide in February this year, has shelved plans to visit its most consequential neighbor, India, for the time

Iran renews attacks on Gulf states after another night of US strikes

DUBAI/CAIRO, July 18 - Iran launched renewed attacks on U.S. Gulf allies on Saturday after a seventh straight night of U.S. strikes targeting Iranian military sites including logistics infrastructure, escalating the war one week after a fragile ceasefire agreement fell apart.

China’s anti-stealth shield has a radar reality gap

China is building an increasingly sophisticated anti-stealth network, but its effectiveness may depend less on individual radar performance than on its ability to integrate, maintain and operate the wider system under combat pressure. Last month, the China Aerospace Studies

Diver injured in shark attack off Tasmania coast

The man sustained non-life-threatening injuries to his forearm and was airlifted to hospital.

Fasting Indian activist shifted to hospital, police say

NEW DELHI, July 18 - Authorities in India's capital Delhi have moved fasting social activist Sonam Wangchuk to hospital after his condition worsened on the 21st day of a hunger strike he launched to demand the resignation of the federal education minister.

Network School ordered to cease operations at Forest City site over licensing breach; founder says operations continue

Johor Chief Minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the Iskandar Puteri City Council has issued a cessation notice to one of the startup community's premises as well as an advertising licence notice for displaying non-compliant signboards.

Malaysia’s rare earths are prized by Washington – but at what cost to Putrajaya’s Palestine stance?

Lawmakers warn that the deal could complicate Malaysia's foreign policy stance.

Diamonds and 'cab to orbit': Rocket aiming to transform India's space ambitions takes off

India's first space-tech unicorn Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched Vikram-1 on Saturday.

Landslide in China kills 8, at least 34 missing: Officials

The area where the landslide happened is known for “unpredictable” steep terrain.

US says it is ‘deeply concerned’ by Papua New Guinea closure of Taiwan office

The State Department said the closure was part of Beijing’s intimidation campaign.

Senior Chinese delegation visits North Korea’s Wonsan Kalma resort, KCNA says

Wonsan Kalma is one of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s most prominent tourism projects.

Shoshana Bryen, Asia Times contributor, dies

Shoshana Bryen, senior director of Washington’s Jewish Policy Center and editor of inFOCUS Quarterly, died on Thursday, July 16, 2026. She was a longtime contributor to Asia Times of articles often written in collaboration with her husband, former US Under Secretary of Defense

Kim Jong Un was meant to be their only idol - then North Koreans discovered K-pop

Defectors tell the BBC that despite restrictions, K-pop has cut through in the stifling dictatorship.

After two strikes, Anwar needs a home run in Negeri Sembilan

Pakatan Harapan faces a crucial test in the Malaysian state's election after heavy losses in the last two state polls.

Israeli strikes kill Palestinians attending Gaza funeral for earlier strike victim

CAIRO, July 17 - An Israeli airstrike killed at least eight Palestinians and wounded 20 attending a funeral in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip on Friday for a person killed by another Israeli strike on the area earlier in the day, Gaza health officials said.

France, Germany expand defence partnership as Europe seeks more military autonomy

BRUEHL, Germany, July 17 - The leaders of Germany and France pledged on Friday to deepen defence cooperation and counter intense economic competition from China, which they said was exerting drastic pressure on Europe through overcapacity and an undervalued currency.

Chinese blogger jailed for fake claims about Xiaomi EV

The blogger, identified as Gao, was also fined 100,000 yuan (S$19,800).

Rubio to visit Southeast Asia in bid to reaffirm partnerships

US lifts some Hong Kong sanctions imposed by Trump, autonomy status unchanged

Hong Kong’s special trading status was revoked in a 2020 order by US President Donald Trump.

What is Pakistan military's strength and capability?

ISLAMABAD, July 17 - Pakistan has been negotiating an expanded defence pact with Kuwait in exchange for energy cooperation and investment, according to five sources with knowledge of the talks.

Pakistan and Kuwait discuss expanded defence pact, sources say

ISLAMABAD/ RIYADH, July 17 - Pakistan has been negotiating an expanded defence pact with Kuwait in exchange for energy cooperation and investment, according to five sources with knowledge of the talks.

Chinese President Xi Jinping urges equitable development at Shanghai AI forum

A world AI body is established at the conference to promote global governance of the technology.

Germany’s conservatives face a self-inflicted crisis

Subscribe now with a one-month trial for only $1, then enjoy the first year at an exclusive rate of just $99. The Spahn affair hits Germany before an AfD breakthroughDiego Faßnacht reports that Jens Spahn’s surrogacy controversy has exposed a damaging credibility gap inside

Trump spins China meddling intel to justify election takeover bid

Four months out from the critical November midterms, President Donald Trump delivered a primetime address on Thursday night (July 16) attempting to sow doubt about the integrity of US elections, repeating well-worn lies about the 2020 contest that he lost and claiming to have

Canadian tourist injured in bear attack in north-eastern Japan

This marks the latest in a series of such incidents across the country.

US’ Rubio to visit South-east Asia in bid to reaffirm partnerships

Rubio is due to attend a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers in Manila from July 21 to 23.

UN urges probe into reports of deadly unrest in Pakistani-administered Kashmir

Dozens have reportedly been killed since June ahead of a vote for the region’s legislative assembly.

Ghost city, true believers and an Israeli row: Inside Network School, the tech commune dividing Johor

The controversy surrounding the commune may hurt the state’s efforts to re-inject life into Forest City.

As life expectancy rises, talks start on a UN treaty to protect older people

GENEVA, July 17 - A United Nations meeting this week heard calls for an end to ageism and better protection against what campaigners say are hidden abuses as negotiations began on a treaty to strengthen the rights of older people.