Trump extends push for $100,000 H-1B visas by another year

WASHINGTON, Sept 18 - President Donald Trump has extended an executive order that would impose a fee of $100,000 for H-1B non-immigrant visas by another year, the White House said on Friday.

Tata Sons: India's corporate crown braces for upheaval amid boardroom revolt

The Tata boardroom battle has intensified over a re-appointment of its chairman and a diktat to go public.

North Korea says its nuclear status is ‘irreversible’ after UN atomic agency rebuke

Analysts say North Korea has been overhauling its military with Russian help.

When a beloved tree began withering away, locals suspected a killer in their midst

A neighbourhood’s fight to save a cherished ginkgo pits them against an unlikely foe.

US, China discuss cutting tariffs on US LNG ahead of Xi visit

US and Denmark reach deal on Greenland, Trump says

WASHINGTON, Sept 18 - The United States, Denmark and Greenland have entered into an agreement that will see the US develop a significant military presence on the island, while prohibiting US adversaries from building their own bases there, Donald Trump said on Friday.

Indonesian businessman questioned in S’pore over alleged use of fake $10,000 notes at RWS casino

He allegedly used a total of 34 counterfeit $10,000 notes over three visits.

Republican China committee chair urges tough Trump line with Xi

WASHINGTON, Sept 18 - The Republican chair of the US congressional committee on China on Friday urged President Donald Trump to take a tough line in his summit with Xi Jinping next week, warning against concessions and calling for tighter technology restrictions and

Merz faces a leadership challenge without a challenger

Subscribe now with a one-month trial for only $1, then enjoy the first year at an exclusive rate of just $99. Germany’s CDU is entering a leadership crisisDiego Faßnacht reports that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is facing a deepening leadership crisis as the CDU’s firewall

Strait of Hormuz dilemma puts South Korea’s President Lee in choppy waters

He faces US pressure to contribute to the Iran war and domestic opposition to any troop deployment.

Azerbaijan rejects reports it pressured France over billionaire's EU sanctions

BAKU/PARIS, Sept 18 - A senior Azerbaijani diplomat on Friday rejected allegations that Baku had pressured France to lobby for the removal of Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov from the European Union's sanctions list, calling the claims \"categorically unfounded\".

South Korea makes Asian Games complaint over Japan warlord ceremony

Philippine tycoon and his senator children face graft for water deals

Critics tie the case to efforts to unseat Vice-President Sara Duterte.

Japan’s Shizuoka Prefecture to require climbers to submit plans for off-season Mount Fuji climbs

Those who submit plans and take necessary safety precautions will not have to pay for rescue operations.

India finds Nestle baby food sample substandard, takes legal action

Nestle's shares in India fell almost 3 per cent following news of the action.

Jagtar Singh Johal granted bail nine years after being detained in India

The Sikh activist from Dumbarton was arrested in 2017 in India in connection with alleged terror offences.

Australian man pleads not guilty to Thai suitcase murder

The next court date was set for Oct 12.

Najib’s house arrest puts Malaysia in ‘uncharted’ legal territory, poses political challenge for PM Anwar

Former PM Najib Razak is likely the first convicted prisoner in Malaysia to have his sentence commuted to house arrest, experts say, adding that the move could pose a challenge for incumbent Anwar Ibrahim, given his anti-corruption pledge.

Singapore, China to look beyond Tianjin Eco-City as project nears 20-year mark: Chee Hong Tat

Xiong’an, a new city 100km south-west of Beijing, is a potential area for collaboration, he said.

Japan PM projects stability with Cabinet reshuffle but remains ‘on thin ice’: Experts

In a defensive revamp, Sanae Takaichi keeps core ministers, appoints scandal-tainted lawmakers.

Dynamite, ammonium nitrate found in trucks aboard Philippine ferry

The items were found with materials used in detonations on a ferry that also carried passengers.

Sun, surf and a shorter stay: Backpackers fret over Australia’s visa crackdown

Australia is planning to cut the number of visas issued – and detain tourists who overstay.

At least 16 killed in suicide attack on police facility in northwest Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Sept 18 - At least 16 people, including five police personnel, were killed in northwest Pakistan on Friday after a suicide attacker rammed an explosives-laden car into a police facility as people were praying at a mosque inside, police said.

At least 16 killed in suicide attack on police facility in north-west Pakistan

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Man acquitted in gruesome India murder case found dead

The 50-year-old was freed of all charges by the Indian top court in November last year.

Bungling Asian Games chiefs play North Korean anthem for South Korea

Asian Games organisers mistakenly played the North Korean national anthem ahead of a men's hockey match between Bangladesh and South Korea.

At least 21 killed after vehicle loaded with explosives rams Pakistan mosque

A four-year-old child is among those killed in the attack, during which gunmen also opened fire on a police facility.

In a Nepal town, flood survivors find little trace of former lives

BETRAWATI, Nepal/DEVIGHAT, Nepal, Sept 18 - Anusa Thapa Magar rushed home from her job in the Maldives after hearing about Nepal's devastating floods, hoping that her beloved grandmother was one of those who survived.

BRICS is growing, but will it really challenge the US-led world order?

Hear why US President Donald Trump need not be afraid for now, says our expert guest.

Indonesia recovers three bodies as effort begins to right capsized ship

Nine people have now been confirmed dead, with 108 survivors, but 126 passengers remain unaccounted for.

AI consciousness shaping into next great societal divide

The debate about AI consciousness is growing, in academic articles, newspaper opinion pieces, and even among AI bots themselves. I doubt this is a passing wave of interest. As AI systems become more capable and human-like, and more involved in our lives, the question will

EV maker BYD recalls more than 180,000 cars in China over brake pedal risk

The exercise covers 183,211 Qin and Tang series vehicles produced between 2014 and 2022, as a defect in a batch of brake pedal stopper pads puts them at risk of cracking or detaching over time.

Three dead and eight injured in Philippines school shooting

The gunman is among the dead in what is the third school shooting in the country since June.

Bank of Japan rate hike exposes cracks in Bessent’s facade

TOKYO – Two words sprang to mind when the Bank of Japan lifted its policy rate to a 31-year high of 1.25% on Friday: Scott Bessent. No, the US Treasury secretary didn’t cause the 25-basis-point increase announced by Governor Kazuo Ueda. The BOJ was responding to a far more

Swimmer killed in shark attack at popular Western Australia beach

SYDNEY, Sept 18 - A man died on Friday after being mauled by a shark while swimming at a popular beach in the state of Western Australia, police said.

Indonesia’s first aircraft carrier arrives in Jakarta

The former Italian carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi which docked in Jakarta, will be renamed KRI Sriwijaya.

Shark kills swimmer off beach in Western Australia

It was the second shark attack in Western Australia this week.

Three students killed in Philippine school shooting, including gunman, officials say

This is the Philippines' third deadly campus shooting since June.

Breakout Filipino tennis star Alex Eala on Singapore, fame and inspiring young Asian women

Ahead of the Singapore Tennis Open, 21-year-old tennis star Alexandra Eala reflects on navigating newfound stardom, why Singapore feels like one of her many homes, and what it's like for her to inspire young women across Asia.

Philippines says Chinese ship 'rammed' government vessel in South China Sea

A spokesperson for China's coast guard said the Philippine vessel disregarded "repeated solemn warnings" and deliberately changed course to "cut across the bow of the Chinese coast guard vessel".

At least one dead, four injured in school shooting in southern Philippines

MANILA, Sept 18 - At least one person was killed and four others injured in a shooting at a high school in the southern Philippines on Friday, the provincial governor said.

3 killed, 8 injured in another school shooting in southern Philippines

The suspect told his friends to go home before he started his rampage, says town mayor.

Ex-AMCHAM head’s release no cause to trust Myanmar’s generals

Freeing an American from Myanmar’s custody is a diplomatic win. Turning that win into a case for trusting the country’s coup-maker, rights-abusing generals, however, would be a mistake. Adam Castillo, a former US Marine and ex-president of the American Chamber of Commerce in

BOJ rate hike signals faster pace of tightening amid inflation risks, weak yen: Economists

The central bank raised rates on Friday (Sep 18) to a ‌31-year high of 1.25 per cent, pressing ahead with policy normalisation as inflation risks remain elevated.

Indonesian divers face high-risk challenges to reach capsized ferry

Taiwan holds first joint drill using multiple attack drones in modernisation push

President Lai Ching-te said precision firing exercises are crucial for testing weapon effectiveness.

From durians to tourism: As China-Vietnam trade booms, border communities seek a bigger slice

Vietnam is challenging Thailand for a greater share of China’s durian market, helped by its proximity and improving transport links, even as growing tourism creates new opportunities along the border.