Premium or budget travellers? Hong Kong’s tourism chief wants both
The city is committing three-quarters of its 2026 tourism budget to attracting more foreign travellers.
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HK’s Symphony of Lights will be reborn. Guess where?
The light show has been part of the city since 2004, but it is no longer novel, said the tourism minister.
Thai authorities warn of spiked drinks in nightspots after nightclub case
The substances most commonly misused include GHB, alprazolam, ketamine and flunitrazepam.
China moves to block entrance to disputed South China Sea shoal, images show
HONG KONG/MANILA, April 15 - China is employing ships and a barrier to tighten control of the entrance to the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea amid roiling tension with the Philippines over the disputed feature, satellite imagery obtained by Reuters shows.
Government services in Malaysia operating as usual as civil servants start WFH policy
Most government buildings are now in a low-power state, with dimmer lights and just half the lifts in operation.
Malaysian court decision on lawsuit against Rosmah over missing jewellery lawsuit set for June 10
Global Royalty was instructed to file written submissions by May 13, and Rosmah must respond by May 28.
Jakarta in a tight spot as US seeks blanket access to Indonesian skies
Regular US overflights could reduce Indonesia’s control and draw the region into tensions, say analysts.
Indonesia police arrest six for Komodo dragon smuggling
The dragons are reportedly bought for 5.5 million rupiah (S$408) apiece and sold at six times higher.
New resistance alliance built to win Myanmar’s civil war
Myanmar’s civil war is now 78 years old — the longest-running civil war in modern history. For most of that time, it has been a fragmented, grinding struggle with about a dozen ethnic armed groups fighting the repressive military state, each largely on their own, in their own
Thailand closes high-risk forests nationwide to fight wildfires and haze
Support plans are also being prepared for areas where PM2.5 levels continue to rise.
Hong Kong’s ban on possession, use of e-cigarettes to kick in on April 30
Those found carrying large quantities could face a fine and up to six months in prison.
Japan parties hold talks on imperial family, first under Prime Minister Takaichi
The talks come amid concerns about the shrinking size of the imperial family.
Rules tightened for Vietnam’s Ha Giang Loop motorbike tours after British teen’s fatal accident
The 19-year-old died in an accident while on a motorbike tour along the popular tourist route.
Indonesia finance chief takes his growth bet to a world on edge
Prudence is one of Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa's key messages.
Indonesia orders food companies to label products high in sugar, salt, fat
Items high in fat, salt and sugar content have to be labelled with a red sticker.
Australian pleads guilty to creating deepfake porn in landmark case
The 19-year-old is the first person to be charged under a new national law.
Papua New Guinea moves to quell soldiers’ protest over alleged corruption
Disgruntled soldiers had set up road blocks in the capital to protest alleged government corruption.
Hungary's Magyar promises to suspend state media broadcasts, ensure press freedom
BUDAPEST, April 15 - Hungary's election winner Peter Magyar said on Wednesday his government will suspend state media broadcasts, pass a new media law and ensure press freedom after his cabinet takes power.
Rohingya survivor recounts ordeal as 250 missing in Andaman sea tragedy
DHAKA, April 15 - A Rohingya survivor has recounted a harrowing journey at sea after an overcrowded boat carrying refugees and Bangladeshi nationals capsized in the Andaman Sea, leaving around 250 people missing.
‘Industrial’ clickbait disinformation targets Australian politics
The accounts publishing AI-generated news are run mainly by users in Vietnam.
US Navy leaning on AI to sweep Iran’s Hormuz mines
US military officials said the Navy has begun the process of clearing mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical choke point for global shipping. Iranian forces have deployed a small number of mines in the strait. The move gave the Iranians a means, along with missiles and
How China’s weapons transfers to Iran have evolved over decades
Chinese arms sales to Iran exploded in the 1980s and have all but vanished in the past decade.
Indonesia, France agree to boost defence industry ties
Jakarta had just concluded a defence pact with the US and an oil deal with Russia too.
Iranian crew members return home from Sri Lanka
COLOMBO, April 15 - Over 200 Iranian crew members from two warships who were rescued by Sri Lanka have been sent back to their homeland, a top official said on Wednesday.
Thailand expects $1.2 billion revenue as tourists flock to Songkran festival
In Bangkok and central areas, more than 558,000 visitors were recorded at six venues as at April 12.
Trump vs Pope: A US-Vatican rift centuries in the making
Cuba’s deepening crisis has once again pulled the Vatican into a familiar role. In March, it was revealed that Cuban officials turned to the Holy See to help persuade US President Donald Trump to ease the US oil embargo, underscoring the Church’s position as one of the few
UN watchdog says North Korea is boosting nuclear weapons capacity
SEOUL, April 15 - North Korea has made \"very serious\" advances in its abilities to turn out nuclear weapons, with the probable addition of a new uranium enrichment facility, as it stepped up activity at a key complex, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said on Wednesday.
China calls US claims of military pressure on Taiwan a ‘distortion’
"Certain people on the US side are jumping up and down, continuously rehashing the so-called 'mainland threat' or 'military pressure'," a Chinese government spokesperson told reporters on Wednesday (Apr 15).
Chinese slimmers trade lost fat for beef
For every 0.5kg lost, the participant can receive the same weight in boneless beef.
Xi assures Russia of China’s friendship as ties grow with other nations
The countries are expected hold a summit sometime in 2026 to affirm Sino-Russian partnership.
Iran used Chinese spy satellite to target US bases, FT reports
April 15 - Iran secretly acquired a Chinese spy satellite, giving the Islamic Republic a new capability to target U.S. military bases across the Middle East during the recent war, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.
Sri Lanka repatriates 238 stranded Iranian sailors: Minister
Sources said 15 Iranian sailors will remain in Sri Lanka to operate the IRIS Bushehr.
Sri Lanka repatriates 238 stranded Iranian sailors
The US sank an Iranian frigate in early March off Sri Lanka's southern coast, killing 104 sailors.
US Hormuz blockade may not survive a Chinese standoff
A US-sanctioned tanker with links to China, the Rich Starry, has transited the Strait of Hormuz, despite the US blockade of the waterway. According to the respected maritime news and intelligence agency Lloydslist, the Rich Starry is falsely registered in Malawi, but is Chinese
Japan to provide $12.7 billion to South-east Asia to ease oil price strain
The surge in oil prices has raised concerns over some countries' ability to pay for imports.
South Korea jails US streamer Johnny Somali over ‘comfort women’ statue outrage
Attitudes towards him remained unforgiving despite his apology and removal of a controversial clip.
US shuts down Iran's maritime trade despite optimism for more talks
DUBAI/WASHINGTON, April 15 - The United States said on Wednesday its military had completely halted trade going in and out of Iran by sea, even though President Donald Trump said talks with Tehran on ending the war could resume this week.
South Korea jails US streamer Johnny Somali for statue outrage
In 2024, Somali uploaded a video of himself twerking beside a statue commemorating Korean "comfort women", the euphemistic term for wartime sex slaves.
Australia's richest person must share part of her mining fortunes, court rules
The long-running legal dispute is over a lucrative iron ore project in the top west corner of Australia.
Motorcyclist dies in accident on Second Link Expressway on the way to Singapore for work
The victim sustained head injuries and died at the scene while his wife was sent to hospital.
Iran war inflicting losses that will never be recovered
Every ceasefire is haunted by the same question: will it live up to the promise of peace? The United States and Iran could apparently only focus on their disagreements during peace talks in Islamabad, with negotiations led by American Vice President JD Vance failing to result
Rattled by Trump, US allies eye Japan’s biggest arms opening since WW2
Among the potential new customers for Japan are the Polish military and Philippine navy.
South Korea jails American YouTuber for public nuisance
Johnny Somali sparked outrage after kissing a statue representing World War Two sex slaves.
Malaysia’s biggest solar firm sees jump in demand amid Iran war
The conflict has driven up the cost of fossil fuels.
El Nino climate pattern threatens water quality in Malaysia, experts warn
Experts say this is because lower river levels reduce the natural ability of waterways to dilute waste.
Lavrov says Russia can 'compensate' for China's resource gap from Iran war: Russian state media
Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov reportedly said that President Vladimir Putin will visit China in the first half of the year.
Calls grow to curb obscene content generated by AI in China
Some also sell prompt keywords to make the generated content more precise.
Former Indonesia V-P Jusuf Kalla reported to police over alleged blasphemy
He allegedly made remarks that could amount to blasphemy at a public lecture in March.