Asia heatwaves spell double trouble for economies hit by oil

Inflation has accelerated to multiyear highs across much of Asia.

Communist-run Vietnam eyes influencers, AI to spruce up propaganda, documents show

HANOI, May 8 - Vietnam's ruling Communist Party plans to revamp its propaganda efforts by drafting in social media influencers and artificial intelligence experts while adopting new formats such as podcasts and targeted content, internal documents seen by Reuters show.

South Korea heads to local elections under shadow of disgraced former president

SEOUL, May 8 - South Korea's martial law scandal is set to loom large over local elections in June that will test whether opposition conservatives can rein in the power of the ruling party of President Lee Jae Myung.

Trump's China visit adds sparkle to July 4 celebrations for fireworks maker

LILING, China, May 8 - Emblazoned on a box of Chinese fireworks is a picture of U.S. President Donald Trump raising his fist in defiance after a failed assassination bid in 2024, juxtaposed with the U.S. flag and the slogan \"Fight for America\".

Hundreds of foreigners nabbed at scam centre in Batam

Australia charges two women linked to ISIS with slavery after return from Syria

SYDNEY, May 8 - Australian police said on Friday they had charged two women linked to the Islamic State extremist group with slavery offences after they returned overnight from Syria, where they had been detained in a refugee camp for more than seven years.

ISIS-linked Australian women charged with keeping slave in Syria

The pair were immediately arrested after their Qatar Airways flight landed at Melbourne International airport.

Fake rumors, real killings: Inside Congo's deadly health misinformation crisis

GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo, May 7 - In Tshopo, a northeastern Congolese province blanketed in rainforest, rumours rippled through villages late last year claiming a mysterious illness had caused men's genitals to atrophy.

North Korea leader Kim inspects artillery that can hit South Korean capital

SEOUL, May 8 - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected the production of new artillery with a range exceeding 60 km (37 miles) that would be deployed at the South Korean border and bolster its ability to hit Seoul and other targets, KCNA state news agency said on Friday.

Thousands of North Koreans fought for Russia. A memorial hints at the death toll

An estimated 11,000 North Korean soldiers were sent to fight in Russia's war against Ukraine.

Anti-war protests rock Japan as PM pushes for stronger defence

Japan's largest anti-war protests in decades highlight a population divided over changes to its pacifist constitution.

Run, snap, sell: Jakarta’s joggers fuelling post-pandemic street photography market

Photographers are lining popular running routes to capture ordinary joggers – and sell them the images.

Intern doctor deaths reveal dark side of Indonesia’s medical training system

Young doctors in Indonesia enter housemanship with dreams of saving lives, but face exhaustion, overwork and mistreatment from seniors, sometimes putting their own lives at risk.

Trump-Xi summit set to weigh Iran oil, Taiwan and US exports

A long-awaited summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to take place in Beijing May 14 and 15, with both sides preparing to address a crowded agenda spanning Iranian oil, Taiwan, trade, human rights and technology controls. Beyond the

Penang has been DAP’s fortress since 2008. Could this end in the next polls?

Results in the Malaysian state could be a bellwether for the national elections.

India state election results deepen BJP dominance, boosting Modi’s mandate

BJP now rules or is in ruling coalitions in 22 Indian states and union territories.

Ahead of Trump-Xi summit, Beijing puts Taiwan front and centre. But will US make any concessions?

Beijing is ensuring the Taiwan issue isn't sidelined in what may be a deal-driven summit on trade, tech or global crises.

Crowds cheer China's new snooker star on return from championship win

Wu Yize, 22, receives a rock star's welcome after becoming second-youngest player to win a world title.

Filipino man tells RFA how he spied for China, military says there are more

Information that “Danny” sold to Beijing may have led to 2024 Sabina Shoal ramming incident.

US-proposed Iran resolution at UN faces likely vetoes from China, Russia

May 7 - The U.S. on Thursday urged countries to support its United Nations resolution demanding Iran halt attacks and mining of the Strait of Hormuz, but diplomats said China and Russia are likely to veto it.

Myanmar remains ASEAN’s elephant in the room

The grouping faces a dilemma over how to re-engage the country.

Drones and ancient revolutions in military affairs

When we look at the military landscape today we cannot help but be impressed by the significance of drones on the battlefield. Drones represent an unexpected revolution in military affairs that has dramatically changed the balance of forces on the battlefield and beyond. The

UK to summon Chinese Ambassador after spying convictions

LONDON, May 7 - Britain will summon the Chinese ambassador following the conviction of two men for spying on behalf of Hong Kong and ultimately China, Security Minister Dan Jarvis said in a statement on Thursday.

In the post-pax world, networks – not nations – hold the power

Throughout history, the empire rose and fell. But the two common factors contributing to the decline always remain: overstretching and economic stress. The factors contributing to their rise may be different. For example: the British Empire, also called Pax Britannica, was

Philippines says China vessel conducting 'illegal' research near gas-rich Reed bank

MANILA, May 7 - The Philippine Coast Guard has accused China of conducting illegal marine scientific research near the oil and gas-rich Reed bank within Manila's exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, according to a statement on Thursday.

Chinese-owned oil tanker hit near Hormuz as US pauses ship-protection plan, report says

LONDON/ATHENS, May 7 - A Chinese-owned oil products tanker was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, Chinese media outlet Caixin reported, as President Donald Trump launched a U.S. plan that day to help stranded vessels but suspended it a day later.

Two men found guilty of spying on Hong Kong dissidents in UK for China

LONDON, May 7 - Two men were found guilty in a London court on Thursday of spying on behalf of Hong Kong and ultimately China, targeting prominent pro-democracy dissidents now based in Britain.

Hard and psychological power shown in South China Sea exercise

In the Balikatan military exercise, taking place in the Philippines, troops from the Philippines, US, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and France have been getting real combat training – and a lot of it. It’s conducted with China in mind – even if nobody will say so.

Two Britons held in Turkey with 20kg cannabis after Thailand trip

A suitcase belonging to one of the Britons was filled with the drugs, sealed in vacuum-packed wrapping.

Mortar attack on north-west Pakistan market kills six, say police

The attack took place in the Thall area of Hangu district.

‘There is a need for collective action’: Middle East crisis dominates ASEAN Summit in Cebu

Leaders at the summit are expected to focus on the economic fallout of the Middle East conflict.

US senators urge stability, cooperation between US, China

Explainer-What's included in talks to end the Iran war and reopen Hormuz?

LONDON, May 7 - With the standoff over the frozen Iran war threatening a global economic meltdown, Washington and Tehran have scaled back their efforts to agree a comprehensive peace deal and now seek a limited pact putting off the harder issues.

Khalilur Rahman is the master of Bangladesh’s strategic ambiguity

There are political operators who rise through ideology, and there are bureaucrats who rise through obedience. Then there is Dr Khalilur Rahman, a man who appears to have risen through something far more elusive: usefulness in moments of uncertainty. In Bangladesh’s

Sri Lanka arrests more than 260 foreigners over cyberscams

The suspects were aged between 19 and 39, with most overstaying their visas.

Amid Middle East conflict, ASEAN countries eye more coordinated response to future crises

The regional bloc reportedly plans to launch a contingency plan that covers emergency fuel sharing and upholds freedom of navigation.

US, Japan missile drills put Philippines in China’s line of fire

As US and Japanese missiles roar across Philippine skies, the Southeast Asian nation is becoming a forward-deployed missile hub in the intensifying US-China rivalry in the Pacific. The US and Japan escalated their military profiles in the Philippines during this year’s

ASEAN to hold talks soon with Myanmar foreign minister, secretary-general says

CEBU, Philippines, May 7 - Southeast Asian foreign ministers have agreed to a virtual meeting with their Myanmar counterpart, ASEAN's secretary-general said on Thursday, as the country seeks to re-engage with the regional bloc after five years on the sidelines.

UK police make third arrest over attempted arson at London synagogue

LONDON, May 7 - British counter-terrorism police have arrested a 19-year-old man in connection with an attempted arson attack on a synagogue in north London last month, marking the third arrest in the investigation, the force said on Thursday.

Indian seafarers endured nightly blasts, lack of food in Iran war ordeal

MUMBAI, May 7 - Nightly explosions of drones and missiles terrified Indian sailor Tithi Chiranjeevi after his ship was stranded in Iran for more than a month by the Strait of Hormuz blockade caused by the Middle East conflict.

Can South Korea’s praised school lunches keep their trays full?

Staffing issues threaten the quality of the country’s universal free school lunch system.

Russia says Armenia is being dragged into EU's 'anti-Russian orbit'

MOSCOW, May 7 - Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that Armenia was being drawn into what it described as the European Union's \"anti‑Russian orbit\".

China's former defence ministers Wei Fenghe, Li Shangfu given suspended death sentences on graft charges

The punishments are believed to rank among the harshest imposed on senior Chinese military officials in decades, highlighting the severity of China's anti-corruption drive within its armed forces.

China hands suspended death sentences to former defence ministers Wei Fenghe, Li Shangfu

A death sentence with reprieve in China is typically commuted to life imprisonment.

Designed to hurt Asia, Trump’s tariffs did the opposite

When the Trump administration announced sweeping tariffs on Asian economies on April 2, 2025, the political framing was simple. The tariffs would punish Asian exporters, shrink the US trade deficit and force capital home. Asia was cast as the vulnerable party in a contest the

Myanmar military claims recapture of trade artery towards China

Myanmar has pledged to step up trade with China, reviving discussions of long-stalled projects.

Paraguay president lauds friendship with Taiwan, China tells him to sever ties

TAIPEI, May 7 - Paraguay and Taiwan share a friendship based on freedom and democracy that extends beyond diplomatic formalities, Paraguayan President Santiago Pena said on Thursday, as China told him to sever ties with Taipei.

Paraguay President lauds friendship with Taiwan, China tells him to sever ties

Paraguay is one of 12 countries that still maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

Ex-Thai PM Thaksin’s children pay final prison visit before parole release

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, his daughter, said they did not talk about politics at all.