Australia’s conservatives reel from by-election loss to far right

Traditional conservative Liberal and National parties had held the seat since 1949.

South Korea welcomes rare baby bump as population shrinks

South Korea has one of the world’s lowest birth rates.

Red card or black card? The conscription lottery in Thailand

Most men become eligible when they turn 21 and can volunteer or be placed in the lottery.

16 people, including 2 Singaporeans, sentenced to community service for littering in Johor

They carried out community service for two hours on May 10, with more punishment periods to be decided.

Two Singaporeans confirmed dead in Indonesia volcano eruption, official says

Authorities told CNA that several local guides are under probe for bringing a group of Singaporean tourists and Indonesian nationals close to the crater, despite the area within a 4km radius being closed for any activities.

Unmanned Japan lab opens with robots at work as researchers push AI, automation

The robots can perform tasks such as transferring fixed amounts of reagents.

Buddhist monk arrested over alleged rape of teen in Sri Lanka

The Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Thero holds one of the most revered positions in the Buddhist world.

Need a new house? Order online from China for less than $25,000

Prefabricated homes with their low cost and efficient installation have struck a chord with people.

Malaysia considering legal action against Meta over fake royal accounts

There were 15,296 fake accounts found using the identities of 26 royal family members.

Indonesian police arrest 321 foreigners in an operation to crack down on banned online gambling

Australia's Trump-aligned populists vow to fight mass migration after winning first lower house seat

SYDNEY, May 10 - Australia's right-wing populist One Nation party, which wants to emulate U.S. President Donald Trump's aggressive deportations, vowed to focus on ending mass migration, after winning its first seat in the country's lower house.

Australia sees military allies ready to work together if needed

Australia aims to conduct more military activities, including trainings with Japan and Indonesia.

Japan’s top tourist destinations concentrated in Kyoto, 6 other prefectures: Survey

It underscores that economic benefits are unevenly distributed across regions.

Two missing S’porean hikers confirmed dead in Indonesian volcano eruption

The two hikers have not been seen since the volcano erupted on the morning of May 8.

Indian model's understated Met Gala debut revives debate on cultural representation

Bhavitha Mandava’s Met Gala debut has brought a new wave of attention to her - and to her understated aesthetic.

Commentary: China's invisible hand is rebalancing the oil market

Amid a global energy crisis, China has quietly slashed oil imports without having to take extreme measures, says Javier Blas for Bloomberg Opinion.

China is no longer just protesting US sanctions - firms may now have to navigate two systems

China has invoked its “Blocking Rules” for the first time to counter US sanctions, marking a shift from rhetoric to enforcement, leaving companies caught between conflicting legal systems.

Too hot to work, too poor to stop: How insurance protects India’s informal workers during heatwaves

Summers in India have been getting hotter and more brutal.

Curry chee cheong fun was never common in Johor Bahru but it is now. Why?

Chee cheong fun is not native to JB. How does it land from KL and Ipoh?

Twelve Pakistani police officers killed in car bombing and shootout

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan May 9 - A car bombing at a police post in northwestern Pakistan followed by an ambush on police personnel rushing to the scene to provide backup has killed at least 12 officers, police said on Sunday.

Putin says he thinks the Ukraine conflict is coming to an end

MOSCOW, May 9 - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that he thought the Ukraine conflict was coming to an end.

Qatari LNG tanker sailing towards Hormuz Strait, shipping data shows

May 9 - Qatari LNG tanker Al Kharaitiyat was sailing towards the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday after departing Qatar's Ras Laffan en route to Port Qasim in Pakistan, according to LSEG shipping data.

2 Singaporeans die in Johor car crash: Reports

Kota Tinggi district police said the accident involved a Ferrari driven by a 34-year-old man, with a 33-year-old woman as the front passenger.

Japanese council votes to remove unconscious mayor

Kikuo Hatakeyama, 72, has served as the mayor of Hachirogata in north-east Japan since 2008, but fell ill in February.

Indonesia detains over 300 foreigners in gambling crackdown

Some 275 people face charges of gambling and money laundering, a police official said.

‘I could only stand and watch’: Indonesian guide recalls trying to save S’poreans on Mount Dukono

Mr Reza Selang tried saving the climbers, but a boulder pinned them, and he was forced to leave them behind.

‘I could only stand and watch’: Indonesian guide recalls failed rescue of Singapore hikers in exclusive Straits Times interview

Mr Reza tried saving the climbers, but a boulder pinned them. He was forced to leave them behind, a decision that deeply haunts him.

Australia’s far-right party wins first Lower House seat

The result is in line with a surge of electoral support for far-right populist parties globally.

Australia's far-right party wins first lower house seat

SYDNEY, May 9 - Australian far-right populist party Pauline Hanson's One Nation won its first seat in the country's House of Representatives in a byelection on Saturday, a preliminary vote count showed.

Kremlin says peace in Ukraine is still a very long way off

MOSCOW, May 9 - The Kremlin on Saturday said that the United States was in a hurry to clinch a peace deal to end the Ukraine war but that getting to any sort of agreement was a very long way off because the issues were so complicated.

Thailand orders crackdown on unruly tourists

Thailand’s Interior Ministry warned that those who break the law could be deported immediately.

Punch, the lonely monkey who drew crowds to a Japan zoo, growing up well amid limelight

Since first hitting the headlines, Punch has slowly integrated into his troop and made friends.

TikTok parent ByteDance plans tiered subscriptions for AI chatbot Doubao

Doubao had 345 million monthly active users in March 2026.

Rescuers find body of first confirmed fatality from Mount Dukono eruption; believed to be Indonesian national

Two Singaporean hikers remain missing despite their locations having been identified.

Top Sri Lankan Buddhist monk arrested over alleged sex abuse

Pallegama Hemarathana was arrested at a private hospital where he had sought treatment.

Thai police probe weapons cache at Chinese man’s home

Local police said they were “investigating security implications”.

US, Iran no closer to ending war as Tehran's response awaited

WASHINGTON/CAIRO, May 9 - A state of relative calm prevailed around the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, after days of sporadic flare-ups, as the United States waited for Iran's response to its latest proposals to end more than two months of fighting and begin peace talks.

Thai police probe military-grade weapons cache at foreign man's home

Local police are "investigating security implications" after assault rifles, explosives, grenades and anti-personnel mines were found at the man's home, near the beach resort of Pattaya.

ASEAN discussions on regional fuel stockpile in very early stage, says PM Wong

ASEAN already has a rice stockpile with China, Japan and Korea. The question is whether the region could pursue something similar for energy, says Singapore’s prime minister.

Mount Dukono eruption: Key facts about one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes

The local authorities in April had imposed a climbing ban after increased volcanic activity.

China trade beats forecasts in April despite Middle East war

While the US-Israel war on Iran has produced new risks for China's economy, its trade has so far appeared to be weathering the disruptions.

How Pakistan became the world’s most useful middle power

As geopolitical competition intensifies across multiple regions, countries capable of maintaining working relationships with rival powers are becoming increasingly valuable. While global attention remains centered on major-power rivalry, another category of states is quietly