Beijing now sets the agenda for US-China ties: Expert view

Can Trump and Xi’s new ‘constructive’ framework bring stability to the US-China dynamic?

Victims' families mark Air India crash anniversary with prayers and tributes

AHMEDABAD, India, June 12 - Families of the 260 people killed when an Air India Boeing 787 crashed in Ahmedabad a year ago prepared to gather on Friday for prayers and a candlelight tribute to mark the anniversary of the disaster.

Myanmar detains US businessman who wrote about military coup, sources say

BANGKOK, June 12 - An American businessman who wrote a book about living through a military coup in Myanmar was detained on his return to the Southeast Asian nation on Thursday, according to two people briefed on the matter.

Students hold ‘Heading to Bankrupt Indonesia’ protests against Prabowo’s policies

University students marched towards central Jakarta’s iconic Bundaran HI landmark.

Japan flagship rocket lifts off after earlier failure

Somaliland says it has a right to choose its relationships as it opens new Taiwan office

TAIPEI, June 12 - Somaliland has a right to choose its own relationships and pressure tactics from Beijing and Mogadishu have not succeeded in altering its friendship with Taipei, its top diplomat in Taiwan said on Friday at the opening of a new office.

India’s Nicobar Island push threatens China’s Malacca lifeline

BANGKOK – India’s military is expanding across the Andaman Sea into Southeast Asia with the construction of a multi-billion-dollar air and sea base on remote Great Nicobar Island, New Delhi’s furthest reach toward the Strait of Malacca, where rival China ships more than 70% of

Fire breaks out at New Zealand’s Wellington airport, disrupting flights

Wellington Airport said the south-west pier and main terminal building had been evacuated.

Fire breaks out at New Zealand's Wellington airport, disrupting flights

WELLINGTON, June 12 - A blaze broke out at Wellington Airport in the capital of New Zealand on Friday, forcing evacuations and flight diversions.

Rare protests erupt in China after dog abuse videos spark online anger

Animal welfare activists say residents were simply demanding that abused animals be removed from the suspect's home, but frustration over the handling of the case spilled onto the streets.

Myanmar’s president to visit China next week

The trip will be the Myanmar leader’s second state visit since taking over as civilian president in April.

Taliban arrested at least 30 women for violating hijab rules in Afghanistan: UN

The local authorities have denied reports that women were arrested.

Is China really deflating deflation? It’s harder than Beijing thinks

TOKYO – China’s “deflation-is-over” narrative is getting louder, but the foundations are still shaky. Consumer prices rose 1.2% year-on-year in May, while producer prices jumped 3.9%, lifted by higher costs for energy, semiconductors and metals. To many economists, this is the

Armenian opposition party files petition to annul June election results

June 12 - A pro-Russian opposition alliance filed a request to Armenia's election commission on Friday to throw out the results of last Sunday's parliamentary election, won by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's governing party.

China arrests US scholar who studies Myanmar on suspicion of spying

China's Foreign Ministry said the American was suspected of endangering Chinese national security.

China arrests US scholar of Myanmar on suspicion of spying

BEIJING, June 12 - China's foreign ministry confirmed on Friday the arrest of Min Zin, a U.S. citizen who leads a think-tank focused on Myanmar, saying the American was suspected of spying and endangering Chinese national security.

Myanmar’s prison releases part of a wider system of terror

Myanmar’s traditional New Year, Thingyan, is a time of renewal and public celebration. This year, it brought the release of some 4,300 prisoners in a mass amnesty ordered by the military. The release of President Win Myint, a close ally of well-known leader Aung San Suu Kyi,

Small Japan firms say high procurement costs biggest hit from Iran war, survey shows

Around three quarters of businesses polled cited rising procurement costs as a business impact.

Will IPOs make America’s AI giants more accountable?

A huge change is coming to the world’s booming artificial intelligence (AI) sector. Starting with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, with OpenAI and Anthropic preparing to follow, all three private companies are set to sell shares of their stock to the general public for the first time. These

A year after deadly Air India crash, families await answers

The Indian authorities are expected to issue an interim report in the coming days.

China backs next generation of tech champions as new rules reshape path overseas

Government funding continues to fuel innovation in hubs such as Shenzhen, but tighter controls on outbound investment could add new compliance hurdles for firms with global ambitions.

Commentary: PM Anwar faces leadership referendum in upcoming Johor, Negeri Sembilan state polls

The upcoming state assembly polls in Johor and Negeri Sembilan are fast shaping into Malaysia’s most consequential electoral contests, serving as unintended referendums of PM Anwar’s leadership with far-reaching national consequences, says CNA's Leslie Lopez.

Bangladesh, India to coordinate patrols on border, share intelligence amid migrant tensions

DHAKA, June 12 - Bangladesh and India have agreed to deepen cooperation along their shared border with improved intelligence sharing and coordinated patrols, according to a joint statement released on Friday, amid strained relations over alleged undocumented migration.

Vietnam police bust group planning large-scale online scam centre

HANOI, June 12 - Vietnamese police have busted a group suspected of trying to establish a large-scale online scam centre in the country, authorities said on Friday, as criminal networks spread their operations across Southeast Asia.

The China collapse that just never arrives

China has been on the verge of collapse for more than 20 years. In 2001, lawyer and commentator Gordon Chang published “The Coming Collapse of China.” The book famously predicted that China’s economic model would fail within a decade. The decade passed. The prediction was

Yangon’s furtive party scene belies junta claims of normality

Since the 2021 coup, the rate of young people feeling unsafe walking alone at night has increased.

How South Korea’s ballot shortage spurred turnout of thousands to defend democracy

Frustration over the shortages at more than 90 polling sites unleashed extensive political protests.

How South Korea's ballot shortage spurred turnout of thousands to defend democracy

SEOUL, June 12 - Arriving to cast her vote in South Korea's local elections, Yoomi Lee was surprised to find the polling station had run out of ballot papers, turning the quick stop she had planned into an hours-long wait and quarrels with election officials.

Japanese parents turn to AI for clues hidden in babies’ cries

Some tools apply previous research suggesting babies make distinct vocalisations in response to needs.

Johor state election set for Jul 11, Negeri Sembilan to go to polls on Aug 1

Analysts tell CNA that while multiple parties would contest the two elections, the main battle will be between the Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan coalitions that are part of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government.

Malaysian tourists slammed for sending 1,200 parcels from Taobao to hotel in China

The travel agency posted a video of the incident on the social media app Xiaohongshu.

Johor state election to be held on July 11, Negri Sembilan polls on Aug 1: Malaysian media

Negeri Sembilan's state poll will be held on Aug 1.

Johor state election to be held on July 11, Negeri Sembilan polls on Aug 1

Nomination days for Johor and Negeri Sembilan are set for June 27 and July 18 respectively.

China warns of risk of 'extreme floods' in desert regions

Trillionaire welfare baby Elon Musk is born

SpaceX goes public Friday (June 12) at around US$1.7 trillion. Elon Musk owns enough SpaceX stock that, on top of everything else he holds, Musk becomes the first person in human history to cross the trillion-dollar line. The coverage will be all hype. Unprecedented. A genius.

China warns of risk of ‘extreme floods’ in desert regions

This is due to abnormally high temperatures, heavy rainfall, and rapid glacier melt.

Cambodia's renewable energy push helps shield economy from oil shocks, says minister

Hydro and solar power have helped Cambodia keep electricity prices stable despite rising global energy costs, the country’s Minister of Mines and Energy Keo Rottanak tells CNA's Roland Lim.

Jailed South Korea ex-president gets 30 more years for sending drones into North

Prosecutors argued that Yoon ordered the operation to provoke Pyongyang and create a pretext for martial law.

Heavy police presence in Jakarta as students protest against Prabowo

Traffic diversions and road closures may be imposed depending on the crowd size and conditions.

First panda born in Indonesia makes public debut at Taman Safari

The six-month-old cub named Satrio “Rio” Wiratama weighs 13.7kg.

South Korea’s ex-president gets 30 years’ jail over North Korea drone incident

Judges said Yoon intended to provoke Pyongyang so that his martial law call could have been justified.

South Korea's ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol gets 30 years over North Korea drone incident

Yoon was given life in jail in February for leading an insurrection to "paralyse" South Korea's National Assembly with his martial law declaration.

When caregiving takes over childhood: South Korea’s hidden child labour

Researchers found that many routinely washed dishes, cleaned homes, prepared meals, cared for siblings.

Rain, aftershocks hamper rescuers as Philippine quake toll hits 55

A government tally released on June 12 revealed eight additional deaths.

Malaysian male nurses group opposes proposal to recruit Indonesian nurses

It was reported recently that Indonesia is prepared to supply up to 15,000 nurses to Malaysia.