Satellite imagery shows new North Korea-Russia bridge nearing completion

Experts say the rush to open the bridge indicates Kim Jong Un’s enthusiasm for cooperation with Moscow.

Pentagon official's Beijing visit in doubt over $14 billion US arms package for Taiwan, FT reports

May 21 - Beijing is holding up a proposed visit by the Pentagon's under-secretary of defence for policy, Elbridge Colby, as China pressures U.S. President Donald Trump over a $14 billion weapons package for Taiwan, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.

China’s Xi may visit North Korea as early as next week, Yonhap reports

Mr Xi Jinping will try to act as a mediator between Mr Donald Trump and Mr Kim Jong Un.

Truce holds a year after brief Indo-Pak war, conflict continues

A year has passed since conflict broke out between India and Pakistan, briefly raising fears of an all-out war between the two nuclear powers. While violent conflict between the neighbors has been commonplace for the past 80 years, this latest round of fighting felt different.

UN backs world court climate opinion; U.S. among few to oppose

WASHINGTON, May 20 - The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday voted 141-8 to adopt a resolution backing a world court opinion that countries have a legal obligation to address climate change, with the world's biggest historical emitter the United States among those

India has food safety laws. So why can't it guarantee safe food?

Food safety fears in India are rising as viral videos and failed tests deepen public distrust.

Commentary: White-collar workers in the Philippines pay a premium to stay employed

For Filipino urban professionals, earning a living requires paying a premium to stay connected and employable, says Nicasio Pimentel from the University of Antique.

Commentary: The haze over Southeast Asia clouds more than the sky

The annual haze blanketing Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore is the visible outcome of political and economic choices, says this researcher.

Trump-Xi summit didn’t change North Korea’s strategic reality

The Trump-Xi summit in Beijing may have projected calm at the leader level, but it should not be mistaken for strategic convergence. Whatever one makes of the new language of “constructive strategic stability,” the underlying reality is one of constrained rivalry, not

NEC’s orbital transfer vehicle has cislunar combat potential

Japan’s NEC Corporation has launched a project to develop an Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV) – a spacecraft designed to transport satellites to their intended orbits after they have separated from the rockets that lift them into space. Without an OTV, a satellite must use its

While leaders meet in Beijing, families rewrite regional funding

When the leaders of the United States and China met in Beijing on May 14 and 15, 2026, the global press coverage was predictable. Tariffs: Taiwan. Iran. Boeing. The coverage was accurate. It also missed the most important shift in regional capital flows in two decades. For most

Indonesia’s dangerous return to state-controlled trade

Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto has unveiled one of the most consequentialeconomic interventions since the fall of Suharto: a plan to centralize exports of strategiccommodities — including palm oil, coal and ferroalloys — through a state-controlledstructure linked to the

Turkey's Erdogan tells Trump issues with Iran can be resolved, Ankara says

ANKARA, May 20 - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told U.S. President Donald Trump in a call on Wednesday he welcomed the extension of a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, adding he believed contested issues between the sides could be resolved, according to the Turkish

Xi and Putin tout ‘new type’ of world order in Beijing

Less than a week after hosting Donald Trump, China’s leader Xi Jinping welcomed his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to Beijing. Unlike Trump’s visit, this was a routine meeting. The Chinese and Russian presidents have met more than 40 times since 2013, with the latest

Rosenberg: Putin enjoys Xi's Chinese welcome but heads home without pipeline deal

Russia and China showed they were shoulder-to-shoulder on the world stage, but it became clear there are limits, says the BBC's Russia Editor.

Bond tremors from Washington to London to Tokyo upend Asia

TOKYO — Bond markets are cracking around the globe as geopolitical, technological and demographic trends simultaneously upend everything investors thought they knew about 2026. The turmoil is propelling borrowing costs to multi-year highs from Washington to London to Tokyo.

Samsung reaches tentative union deal, averting crippling strike

The union will put a tentative wage agreement with the management to a vote.

When Putin met Xi: Was timing everything?

The Russian President is the latest foreign leader to visit Beijing, pointing to China's pivotal role in the world today.

Trump says he will speak with Taiwan’s President

The sitting presidents of the US and Taiwan have not spoken since 1979.

Trump says he will speak with Taiwan's president

WASHINGTON, May 20 - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he would speak with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te.

UN says $781 million shortfall in life-saving Rohingya refugee aid

A UN official said it was crucial that the “crisis doesn’t become forgotten”.

If they speak, Taiwan President would tell Trump China is the one undermining peace in the Strait

Mr Trump said he would speak to Mr Lai, but he did not offer a timeframe for when such a conversation could take place.

Watch: Did Trump and Putin get the same treatment in China?

Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed Russia's Vladimir Putin with a near-identical ceremony to Trump's last week.

Xi basks in spotlight as he hosts Putin days after Trump

Two presidential visits days apart is how Xi Jinping wants the world to see him: talking to everyone, tied to no-one.

Nuclear energy, Taiwan and Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’: Key points from the Xi-Putin talks

No breakthrough was announced for the major natural gas pipeline between Russia and China.

Nuclear energy, Taiwan and Trump's 'Golden Dome': key points from the Xi-Putin talks

BEIJING/MOSCOW, May 20 - China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin on Wednesday hailed progress in their 'comprehensive partnership' and criticised U.S. President Donald Trump's Golden Dome project but did not announce a breakthrough on a major natural gas pipeline.

Philippine Supreme Court rejects bid to block arrest of senator wanted by ICC

MANILA, May 20 - The Philippine Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a bid by Senator Ronald dela Rosa for a temporary restraining order to prevent his arrest and transfer to the International Criminal Court.

Thai faith healer charged with rape, child abuse

The police has urged other victims to come forward.

Russia and China scold the United States over 'Golden Dome' plans

MOSCOW, May 20 - Russia and China said on Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump's Golden Dome missile-defence shield plans threatened strategic stability and that Washington had been irresponsible not to work on a replacement for a landmark nuclear treaty.

Philippine Supreme Court says won't stop ICC arrest of drug war enforcer

Senator Ronald Dela Rosa has evaded government agents trying to arrest him and is currently at an unknown location.

Canadian lawmaker visits Taiwan to show ‘solidarity’

Mr Michael Chong said he was “reasserting Canadian sovereignty” by not letting China dictate “where we can go internationally”.

Malaysia coalition to stay intact until term ends, says minister

The remarks are aimed at easing concerns over the stability of PM Anwar Ibrahim’s administration.

Japan says it has enough power to meet scorching summer demand

The assessment comes amid global shortages caused by the war in the Middle East.

Chinese personnel swim, use boats to evacuate people in flood-hit areas

Torrential rain killed at least 25 people and shut businesses, schools and transport links.

Activist sailed to Gaza to break the Israel siege. Now Vietnam faces a diplomatic dilemma

Hanoi's bamboo diplomacy tested as Israeli arms ties clash with Gaza solidarity.

Bodies of last two Italian divers recovered in Maldives

Myanmar military claims recapture of Thai border town

The move allowed it to expand the frontier trade crossings it claims to control in the grinding civil war.

China says it will buy 200 Boeing jets, seek extension of US trade truce

Both sides will work together to address each other’s concerns on export controls.

Indonesia police name S’pore-based palm oil group Musim Mas as suspect over environmental breaches

The ecological damage is valued at 187.8 billion rupiah (S$13.5 million).

Starbucks Korea faces boycott calls over ‘Tank Day’ event

The coffee chain had launched an event that appeared to use the 1980 massacre to sell tumblers.

Humpback whales make record swims between Australia and Brazil

Such vast journeys by the rorquals – which can grow up to 17m long – are exceedingly rare.

Norwegian journalist's question to India's Modi sparks online backlash

Journalist Helle Lyng asked the Indian Prime Minister why he does not take questions from the press.

S. Korean President urges ‘limit’ to labour action amid Samsung unrest

Samsung's labour union leader said a planned 18-day work stoppage would go ahead on May 21.

Last two bodies of Italian divers killed in scuba diving accident recovered, Maldives says

MALE, May 20 - The last two bodies of Italian divers killed in a scuba diving accident in the Maldives have been recovered, the media office of the Maldives president said on Wednesday, completing recovery efforts after the island nation's deadliest diving tragedy.

China to work with US on slashing tariffs

China hopes “the US side will honour its commitment” made during the recent round of negotiations.

Japan to sell eels bred in captivity in ‘world first’

The move could eventually ease pressure on the endangered fish.

Labour, love and loneliness: Korean workers sent to Germany still carry the cost of sacrifice

In the 1960s and 70s, South Korea sent 20,000 miners and nurses to West Germany in exchange for loans to rebuild its economy devastated by the Korean War. CNA traces these workers’ journeys across both nations.

China’s Xi and Russia’s Putin unite in criticism of US, but fail to clinch big gas deal

The Kremlin signalled ahead of the Beijing meeting that it was seeking further agreements on energy.