Nature or nurture? What is behind the ‘Eldest Daughter Syndrome’

Being uber-responsible, people-pleasing, and a perfectionist are traits that first-born girls in Asia purportedly have

Thailand to appoint conciliators for UN-backed mediation with Cambodia, foreign minister says

Bhutan to give cash incentives to families for more babies

KATHMANDU, June 5 - The tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan is worried about its declining population and has announced cash incentives to families to produce more children.

Trump’s tariffs are back – and the timing couldn’t be worse for Asia

TOKYO — Like a horror film villain everyone thought was dead, Donald Trump’s tariffs are suddenly back — and the timing couldn’t be more unsettling for Asia’s embattled economies. Despite the US Supreme Court striking down his “Liberation Day” tariffs, Trump has wasted no time

India's exam marking fiasco leaves university hopes hanging in the balance for students seeking answers

Under a new digital marking system, answer booklets are scanned and assessed electronically, but students seeking reviews of their exam scripts have reported issues including blurred scans, missing pages and unchecked answers.

Smart glasses off, please: China cracks down on high-tech cheating ahead of gaokao

Candidates in several provinces face eyewear inspections as authorities look to keep smart glasses out of examination venues.

New Zealand to raise lawmakers’ travel ban directly with China, PM Luxon says

New Zealand and China have maintained a largely stable relationship in recent years.

Indonesia volcano erupts, forcing airport to close

The eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki on Flores Island sent volcanic material 2.5km into the air.

US-Europe split on Belarus is a gift to Putin

When it comes to relations with Belarus, the Trump administration has been pursuing a dual approach of late. In May 2026, President Donald Trump renewed the US national emergency on Belarus, noting that the government of longtime Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko still

South Korea election chief quits over ballot paper shortages

Rho Tae-ak said the ballot paper shortage had understandably raised distrust in the election process.

'Unrealistic' for Southeast Asia to meet Hegseth's defence spending demand amid Sino-US rivalry

Washington’s call for Asian allies to spend 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence is untenable given competing needs in infrastructure, healthcare and education, analysts say.

‘Pig Feast’: the film Jakarta doesn’t want you to see

The release of the investigative documentary “Pesta Babi” (Pig Feast) has triggered an unusually intense wave of public debate and political unease across Indonesia. Directed by Dandhy Dwi Laksono and Cypri Jehan Paju Dale, the film captures the systemic collision between

China to inspect eyeglasses to stop students cheating at gaokao exam

Proctors will pay particular attention to the size and shape of candidates’ glasses.

Thailand’s Thaksin to head to Dubai after royal pardon sets him free

The pardon was granted this week as part of a broader clemency programme marking Queen Suthida’s birthday.

Japan’s Takaichi eyes visit to India in early July for talks with PM Modi

Japan regards India as an important partner to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says robotics is South Korea’s next big sector, points to ‘some surprises’

He also said Nvidia had started hiring for its research and development centre in South Korea.

Fewer Chinese teenagers register for tough university entry exam

BEIJING, June 5 - The number of Chinese students sitting the country's national university entrance exam, due to begin on Sunday, has dropped sharply by 450,000 to 12.9 million from a year earlier, as more teenagers opt out of pursuing academic degrees.

Fewer Chinese students register for tough university entry exam

More are choosing to pursue vocational programmes, which typically lead to full-time work.

South Korean PM says ‘every measure’ will be taken to delve into ballot shortage

During local and parliamentary by-elections on June 3, 14 polling stations ran out of ballot paper.

Water wars washing away South Asia’s fragile peace

On June 4, Pakistan said what most analysts had been thinking for over a year: India is weaponizing water. The trigger was a pair of infrastructure projects on the Chenab River — a ₹2,352 crore (US$246 million) tunnel to divert surplus Chenab water into the Beas basin in

Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupts, forcing airport to close

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki falls under Indonesia's second-highest alert level for volcanic activity, with a 5km exclusion zone in force around its crater.

South Korea, US agree to accelerate nuclear cooperation discussions

The two countries held a two-day meeting to launch follow-up discussions on nuclear cooperation.

Bangkok warned of major flood risk by early 2030s

A forum was held to assess its flood risks and lay the groundwork for future prevention measures.

Indonesia to 'refocus' free meal programme on quality; no longer prioritising 83 million target

The agency will also be cutting back on new kitchens and targeting recipients in more remote areas, Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, the new chief of the National Nutrition Agency, said on Thursday (Jun 4).

Viral ‘Cockroach’ movement leader heads to India to lead Gen Z protests

The youth protest in New Delhi will call for the resignation of the nation’s education minister.

Xi Jinping to meet Kim Jong Un in rare visit to North Korea

It is taking place weeks after Xi met the leaders of the US and Russia - two countries that loom large over North Korea's foreign policy.

South Korean riot police clear protesters after ballot shortage blockade

More than 1,000 demonstrators had gathered outside a Seoul polling station on Thursday to block ballot boxes from being removed.

Why Xi Jinping is going to North Korea to court Kim Jong Un

Xi is expected to use the two-day summit to project a united front between the allies against the West.

‘Financially challenged’ South Korean Olympic speedskating champion vows to pay child support

The 46-year-old was sentenced to 18 months in jail for not paying child support to his former wife.

Japan’s UNESCO-listed Himeji Castle found damaged after Typhoon Jangmi

About 4 sq m of plaster peeled off near the lattice windows of a turret on the north side of the main keep.

Indonesia finance chief denies he is quitting as markets slump

Talk of Purbaya’s possible departure had spread amid deepening concerns about the country’s economy.

Sino-West trade strains deepen on new tariffs and rules

New US tariffs and tougher EU regulations heighten pressure on China, raising the risk of retaliation and broader global trade conflagration. Mounting trade tensions involving China have become a significant source of concern for the global economy, reflecting a broader trend

Taiwan, China coast guards in renewed standoff at top of South China Sea

TAIPEI, June 5 - The Taiwanese and Chinese Coast Guards were engaged in another tense standoff near the strategically located Pratas Islands at the top of the South China Sea on Friday, Taiwan said, the second time in a fortnight that this has happened.

Taiwan, China coast guards in renewed stand-off at top of South China Sea

The incident took place near the Pratas Islands, which is seen by some security experts as vulnerable to Chinese attack.

‘Extremely intelligent’ bear at large in Japan after hurting four people

It dodged capture despite efforts by hunters and responders equipped with traps and anaesthetic guns.

Australia seizes 100,000 cockroaches in bug-breeder bust

They found Madagascar hissing cockroaches and dubia roaches in a raid in Bathurst, west of Sydney.

Japan seeks to replace up to 5 nuclear reactors by 2040s, 14 by 2050s

Japan aims to source 20 per cent of the country’s electricity from nuclear power in fiscal 2040.

How I learned to stop worrying and love American monopolies

For many years, I was a big proponent of the idea that increased market power was harming the US economy in various ways. In the 2010s, in the economics world, circumstantial evidence began to pile up, implicating increased industrial concentration as the culprit behind a

Bear opens window in factory escape, Japanese police say

The bear had earlier attacked four people in an industrial part of Fukushima, in Japan's north-east.

New Zealand capital Wellington flooded with faeces after wastewater failure

Wellington Water said the overflow in the suburb of Island Bay was the result of a blocked main.

Asian stocks take another hit from AI, Middle East worries

Malaysia’s Anwar facing crucial test of support as two states call early elections

Significant losses could weaken his coalition’s prospects at a general election due by early 2028.

China cracks down on soft porn, violence and materialism in viral micro dramas

Micro dramas have surged in popularity, but drawn criticism for often sensationalist content.

China's Xi to visit North Korea in push for deeper ties

BEIJING/SEOUL, June 5 - China said on Friday President Xi Jinping would visit North Korea on a two-day trip from June 8, his first in nearly seven years as Beijing looks to reassert ties with Pyongyang, its only formal treaty ally.

Xi Jinping to visit North Korea as Beijing seeks deeper ties with Pyongyang

The two-day visit starting Jun 8 will be Chinese President Xi Jinping's first overseas trip of the year.

Japan steps up cooking oil collection efforts in race for sustainable aviation fuel

Japan is scrambling to procure a tenth of airline fuel from sustainable sources by 2030.

China’s Xi to visit North Korea on June 8 to 9 in first visit since 2019

Beijing has long been North Korea’s primary backer.