Claims of man-made quake spread in Japan online after Kumamoto disaster
Experts dismiss the theory as unrealistic in technological, financial and practical terms.
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The Iran off-ramp Trump keeps driving past
Five months into what historians will likely call the 2026 Iran war, Washington finds itself in a posture it has occupied before, in Vietnam, in Iraq, in Afghanistan: too deep in to walk away cleanly, not deep enough in to call the thing won. US President Donald Trump’s
LPG leak may have caused Japan’s Kumamoto mall blast, says govt
The cause of the leak is still under investigation.
World faces fresh food price surge, FAO warns
FRANKFURT, Aug 5 - The world is on the verge of another bout of food inflation as wars in Iran and Ukraine along with El Nino create a perfect storm of higher costs and lower crop yields, the chief economist of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization said.
Singapore ready to roll out haze response plans as ASEAN monitoring centre raises alert level
The ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre on Monday raised the alert to Level 2, the second-highest level, signalling an increasing risk of transboundary haze in the region.
Video of Japan PM’s quake-hit area visit set to music draws criticism
The video was set to piano music and recapped Takaichi’s visit to Kumamoto Prefecture on Aug 3.
Bet365 among major online betting sites banned in Sri Lanka amid illegal gambling crackdown
The authorities warned Sri Lankans that investing in those sites was illegal.
Europe's race to arm Ukraine exposes how hard it is to build drones without China
Kyiv has reportedly secured a European Union exemption to purchase drone components from China, highlighting Beijing’s deeply embedded role in the supply chain and the strategic influence that position affords, say analysts.
Hong Kong exotic pet expo host charged with illegal possession of endangered species
Animals including a green iguana, a Spencer’s monitor, and a taxidermied African grey parrot were seized in 2022.
Pakistan search team reaches base camp with body of renowned climber Nirmal Purja
Three other climbers – two Nepalis and one Pakistani – remain missing.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologises to Indian government over content and errors
The move concerned Instagram ads promoting child sexual abuse material as well as Facebook videos.
India auto lobby withdraws warning on ethanol fuel damage to revise numbers
Consumers blame the ethanol-blended fuel for mileage drops and vehicle damage.
Pakistan restricts international media reporting
Anyone working for foreign media, including Pakistanis, will now need permission to report from anywhere outside three major cities.
Japanese public broadcaster NHK says employee sexually assaulted by cast member
It happened after a social gathering attended by programme cast members and production staff.
Bangkok hopes to pave way for Myanmar’s return to ASEAN, but analysts say caution is needed
Analysts believe that normalising bilateral ties with Thailand may be the ticket for Myanmar to get back into the ASEAN family.
China complains to Japan over defence white paper, foreign ministry says
The annual Japanese report claims that China has intensified its military activities around Taiwan.
Sri Lankan beauty pageant contestant fined with animal cruelty
The country has strict flora and fauna laws that prohibit handling wildlife, particularly endangered animals.
China sentences former defence industry regulator to 10 years for graft, influence peddling
BEIJING, Aug 5 - A Chinese court on Wednesday sentenced Zhang Jianhua, a former deputy director of its defence industry regulator, to 10 years in prison for bribery in part of a wider anti-graft shake-up in China's defence sector and military.
Under Patel, FBI forges unprecedented law enforcement ties with China, Russia
Aug 5 - FBI Director Kash Patel says he has forged new law enforcement partnerships with China and Russia, two longtime U.S. rivals, over the past year in hopes of gaining allies in combating transnational crime including fentanyl, cyber fraud and child sexual exploitation.
China announces 'countermeasures' after US trade sanctions
China has announced restrictions on drone exports to the US and blacklisted six American companies in response to recent US trade sanctions.
Turkey unveils draft law to re-integrate PKK militants, achieve peace
ANKARA, Aug 5 - Turkey's ruling alliance submitted a draft law to parliament on Wednesday meant to achieve peace with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in part by protecting many former militants from prosecution, and suspending prison sentences for many of those convicted of
17 Michelin-listed restaurants in S. Korea violated food safety laws, report shows
Among the violations were foreign objects found in food and improper sanitary handling.
Tighter security at Malaysian airports, more screenings of pilots after Indonesia trafficking case
A 39-year-old Malaysian Airlines pilot was arrested on July 28 in Jakarta over alleged drug trafficking.
Australia's new data centres must be majority renewable powered, says minister
CANBERRA/PERTH, Aug 5 - Australia’s energy minister Chris Bowen said on Wednesday that plans by the Northern Territory to use its large-scale shale gas resources to power data centres would run counter to proposed national standards, casting doubt over the Territory's ambition
Tech back in fashion as Asian markets extend rebound
Crude oil rose on Wednesday (Aug 5) after Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels said they attacked a Saudi oil tanker in the Red Sea, denting hopes of a restoration of shipping traffic and oil flows in the Middle East.
Myanmar refugee return will not go ahead if lives are at risk, says Malaysia
Human Rights Watch warned that the refugees face persecution and other rights abuses in Myanmar.
Malaysia says Myanmar refugee return will not go ahead if lives are at risk
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 - Malaysia will not proceed with repatriating 5,000 Myanmar refugees if their lives are found to be at risk upon their return, a government spokesman said on Wednesday, as authorities continued to screen the refugees ahead of the planned handover.
India monsoon floods, landslides kill more than 100 since July
The north-eastern state of Assam is among the hardest hit, with at least 87 people killed.
Thai airport apologises over treatment of fans mobbing Double Helix stars Ayden Sng, Lv Sitong
A video of a security officer making a rude gesture towards the fans was circulated on social media.
Japan’s government approves PM Takaichi’s costly food tax cut despite fiscal concerns
It will be lowered to 1 per cent from the current 8 per cent for two years starting April 2027.
South Korea’s maid cafes spark concerns over possible involvement of minors
Most maid cafes in South Korea do not sell alcohol or provide adult-oriented services.
Thai footballer killed in lighting strike during match in Narathiwat province; Malaysian among 12 others injured
The incident took place on Tuesday (Aug 4) evening during the semi-final match of the regional Golok FA Cup football tournament at Santiphap Stadium in Thailand’s Narathiwat province.
Indonesian economic growth slows to 5.3% in Q2, but beats forecast
Government spending posted the biggest growth, rising 15.97 per cent in the second quarter on the back of spending for civil servants.
Police raid Starbucks Korea headquarters over 'Tank Day' fiasco
People have filed complaints against Starbucks for allegedly making light of the deadly Gwangju Uprising.
Myanmar civil war nears a rare opening for talks as diplomacy gains ground
Battlefield shifts and regional pressure are nudging Myanmar’s warring sides towards dialogue.
Afghan boxer accused of killing British woman in Athens to appear in court
ATHENS, Aug 5 - A 26-year old professional boxer from Afghanistan accused of killing a Scottish woman whose body was found in a suitcase in central Athens last month will appear in court on Wednesday, two police officials said.
6.3-magnitude earthquake hits off southern Philippines
The quake did not trigger a tsunami warning.
US and Iran having 'very good discussions', Trump says
DUBAI/WASHINGTON, Aug 5 - U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration had \"very good discussions\" with Iran during all-day negotiations on Tuesday, fuelling expectations of an imminent end to the five-month conflict.
Taiwan investigates 17 Chinese firms for suspected poaching of high-tech talent
Taiwan ministries raided Chinese firms suspected of illegally recruiting workers and operating unlicensed offices.
South Korea to revive stalled rail project that could connect to North Korea
The railway, which begins in Seoul, could serve as a future connection to Wonsan in North Korea.
China is claiming the right to punish its critics anywhere on Earth
On July 1, China brought into force its Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, converting a decade of Xi Jinping’s doctrine of “forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation” into binding law. Most attention has gone to its domestic machinery: entrenching
Brace for higher US interest rates from the Fed
The bond market has been pushing interest rates higher in recent weeks. Though the Federal Reserve Board’s Federal Open Market Committee kept the benchmark federal funds rate unchanged at its Aug. 28-29 meeting, it could well follow suit by year’s end. The policy statement the