Malaysia’s former MCA president Ling Liong Sik dies at 82
His passing was confirmed in a message sent to the trustees of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman.
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Sri Lanka struggles to avert economic collapse over Middle East war
Panic buying fuel in Sri Lanka has brought back memories of 2022, when the economy tanked.
Trump lit the Mideast fire – now he wants the world to put it out
There is a peculiar logic at work in the Trump administration’s approach to the Iran war — one that would be almost admirable in its audacity if it were not so catastrophically dangerous. Having spent the better part of a decade methodically dismantling every diplomatic
Free cancer screening, health checks to benefit 10,000 people in Hanoi
Participants will receive comprehensive health checks through a streamlined one-stop process.
Singapore artist Joshua Chiang brings a decade of Cambodian stories to life
In 2024, he and his wife relocated to Siem Reap province, where they opened CamCam By Joshua Chiang.
Malaysian experts call for dedicated court to handle road crash cases amid rise in accidents
The challenge with road accident cases is the sheer volume of cases, an expert said.
Afghanistan hit by magnitude 5.9 earthquake, eight killed
The people died as a result of a house collapsing in Kabul following the earthquake, Afghanistan's National Disaster Management Authority said.
Bangladesh: ‘Hasina question’ haunts and nettles new PM Rahman
The letter landed within Dhaka’s already charged political atmosphere. Writing from abroad, ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made her first formal appeal to Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), seeking to overturn the death sentence against her on the grounds
Museum dedicated to founder of Sanrio, best known for Hello Kitty, opens in Japan
The museum showcases the life of Sanrio’s Honorary Chairman Shintaro Tsuji.
South Korea suitcase murder reveals pattern of family abuse
Investigators said the suspect prevented his wife from reporting the crime.
Stick to Easter travel, Australians told, though hundreds of petrol stations dry
April 4 - Australians were urged to maintain their travel plans for Easter weekend although hundreds of petrol stations, mostly in rural areas, were without power on Saturday, as the Iran war continued to strain the nation's fuel supply.
How Bombay went from a fort city to a bustling metropolis
A new exhibition charts Bombay's passage through the centuries via paintings, photographs and prints.
Commentary: Can China grow from within?
There is now only one engine capable of sustaining growth at the scale Beijing requires, says economics professor and author Keyu Jin.
Defenses not ‘annihilated,’ Iran reportedly downs two US planes
Two days after President Donald Trump declared that Iran was “no longer a threat” and that its air defense had been “annihilated,” Iranian forces reportedly struck down two US jets on Friday. Citing an Israeli official and a second source with knowledge of the situation, Axios
Fuel shock bites in China, but no panic yet
China’s top economic planner has stepped in to soften the blow of surging oil prices through an emergency provision.
Unanswered questions remain after death of Australia's most wanted fugitive
Double-murderer Dezi Freeman evaded capture for seven months in the bush but police believe he had help.
Eight dead after earthquake of magnitude 5.9 strikes Afghanistan
An earthquake of magnitude 5.9 struck Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region on April 3.
Japan PM Takaichi plans Australia visit to discuss rare earths, Nikkei reports
Japan and Western governments want to diversify away from a supply chain largely dominated by China.
Israel strikes Beirut, US warns Iran may hit Lebanese universities
BEIRUT, April 3 - Israel pounded Beirut with airstrikes on Friday that the military said had targeted militant \"infrastructure\" in Lebanon's capital, as the U.S. warned that Iran may target universities in the country as the Middle East war rages.
AI’s fluency in other languages hides Western worldview
A friend in Indonesia recently told me about a conversation he had with ChatGPT. He had typed a question in Bahasa Indonesia about how to handle a difficult family dispute. The chatbot responded fluently, in perfect Indonesian, with advice about communication strategies and
Japanese, French and Omani vessels cross the Strait of Hormuz
TOKYO/OSLO, April 3 - Three Omani-operated tankers, a French-owned container ship and a Japanese-owned gas carrier have crossed the Strait of Hormuz since Thursday, shipping data showed, reflecting Iran's policy to allow passage for vessels it deems friendly.
Italy's Meloni visits Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE amid Gulf tensions, energy worries
ROME, April 3 - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni flew to Saudi Arabia on Friday for a previously unannounced trip that will also include meetings in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, a government official said.
US removes Russian national Mikhail Zadornov from sanctions list
WASHINGTON, April 3 - The United States on Friday removed sanctions against Mikhail Zadornov, a prominent Russian banker and former finance minister, according to the U.S. Treasury Department website.
$1.5 trillion Pentagon budget would explode US debt by $7 trillion
The budget document that President Donald Trump’s White House is set to release Friday calls for $1.5 trillion in military spending for the coming fiscal year, an unprecedented sum that—if approved by Congress—would add nearly $7 trillion to the US national debt over the next
Pakistan announces free public transport as energy crisis bites
The move follows street protests prompted by a late-night decision to raise petrol and diesel prices.
Kazakhstan releases endangered saker falcons in Saudi-backed restoration drive
ALTYN-EMEL NATIONAL PARK, Kazakhstan, April 3 - With a loud thwack of their wings, the falcons took flight, quickly soaring high above the rocky desert landscape of Altyn-Emel National Park in southeastern Kazakhstan.
Japan aims to ease arms export rules, allow lethal weapons sales
Defence equipment would be divided into the categories of “weapons” and “non-weapons”.
Iran leaders join crowds on Tehran's streets to project control in wartime
DUBAI, April 3 - After more than a month of being stalked by targeted assassinations, Iran's leadership has adopted a new tactic to show it is still in control - with senior officials walking openly in the streets among small crowds who have gathered in support of the Islamic
Taiwan opposition leader’s China trip is fraught with risk
Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of Taiwan’s main opposition Kuomintang (KMT), plans to visit mainland China from April 7-12. Cross-Strait dialogue is crucial for managing tensions, which have risen sharply over the past decade, and the KMT has long played an important role in
Liberation Day tariffs celebrated a year out by Trump, few others
WASHINGTON — One year after President Donald Trump announced his now-illegal “Liberation Day” tariffs, he marked the anniversary by signing executive orders adjusting duties on pharmaceuticals and metals as Democratic critics slammed economic fallout from Trump’s trade
French-owned CMA CGM container ship passes Strait of Hormuz, data shows
PARIS, April 3 - A container ship belonging to French shipping group CMA CGM has passed through the Strait of Hormuz, MarineTraffic vessel tracking data shows, in a sign that Iran may not consider France a hostile nation.
Chinese Politburo member Ma Xingrui under investigation by anti-graft watchdog
Ma is under disciplinary review and supervisory investigation, according to a notice from China’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.
‘Afraid of weighing scale’: Olympic diver’s tearful interview spotlights cyberbullying in China
A 2022 study found that women are more likely to be targeted.
China tightens border controls, culls cattle amid foot-and-mouth outbreak
Industry analysts say it is the first time the SAT-1 serotype has been detected in China.
China probes Politburo member in widest purge since 1976
Mr Ma Xingrui was placed under investigation for “severe violations” of unspecified laws and party discipline.
‘Plastic bag chaos’: Shortage fears highlight Taiwan’s energy security concerns
The shortage comes amid a price hike for plastic goods, driven by surging oil prices due to the Middle East conflict.
Canada has the antidote to Asia’s energy anxiety
Silicon Valley futurist Roy Amara famously observed in the 1970s that we “tend to overestimate the effect of a technology in the short run and underestimate the effect in the long run.” That insight—later dubbed “Amara’s Law”—has since traveled far beyond the realm of
India’s $70 billion spiritual market fueled by bhajan clubbing
Discover how bhajan clubbing is transforming devotional music in India.
China urges respect for Palestinian rights after Israel passes death penalty law
The law allows for the execution of Palestinians convicted on terror charges for deadly attacks.
Why Thailand is reviving its tourist entry fee plan
The plan is for foreignersto be charged 300 baht (S$11.80) when flying into Thailand.
Indonesia to repatriate slain peacekeepers as Lebanon violence escalates
Indonesia's Foreign Ministry warned of “significant challenges” during the repatriation process.
Hormuz blockade driving a Gulf logistics revolution
As I prepared the March issue of the Gulf Economic Diplomacy Update for the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi, I was reminded of a folk tale from my native Bulgaria, loosely translated as “The Hardship Lesson.” Two young brothers must step in for their father,