Welcome to Hsinchu, the luxury city built by Taiwan’s AI boom

Over the past six years, households near Hsinchu Science Park have reported some of the highest incomes in Taiwan.

Prosecutor charges South Korea's four oil refiners with collusion: Report

Heavy rain triggers flooding, evacuations in Dunedin

WELLINGTON, July 6 - Heavy rain triggered flooding, road closures and evacuations in New Zealand's southern city of Dunedin and the neighbouring Waitaki District on Monday, with officials urging residents to stay home and avoid unnecessary travel.

Typhoon Bavi brings catastrophic winds to western Pacific islands

WELLINGTON, July 6 - Super Typhoon Bavi was crossing the Mariana Islands in the western Pacific Ocean on Monday, lashing Guam, Tinian and Saipan and blasting Rota with catastrophic winds, the U.S. National Weather Service said.

Taiwan says it is tracking 'upward trend' in Chinese naval movements

TAIPEI, July 6 - Taiwan is tracking an \"upward trend\" in Chinese naval movements during the peak military exercise season, including joint drills with Russia, and will be analysing any new tactics, a senior Taiwanese security official said on Monday.

Philippine anti-graft court orders arrest of Duterte ally ahead of impeachment trial

MANILA, July 6 - A Philippine anti-graft court ordered the arrest of a senator who is an ally of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday on a plunder charge, hours before the Senate begins a high-stakes impeachment trial that could determine Duterte's political future.

Australia and Fiji strike new defence alliance

SYDNEY, July 6 - Australia and Fiji on Monday signed a landmark defence alliance, committing each country to come to the other's aid if either is attacked.

Bollywood star Aamir Khan marries entrepreneur Gauri Spratt in private ceremony

This is Aamir Khan's third marriage.

Backlash after China bubble tea firm ordered to pay Louis Vuitton $1.5m

A court in China ruled that Molly Tea had infringed on the luxury brand's four-petal flower design.

Australian PM apologises for 'inappropriate' comments about Kylie Minogue

Albanese has apologised 'unequivocally' after his remarks were met with a wave of backlash.

Impeachment trial of Philippine VP Sara Duterte to open in divided Senate

Bangladesh courts China even as ties with India improve

Relations between Dhaka and Delhi, that turned frosty under the interim government, are on the mend.

UK tightens rules on overseas political donations to stop 'dodgy funding'

LONDON, July 6 - Britain tightened its rules on overseas political donations on Monday, as part of efforts to stop foreign money influencing elections, and as concerns swirl around what Housing Minister Steve Reed called \"dodgy funding\".

Impeachment trial of Philippine V-P Sara Duterte to open in divided Senate

The trial is set to deepen a schism between two storied political dynasties that has plunged the Senate into turmoil.

Canada to announce submarine contract winner on Monday, Globe and Mail says

TORONTO, July 5 - Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will announce on Monday the preferred bidder in a contract to build 12 submarines for Canada's navy, the Globe and Mail reported on Sunday.

A global hub for fake luxury goods, Vietnam cracks down on its black market

The Trump administration wants Vietnam to stamp out its booming counterfeit industry. Locals are divided.

Johor polls: Will BN’s Onn Hafiz retain the state’s top job, or can the opposition offer a better path?

Barisan Nasional’s Onn Hafiz Ghazi is bidding for a second term as Johor chief minister. Who are his potential rivals from Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional?

Commentary: The fragile reopening of Hormuz is no return to normal for Asia

A return to pre-war normalcy in the Strait of Hormuz is likely to be slow. This holds implications for Asia, says Coface chief APAC economist Bernard Aw.

Osaka stuns world number one Sabalenka to reach quarter-finals

A resurgent Naomi Osaka stuns world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a brilliant performance to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals.

Barring a counter to oil damage, Russian economy seen in crisis

The long-range/mid-range Ukrainian strike campaign is continuing to grow, ominously for Russia. Some Ukrainian analysis just released about the damage to Russian oil production for June, if true, shows that if a Russian counter is not in the works the Russian war economy will

Australia space agency has found 'likely source' of mystery space balls

The agency says that they "appear to be pressure vessels from a space launch vehicle".

India tells Meta to remove child abuse content from Instagram

An investigation revealed child abuse material was used in some Instagram advertisements in India.

Japan to test driverless buses for public transit from fiscal year 2027

Such tests have already been conducted in Japan on small vehicles or with a driver on board.

Nepal PM marks 100 days with fast change and few words

Nepal's 36-year-old rapper-turned-Prime Minister Balendra Shah took office in March 2026 but has kept an unusually low profile.

South Korea to create future fund from chip windfall to spur growth, tackle inequality

The Future Response Fund will help finance major national investment projects.

Thailand’s Bueng Kan, Chiang Mai on flood watch amid heavy rain threat

Continued rainfall could also affect Bangkok and surrounding provinces.

Johor’s royal row dominates headlines, but voters’ minds remain elsewhere

Voters seem unperturbed by the debate over the palace's influence into state politics.

Japan to use ODA to help Vietnam, other nations curb manga, anime piracy

It aims to support copyright laws and training to prevent the distribution of fake products.

4 climbers rescued by helicopter after encountering bear in northern Japan

A rising number of bear sightings and related injuries have alarmed Japan's authorities.

China, Russia to hold joint naval drills

The drills come about two months after Russia's President Vladimir Putin visited China.

Lovebugs fade, but biting katydids spread in Seoul area in South Korea

When their numbers rise sharply, they can damage crops and are classified as outbreak pests.

China and Russia to hold joint naval drills

Russia said the drills will begin on July 6.

PM Wong to visit Jakarta for the Singapore-Indonesia Leaders’ Retreat on July 6

The retreat, an annual meeting by both sides, will be hosted by President Prabowo and will be the leaders’ second retreat.

China, Russia navies to hold drills off China coast

BEIJING, July 5 - The Chinese and Russian navies will hold joint exercises in the waters and airspace off the Chinese city of Qingdao next week, China's defence ministry and Russian state media said on Sunday.

PM Wong to visit Jakarta for Singapore-Indonesia leaders’ retreat

Talks will cover bilateral projects since last year's retreat and the impact of the Middle East crisis.

Chinese underground church figure Jin Mingri freed from prison

The Zion Church founder's release comes after a direct plea to Xi Jinping from Donald Trump.

Pastor freed from prison in China weeks after US President Donald Trump requested his release

Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri was detained with 17 other church leaders in October in one of China’s largest crackdowns on a single church in decades.

Pipe dreams: Bangladesh surfers chase waves at Asian Games

The surfers from Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh are hoping to carve out a place for the sport in a country obsessed with cricket and football.

Taiwan military resumes ‘anti-communist’ classes for graduates, citing Chinese threat

Taiwan's defence ministry said classes had been restored due to rising military danger from China.

Taiwan military resumes 'anti-communist' classes for graduates, citing Chinese threat

TAIPEI, July 5 - Taiwan's military has resumed \"anti-communist\" patriotic classes for its graduates after a quarter-century gap, the defence ministry said on Sunday, citing a rising threat from China as a senior official reported another rise in Chinese naval activity.

Christian NGO welcomes release of pastor held in southern China

BEIJING, July 5 - ChinaAid, a Christian NGO, said on Sunday it welcomed the release of Zion Church Pastor Jin Mingri, who had been held in detention centres in the southern Chinese city of Beihai since last October and arrived in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Taiwanese film hunters rescue ageing reels from bygone era

Taiwan is now racing to restore the decades-old reels to preserve a chapter of its culture.

China frees jailed pastor Ezra Jin

Zion Church founder Jin was detained along with other church members on Oct 10, 2025.

Xi says ready to work with Kim for 'stable' China-North Korea ties: KCNA

Referring to his recent state visit to Pyongyang, Chinese President Xi Jinping thanked North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for the "enthusiastic and friendly" hospitality during the trip.