How North Korea is supporting Putin’s war in Ukraine

North Korea may have supplied weapons and troops worth as much as US$14.4 billion (S$18.4 billion).

China, US trade chiefs had 'candid' call weeks ahead of expected Trump-Xi summit

BEIJING, April 30 - Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng had \"candid, in-depth and constructive exchanges\" with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer over a video call on Thursday, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported.

‘Not our responsibility’: Govt agencies deny accountability in HK’s deadly fire

Hearings into Tai Po tragedy expose regulatory gaps, communication breakdown among enforcement agencies.

Afghan refugees stranded at Pakistan border amid renewed fighting

TORKHAM BORDER, Pakistan, April 30 - Saleha Bibi, 40, was one of hundreds of Afghan refugees waiting at the Pakistani border on Thursday to be repatriated to Afghanistan - a country she has never seen - as fears rise for their safety due to fresh fighting between the neighbours.

Russia says OPEC+ will continue after UAE exit, no price war expected

MOSCOW, April 30 - Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Thursday that the OPEC+ group of leading oil producers would continue working together despite the departure of the United Arab Emirates, Russian news agencies reported.

Wikimedia completes Indonesia registration under threat of ban

It was given “a written assurance” from the communications ministry.

FAQ: What to know about new Singapore-Malaysia cross-border taxi rules from May 4

Grab will launch a new booking option on its app for customers in both Singapore and Malaysia.

Trump criticizes Germany's Merz, tells him to stop interfering over Iran

April 30 - U.S. President Donald Trump criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday, saying he should focus on trying to end the Russia-Ukraine war and spend \"less time on interfering\" with the effort to tackle \"the Iran nuclear threat\".

Manila landfill fire leaves Filipinos gasping for clean air

Residents and evacuees alike said the smoke was still impacting their health and livelihoods.

Paraguay president to visit Taiwan in May amid China pressure

BUENOS AIRES, April 30 - Paraguayan President Santiago Pena will travel to Taiwan from May 7 for a state visit aimed at deepening diplomatic and economic ties, his office and Taiwanese authorities said.

Ukraine to seek clarity from US on Russian ceasefire proposal

April 30 - Ukraine will seek clarification from U.S. President Donald Trump's team on details of a Russian proposal for a brief ceasefire next week, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday.

Indonesia should think twice about China’s bauxite rush

Indonesia has seen this movie before. It begins with a surge of foreign capital, accelerates with a rush to build smelters and ends with an industry struggling under its own weight. This time, the metal is not nickel – it’s bauxite. And the driving force is not just global

India considers stronger safeguards as online fraud surges

Fraudsters cheated users of nearly $3.8 billion in 2025, a nearly 40-fold increase since 2021.

Megawatt ambition is darkening Bangladesh’s power future

On the banks of the Padma River, the twin domes of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant rise as a US$12.65 billion monument to Bangladesh’s soaring developmental aspirations. Built with Russian credit and technology, it promises 2,400MW of carbon-free baseload power. Yet, as the

Germany's Merz stresses commitment to transatlantic partnership

MUNSTER, Germany, April 30 - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized on Thursday the importance of the transatlantic partnership with the U.S., just hours after President Donald Trump said his administration was looking at reducing the number of U.S. troops in Germany.

Japanese travellers to China drastically decrease amid diplomatic row

Japanese-speaking tour guides are facing lower income in places like Shaanxi, home to the Terracotta Army.

Ukrainian drones strike Russian oil facilities some 1,500 km away

April 30 - Ukraine's Security Service, the SBU, said on Thursday its drones struck an oil refinery near Russia's city of Perm, marking a second consecutive attack on oil facilities in the area as Kyiv seeks to curb Moscow’s energy revenues used to fund the war.

Videogame platform Roblox rolls out measures to comply with Indonesia’s social media curbs

The first measure is age verification through facial scanning for Indonesian Roblox users under 16.

US seeks international help to reopen Strait of Hormuz as crude prices surge

WASHINGTON/DUBAI/ISLAMABAD, April 29 - The United States is pressing ahead with plans for an international coalition to open the Strait of Hormuz, according to a State Department cable seen by Reuters, as oil prices surge on fears of lengthy disruptions to global fuel supplies.

Lithuania should join US coalition in Strait of Hormuz, president says

VILNIUS, April 30 - Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda said he was supportive of his country joining the U.S. freedom of navigation mission in the Strait of Hormuz, adding that he would present the proposal to the Baltic state's defence council.

Asian economies should boost trade with each other to weather global shocks: IMF

As energy vulnerabilities persist, IMF’s Asia-Pacific director Krishna Srinivasan says stronger regional trade could help Asia sustain growth and create jobs.

S. Koreans’ meat-heavy diet carries bigger carbon cost than 10 return flights to Jeju, report finds

South Koreans eat more meat per person and consume a higher share of beef than people in China or Japan.

China threatens EU with retaliation if it bans Huawei gear

The move escalates tensions in the long-running clash over national security and Huawei's products.

Iran war splits Asian diesel market into haves and have-nots

Powerhouses have maintained healthy domestic supplies, but importers have suffered from shortages.

Some 287 nominated for 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, Trump likely among them

OSLO, April 30 - Some 287 candidates will be considered for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, the secretary of the Norwegian Nobel Committee said on Thursday, with U.S. President Donald Trump likely to be among the nominees.

Pakistan navy to add advanced Chinese submarines

A Pakistani government official said the fleet would consist of eight submarines.

China holds naval, air patrols near Scarborough Shoal as Philippines, US stage drills

The patrols come in response to annual regional drills from April 20 to May 8.

At least 358 executed under North Korean leader Kim Jong Un: Rights group

There were two confirmed cases of hanging that took place in front of the public.

Civil servants among 69 Malaysians nabbed in international online child exploitation crackdown

Investigations showed that the crime also involved a commercial element, with obscene material being bought and sold.

Cows flex their ‘lembu-gini’ power on Malaysian highway

Seven cows were seen running on the right lane of a two-lane highway in Malaysia.

India’s drugmakers shake up global weight loss market with cheaper alternatives

Generic versions are slashing treatment costs by as much as 70 per cent in some cases.

Iran ceasefire owes to rapidfire depletion of key US weapons

The fragile US-Iran ceasefire announced on April 7, 2026, after 40 days of war came at an opportune time for the United States. Several reports indicate it is running out of weapons amid the conflict. As a scholar focused on US military deployments, these reports are concerning

Russia's Medvedev questions US suitability to play role of conflict mediator

April 30 - The United States is unlikely to serve as an effective mediator in international conflicts, given its actions on the global stage, senior Russian security official Dmitry Medvedev said on Thursday.

EU kickstarts Mercosur pact to counter US trade hit

BRUSSELS, April 30 - The European Union and South American bloc Mercosur will implement on Friday a contentious free trade agreement that the EU in particular hopes will benefit exporters and calm critics, even if it cannot fully offset the blow from U.S. tariffs.

Taiwan’s Cheng will face a tough crowd on US visit

Fresh from consultations with Chinese paramount leader Xi Jinping in April, Cheng Li-wun, the Chairwoman of Taiwan’s Kuomintang (KMT), plans to visit the US in June. It will be awkward. During her US visit, at which she hopes to talk with US officials and politicians and visit

Teen with 30 tortoises under clothes nabbed at Thai airport

India exit polls suggest Modi’s BJP gains in state elections

Elections in five states and territories have taken place in April.

Vessel carrying grain Ukraine says stolen by Russia won't unload in Israel, media report

TEL AVIV, April 30 - A vessel carrying grain that Ukraine says was stolen by Russia will not unload in Israel, Israeli media reported on Thursday, after Kyiv requested Israel to seize the cargo.

Indonesian corruption watchdog flags price gaps, budget inconsistencies in free meals programme

One kitchen listed over 2,800 beneficiaries but only about 1,000 people actually received the meals.

Australian police find body in search for missing 5-year-old Indigenous girl

Police also said they seized items from the crime scene, including a pair of child’s underwear.

Kanpai! Space-brewed sake sells for almost $900,000

An alcoholic fermentation process using sake ingredients was carried out in November 2025 inside facilities at the ISS.

From surplus to strain: Global rice supply threatened by Iran war, El Nino

The effects of the Iran war are impacting farmers in top exporters Thailand and Vietnam.

Ukraine's army chief orders time limit for frontline troops

KYIV, April 30 - Ukraine's top general on Thursday ordered a mandatory two-month time limit for front-line troops serving in forward positions, aiming to address a key challenge for Kyiv's outmanned military in the fifth year of war with Moscow.

ASEAN vows to avoid export bans, share fuel as oil prices soar

The bloc is also working on an agreement that enables coordinated emergency fuel sharing.

26 foreigners rescued from alleged scam compound in Bali

Most of the victims held at the site were Philippine and Kenyan nationals.

Will UAE’s exit spell the end of OPEC?

The decision by the United Arab Emirates to leave the oil producers’ cartel OPEC after 59 years is more than a symbolic break. It highlights a growing divide among major oil producers over how to respond to a changing energy landscape, and will weaken the group’s ability to

Indonesia shows the non-aligned way through US-China rivalry

On April 13, 2026, Indonesia executed a rare feat of high-stakes diplomatic choreography. On one side of the planet, Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin stood at the Pentagon to sign the Major Defense Cooperation Partnership (MDCP) with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.