‘My only hope’: Stuck with low pay, young Taiwanese turn to stock market investing

More young Taiwanese turn to investing to supplement their barely rising incomes amid housing pressures and rising living costs.

Indonesia’s firefighters braced for a dry year – and they are short of cash

Operational budgets for 2026 in fire-prone regions including Riau and parts of Kalimantan have already been exhausted.

US sounds alarm on China’s AI distillation as DeepSeek V4 debuts

Washington has vowed to curb what it sees as the unauthorized extraction of intellectual property from United States-developed artificial intelligence models, sharpening its stance just as China’s DeepSeek unveiled its latest system. The White House Office of Science and

Iran to make offer aimed at satisfying US demands, Trump tells Reuters

WASHINGTON, April 24 - U.S. President Donald Trump told Reuters on Friday that Iran plans to make an offer aimed at satisfying U.S. demands, as talks were expected to resume in Pakistan.

Why is this game only legal across Australia one day a year?

Two-up is a coin toss betting game that was played by Australian soldiers during World War One - it’s now only legal across Australia on 25 April.

US legal adviser says Iran war justified by Tehran's 'aggression' over decades

WASHINGTON, April 24 - The U.S. State Department's top lawyer has argued that President Donald Trump's war with Iran was launched in self-defense and to defend U.S. ally Israel, arguing the bombing campaign was not the start of a new war but the continuation of an ongoing

Witkoff and Kushner headed to Pakistan for Iran talks, White House says

WASHINGTON, April 24 - U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner will travel to Islamabad on Saturday morning for talks with Iran mediated by Pakistan, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Friday.

Hegseth calls Iran war Trump’s ‘gift to the world’

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday once again suggested the international community should show gratitude for President Donald Trump’s illegal war with Iran, which has led to a global oil supply shock and created the potential for food shortages in the coming months.

Trump administration investigation of Fed chair Powell scrapped

WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice dropped its investigation Friday of the Federal Reserve and Chair Jerome Powell over building renovation costs, a move that could open the door for new Fed leadership next month — and signaled a victory for North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis.

Merz floats sanctions relief for Iran peace deal, other EU leaders cautious

NICOSIA, April 24 - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested on Friday that the European Union could ease sanctions on Tehran as part of a comprehensive deal that would end the Iran war, but other EU leaders struck a more cautious note.

Preparation, not pacifism, defines Japan’s defense policy

Originally published by Pacific Forum, this article is republished with permission. Enough! Yes, this week’s decision by the Japanese Cabinet to relax restrictions on arms exports is a landmark in the country’s postwar history. It is not, however, the end of Japan’s pacifism as

ASEAN, China unlikely to finalize South China Sea Code of Conduct at upcoming summit

Beijing routinely skirts international agreements, so a COC must have enforcement mechanisms, analysts said.

US soldier pinched for profiting off Maduro abduction bets

The US Justice Department announced that an American special forces soldier has been arrested and charged for pocketing over $400,000 by betting, on the basis of classified information, on the timing of the Trump administration’s abduction of Nicolás Maduro earlier this year.

China bans dual-use item exports to seven European entities over Taiwan arms sales

BEIJING, April 24 - China's Commerce Ministry said on Friday it was banning exports of dual-use items to seven European entities over arms sales to Taiwan, placing them immediately on its export control list, in a rare case of Europe-targeted, Taiwan-related sanctions.

What to know about the Falkland Islands as US considers reassessing position

LONDON, April 24 - The United States could seek to punish Britain for its lack of support on the Iran war by reviewing its position on London's claim to the Falkland Islands, an internal Pentagon email described to Reuters by a U.S. official states.

Putin may or may not attend the G20 in Miami, the Kremlin says

MOSCOW, April 24 - Vladimir Putin may or may not travel to the G-20 summit in Miami, the Kremlin said on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump said it would be very helpful if the Russian president did attend.

Iran war leaves seafarers stranded in the Gulf

NEW DELHI, April 24 - Ankit Yadav, a seafarer from India, has been stuck on a boat at an inland Iranian port for about 2-1/2 weeks, surviving with his three fellow mariners on limited rations of tomatoes and potatoes.

Russia vows to help Cuba withstand US 'blackmail and threats'

MOSCOW, April 24 - Russia said on Friday that it stood in solidarity with Cuba and would continue to provide humanitarian aid to the Communist‑run island republic, rejecting what it described as blackmail and threats from Washington.

Pentagon chief Hegseth says US blockade on Iran 'going global'

WASHINGTON, April 24 - Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday that the U.S. blockade on Iran is going global, adding Tehran had a chance to make a \"good deal\" with Washington.

Chips today, fog tomorrow? Study links processed foods to waning focus

A study has linked ultra-processed foods to reduced focus, even among otherwise healthy eaters.

South Korea arrests man for spreading AI-generated image of escaped wolf

Neukgu’s escape prompted a local elementary school to close over safety concerns.

Zelenskiy arrives in Saudi Arabia seeking security cooperation

KYIV, April 24 - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday arrived in Jeddah on his second visit to Saudi Arabia in a month, as Kyiv tries to bolster security cooperation and advertise its battle-tested technology in the Middle East amid the Iran war.

Russia says new EU sanctions will hurt developing countries

MOSCOW, April 24 - Russia said on Friday that new European Union sanctions on its oil and gas would hurt developing countries and the EU itself, and promised to retaliate.

Chinese EVs, flying cars take centre stage at world's biggest auto show

While traditional leading brands like Germany's BMW and Mercedes held sweeping areas in the exhibition centre, most of the space was dominated by Chinese brands, including BYD, Xiaomi and XPeng.

Sovereignty of Falklands rests with the UK, Britain tells the US

LONDON, April 24 - The sovereignty of the Falkland Islands rests with Britain, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Friday after an internal Pentagon email suggested reviewing the U.S. position on the Falklands as punishment for Britain's stance on the Iran war.

Only five ships pass through Strait of Hormuz in 24 hours

LONDON, April 24 - Only five ships, including one Iranian oil products tanker, have passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours, Friday shipping data showed, after Iran seized two container ships this week and the U.S. continues to blockade Iranian ports.

US Navy’s audacious drone swarm bet against China

As the US Navy moves to deploy thousands of unmanned surface vessels in the Indo-Pacific, questions are mounting over whether these drone swarms can deliver meaningful combat and deterrent effects against China. This month, USNI News reported that the US Navy is looking to

China holds live-fire drills in waters near Luzon as US, the Philippines stage war games

The US and the Philippines will hold drills on the island of Itbayat, about 155km from Taiwan.

Northern Japan wildfires prompt mass evacuations as flames spread

TOKYO, April 24 - Two forest fires continued to spread toward residential areas in a northern Japanese town on Friday, prompting authorities to expand evacuation orders to more than 3,000 people, with the blazes still uncontained, media reports said.

China bans dual-use items exports to seven European entities over Taiwan arms sales

Japan's Haruki Murakami to publish first new novel in 3 years with The Tale Of Kaho in July

The story centres on a 26-year-old picture book author named Kaho.

Japan to set up task force on cyberattack risks from Anthropic’s Mythos AI

Financial regulators around the world have called emergency meetings to address risks posed by Mythos.

Trump feeds America’s enduring appetite for destruction

Donald Trump still has the capacity to shock. The American president’s unauthorized war against Iran finds him in a vicious destructive mode, recently threatening to push Iran “into the Stone Ages” and to end Iranian civilization if Iran did not agree to “unconditional

US imposes sanctions on Cambodian senator and 28 others for alleged crypto-romance scams

WASHINGTON, April 24 - The U.S. government on Thursday imposed sanctions on Kok An, a wealthy Cambodian senator and ally of Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, and 28 individuals and entities that it said had stolen millions of dollars from U.S. citizens using crypto-romance

‘Corporate mafia’: The scandal that Malaysia can no longer ignore

Drink-driving, MACC scandal: Malaysia's justice system bending to public pressure or finally getting serious?

ASEAN states eyeing Russian oil and gas choose short-term relief over geopolitical risks

Any continued reliance by Southeast Asia on Russia for energy risks increasing Moscow's leverage on bilateral relations and potential tension with other countries, say analysts.

Bangladesh sweats as Middle East fuel shortages force power cuts

The South Asian nation is facing a severe energy crisis exacerbated by disruption in the Hormuz Strait.

Glacier block delays route-setting on Everest

Indonesia sends off first batch of Haj pilgrims with safety measures in place amid Middle East tensions

Authorities are also preparing for worst-case scenarios, including the possibility of evacuation if conditions deteriorate significantly.

Beijing’s new supply chain rules deepen concerns for US firms in China

The regulations could add pressure on companies already navigating policy uncertainty and uneven market access, according to a new white paper by the American Chamber of Commerce in China.

Ukraine defies Trump as rift over war strategy deepens

Subscribe now with a one-month trial for only $1, then enjoy the first year at an exclusive rate of just $99. Germany’s strategic shift faces stark economic constraintsDiego Faßnacht reports that Berlin’s push for greater military ambition is colliding with weak growth, fiscal

No US-Iran peace talks in sight, but Islamabad maintains security lockdown

ISLAMABAD, April 24 - For nearly a week, Pakistan's capital has been waiting for peace talks between the U.S. and Iran to take place there, and although there is no sign the two sides will meet, large parts of the city remain sealed off by authorities.

Philippine President Marcos to make Japan state visit

The Filipino leader is set to meet Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during the May 26 to 29 trip.

China calls US accusations of AI technology theft 'baseless'

White House science and technology chief Michael Kratsios said that Washington would "be taking action to protect American innovation".

Indonesia reaffirms it has no plan to impose tolls in Malacca Strait

Indonesia's finance minister said his country has no plan to impose tolls on ships passing through the Malacca Strait after his previous comments about monetising the strategic sea route.

After call from Beijing, China’s auto industry races to embed AI in just about everything

China is embarking on a national project to embed AI systems into almost every corner of the economy.

British conwoman who claimed to be royalty hit with new charges in Singapore

Dionne Marie Hanna, 85, is accused of duping more than two dozen people - including her own son.

Power disruptions hit some MRT stations in KL; trains still running

Station facilities, like air-conditioning and Touch ‘n Go top-up services, have been disrupted.

From Australia to Europe, countries move to curb children's social media access

April 24 - Australia in December became the world's first country to ban social media for children under 16, blocking them from platforms including TikTok, Alphabet's YouTube and Meta's Instagram and Facebook, amid mounting concerns over the impact of social media on children's