Early voting in Australia election begins; PM Albanese’s Labor party holds slender lead
Opposition leader Peter Dutton has struggled to shake off perceived ideological closeness to US President Donald Trump.
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Early voting in Australia election begins, PM Albanese's party holds slender lead
SYDNEY - Early voting in the Australian election began on Tuesday, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's centre-left Labor party holding a slim lead over the conservative opposition coalition.
PHOTOS: Pope Francis and his many travels to the Asia-Pacific region
Pontiff visited Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Philippines.
IN FOCUS: How has Prabowo fared after 6 months as Indonesia’s president?
Prabowo Subianto asked early in his presidency for six months’ time before judging his performance. Half a year on, observers give their take on how the Indonesian president has fared domestically and on the global stage.
Commentary: Malaysia wants 35 million tourists in 2026. Can its environment keep up?
Malaysia hopes to attract over 35 million tourists in 2026, but its current approach raises questions about long-term sustainability and environmental impact, says Southeast Asian politics expert Sophie Lemiere.
Tibetan Buddhist leader secretly cremated in Vietnam, sources say
Rights groups say Tulku Hungkar Dorje’s cremation took place under China’s influence.
Britain and New Zealand to step up military ties as leaders meet
LONDON - Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon are expected to agree to deepen defence and security ties, including stepping up support for Ukraine, when they meet on Tuesday, Starmer's office said.
Donald Trump’s actions open the gates to nuclear proliferation
The policy of every American president since Harry S Truman, who made the decision to use the A-bomb against Japan, has been to limit the proliferation of nuclear weapons. They have not always been successful. The world’s most powerful weapons spread, with nine countries now
Vance, Modi welcome ‘significant progress’ on US-India trade deal
The White House said that the talks yielded “significant progress in the negotiations” for a bilateral trade agreement.
Japan MP Hamada protests Moonies’ deprival of religious freedom
On March 25, a Tokyo district court issued a ruling ordering the dissolution of a religious organization called the Family Federation of World Peace and Unification, formerly called the Unification Church. Japan’s powerful Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and
Justice remains elusive for Hasina killing machine’s victims
Alliance for Witness Transparency, a US-based human rights organization, has published a series of interviews with individuals coerced by Hasina into giving false testimonies against top opposition leaders handed out life sentences by Hasina’s judiciary. “I hope he forgives me.
Putin says Easter ceasefire is over, Russia 'positive' on peace proposals
MOSCOW - Fighting in Ukraine has resumed after the Easter ceasefire, Russia's President Vladimir Putin said on Monday, adding that Moscow was open to any peace initiatives and expected similar attitude from Kyiv.
Asia mourns passing of Pope Francis
Church bells toll in the Philippines, as countries join mourning a pontiff who traveled the region extensively
Rising share of remittances sent home by Indians working in S’pore and other advanced economies
A recent paper noted a shift in India’s remittances away from Gulf countries to advanced economies since 2016-2017.
Asia mourns Pope’s death: ‘His humility brought many back to the fold of the Church’
Asian leaders paid tribute to Pope Francis, who championed the weak, the marginalised and the poor.
Philippines Marcos describes Pope Francis as "best pope in my lifetime"
MANILA - Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Monday described Pope Francis as the \"best pope in my lifetime,\" as he expressed deep sorrow over his passing.
Trump trade war: It’s worse than a crime, it’s a blunder
Say you will believe me I can’t take, my heart will break ‘Cause I made a stupid mistake A stupid mistake – Gareth Gates Upon hearing of the kidnapping and execution of the Duc d’Enghien for plotting against Napoleon, French diplomat Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord,
Top Chinese, Indonesian officials forge closer security links
The two sides announced plans to hold joint military exercises in 2025.
Hollow HALO: US admits defeat in hypersonic missile program
The US Navy has killed its next-generation hypersonic missile, slamming the brakes on a once-promising development program amid soaring costs, shaky performance and China’s growing arsenal. This month, Naval News reported that the US Navy has terminated its Hypersonic
Myanmar junta kills 50 civilians in 3-day countrywide air raids
The exiled civilian government vowed to ‘punish’ the military regime for its violent crimes against the public.
Vote-rigging claims mar internal polls for PM Anwar’s party
Shock losses at divisional ballots prompt an emergency leadership meeting for Malaysia’s PKR.
Late Pope Francis left a lasting impact on pressing issues in Asia, say observers
The pontiff made a four-nation Asia Pacific tour last year – the longest trip of his papacy that included Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore.
China accuses US of new pressure campaign on global trade
Beijing warns of retaliation after reports that Washington is urging allies to cut trade with China.
Sri Lanka Easter bombings victims named 'heroes of faith' by Vatican
The 167 people recognised were Catholics attending mass at churches attacked by suicide bombers.
Iran's top diplomat to visit China on Tuesday
DUBAI - Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will visit China on Tuesday, foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday, ahead of a third round of nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington due on Saturday in Oman.
Powering past tourism: Jeju island bets on green hydrogen tech. Will it pay off?
It is positioning itself as a test bed for green hydrogen energy while striving for carbon neutrality by 2035.
China’s new hydrogen bomb aims to shock and awe Taiwan
China’s new non-nuclear hydrogen bomb is designed to unleash sustained firepower to terrorize Taiwan’s defenders and break their resistance in urban wars. This month, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that Chinese researchers successfully detonated a non-nuclear
Ricky Siahaan, guitarist of Indonesian heavy metal band Seringai, dies aged 48 after performing in Tokyo
The group released an official statement on Sunday (Apr 20) morning: "Ricky left this world doing what he loved: Playing loud music with everything he had."
Malaysia’s oldest horse racing club to close, last race could be on May 31
The 161-year-old Penang Turf Club’s closure will leave Malaysia with two remaining clubs in Perak and Selangor. Across the Causeway, the Singapore Turf Club in Kranji held its final race in October 2024, closing a 182-year chapter.
Why Trump is failing to deliver promised peace to Ukraine
Ending Russia’s war in Ukraine was one of Donald Trump’s campaign promises, and one that he famously boasted could be achieved in 24 hours. But three months after taking office, the Trump administration has only managed to negotiate a partial ceasefire that has done nothing to
Abandoning AUKUS: a better way to defend Australia
For more than a century, Australia has followed the same defence policy: dependence on a great power. This was first the United Kingdom and then the United States. Without properly considering other options, successive federal governments have intensified this policy with the
Philippines, US launch joint combat drills in 'full battle test'
MANILA - More than 14,000 Filipino and American soldiers kicked off annual military exercises on Monday for a \"full battle test\" between the two defence treaty allies in the face of regional security concerns, including tensions in the South China Sea.
US opens Pacific Ocean sanctuary to commercial fishing
Research has indicated that big marine sanctuaries can boost populations of migratory fish.
‘Cancer’ of billion-dollar cyberscam industry spreading globally: UN
The agency called on countries to work together and intensify efforts to disrupt syndicates' financing.
'Cancer' of billion-dollar cyberscam industry spreading globally - UN
BANGKOK - Asian crime syndicates behind the multibillion-dollar cyberscam industry are expanding globally including to South America and Africa, as raids in Southeast Asia fail to contain their activities, the United Nations said in a report on Monday.
Vietnam court cuts fraudster’s life sentence to 30 years
Truong My Lan still faces the death penalty from another trial.
Vietnam agrees to buy US F-16 fighters, defense website says
It would be the biggest arms deal between the two countries, if confirmed.
Johor-Singapore SEZ a showcase of like-minded states working together amid Trump tariffs, protectionism: DPM Gan
Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong was speaking at an investment forum in Johor Bahru, where he announced the opening of a new joint project office by Singapore authorities to help firms keen on expanding to the special economic zone.
North Korea continues to pursue covert biological weapons program: US report
The State Department said Pyongyang has had biological weapons capabilities since at least the 1960s.
Second Boeing jet starts return to US from China, tracker shows, amid tariff war
It is not clear which party made the decision for the two aircraft to return to the US.
Myanmar junta’s ceasefire breach a show of desperation
Just days after a historic diplomatic initiative led by Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in his capacity as ASEAN’s rotational chairman, the ink on Myanmar’s latest ceasefire understanding had scarcely dried before it was shattered. Once again, Senior General Min Aung
Johor-Singapore SEZ offers chance to strengthen supply chains amid tariff uncertainty: DPM Gan
It demonstrates how like-minded countries can work together to overcome challenges facing them, he says.
SE Asia keeps the peace 50 years after Vietnam War
On April 30, 1975, the last American helicopter lifted off the roof of the US embassy in Saigon hours before North Vietnamese tanks crashed through the gates of then-South Vietnam’s presidential palace, marking the end of the Vietnam War. Since then, Southeast Asia has been
Nine-year-old dies as Australia weekend drowning toll rises to seven
The majority of deaths were caused by strong swells washing people into the ocean from rocks.
China warns countries against striking trade deals with US at its expense
BEIJING - China on Monday accused Washington of abusing tariffs and warned countries against striking a broader economic deal with the United States at its expense, ratcheting up its rhetoric in a spiralling trade war between the world's two biggest economies.
South Korea's acting president says tariff talks with US may not be easy
SEOUL - South Korea's acting President Han Duck-soo said on Monday he expected trade talks with the United States this week in Washington to be the start of meaningful cooperation, but added that negotiations may not be easy.