From misfit to rap sensation: A 'Reble' storms into Indian hip-hop

Reble has emerged as one of hip-hop’s most distinctive new voices, channelling defiance into a sound rooted in India’s northeast.

Crossing the Causeway? Here’s your guide to 9 JB malls and what each is best for

Not all JB malls offer the same experience. We map out the city’s best-known malls by their standout strengths, so you know exactly what to expect.

‘Seismic shift’ toward Aussie orbit likely under Solomon Islands’ new prime minister

Experts say that Matthew Wale will be ‘more moderate’ and ‘less enthusiastic’ about China than his predecessors.

Commentary: Vietnam wants to be a global semiconductor hub, and America is all in

The signs of growing global confidence in Vietnam’s potential to emerge as an alternative chip manufacturing hub to China are apparent, particularly in the United States, says this writer.

China's U.N. ambassador criticizes US Hormuz resolution

May 15 - China's U.N. ambassador on Friday criticized a proposed U.S.-Bahraini resolution on the Strait of Hormuz, saying the content and timing were not right and passing it would not be helpful.

Rearming Japan: ambition, constraints and limits

Originally published by Pacific Forum, this article is republished with permission. In barely half a year, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has pushed Japan’s defense policy into unfamiliar territory. The FY2026 main defense budget has reached 9.04 trillion yen (approximately

Pageantry over policy: Takeaways from Trump's China trip

WASHINGTON, May 15 - U.S. President Donald Trump's two-day state visit to Beijing featured wide-ranging talks on Taiwan, Iran and trade with Chinese President Xi Jinping but yielded few concrete outcomes on the issues dividing the world's two largest economies.

Indonesia’s first giant panda is set to charm the public

Satrio Wiratama, born in November 2025, will make his public debut this month.

Israel and Lebanon agree to extend ceasefire by 45 days, US State Dept says

WASHINGTON, May 15 - Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 45-day extension of a ceasefire U.S. President Donald Trump declared on April 16, the U.S. State Department said on Friday.

Chinese factories welcome any tariff relief from Trump-Xi summit, but diversification continues

Washington's ratcheting up of tariffs in 2025 has led Chinese factories to find new ways of doing business.

‘Japan Passing’? Trump eases Tokyo jitters with phone call to Takaichi after Xi summit

The Japanese Prime Minister later noted that the US President gave a “detailed explanation” of his talks with Xi.

Energy crisis set to worsen as Trump weighs renewed Iran assault

The global energy crisis caused by President Donald Trump’s war with Iran is set to worsen in the coming months, as The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that the world is “burning through its oil safety net.” Even though oil prices surged at the start of the war, which

Trump downplays risk of Sino-US conflict over Taiwan after historic meeting with Xi

The summit, high on optics and modest on deliverables, sought to stabilise ties in the short term.

Five takeaways from Trump and Xi’s superpower summit

The leaders discussed a range of topics, including trade and the Middle East.

India deepens defence, energy ties with UAE during PM Modi visit

Trump expected to drop IRS suit in exchange for MAGA slush fund

The top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday accused US President Donald Trump of “orchestrating a $1,700,000,000 fraud on the American taxpayer to line the pockets of his MAGA political allies” amid new reporting on the terms Trump is seeking in talks to

Trump warns Taiwan against declaring independence, hours after summit with China's Xi

The US president says he wants Beijing and Taipei to "cool down" tensions over the self-governing island.

Trump suggests deadly Russian strike on Kyiv could set back peace efforts

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE, May 15 - U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday suggested a Russian missile strike on a Kyiv apartment building that killed 24 people, including three children, could set back efforts to find a peaceful settlement to Moscow's war in Ukraine.

Trump says did not discuss tariffs during summit with China’s Xi

The pair had been widely expected to discuss extending the one-year tariff truce.

Samsung executives make rare union visit as strike fears mount

The union has threatened an 18-day walkout beginning May 21 if its demands are not met.

Singapore court grants winding up bids for three entities linked to 1MDB scandal, liquidators say

Trump says US and China are aligned on Iran, Tehran must make a deal soon

The US leader said Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed that Tehran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

'Museum-style memoir' unveiled on Goh Keng Swee's interactions with China leaders

The 244-page book was put together by Dr Goh's wife, Dr Phua Swee Liang, based on photographs, gifts, travel itineraries and personal records from his stint as an economic adviser to China between 1985 and 1990.

Trump says Xi signalled release of Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai unlikely

Jimmy Lai was found guilty in December on charges of foreign collusion and seditious publication and sentenced to 20 years in prison, in the harshest sentence doled out so far under a national security law imposed on Hong Kong by Beijing.

BRICS talks end without joint statement, exposing divisions over war in Iran

How a Philippine war crimes suspect thwarted arrest (for now)

Senator Ronald Dela Rosa is wanted by the ICC for his alleged role in the country’s deadly drug war.

Decoding what was said and achieved - or not - over key issues at Trump-Xi summit

Choreographed diplomacy, cordial optics and symbolic gestures defined the high-stakes Sino-US summit in Beijing, but whether these translate to concrete and lasting outcomes remains uncertain, say analysts.

Trump says China may release the detained pastor but tycoon Lai 'is a tough one'

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE, May 15 - U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said he thinks Chinese President Xi Jinping is seriously considering releasing a detained pastor in China but that the case of jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai \"is a tough one.\"

Trump says China may release the detained pastor but tycoon Jimmy Lai ‘is a tough one’

Chinese President Xi Jinping told Mr Trump that Lai’s case would be different.

Trump: spoke with Xi about lifting sanctions on Chinese companies that buy Iranian oil

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE, May 15 - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he discussed lifting sanctions on Chinese companies that buy Iranian oil during his visit to Beijing and will make a decision soon.

Trump says he spoke with China’s Xi about lifting sanctions on Chinese companies that buy Iranian oil

Mr Trump said he will make a decision soon on the matter.

Trump reaffirmed 'ironclad' US-Japan alliance after China trip, Japan's Takaichi says

TOKYO, May 15 - Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Friday she and U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed an \"ironclad\" bilateral alliance in a phone call, which Trump joined from aboard Air Force One hours after ending his two-day visit to China.

India charges 10 for deadly 2025 Delhi car bomb

Nine of those charged are in custody, while the tenth - the alleged car driver - was killed in the blast.

Trump to decide soon on Taiwan arms sale, non-committal to China’s Xi

Mr Trump said Mr Xi asked directly whether the US would defend Taiwan if China attacked the island.

Trump says he discussed Taiwan arms sales with Xi Jinping, decision soon

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE, May 15 - President Donald Trump said on Friday he discussed U.S. arms sales to Taiwan with Chinese President Xi Jinping during talks in Beijing and said he would soon make a decision on the matter, highlighting a flashpoint in U.S.-China relations.

Thai lawmakers vote to revive clean air Bill

Several cities in Thailand, including the capital Bangkok, suffer from seasonal smog.

Magnitude 6.3 earthquake hits northern Japan, no tsunami warning issued

The epicentre of the earthquake was off the coast of Miyagi prefecture.

Trump’s Beijing trip delivers optics, not breakthroughs

Subscribe now with a one-month trial for only $1, then enjoy the first year at an exclusive rate of just $99. Salesman Trump leaves China with very little in his bagWilliam Pesek reports that Donald Trump’s high-profile Beijing summit yielded symbolism and corporate spectacle

Iran has 'no trust' in the US, will negotiate only if it is serious, Araqchi says

NEW DELHI, May 15 - Tehran has \"no trust\" in the U.S. and is interested in negotiating with Washington only if it is serious, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Friday, as talks on ending the war remained on hold.

Hantavirus declared Thailand’s 14th dangerous communicable disease

The designation covers both Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome and Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome.

Philippines will 'definitely' comply with ICC request to arrest senator, minister says

MANILA, May 15 - The Philippine justice minister said on Friday that the country will \"definitely\" submit to a request from the International Criminal Court to arrest a top senator wanted for alleged crimes against humanity during his role in a bloody \"war on drugs\".

Vietnam’s power bill hides a market economy lie

The proposal to gradually pass nearly 45 trillion dong (about US$1.8 billion) in accumulated losses from Vietnam Electricity (EVN) into future electricity prices reveals a deeper contradiction at the center of Hanoi’s economic strategy. For years, while Hanoi has persistently

Gold mine landslide in Indonesia's West Sumatra kills 9

A cliff near the mine collapsed on Thursday (May 14) in Sijunjung district, burying a group of miners working only 3m away, said West Sumatra police spokeswoman Susmelawati Rosya.

Philippines’ love affair with rice grows costlier amid fuel crisis

Disruptions to fuel and fertiliser supplies linked to the Middle East conflict are driving up food prices and living costs in the Philippines.