Norwegian suspect in Thai child trafficking case dead, police say

A Thai police source said the man died of an underlying medical condition earlier in 2026, before the investigation began.

Singaporean arrested in Bali after woman found dead in rental unit

Preliminary police investigations indicate that the suspect, acting out of resentment, allegedly assaulted the victim by strangling her for about 15 minutes.

Deer population in Japan’s Nara Park hits record high amid overfeeding

The population increased by 222 from a year before when the previous record-high was logged.

New Delhi tells shipowners not to deploy Indian seafarers on Hormuz routes

Strong earthquake rattles New Zealand’s South Island; tsunami alert lifted

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

Strong earthquake rattles New Zealand's South Island, tsunami alert lifted

July 16 - A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck near the town of Te Anau in New Zealand's South Island, shaking buildings and prompting authorities to briefly issue a tsunami warning.

India customs becomes second agency to fight Adani over nicotine pouches

Adani has argued that shops in the international departure area are outside the reach of domestic regulations.

US fires first shots in new tariffs offensive with 25% tax on most Brazil imports

July 15 - The U.S. has announced 25% duties on most imports from Brazil, reviving a trade war that could embroil dozens of countries around the world as the Trump administration reworks its tariffs policy, one of its signature diplomatic tools.

ASEAN envoy to engage all Myanmar stakeholders at Manila summit

Also on the table is the long-delayed code of conduct governing disputes over the South China Sea.

Diamonds hidden in shoes: Vietnam probe highlights India smuggling link

Investigators have detained 31 people in connection with the suspected smuggling ring.

Thailand considers suspending nearly 6,000 officials over exam scandal

Police found irregularities in the results of 5,814 civil servants who had taken the exams.

Papua New Guinea says it will shut Taiwan's rep office, winning praise from China

BEIJING/TAIPEI, July 16 - Papua New Guinea's foreign minister said on Thursday his government has decided to close Taiwan's representative office in the country immediately, winning praise from China, though the government in Taipei said the office would remain open.

What inflation? South Koreans continue to queue for ginseng chicken soup in peak summer

Many believe having the soup on the hottest days induces perspiration, cools the body and replenishes energy

Thailand mulls suspending nearly 6,000 officials over exam scandal

The scandal began in June, when investigators said they had concluded that officials accepted bribes of up to 800,000 baht (US$23,847) to electronically alter candidates' results to allow them to pass mandatory exams for government appointments or promotions.

Japan notifies local governments they may ‘ban’ private lodgings amid problems

The move marks a turnaround in the government’s stance.

Czech citizen detained in China faces espionage investigation

BEIJING/PRAGUE, July 16 - A Czech citizen detained in China since the end of June is being investigated on suspicion of offences endangering national security, China's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday, as mutual espionage claims threaten to upend a recent diplomatic thaw

Japan PM’s government approval rating below 50% for first time

Top reasons for the disapproval included “cannot hope for much” and “poor policies”.

Phuket begins jet-ski crackdown to boost tourist safety; 23 offenders fined

Inspections will continue and be expanded to other key tourism areas.

Bali police arrest Singaporean for allegedly strangling girlfriend: Media reports

The man had allegedly buried her girlfriend's body in the room of a boarding house.

Bank of Korea picks a fight with US Fed’s AI inflation call

TOKYO — Bank of Korea Governor Shin Hyun-song ended a three-and-a-half-year rate freeze on Thursday, lifting the policy rate 25 basis points to 2.75% — the BOK’s first tightening move since January 2023. The timing makes this more than a routine adjustment. Shin appears to be

After KFC, cyberattack hits Japanese ice cream giant Glico

Major supermarket chains pastry firms and dining halls at eldercare centres were also impacted.

Iran warns Strait of Hormuz is a 'red line' and will resist until the end

DUBAI, July 16 - Iran said on Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz was an inviolable \"red line\", warning that if U.S. President Donald Trump carried out his threat to attack Iran's infrastructure, it would strike all infrastructure across the Gulf region.

What China’s sub-launched missile test really signaled

This article first appeared on Pacific Forum and is republished with permission. Read the original here. According to Chinese media reports, at 12:01 pm on July 6, a People’s Liberation Army Navy strategic nuclear-powered submarine successfully launched a submarine-launched

Japan PM Sanae Takaichi's approval rating below 50% for first time

Top reasons cited for disapproval included "cannot hope for much" and "poor policies".

China asks Thailand to deport Chinese journalist, rights groups warn of persecution

BEIJING, July 16 - China has asked Thailand to promptly extradite a Chinese journalist who rights groups say faces political persecution and torture back home because of his investigations into corruption in China.

Football with a side of dim sum: Hong Kong teahouse scores big with World Cup fans

Lin Heung Lau, one of Hong Kong’s oldest dim sum restaurants, has boosted its business by 20 per cent despite mounting challenges facing the city’s Chinese eateries.

Seed by seed: Women of Tampenau nursing Sabah’s rainforests back to recovery

In a small Sabah village, women are raising thousands of native saplings to restore one of the state's most degraded rainforests.

Over 500 feared dead in two suspected shipwrecks off Myanmar: UN

India ask its seafarers not to take Hormuz voyages

NEW DELHI, July 16 - India has ordered shipowners, ship managers and recruitment companies not to deploy the country's seafarers on vessels undertaking trips through the Strait of Hormuz amid renewed fighting in the region.

Asia’s development moment demands big bets, not safe ones

There is a version of development work that looks responsible but accomplishes very little. It moves cautiously, funds what is already proven and prioritizes institutional comfort over urgency. As a region of staggering diversity, rapid change and compounding crises, Asia

Negeri Sembilan polls: BN not contesting all 36 seats, as it eyes pact with ‘trusted friend’

Barisan Nasional (BN) will contest 25 seats, amid recent signals by Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) that it would work with the coalition’s key party United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) in the Aug 1 polls.

Credit card outage hits convenience stores, other merchants across Japan

Major credit card companies are rushing to restore services.

Azerbaijan at 'real peace' with Armenia but wants it to change constitution

SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, July 16 - Azerbaijan and Armenia are at \"real peace\" and rebuilding trade links after decades of conflict, a senior Azerbaijani official told Reuters, but Baku is insisting on changes to Armenia's constitution before a final deal can be signed.

India bars seafarers from Strait of Hormuz voyages after attacks

The IMO has warned that the chokepoint remains too dangerous for commercial vessels at present.

Nvidia’s Jensen Huang courts Japanese suppliers with pork skewers

The CEO later emerged to hand red bean cakes to bystanders gathered outside an izakaya.

Uganda to discharge last Ebola patient, spokesperson says

KAMPALA, July 16 - Uganda is due to discharge its last Ebola patient on Thursday, triggering a 42-day countdown that could see the country declared free of the virus, a spokesperson for the government said.

As the yen sinks, Asia’s monetary anchor subtly shifts to yuan

In mid-June, Indonesian Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa spent two days in Beijing and flew home with more than pleasantries. China’s finance ministry and the People’s Bank of China pledged to fast-track approval of Indonesia’s debut panda bond, a renminbi-denominated

South Korea top court upholds jail term for MP over church bribes

The ruling stripped Kweon Seong-dong of his parliamentary seat.

Actor Sam Neill died from pneumonia, agent confirms

Neill died in Sydney on Monday, with his family saying his death was 'sudden and unexpected'.

Why Asia's new AI workers are emerging as a cybersecurity challenge

AI agents can be tasked to draft emails, write code and update documents, among other things. But the same autonomy that makes them valuable also creates vulnerabilities, warn cybersecurity experts.

Thai band mourns loss of 4 members as Bangkok bar fire death toll hits 33

"Please remember his smile on stage, playing music that he loves," said the sister of a keyboardist who died in the blaze.

'Like my lover': Chinese users bid farewell to AI companions

AI-powered companions must not "excessively cater to users, induce emotional dependence or addiction, and damage users' real interpersonal relationships", states China's new rulebook.

Indian activist urged to end hunger strike as he loses 9.1kg in 19 days

The environmental activist has been on a hunger strike for 19 days and has visibly weakened.

Seoul’s historical royal sites see 6.6% jump in foreign visitor numbers

Gyeongbokgung Palace, the largest of four popular palaces, was the most visited site with 3.65 million visitors.

Why the US economy stays strong despite Trump’s shockwaves

The US economy is continuing to grow faster and generate more new jobs than Europe. Annual national income growth over the past five years has averaged 3.3% in the US against 2.6% in the EU. In the first quarter of 2026, the EU’s GDP was just 0.7% higher than a year before,

Taliban’s ethnic chauvinism an increasingly dangerous divide

The Taliban’s demotion of Haji Jumma Khan Fateh from deputy governor of Zabul province may have looked like a routine reshuffling. But it fits a disturbing pattern that runs through the movement’s entire governing structure: Non-Pashtun commanders are useful until their

Over 500 feared dead amid reports of two suspected shipwrecks off Myanmar: UN

The two vessels departed from war-torn Myanmar’s Rakhine State in late June.

Doctor who damaged Japan temples, shrines by performing ‘anointings’ admits to own ‘delusion’

The US-based man had reportedly performed "anointings" on shrines and temples across Japan since at least 2012.

Indonesia’s telling empty chair on the South China Sea

The most significant development at this week’s Conference Commemorating the Tenth Anniversary of the South China Sea Arbitration Award in Jakarta was not what was discussed. It was who failed to appear. Every Indonesian government representative scheduled to participate

‘Holding back is evil’: Gen-Zers revive Japan’s corporate machismo

A small cohort of Gen-Z workers in Japan think the “soft” modern workplace culture is hindering growth.