Gulf oil spill fast becoming worst in years, agencies warn

The slick off the coast of Oman from a grounded tanker had reportedly reached the mainland on Aug 12.

Malaysian PM Anwar discharged from hospital after surgery

He had undergone a surgical procedure successfully on Aug 10.

Man to be charged over fake employee passes, stamps linked to scams

The 23-year-old was caught at Woodlands Checkpoint allegedly carrying fake employee passes and official-looking stamps bearing the emblems of the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Myanmar’s junta wants to cancel the diplomatic test it can’t pass

“No longer necessary.” That was Min Aung Hlaing’s foreign ministry on August 8, on the office of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Chair’s Special Envoy on Myanmar. He had flown home from a state visit to Thailand 48 hours earlier, which invited the easy

Iran says no progress on reviving interim peace deal with US

DUBAI, Aug 12 - Iran and the United States remain at loggerheads over efforts to agree a permanent end to the war in the Gulf, according to a senior Iranian source who said there had been no progress in talks to revive the interim deal agreed in June and define a timeframe to

Half of Afghan women rarely leave home as Taliban restrictions deepen, UN agency says

The Taliban have issued more than 100 decrees targeting women and girls since taking power, deepening what the UN calls the world’s worst women’s rights crisis.

Exiled Myanmar ambassador on trial in UK for 'trespass' at diplomatic residence

LONDON, Aug 12 - Myanmar's former ambassador to the United Kingdom stood trial in a London court on Wednesday, charged with trespassing at a diplomatic residence that he refused to leave after being sacked for opposing Myanmar's military coup five years ago.

India says border peace critical to ties with China amid reports of military tensions

India and China are seeking to mend ties following deadly border clashes in 2020.

Zhu Rongji, who helped turn China into a trading giant, dies at 97

The former premier brought China into the WTO and championed reforms that fuelled growth.

Singaporean fugitive, girlfriend rescued in Malaysia from kidnapping ring seeking US$62,500 ransom

The man had entered Malaysia illegally in May while his girlfriend had entered legally. This is the second case in a week in which Malaysian police have rescued Singaporean kidnap victims.

Iran, US not discussing ceasefire extension, senior Iranian official says

DUBAI, Aug 12 - There were no discussions between Iran and the United States to extend their ceasefire because, from Tehran's perspective, the deal had no start date and therefore had nothing to extend, a senior Iranian source told Reuters on Wednesday.

South Korean gambling ring used sexual exploitation videos to lure millions of users

The organisation allegedly managed two illegal pornography sites and 18 gambling sites.

Pakistan's ruling party poised to win Kashmir elections amid deadly clashes, analysts say

LAHORE, Aug 12 - Pakistan's ruling party appeared poised to win a majority in Pakistan-administered Kashmir's local assembly, even as some of the most closely watched constituencies had yet to vote amid deadly unrest.

Nintendo to launch Switch consoles in Indonesia in December

Salim Group will be the official distributor for the consoles.

Four heirs of Indonesia’s richest family inherit $3.75 billion each

The Hartono family transfer tops the roughly S$12.8 billion left behind by Singaporean Wee Cho Yaw.

Alleged Singaporean fugitive, kidnapped by own smuggler in JB, rescued by Malaysian police

The Singaporean had evaded his parole for a drug offence, The Star reported.

How innovation is saving Japan’s vending machine empire

The traditional vending machine, long a symbol of Japanese convenience and efficiency, is fighting a brutal economic battle.

Zhu Rongji, Chinese premier who cajoled economy into modern era, dies at 97

BEIJING, Aug 12 - Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, who died on Wednesday aged 97, was never one to mince his words.

Former Chinese premier Zhu Rongji dies aged 97

Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji coaxed and cajoled China's way into the World Trade Organization in 2002 through gruelling negotiations.

China’s C919 jet makes first international commercial flight

Beijing hopes the domestically produced plane will reduce China’s reliance on foreign technology.

China’s reformist ex-premier Zhu Rongji dies

He was primarily responsible for economic reforms in China’s transformation from a planned economy to a socialist market.

China's C919 jet makes first international commercial flight

Japan brushes off Australian PM’s melon drama

The comments prompted some outrage on social media in Japan.

‘Blow to China's pride’: Fallout extent from Long March 7A rocket failure hinges on what went wrong

A Long March 7A rocket exploded shortly after liftoff on Monday (Aug 10), bringing its half-decade run of successful missions to a fiery end. The extent of the fallout on China’s space programme will hinge on what investigators uncover, say analysts.

Air quality in parts of Sarawak hits unhealthy level

Unhealthy air quality readings have been recorded in Serian and 11 other localities.

Hong Kong sentences 19-year-old to probation for ‘seditious’ toilet graffiti

Leung Kai-lok, who is on the autism spectrum, had written “Liberate Hong Kong”.

Smoking, drinking to be banned along Seoul’s Cheonggyecheon stream

Cheonggyecheon has offered residents in Seoul relief from summer heat while drawing steady tourist traffic.

One dead, more than 200 rescued after Indonesian ferry from Bali catches fire

This is the second such incident in days, after a ferry caught fire off Java island last week.

One dead, 172 rescued after Indonesian ferry from Bali catches fire

This is the second such incident in days, after a ferry caught fire off Java island last week.

North Korea resumes naval base construction as it modernises fleet

Additional construction around the base seems to indicate an expansion of the facility.

Rain pounds Beijing as Typhoon Dolphin sweeps through China

Beijing has shut 150 tourist attractions and suspended 250 bus routes.

Why the Trump administration will have to accept a Hormuz toll

In the weeks since the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding collapsed, Washington and Tehran have used the time to strengthen their respective positions in the event negotiations resume. For the United States, this has largely taken the form of overt threats by President Donald

Tata chair Chandrasekaran to step down after tension with controlling charity arm

Tata Sons' Chandrasekaran resigns amid tension with group's controlling charity arm

Baby Shark Boy set to make K-pop debut

The boy from the most-watched YouTube video of all time is now 17 years old, and wants to be a K-pop star.

Indonesia haze spreads across region as firefighters battle wildfires

Authorities have deployed cloud-seeding aircraft to fight the fires, while some schools have suspended classes.

Ukraine halts strikes on tankers using Russian port at US request, FT says

Aug 12 - Ukraine has paused drone strikes on oil tankers using Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiysk after a request from U.S. Vice President JD Vance, the Financial Times said on Wednesday, citing Ukrainian officials.

Detroit knows China’s eating its EV lunch but can’t change course

One of the things that surprised this tourist in Oslo last February was the vast number of electric vehicles. EVs were everywhere. Every taxi I rode in was electric. I shouldn’t have been surprised. Norway has long been a leader in adopting electric cars. Last year, encouraged

Trump fires on multiple fronts to break China’s minerals monopoly

The Trump administration has launched a series of measures to ensure that US defense contractors source critical minerals domestically or from allied nations, building a supply chain that officials hope would break China’s monopoly over materials such as scandium and tungsten.

Why China’s war on deflation is faltering in real time

NEW YORK – Earlier hopes that China had beaten deflation took a hit this week. China’s consumer prices rose just 0.5% year-on-year in July, down from June’s 1% rate — the slowest pace in six months and the third straight month of deceleration, despite surging energy prices amid

Australia sets ‘world-leading’ minimum pay and insurance rules for gig delivery workers

The order takes effect on Aug 17 and is expected to benefit about 250,000 workers.

Australia sets 'world-leading' minimum pay and insurance rules for gig delivery workers

SYDNEY, Aug 12 - Australia's industrial umpire has approved new minimum standards requiring food and grocery delivery workers to be paid hourly rates above the national minimum wage and covered by injury insurance while on the job.

Trump-class battleship designed for a bygone era of warfare

The Trump-class battleship risks becoming more of a prestige project than a practical answer to the US Navy’s longstanding challenges in fleet modernization, emerging technologies and power projection. This month, the US Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a report

Typhoon Chan-hom weakens to tropical depression after landfall in eastern Japan

The Japan Meteorological Agency warned of potential flooding in lowland areas and overflowing rivers on Aug 12.

Indonesia says navy drill with China that angered Taiwan was routine

China described the drill as a “navigation exercise”.

One dead, 172 rescued after ferry catches fire off Bali

The ferry was headed from Bali to Lombok island when it caught fire.

12 held over robbery involving Taiwanese YouTuber in KL

The victim suffered injuries and losses amounting to about RM35,000.

Charges dropped against Bondi Beach attack hero

The fruit seller was accused of stalking and assaulting his father.