From lab idea to $2.9b start-up: Ultrasound destroys cancer without scalpels

The histotripsy technique can liquefy tumor cells while leaving surrounding tissue unharmed.

South Korean ministry to shun Starbucks vouchers in 'Tank Day' campaign backlash

Japan government to get access to Anthropic’s latest AI

Due to safe and security concerns, access to the model is currently limited to IT companies.

Why China might react badly to any call between Trump and Taiwan’s president

Mr Trump’s comments on speaking with Dr Lai raised concerns about further Chinese war games around Taiwan.

Explainer-Why China might react badly to any call between Trump and Taiwan's president

May 22 - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would speak with Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te, an unprecedented move for a U.S. leader that could roil U.S. relations with China and maybe prompt more Chinese war games around the island.

South Korean ministry to shun Starbucks vouchers in ‘Tank Day’ campaign backlash

The uproar has also prompted boycott calls from consumers on social media platforms.

India generates record power as demand surges in severe heatwave

Temperatures sizzled at 45.3 deg C in the capital New Delhi on the afternoon of May 21.

Chinese authorities demolish villager's madcap 10-storey home

The structure drew comparisons from media and tourists to the fantastical creations of Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki.

Pattaya hotel rooftop fire injures four, no deaths reported

Initial findings suggest the fire was caused by a short circuit on the rooftop.

Vietnam sells convicted mogul’s Hermes bags in recovery push

Real estate tycoon Truong My Lan was ordered to repay US$27 billion in damages.

US Navy official says Taiwan arm sales on 'pause' over Iran war

Briton makes 20th Everest ascent, most by a foreigner

KATHMANDU, May 22 - A British climber improved his own Everest record on Friday and notched his 20th ascent of the world’s highest mountain, hiking officials said.

Briton Kenton Cool makes 20th Everest ascent, most by a foreigner

He first climbed Everest in 2004 and has since repeated the feat every year.

US Navy official says Taiwan arm sales on ‘pause’ due to Iran war

Taiwan is waiting on an US$14 billion weapons deal that President Trump is keeping on hold.

Hello Kitty: Fans flock to Japan museum showcasing history of Sanrio characters

The museum is open from 10am to 5pm and is closed on Tuesdays, except on national holidays.

Samsung union to start vote on tentative wage deal

The vote will run through May 27 and around 70,000 members are expected to be eligible to vote.

Philippine artisans keep weaving traditions alive despite rising costs

As the Philippines looks to boost tourism, authorities have increasingly promoted immersive cultural experiences centred on traditional arts and weaving.

‘Filter of fantasy’: Japan trials anime therapy to treat depression

Participants were given online counselling by a psychologist appearing on screen as an anime avatar.

South-east Asia’s fishermen are being pushed to the brink by fuel costs

A protracted blockade in the Hormuz Strait leaves the South-east Asia desperately short of fuel.

Rescue and relief efforts intensify as rain risks rise across southern China

By the morning of May 21, the death toll from heavy rains stood at 16.

Japan envoy in China vows ‘best efforts’ to realise Takaichi-Xi leaders’ summit at APEC

Takaichi has said Japan remains open to dialogue with China, but Beijing has not responded to her overtures.

Australian women linked to ISIS leave Syrian camp, ABC reports

While the group is expected to reach Damascus, it remains unclear when they might travel to Australia.

Goldman Sachs to pay US$500 million to settle shareholder lawsuit over 1MDB scandal

Goldman helped 1MDB sell US$6.5 billion of bonds and collected an estimated US$600 million in fees.

Record 274 climbers scale Everest via Nepal in one day

The summit bonanza comes after a late start to this climbing season due to earlier route obstructions.

Garbage bags sell out in parts of Japan as naphtha shortage spurs stockpiling

There are concerns that supply of naphtha may become scarce due to the situation in the Middle East.

JB motorists upset over costly pothole damage

Experts say potholes were caused by heavy vehicle loads, poor utility excavation works, among other factors.

Human urine becomes option for farmers in fertiliser supply crunch

The World Bank expects fertiliser prices to rise in 2026, pushing affordability to its worst since 2022.

China’s top diplomat touts Moldova ties after Putin visit despite differences over Ukraine war

The two sides exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis, according to a ministry readout of the meeting.

China's top diplomat touts Moldova ties after Putin visit despite differences over Ukraine war

BEIJING, May 22 - China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi told visiting Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Mihai Popsoi that Beijing \"cherishes\" ties with the Eastern European country and aims to deepen them, a statement on Friday said, despite differences over Russia's invasion of

‘Eternal flame’ still burns after fire destroys Buddhist hall in Japan that is over 1,200 years old

It was the second time in recent decades that Reikado Hall, near Hiroshima, has burned down.

Manus weighs raising $1.3b to unwind Meta takeover

The next step would entail setting Manus up as a Chinese joint venture, ahead of a Hong Kong IPO.

Beijing bans Nvidia’s top graphics card to back domestic rivals

Chinese online gamers and hobbyist artificial intelligence (AI) developers have been dealt a setback as Beijing banned the import of Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 5090D V2, a graphics card specifically engineered for the Chinese market to comply with United States export rules, dealing

Commentary: China’s geopolitical weight on display, but will Xi help Trump and Putin end their wars?

Back-to-back visits by US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin put a spotlight on Chinese power, but whether China will use it in the Ukraine and Iran wars remains to be seen, says war studies lecturer Samir Puri.

Beyond Air India’s losses: Why Indian airlines are struggling more than others, and sounding the alarm

Indian carriers are facing a sharper squeeze than many global peers as fuel costs, airspace disruptions, currency weakness and limited hedging leave them with little room to absorb shocks, say analysts.

Commentary: Prabowo’s Indonesia is teetering toward a familiar disaster

Bewildering policies and authoritarian tendencies by President Prabowo Subianto are steering Indonesia toward a mix of currency instability and political chaos, says Karishma Vaswani for Bloomberg Opinion.

Jailed Vietnamese tycoon's Birkin bags sell for more than $550K

The disgraced tycoon is serving a life sentence for embezzling from a major Vietnamese bank.

India gifts Italy a toffee and breaks the internet

Melody candy went viral after the two countries’ right-wing leaders played up a portmanteau of their names, “Melodi”.

A Hong Kong island gears up for its most exciting time of the year. And it’s all about buns

The Cheung Chau Bun Festival is a uniquely Hong Kong celebration rooted in Taoist tradition.

Perfidious empire

Tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies Tell me lies Tell me, tell me lies Oh no-no, you can’t disguise – Fleetwood Mac Perfidy. There is no other word to describe the assassination of Iran’s leadership while negotiations were ongoing. It does not matter how evil they were, nor

AI euphoria getting reality check in South Korea, and vice versa

TOKYO — Few market visuals are more striking than the South Korean won and the Kospi index suddenly tearing off in opposite directions. The won has slumped 4.5% this year, putting it among Asia’s weakest currencies. The Kospi, meanwhile, has exploded — up 85% since Jan. 1 and

US air losses over Iran may grimly foreshadow China war risks

Heavy US aircraft losses in the Middle East are raising fresh doubts about whether US airpower can withstand sustained attrition in a future Pacific war against China. This month, the US Congressional Research Service (CRS) released a report stating that the US has reportedly

Trump vows U.S. will retrieve uranium from Iran

WASHINGTON, May 21 - President Donald Trump vowed on Thursday that the United States will eventually recover Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium despite comments from Iran that it will not hand over the material.

Hubris? What’s that? Who, me? I’m the Donald!

China’s leader Xi Jinping made a publicity splash last week during the visit to Beijing of US President Donald Trump when he referred to a book titled The Thucydides Trap about the ancient Greek historian’s treatise on war. The book’s author, Harvard professor Graham Allison,

Fire breaks out at hotel in Thailand’s Pattaya as rescue teams rush to evacuate tourists

Several tourists suffered from smoke inhalation.

‘Enlightened self-interest’ spurs Japan’s deepening economic security ties with ASEAN amid Iran war

The energy crisis has been a wake-up call for Japan and spurred it into architecting a more resilient Indo-Pacific region.

From tea-making to quick health check, SM Lee gets a taste of what China’s robots have to offer

Singapore could soon benefit from China’s expertise and dominance in this field as Chinese firms look abroad for future growth.

Chinese container ship among few vessels crossing Hormuz amid deadlock to open waterway

LONDON, May 21 - A Chinese-operated container ship was among the few to cross the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours, data showed on Thursday, as uncertainty grows around reopening the critical waterway with talks over a deal between the U.S. and Iran deadlocked.

U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair warns of China role in Argentina contract bid

BUENOS AIRES, May 21 - U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Brian Mast has warned U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio of “Chinese malign influence” in a bid for a major contract in Argentina, according to a letter seen by Reuters.