MANILA: The United States said on Tuesday (Mar 23) it is backing the Philippines in a new stand-off with Beijing in the disputed South China Sea, where Manila has asked a Chinese fishing flotilla to leave a reef. China ignored the call, insisting i...

SEOUL: South Korean prosecutors have seized the house of former president Park Geun-hye and will auction it off after she failed to pay a US$19 million penalty for corruption, they said Tuesday (Mar 23). Park was impeached in 2017 after anti-corrupt...

SINGAPORE: In front of an open-air Jakarta restaurant, delivery drivers clad in the orange colours of Southeast Asia tech group Sea wait for orders next to the green-jacketed riders of market leaders Gojek and Grab, in what has become the latest batt...

BEIJING: Four people were killed when a man detonated a homemade bomb in a village government office in southern China, authorities said, in a rare act of violent social protest. A 59-year-old man suspected of being responsible for the explosive dev...

SINGAPORE: Singapore and Malaysia have reaffirmed their commitment to work towards recognising each other's COVID-19 vaccine certificates, with a view towards facilitating cross-border travel in the future. "The operational details of the Reciprocal...

When the Tokyo Olympics torch relay kicks off in Fukushima on Thursday (Mar 25), runners are hoping it will show the world the area is no "nuclear wasteland", a decade after the 2011 disaster.

SEOUL: Several South Korea provinces and cities are continuing to mandate COVID-19 testing for foreign workers, despite a request from the national government that prompted Seoul to end its mandate amid international outcry. Last week the headquarte...

SHANGHAI: From a small office in Shanghai, marriage counsellor Zhu Shenyong livestreams advice over several phones simultaneously to an attentive audience keen to save their relationships. On his wall hangs the mantra: "Let there be no bad marriages...

SEOUL: The leaders of China and North Korea are reaffirming their traditional alliance following contentious talks between top diplomats from Washington and Beijing and diplomatic isolation and economic problems in the North that have left it ever mo...

HONG KONG: Dushanbe's Central Republican Stadium will be the unlikely focal point for Asian football on Thursday (Mar 25) as the region's qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup finals relaunch after almost 18 months of stasis caused by the COVID-19 pandem...

YANGON: Myanmar protesters held candle-lit vigils for the scores killed in demonstrations against military rule, as Western countries imposed more sanctions on individuals and groups linked to last month's coup and an ensuing brutal crackdown on diss...

SEOUL: South Korea's President Moon Jae-in received AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine on Tuesday (Mar 23) ahead of an overseas trip, as the country began inoculating more senior citizens and health workers in an effort to accelerate its vaccination d...

SINGAPORE: Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan will visit Malaysia from Tuesday (Mar 23) to Wednesday, said Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).   Dr Balakrishnan will call on Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin an...

SHANGHAI: China coach Li Tie is missing several key players, including forward Wu Lei, as he attempts to stamp his mark on the national squad ahead of must-win World Cup qualifiers in June. Injuries and other factors mean that the former Everton mid...

HO CHI MINH CITY: In a room crammed from ceiling to floor with boxes, cabinets and drawers of Lego bricks, Hoang Dang intently builds a bright blue, yellow and red fishing boat with a Vietnamese flag and eyes at its prow. The industrial designer has...

Five people are feared dead and at least 20,000 Rohingya have fled a huge blaze engulfing shanty homes at refugee camps in southeastern Bangladesh, officials said Monday, in the third fire to hit the settlements in four days.

India is the world’s worst disruptor of the Internet. Children and ordinary folk are paying a high price, the programme Undercover Asia finds out.

As proceedings in Alaska showed, both the US and Chinese diplomats were signalling to domestic audiences that they would not back down on issues of interest, says Christian Le Miere.

Anwar Ibrahim’s Parti Keadilan Rakyat working with its arch-nemesis UMNO isn’t going to yield results, says an ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute researcher

A North Korean national extradited to the United States from Malaysia appeared in court on Monday to face money laundering charges.

The U.S. Treasury Department said on Monday it was imposing sanctions on two members of Myanmar's ruling junta, including the chief of police, and two military units linked to the deadly repression of protests again the army's coup, as Washington war...

The United States on Monday announced sanctions on two more Chinese officials in connection with serious human rights abuses in China's Xinjiang region, where Washington says ethnic Muslims are the victims of genocide.

MUMBAI: A senior Mumbai police officer filed a complaint in the Supreme Court on Monday (Mar 22) accusing a state government minister of corruption, the latest development in a bizarre case that has transfixed the media for weeks. "Each sordid revel...

YANGON: Dozens of civil society organisations from Myanmar's restive Rakhine state have joined condemnation of last month's coup in a further sign of ethnic minorities on the country's fringes uniting against the army as bloodshed grows. The western...

BEIJING: The trial of Michael Kovrig, the Canadian detained for more than two years in China on espionage charges, was held on Monday (Mar 22), with relations between Ottawa and Beijing in freefall. The hearing came days after the closed-door trial ...

BEIJING: Bad weather prompted more than 200 Chinese fishing vessels to anchor at a reef claimed by the Philippines, Beijing said on Monday (Mar 22), sidestepping accusations from Manila of a move by China's vast South China Sea maritime militia to as...

BRUSSELS: EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday (Mar 22) approved sanctions over abuses in China, Myanmar and Russia, as the bloc expands measures targeting global rights breaches. The 27 nations are due to place four Chinese officials...

YANGON: Protesters honked car horns in Myanmar on Monday (Mar 22) and planted posters in an empty square to avoid arrest, injury or death as the European Union approved sanctions on 11 people linked to last month's coup and subsequent crackdown.  ...

SINGAPORE: Last week’s high-level talks between the United States and China are a step in the right direction, showing recognition from both sides on the need for dialogue and cooperation, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat on Monday (Mar 22...

JAKARTA: Indonesia’s tourism minister Sandiaga Uno said on Monday (Mar 22) that the proposed “safe travel corridor” between Singapore, Batam and Bintan is meant to attract those from the city state to holiday in Indonesia and not vice versa. ...

TAIPEI: A Taiwanese air force pilot was killed and another was missing on Monday (Mar 22) after their fighter jets disappeared in a suspected mid-air collision off the island's southern coast, officials said. The two F-5E jets disappeared from rad...

The Philippines on Monday reported a record daily rise of 8,019 COVID-19 infections, as authorities implemented tighter curbs in the congested capital region and hospital capacity neared critical levels in some areas.

TOKYO: Japan's KM Biologics Co said on Monday (Mar 22) it had started a human trial for its COVID-19 vaccine, becoming the country's third candidate to advance to clinical trials. The first volunteer was injected with the inactivated virus vaccine k...

BANGKOK: Thailand started human trials on Monday (Mar 22) of a domestically developed COVID-19 vaccine and expects to deploy it next year, which its health minister said could give the country more freedom with its vaccine policy. Thailand's vaccina...

KUALA LUMPUR: Fresh out of quarantine, Malaysian artiste Wee Meng Chee, 37, better known as Namewee, surrendered himself at the Dang Wangi police station in central Kuala Lumpur on Monday (Mar 22).  In a Facebook post on Monday morning, Namewee s...

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia on Monday (Mar 22) announced it had established a US$2.4 million compensation fund to provide cash assistance for any COVID-19 vaccine recipients who suffer severe reactions due to inoculations. Malaysia has inoculated nearly ...

KUALA LUMPUR: Lee Zii Jia was hailed as a "hero" on Monday (Mar 22) after winning the All England Open and igniting Malaysia's hopes of success at the Tokyo Olympics, even without retired legend Lee Chong Wei. The young Malaysian star defeated Denm...

Japan charges Americans with helping Ghosn flee, jump bail

TAIPEI: Many Asian countries are accelerating the roll-out of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine after confidence in its safety was hit, following reports that the shot was linked to rare blood clots in Europe earlier this month. After briefly halting i...

HONG KONG: Eight Hong Kong activists, jailed in China last year after being captured at sea, arrived back in the city and were immediately detained on Monday (Mar 22) in a case that has drawn international attention and concern over their treatment. ...

Toshiko Ishii spent US$180,000 renovating her traditional Japanese inn in expectation of a flood of tourists for the Tokyo Olympics, but now she won't be hosting a single overseas fan.

SYDNEY: Australia's parliament debated on Monday (Mar 22) a motion to condemn "systematic breaches" of human rights by China, saying other legislatures had described as genocide its actions towards Uighurs in the far western region of Xinjiang. Parl...

India's richest state, Maharashtra, reported 30,535 new coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours.

Myanmar activists plan fresh protests on Monday (Mar 22) including a call for vehicle convoys to drive through intersections honking horns with occupants raising three-finger anti-coup salutes despite reports of security forces killing more people at...

TAIPEI: Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang received the AstraZeneca COVID-19 shot on Monday (Mar 22) as the island began its vaccination campaign. "I have just finished getting the injection, there is no pain at the injection site, and there is no sorene...

China reported seven new COVID-19 cases on Mar 21, down from 12 cases a day earlier, the country's national health authority said on Monday (Mar 22). The National Health Commission said in a statement that all the new cases were imported infections...

SINGAPORE: Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan visited Brunei on Monday (Mar 22), after which he will travel to Malaysia and Indonesia. Dr Balakrishnan had an audience with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and was hosted to lunch by Brunei's Se...

BEIJING: The trial of Michael Kovrig, who has been held in China for more than two years on espionage charges, is under way in Beijing in a closed courtroom, days after the United States raised concerns over his case at tense bilateral talks with Ch...

WASHINGTON: A North Korean citizen was taken into US custody on Saturday (Mar 20) after being extradited from Malaysia to face money laundering charges, making him the first North Korean extradited to the US to face trial. Mun Chol Myong was in th...

Social media movements such as the Milk Tea Alliance are tapping into discontent on the decline of democracy and fears about the rise of China is part of this heady mix, says an ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute Visiting Fellow.

Churches in Manila will be closed, eating inside restaurants banned and leisure travel outside the Philippine capital curbed under new COVID-19 rules unveiled on Sunday (Mar 21) as the country battles a resurgence in infections.

BEIJING: China had administered 74.96 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines as of Saturday (Mar 20), health commission spokesman Mi Feng said at a news briefing on Sunday. That compared with about 65 million doses administered as of Mar 14, or an add...

More than 30 civilians and police were injured in Thai anti-government protests, an emergency medical centre said on Sunday (Mar 21), after police used water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the rally the night before.

Tighter regulations, billions in lost overseas share value and government pledges to get even tougher -- Chinese tech giants are reeling under what looks like a sustained Big Brother assault on innovation and enterprise.

North Korean diplomats leaving Malaysia after ties are severed

AstraZeneca said on Sunday its COVID-19 vaccine contains no pork-derived ingredients, countering an assertion in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, that the drug violates Islamic law.

China reported 12 new COVID-19 cases on March 20, up from 4 cases a day earlier, the country's national health authority said on Sunday.

MANILA: The Philippines on Sunday (Mar 21) accused China of "incursion" after more than 200 militia boats were spotted near a disputed reef in the South China Sea, in a rare rebuke of its superpower neighbour. The Philippine coast guard detected th...

Opponents of Myanmar's military rule, many in small towns across the country, staged candle-lit protests on Saturday night and into Sunday in defiance of crackdowns by the security forces and the killing of nearly 250 people since the Feb. 1 coup.

BEIJING: China and the United States will set up a joint working group on climate change, China's official Xinhua news agency said, in a potentially positive takeaway from what was an unusually rancorous high-level meeting. The top Chinese and US d...

With tensions spilling over in public, the US and China’s frosty diplomatic meeting is a sign of things to come, says Bert Hofman.

Beijing can’t extend influence with vaccines if it doesn’t address the deeper issues of transparency and legitimacy, says an ISEAS-Yushof Ishak Institute researcher.

KUALA LUMPUR: Carolyn Lau and Lydia Lubon from the Free Tree Society (FTS) were getting a trio of first-time participants ready for a tree-planting session at Federal Hill, a hill behind the upscale Bangsar neighbourhood. This is the first trail pl...

Tesla boss Elon Musk strongly denied Saturday that his cars, which gather large amounts of data, could ever be used to spy on China despite fears raised by Beijing, the Wall Street Journal reported.

JAKARTA: Indonesian tourism and creative economy minister Sandiaga Uno said on Saturday (Mar 20) that preparations can begin for a “safe travel corridor” between Singapore, Batam Nongsa and Bintan Lagoi. In a meeting with officials in Batam, the...

Pakistan court condemns 2 men to death in highway rape case

BANGKOK: Thailand’s army has denied supplying rice to units of Myanmar’s armed forces and said on Saturday (Mar 20) any food being sent over the border was part of normal trade. Myanmar's military is facing international condemnation over a Feb...

BANGKOK: Thai police used water cannon and charged toward protesters who had gathered near the King's Palace in Bangkok on Saturday (Mar 20) to call for the release of protest leaders and demand reform of the monarchy. Hundreds of police in riot ...

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has tested positive for COVID-19 two days after receiving his first vaccine dose, government officials said on Saturday (Mar 20), urging people not to be deterred from getting vaccinated. Pakistan's vacc...

TOKYO: Japan's meteorological agency issued a tsunami advisory on Saturday (Mar 20), after a strong 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck off the northeastern coast, hitting areas devastated by the 2011 disaster. The advisory was later lifted about an hou...

NEW DELHI: Top defence officials from India and the United States pledged on Saturday (Mar 20) to expand their military engagement, underscoring the strengthening defence ties between two countries concerned over China's growing influence in the Indo...

MANILA: The Philippines on Saturday (Mar 20) recorded 7,999 new COVID-19 infections, the second straight day that the country posted a record high in daily cases. In a bulletin, the health ministry said total confirmed cases have risen to 656,056 wh...

KUALA LUMPUR: North Korea's decision to sever diplomatic ties with Malaysia has not affected the country's economy, said Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz on Saturday (Mar 20). According to the minister, it is because North Korea's contribu...

Opponents of Myanmar's coup protested again on Saturday (Mar 20) as international pressure on the military junta to halt its repression of pro-democracy supporters increased, with Asian neighbours joining Western countries in condemning lethal force....

Olympic organisers meet Saturday for talks expected to bar overseas fans from this summer's pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games, in a bid to reduce virus risks and win over a sceptical public.

SHANGHAI: China's first local coronavirus case since February was a staff worker at a hospital and had received two shots of a vaccine between end-January and early February, state media reported on Saturday (Mar 20). The patient, identified by her...

UN says no international staff left in North Korea

KUALA LUMPUR: The congestion at the Malaysian High Commission in Singapore will be resolved, says the Malaysian Immigration Department on Saturday (Mar 20). Its director-general Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud said that it will station eight officers in ...

Myanmar garment workers urge global brands to denounce coup

SHANGHAI: China reported four new COVID-19 cases on Mar 19, the country's national health authority said on Saturday (Mar 20). The National Health Commission said all the new cases were imported from abroad. The number of new asymptomatic cases, wh...

YANGON: Two more journalists were detained in Myanmar on Friday (Mar 19), part of the junta’s intensifying efforts to choke off information about resistance to last month’s coup. Mizzima News reported that one of its former reporters, Than Htike...

Despite the Myanmar people’s sheer determination for democracy, there are a number of possible scenarios that could emerge from these protests, says Nicola S Williams.

JAKARTA: Dengan indera penciumannya yang tajam, Bailey kerap ditemukan sedang mengendus tas dan koper bawaan penumpang serta puluhan truk yang sedang melewati pelabuhan kapal yang menghubungkan dua pulau terbesar di Indonesia. Anjing ini juga kerap ...

JAKARTA: With her sharp sense of smell, Bailey can often be found sniffing out passengers’ suitcases and bags as well as dozens of trucks passing through a busy ferry harbour connecting two of Indonesia’s biggest islands. She is sometimes flown...

Lee Zii Jia shocked two-time world champion Kento Momota to reach the semi-finals of the All England Open on Friday.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reacted angrily Friday to the closed-door trial of a Canadian man detained in China for more than two years on espionage charges, dismissing it as "completely unacceptable."

Senior U.S. and Chinese officials are set to conclude their talks in Alaska on Friday after a dramatic opening round laid bare the depth of tensions between the world's two largest economies at the outset of the Biden administration.

SINGAPORE: The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has directed several importers to recall eggs from Linggi Agriculture in Malaysia, after detecting the presence of Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) in the product. This is the second time in a week that SFA has ...

An Indian-born blockchain entrepreneur has revealed himself as the mystery buyer who paid a record $69.3 million for a digital artwork last week, describing his purchase as a shot fired for racial equality.

The South Korean capital on Friday (Mar 19) withdrew its mandate that all foreign workers in the city be tested for the coronavirus — an order that had caused huge lines at testing centers and prompted accusations of discrimination.

Taiwan will begin its COVID-19 vaccination programme on Monday, Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said on Friday, using AstraZeneca Plc shots that were approved for use this week by the government.

PENANG: Star Cruises will resume sailing in Malaysia on May 13, in a move aimed at revitalising the domestic tourism industry. In a joint press release on Friday (Mar 17), Genting Cruise Lines and Penang Port announced plans to offer two itinerarie...

New coronavirus infections in the Philippines hit a record high on Friday, health officials said, as pandemic restrictions were tightened in the capital to combat the resurgence in cases.

SINGAPORE: Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim said on Friday (Mar 19) that he is evaluating an opportunity to own a stake in Manchester United Football Club.  In a press conference, he said: “I know there is an opening for Manchester...

Singapore and Taiwan are in talks about a possible travel bubble, Taiwan’s Health Minister Chen Shih-chung reportedly said on Thursday (Mar 18). Singapore relaxed restrictions on arrivals from Taiwan in December, allowing travellers from the isla...

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's foreign ministry on Friday (Mar 19) denounced a decision by North Korea to sever diplomatic ties, describing the move as "unfriendly and unconstructive". In a statement, the ministry said Malaysia would close its embassy in ...

A group of Myanmar policemen recounted their escape to India after defying the Myanmar army's orders to shoot people who oppose the Feb 1 coup in the southeast Asian country.

JAKARTA: Indonesia’s most influential Islamic organisation said AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine is “haram” or forbidden for Muslims, but its use can be temporarily permitted due to a lack of alternatives. The Indonesian Council of Ulema or ...

Thailand's COVID-19 task force said on Friday it will ban for a second year the street water fights that usually take place during celebrations for the upcoming Thai New Year due to the pandemic.

Roads out of Myanmar's biggest city were choked Friday with people fleeing the junta's deadly crackdown on anti-coup dissent, as authorities in neighbouring Thailand said they were preparing for an influx of refugees.