Reports of suspected extortion recently surfaced in articles by Singapore news outlet Mothership that featured accounts from various travellers arriving at the Batam Centre ferry terminal.

The test was “part of the national defence development plan in the period of the new five-year plan”, North Korean state media reported on Sunday (Mar 29).

Winter in Bhutan brings rare encounters: near-threatened black-necked cranes, textiles inspired by their calls, and cultural spaces reimagined for a new generation.

As Thailand moves to shake up its massage industry by introducing stricter standards, training and regulation, industry players and workers tell CNA about their hopes and concerns.

This instalment of CNA’s series on the forces powering electric vehicles (EVs) in Asia examines India’s growing presence in the development of rare-earth-free motors, and the speed bumps facing wider adoption.

The talks come after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a national energy emergency earlier this week, citing oil supply disruptions due to the Middle East conflict and announced efforts to diversify fuel imports, including sourcing from Ch...

North Korea has long been accused of widespread rights abuses, including running prison camps and severely restricting freedom of expression and access to information.

The new government will move quickly to deliver a policy statement to parliament so it can begin its work, said Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

Indonesian tankers Pertamina Pride and Gamsunoro, owned by a subsidiary of state energy firm Pertamina, remain in the Gulf, a company spokesperson said.

Noida International Airport is 75km from New Delhi and will serve 12 million passengers a year in its initial phase, with the potential to grow to as many as 70 million.

While major powers may have difficulties in their own relations, Singapore wants to remain friends with all of them and it should be possible to do so, says Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

"With this agreement in place, there is greater confidence that disruptions like those seen in early March will not recur," says Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

Malaysian activist Fadiah Nadwa Fikri – who was refused entry to Singapore on Mar 22 – had “incited” activists in Singapore to break the law and use violence, said Singapore’s Coordinating Minister for National Security K Shanmugam.

The restrictions began on Mar 28, making Indonesia the first country in Southeast Asia to ban children from having accounts on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox. 

The arrests of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and ex-Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak come a day after PM Balendra Shah and his Cabinet were sworn in.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's administration has set a new sales target for domestically produced microchips, aiming for an eightfold increase by 2040 compared with 2020 levels.

Balendra Shah was sworn in a day after he released his first public statement since winning the Mar 5 elections, via a rap song posted on social media.

The leadership change comes just days before Myanmar's newly-convened parliament is due to meet to start the process to pick a new president. 

The Indonesian National Air Carriers Association (INACA) urged the government to approve the hikes in fuel surcharge for both jet and propeller aircraft.

Speaking to CNA, the chairman of Indian conglomerate Piramal Group says artificial intelligence is opening access to credit and public services in underserved areas, but warns it could widen the gap between skilled and unskilled workers.