Daily Asia briefing

ANTANANARIVO, April 29 - Madagascar has detained a former French serviceman accused of taking part in a plot to destabilise the Indian Ocean island, including by inciting security forces to mutiny and sabotaging infrastr...

Forces have destroyed several Afghan Taliban posts and vehicles in Balochistan’s Chaman sector, security sources said on Wednesday. The operations, part of the ongoing ‘Operation Ghazab lil-Haq’, were a response to the “...

“Talks are not dead. Both sides seek an off-ramp and they want an end to the conflict,” said defence analyst and retired Pakistan Brigadier Masud Ahmed Khan.

MANDI BAHAUDDIN: A suspect wanted in the kidnapping and murder of a six-year-old boy was killed on Wednesday after allegedly coming under fire from his own accomplice during an “encounter” with police in Chak Sabu, Pindi...

BANNU: A terrorist was killed early Wednesday when Bannu police repelled an attack on the Mazanga police post, officials said. Police officials said heavily armed terrorists attacked the post in the early hours of Wednes...

Channel NewsAsia is tracking Diplomacy & Power developments tied to Indonesia military court begins trial of officers allegedly behind acid attack on activist.

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's age and the fact that he had less than a year left to serve justified his early release, said Thailand's corrections department.

TAIPEI, April 29 - U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet in Beijing next month for a summit where China is likely to try and make the issue of \"Taiwan independence\" a major part of the...

Xi deliberately set the issue aside during their meeting in 2025 in South Korea.

BEIJING/TAIPEI, April 29 - For 23 million Taiwanese, the most consequential diplomatic meeting of 2026 may be one to which they are not invited.

Channel NewsAsia is tracking Diplomacy & Power developments tied to Wales great North to retire at end of the season.

Mr Oliver Foran is also raising funds to build a youth mental health support centre back home.

The ship passed through the blockaded waterway on April 29 and was on its way to Japan.

The decision had been taken to ease congestion at the Batu Ampar Port.

Channel NewsAsia is tracking Diplomacy & Power developments tied to Thai central bank holds key rate, forecasts slower growth and higher inflation .

The poor Central Asian nation is also struggling with underfunding and dilapidated facilities.

No injuries or fatalities were reported.

Diesel prices in the country have climbed to more than 50 baht (US$1.53) per litre – nearly double what many trawlers paid at the start of the year.

Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien's lawyer sought permission from a judge for him to travel to Manila for an internship, a key requirement for him to graduate.

The private sector will build, own and operate the new hydrogen-ready natural gas power plants, with one unit due by 2031 and up to two more by 2032, the Energy Market Authority said.

Surging crude oil prices and energy supply disruptions are casting a shadow over resource-scarce Japan.

The island depends on imported diesel for electricity, making it highly vulnerable to fuel shortages.

Channel NewsAsia is tracking Diplomacy & Power developments tied to Oil rises on reports US will extend Iran blockade, prolonging Mideast supply disruptions.

As the region’s power demand rises, Mitsubishi Power Asia Pacific CEO Akihiro Ondo shares why a pragmatic, system-wide approach is key to balancing reliability, affordability and decarbonisation.

Channel NewsAsia is tracking Diplomacy & Power developments tied to Taiwan chipmaker UMC sees 'headwinds' from Iran war, but predicts resilient demand.

Channel NewsAsia is tracking Diplomacy & Power developments tied to Taiwan's ASE expects strong demand to boost advanced chip packaging sales in 2026.

China on Monday (Apr 27) blocked Meta’s acquisition of AI startup Manus, four months after the deal was sealed. It signals that moving offshore may no longer shield Chinese firms from Beijing’s reach as Sino-US tech riva...

Significant losses could impact both rural livelihoods and national food supply.

The 23-year-old Malaysian had come to Singapore as part of his "job" collecting cash from purported customers investing in brokerage services.

Ninety people were injured in the incident.

The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on Tuesday approved the transfer of three judges from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to other high courts. According to an official handout, Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afrid...