Daily Asia briefing

The United States will withdraw about 5,000 troops from Germany in the next six to 12 months, the Pentagon said Friday, fulfilling President Donald Trump’s threat as he clashes with the German leader over the US war with...

Fujian province, the closest mainland Chinese province to Taiwan, is an important site for Beijing’s messaging towards the island. In the first of a two-part series, Xinlu Liang examines how Beijing is framing the execut...

China’s top UN diplomat slammed the US on Friday over its coercive behaviour, sanctioning of Chinese vessels and firms and for starting the Iran war along with Israel as Beijing assumed the rotating one-month presidency...

US President Trump has declared hostilities with Iran have ended, despite ongoing US troop presence and persistent regional tensions. This assertion, made in a letter to Congress, aims to bypass the War Powers Resolution...

After being forced to check his Academy Award on a transatlantic flight, recent winner Pavel Talankin’s Oscar went missing before an airline tracked it down two days later. Talankin, who co-directed the best documentary...

Japan has overhauled its overseas arms transfer regulations, a move analysts said paves the way for the country to export high-end weapons and defence platforms, including sixth-generation fighter jets. On April 21, Japa...

Experts welcome Chinese investment, but stress environmental and social safeguards are necessary.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he was dissatisfied with Iran’s latest proposal for peace talks, as negotiations between the two sides remain stalled despite a weeks-long ceasefire. “At this moment, I’m not...

US President Donald Trump sang the praises of King Charles after the latter’s state visit this week. He even lifted some tariffs on Scotch whisky as a favour to the British monarch. The king delivered a diplomatic master...

As Mohamed Salah prepares to leave Liverpool FC, a Saudi Pro League move is no longer certain. Talks with Turkish club Fenerbahçe and his preference to stay in Europe have shifted expectations, with negotiations paused b...

FIFA is poised to secure federal tax exemptions for teams at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, easing a major financial concern for participating nations. However, uneven state and city taxes still leave dispariti...

A horrific train crash that killed 16 passengers on the outskirts of Jakarta has prompted Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto to pledge 4 trillion rupiah (US$230 million) to overhaul level crossings across Java after...

Hong Kong is increasingly being urged to develop a comprehensive population policy. Academics, policymakers and business leaders warn that rapid ageing, low fertility and a shrinking labour force threaten the city’s comp...

Times of India World is tracking Economy & Trade developments tied to H-1B worker loses mother to cancer in India, misses final moments due to visa delays.

Times of India World is tracking Economy & Trade developments tied to 12-year-old boy faces US deportation as father refuses to take DNA test to prove citizenship.

US President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order expanding sanctions on Cuba, authorising penalties not only against Cuban officials but also on foreign companies and financial institutions that do business...

The United States on Friday announced fresh sanctions on entities and individuals it said were involved in trading Iranian petroleum, including a China-based oil terminal operator and a Chinese national, as it ramped up...

Times of India World is tracking Economy & Trade developments tied to Chirayu Rana left new job before accusing JPMorgan exe. Lorna Hajdini of sex harassment.

A power outage at the Crucible Theatre interrupted BBC’s live coverage of the 2026 World Snooker Championship semi-final between Mark Allen and Wu Yize for 12 minutes. BBC issued an apology, and despite the disruption, A...

Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs and a senior national energy official have held meetings with CLP Holdings chairman Michael Kadoorie, with observers saying it signalled the firm was expected to help minimise liv...

Asia’s gold rush is starting to lose some of its lustre, as surging oil prices due to the Iran war dampen rate-cut hopes that recently helped fuel one of the metal’s strongest rallies in years. A surge in energy costs ha...

Hong Kong recorded more than 76,000 mainland Chinese visitor arrivals on the first morning of the five-day Labour Day “golden week”, with many heading to the countryside for scenic views and others opting for “city walks...

The UN’s climate science body is pressing ahead with its work despite the US government’s withdrawal from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) earlier this year, the organisation’s top official has said....

Over 500 officers stormed an "Islamic sect" in Crewe, arresting 10 members, including their spiritual leader, for serious crimes like rape, sexual assault, and human trafficking. The raid targeted the Ahmadi Religion of...

Former Overwatch League pro xQc alleges the league's reported high viewership numbers were heavily inflated by bots. He claims an insider revealed the true, much lower audience figures during early testing, prompting his...

Brian Harpole has sued Candace Owens for defamation over claims linking him to Charlie Kirk’s killing. The lawsuit says Owens ignored clear travel records and spread false accusations through her podcast and posts. It al...

Darren “iShowSpeed” Watkins Jr. did not receive Guadeloupean citizenship despite viral claims online. A video showing a symbolic moment confused viewers, but Guadeloupe cannot legally grant citizenship as it is part of F...

Northstowe's Hindu community faces a significant challenge as they bid for a faith/community land plot to establish their first temple. Currently, families travel 40 miles for worship, impacting cultural connection. Hind...

Disguised Toast has sparked debate after saying Sykkuno’s shy persona is just an act and criticizing fan behavior. His podcast clip went viral on April 30, 2026, leading to mixed reactions online. Toast claimed some fans...

A small plane crashed in Texas Hill Country, killing all five people aboard, officials said on Friday. The crash happened on Thursday night in Wimberley, a city about 40 miles (65km) southwest of Austin, Hays County Judg...

The 2026 World Cup will introduce two new disciplinary rules: players covering their mouths during confrontations could face red cards, and immediate dismissals will follow if players walk off the pitch in protest. These...

We have selected six of the most interesting and important news stories covering Latin American relations from the past few weeks. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Chile exp...

Thousands of visitors have flocked to Hong Kong’s East Dam to view its rare volcanic rock columns at the start of the five-day Labour Day “golden week” holiday, prompting a lawmaker to suggest charging an entrance fee to...

Hundreds of protesters clashed with Australian emergency services workers in a remote town following the arrest of a man suspected of murdering a five-year-old indigenous girl, police said on Friday. Australia’s prime mi...

A 14-year-old boy has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape and murder of his 15-year-old classmate. The Qujing Intermediate People’s Court found the defendant guilty of rape and intentional homicide. The cour...

Hong Kong residents flocked to Shenzhen on Friday, drawn by ‘better service’ at restaurants and family-friendly attractions as the Labour Day “golden week” holiday began. Affordability has also lured droves of Hongkonger...