Saturday, 19 Jul 2025

Asia

Asia News – Get latest breaking news & top stories today in Asia, South-East Asia, South Asia, East Asia, Australia/New Zealand at…

Thundery showers, hot days expected in May

Inter-monsoon conditions which have been prevailing since late March are forecast to continue into this month, the weatherman said. More occurrences of thundery showers can be expected over Singapore and the surrounding region, and low-level winds are forecast to be light and variable in direction. In its latest regular weather advisory, the National Environment Agency […]

Forget 'clean, sanitary' election memes to win over Australia's far right

SYDNEY (REUTERS) – Australian Radomir Kobryn-Coletti has no commitment to any political party, right or left, but his job right now is churning out incendiary Facebook memes for a controversial senator, wooing the far-right ahead of this month’s elections. “There’s tight competition for the alternative right-wing vote,” said Mr Kobryn-Coletti, 23, who works for Queensland […]

Xinjiang surveillance app targets legal, everyday behaviour: Rights group

HONG KONG (AFP) – Chinese authorities are using a mobile app designed for mass surveillance to profile, investigate and detain Muslims in Xinjiang by labelling “completely lawful” behaviour as suspicious, a Human Rights Watch report said Thursday (May 2). Beijing has come under international criticism over its policies in the northwest region of Xinjiang, where […]

Who is Japan’s new Empress Masako?

Japan’s new empress, Masako, is a highly-accomplished woman who has admitted her struggles with being in the limelight as an imperial family member. Educated at Harvard and Oxford, the 55-year-old empress is a former diplomat who became the second commoner – after former Empress Michiko – to marry the first in line to the Japanese […]

Indian strikes target militants in Pakistan

India says it launched air strikes against militants in Pakistani territory, in a major escalation of tensions between the two countries. The government said strikes targeted a training camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) group in Balakot. Pakistan said its jets had forced back the Indian planes and denied there were any casualties. Relations between the […]

Lloyd's of London plans shift to electronic exchanges

LONDON (Reuters) – Participants in the Lloyd’s of London insurance market will all move to electronic exchanges next year under proposals published on Wednesday, as the 330-year-old market responds to competition from cheaper rivals. Lloyd’s, which has 99 syndicate members comprising British and international insurers with most of its business carried out face to face, […]

U.S. may have to stop borrowing later this year: Treasury

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. government will have to stop borrowing money between July and December if Washington doesn’t agree to raise a legal restriction on public debt, the Treasury Department said on Wednesday. Hitting that so-called “debt ceiling” could trigger a U.S. default on its debt and an immediate recession, a risk that has […]

Dollar index stays lower after robust ADP jobs data

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The dollar held modest losses against a basket of currencies on Wednesday as payroll processor ADP said U.S. companies added 275,000 workers in April, the biggest monthly gain since last July and exceeding analysts’ forecast of a 180,000 increase. At 8:28 a.m. (1228 GMT), an index that tracks the greenback against […]

Factbox: The only way is down – Emerging central banks keep cutting rates

LONDON (Reuters) – Interest rate cuts by emerging market central banks outstripped rate hikes for a third straight month in April, taking their cue from the dovish turn of major central banks from the U.S. Federal Reserve to the ECB. Interest rate moves by central banks across a group of 37 developing economies showed three […]

You Can Make a Treadmill From These Common Household Items (but Don’t)

To be clear, we’re not suggesting this is a great idea. But people across the globe have figured out an easy, if mildly dangerous, way to create a makeshift treadmill in their homes: by pouring soap or shower gel onto tiled floors in kitchens and bathrooms, adding a touch of water, gripping a sturdy surface, […]