BANGKOK (AP) — The United States military released video Monday of what it called an “unsafe” Chinese maneuver in the Taiwan Strait on the weekend, in which a Chinese navy ship cut sharply across the path of an American destroyer, forcing the U.S.
China defends buzzing American warship in Taiwan Strait, accuses US of provoking Beijing
June 4, 2023 GMTSINGAPORE (AP) — China's defense minister defended sailing a warship across the path of an American destroyer and Canadian frigate transiting the Taiwan Strait, telling a gathering of some of the world's top defense officials in Singapore on Sunday that such so-called “freedom of navigation” patrols are a provocation to China.
SINGAPORE (AP) — China and Singapore laid the groundwork Thursday for a hotline between the two countries that would establish a high-level communications link between Beijing and a close American partner in Asia at a time when Chinese tensions with Washington are high and dialogue has stalled.
SINGAPORE (AP) — Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Thursday that he tested positive for COVID-19 for a second time in less than two weeks, in a rare case of a rebound.
Lee, 71, was diagnosed with COVID-19 for the first time on May 22, following work trips to Africa and Asia.
LONDON (AP) — Credit Suisse owes former Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili hundreds of millions of dollars for failing to protect the billionaire's money in a trust pilfered by a manager, a Singapore court ruled Friday, the latest scandal for the Swiss bank whose yearslong problems forced its takeover by a rival.
Singapore’s prime minister tests positive for COVID-19
May 22, 2023 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Monday he tested positive for COVID-19 for the first time after returning home from work trips in Africa and Asia.
Due to his age, the 71-year-old said he was prescribed the Paxlovid antiviral medication.
Singapore hangs 2nd citizen in 3 weeks for trafficking cannabis despite calls to halt executions
May 18, 2023 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Singapore on Wednesday hanged another citizen for trafficking cannabis, the second in three weeks, as it clung firmly to the death penalty despite growing calls for the city-state to halt drug-related executions.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Myanmar’s military has imported at least $1 billion worth of weapons and related material from Russia, China and other countries since its February 2021 coup, some of which it has used to carry out atrocities against civilians, according to a U.N.
UK’s diverse communities ambivalent about king’s coronation
May 1, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — Musician Deronne White is ready to play on King Charles III’s coronation day. The flautist and his fellow young musicians aren’t playing anything regal or solemn — they’re planning to parade through south London’s streets entertaining crowds with an uplifting “coronation carnival” set mixing gospel, jazz, grime, disco and rap.
Sergio Garcia tied for 2nd-round lead at LIV Singapore
April 29, 2023 GMTSINGAPORE (AP) — Sergio Garcia recalled one of his happy times at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore to shoot a 7-under 64 and to move into a share of the second-round lead with Talor Gooch at the LIV Singapore tournament.
Gooch backs up Australian win with LIV lead in Singapore
April 28, 2023 GMTSINGAPORE (AP) — Talor Gooch backed up his Australian LIV win by taking a one-stroke lead at the fledgling tour’s Singapore event on Friday.
Gooch eagled the par-5 18th hole after a 90-minute rain delay to shoot 7-under 64 and lead four others at the Sentosa course — British Open champion Cameron Smith, Brooks Koepka, Sergio Garcia and Cameron Tringale.
2 Chinese navy ships head to Singapore for joint drills
April 27, 2023 GMTBEIJING (AP) — China’s military has dispatched a pair of navy ships to take part in joint drills with Singapore’s navy and join in a regional maritime security exhibition.
The exercises starting Friday in the Southeast Asian city state come amid China’s growing presence in the South China Sea, which it claims sovereignty over virtually in its entirety.
Singapore executes man for helping buy 2 pounds of cannabis
April 26, 2023 GMTHONG KONG (AP) — Singapore on Wednesday executed a man accused of coordinating a cannabis delivery, despite pleas for clemency from his family and protests from activists that he was convicted on weak evidence.
Tobacco company settles with US over business in North Korea
April 26, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — A British tobacco company has agreed to pay more than $629 million to settle allegations that it did illegal business with North Korea in violation of U.S. sanctions, the Justice Department said Tuesday.
Rights groups welcome Malaysia’s move on death penalty
April 4, 2023 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Human rights groups on Tuesday applauded Malaysia's move to scrap the mandatory death penalty as a major step forward in the push for the abolition of capital punishment in Southeast Asia.
In Japan, women find rare parity in the prosecutors’ office
March 8, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — At the prosecutors’ office in Tokyo, everyone makes their own copies and tea — tasks often relegated to women in a country that's been criticized for its lack of gender equality.
Twenty years ago, only about 8% of Japanese prosecutors were women.
5th body found in Malaysia floods; over 40,000 displaced
March 7, 2023 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysian police have found the body of a young woman trapped in a car that was swept away by rushing waters, the fifth death of seasonal floods that have also forced more than 43,000 people to flee their homes.
Jin Young Ko wins LPGA Singapore by two strokes
March 5, 2023 GMTSINGAPORE (AP) — Jin Young Ko won for the first time in a year at the HSBC Women's World Championship and hopes this signals a new start from a year of battling injuries that cost her the No. 1 ranking.
Jin Young Ko leads by 2 after 3rd round at LPGA Singapore
March 4, 2023 GMTSINGAPORE (AP) — Defending champion Jin Young Ko shot a second consecutive 7-under 65 Saturday to take a two-stroke lead over Nelly Korda into the final round of the LPGA's Women's World Championship.
Singapore PM’s brother says govt persecuting his family
March 3, 2023 GMTBANGKOK (AP) — The brother of Singapore's prime minister on Friday accused government authorities of persecuting his family after it emerged that he and his wife were under official investigation.
Lee Hsien Yang has long been at odds with his brother, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, over the will of their late father — longtime Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who ushered Singapore through independence from Britain.
Over 26,000 evacuated as floods hit Malaysia again; 1 dead
March 2, 2023 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Rescuers in boats retrieved families trapped on rooftops and hauled others to safety as villages and towns in parts of Malaysia were submerged in floodwaters, leading to over 26,000 people being evacuated as of Thursday.
EXPLAINER: Canada latest to ban TikTok on government phones
February 27, 2023 GMTTORONTO (AP) — Canada is banning TikTok from all government-issued mobile devices and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it might be a first step to further action.
Wang, Del Rey atop leaderboard in Singapore Classic
February 11, 2023 GMTSINGAPORE (AP) — Wang Jeung-hun and Alejandro del Rey both shot 6-under 66 on Saturday to sit atop the leaderboard after three rounds of the Singapore Classic.
McKibbin, Ding in lead at weather-affected Singapore Classic
February 10, 2023 GMTSINGAPORE (AP) — Tom McKibbin of Northern Ireland and Chinese amateur Ding Wenyi were tied for the lead at the Singapore Classic when play was suspended by darkness Friday.
McKibbin shoots 64, surprise leader at Singapore Classic
February 9, 2023 GMTSINGAPORE (AP) — Tom McKibbin was a surprise first-round leader of the Singapore Classic after shooting 8-under 64 on Thursday.
The 20-year-old Northern Irishman is ranked No. 308, has just one top-10 finish on the European tour and has missed the cut in two of his three events in 2023.
Former US Navy captain sentenced in massive bribery scandal
February 3, 2023 GMTSAN DIEGO (AP) — A former U.S. Navy captain who was caught up in a massive contracting scandal was sentenced Thursday to 2 1/2 years in federal prison for taking nearly $91,000 in bribes.
Black boxes from Nepal plane crash to be sent to Singapore
January 26, 2023 GMTKATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — The black boxes recovered from the Jan. 15 plane crash in Nepal are being sent to Singapore for analysis to identify the cause of the crash that killed all 72 people on board, officials said Thursday.
EXPLAINER: University of Wisconsin latest to ban TikTok
January 24, 2023 GMTMADISON, Wis. (AP) — The University of Wisconsin System has joined a number of universities across the nation that have banned the popular socail media app TikTok on school-owned devices.
Nigeria bets on Chinese-funded port to drive economic growth
January 24, 2023 GMTABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has marked the opening of a $1.5 billion, Chinese-funded deep seaport in the commercial hub of Lagos that authorities hope will help grow the West African nation's ailing economy.
Slingsby, Aussies look to tighten grip on SailGP lead
January 13, 2023 GMTTwo-time defending champion Tom Slingsby and Team Australia will be missing a key crewman and facing their least-favorite conditions when SailGP resumes Season 3 this weekend in Singapore.
In other words, no one should count out the unshakeable Aussies, who are looking to start firming up their shot at reaching the $1 million, winner-take-all season finale in four months.
Wisconsin’s Evers to announce TikTok ban on state devices
January 6, 2023 GMTMADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said Friday that he will soon announce a ban on the use of TikTok on state phones, joining the growing number of states that prohibited the popular social media app that national lawmakers are trying to ban.
Report: TikTok boosts posts about eating disorders, suicide
December 15, 2022 GMTTikTok's algorithms are promoting videos about self-harm and eating disorders to vulnerable teens, according to a report published Wednesday that highlights concerns about social media and its impact on youth mental health.
India’s Tata Sons to merge Air India with Vistara airlines
November 30, 2022 GMTNEW DELHI (AP) — India's oldest and largest conglomerate, Tata Sons, will merge its Air India with Vistara, which it jointly runs with Singapore Airlines, in a major step toward revamping the country’s debt-laden national carrier.
Germany’s Scholz: Asia-Pacific ‘far more than just China’
November 14, 2022 GMTBERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said during a visit to Singapore on Monday that his country wants to strengthen its economic ties with the Asia-Pacific region, emphasizing that it is “far more than just China."
Dubbed torture, ID policies leave transgender people sterile
November 11, 2022 GMTSINGAPORE (AP) — She was the only woman soldier working in the guard room, surrounded by men who harassed and frightened her after she said she was transgender. She tried to ignore them as they opened up their shirts and pretended to rape each other, while beckoning her to join them.
Japan PM vows to strengthen military at int’l naval review
November 6, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said at an international fleet review Sunday that his country urgently needs to strengthen its military capabilities as security risks increase including threats from North Korea’s nuclear and missile advancement and Russia’s war on Ukraine.
30 people rescued after being trapped in Malaysian cave
October 26, 2022 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — About 30 members of a film crew who were trapped in a limestone cave in northern Malaysia during heavy rain Wednesday have been rescued, police said.
Two police officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release information, confirmed that all of the people trapped in Tempurung Cave in Kampar district in Perak state were safely evacuated.
Australia and Singapore strike agreement to achieve net-zero
October 18, 2022 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian and Singaporean leaders announced Tuesday what they described as a world-first agreement to cooperate in transitioning their economies to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
US sanctions Asian firms over North Korean fuel shipments
October 7, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — In the midst of increasingly aggressive North Korean missile launches this week, the U.S. on Friday imposed sanctions on people and firms in Asia accused of helping North Korea procure fuel in violation of U.N.
Australian police make first arrest in Optus hack probe
October 6, 2022 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A police investigation of a cyberattack on an Australian telecommunications company in which the personal data of more than one third of Australia’s population was stolen has resulted in its first arrest, investigators said Thursday.
Marcos trip to watch Singapore F1 races sparks criticism
October 4, 2022 GMTMANILA, Philippines (AP) — A trip by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to Singapore over the weekend to watch Formula One races has come under attack from critics who described it as “utterly callous” while thousands of Filipinos remain displaced due to a recent typhoon.
UN envoy says won’t visit Myanmar if she can’t see Suu Kyi
September 5, 2022 GMTBANGKOK (AP) — The United Nations special envoy on Myanmar declared Monday that she will not visit the Southeast Asia nation again unless its military government allows her to meet with ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Marcos flying to Indonesia, Singapore on first foreign trip
September 2, 2022 GMTMANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will travel to Indonesia and Singapore on his first overseas trip since taking office in June to strengthen security ties and discuss problems confronting the region, including strife in Myanmar, officials said Friday.
Singapore-born Tim David in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad
September 1, 2022 GMTMELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Singapore-born allrounder Tim David has been named in Australia's Twenty20 World Cup squad for the host country's defense of its title beginning in late October.
After being bought by the Mumbai Indians for more than a million dollars in this year’s Indian Premier League auction, David decided to be part of Australia’s squad.
Olympic swimmer Joseph Schooling admits cannabis use
August 31, 2022 GMTSINGAPORE (AP) — Olympic gold-medal swimmer Joseph Schooling has apologized for using cannabis in Vietnam while competing there on leave from military service in his native Singapore.
Schooling achieved superstar status in Singapore when he won his country's first and only Olympic title at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
Asian shares mixed after modest Wall Street fall
August 24, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were mixed Wednesday as a wait-and-see mood set in following another — though more modest — day of sell-offs on Wall Street.
Worries about inflation are weighing on investors' minds, including in Asia.
End of Singapore’s gay sex ban is small step in Asia-Pacific
August 24, 2022 GMTBANGKOK (AP) — Singapore’s decision to decriminalize sex between men is being hailed as a step in the right direction for LGBTQ rights in the Asia-Pacific region, a vast area of nearly 5 billion people with different laws and attitudes.
Gays hail Singapore sex-ban repeal, see long way to equality
August 22, 2022 GMTSINGAPORE (AP) — Singapore's gay community Monday hailed a plan to decriminalize sex between men as “a triumph of love over fear" but warned there is still a long way to equality and new bans on same-sex unions could entrench discrimination against them.
Singapore to decriminalize gay sex, protect marriage law
August 22, 2022 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Singapore will decriminalize sex between men by repealing a colonial-era law but will amend the constitution to ensure same-sex marriage is not allowed, the city-state's leader said Sunday.
Germany flying 6 fighters 8K miles in 24 hours to Singapore
August 16, 2022 GMTBANGKOK (AP) — A group of German air force fighter jets landed in Singapore on Tuesday as part of a marathon bid to fly them some 12,800 kilometers (8,000 miles) from their home base to Southeast Asia in just 24 hours.
US, Indonesia, Australia hold drills amid China concerns
August 12, 2022 GMTBATURAJA, Indonesia (AP) — Soldiers from the U.S., Indonesia and Australia joined a live-fire drill on Friday, part of annual joint combat exercises on Sumatra island amid growing Chinese maritime activity in the Indo-Pacific region.
US, Indonesia hold joint military drills amid China concerns
August 3, 2022 GMTJAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — The United States and Indonesian militaries began annual joint combat exercises Wednesday on Indonesia’s Sumatra island, joined for the first time by participants from other partner nations, signaling stronger ties amid growing maritime activity by China in the Indo-Pacific region.
Pelosi confirms trip to Asia, but no mention of Taiwan
July 31, 2022 GMTBEIJNG (AP) — The speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, confirmed Sunday she will visit four Asian countries this week but made no mention of a possible stop in Taiwan that has fueled tension with Beijing, which claims the island democracy as its own territory.
Asia Cup tournament relocates to UAE from troubled Sri Lanka
July 27, 2022 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — The Twenty20 format Asia Cup has been moved to the United Arab Emirates because of the economic and political crisis in Sri Lanka.
‘Day by day’: Trade bans, inflation send food prices soaring
July 23, 2022 GMTSoki Wu's food stall, tucked in a food court in a shopping mall in Singapore, is a crowd favorite for its fresh, juicy “chicken rice," a national dish. But customers recently began complaining that his chicken didn't taste quite as good as it used to.
The AP Interview: Sri Lanka candidate sees tough work ahead
July 16, 2022 GMTCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka’s opposition leader, who is seeking the presidency next week, vowed Friday to “listen to the people” who are struggling through the island nation’s worst economic crisis and to hold accountable the president who fled under pressure from protesters.
Singapore hangs 2 drug traffickers despite opposition
July 7, 2022 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Two drug traffickers were hanged in Singapore on Thursday, bringing the number of executions this year in the city-state to four despite growing calls to abolish its death penalty.
Singapore urged to halt hanging of Malaysian drug trafficker
July 4, 2022 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Anti-death penalty activists in Malaysia urged Singapore's government on Monday to halt the execution of a convicted Malaysian drug trafficker this week, the second in less than three months.
India, ASEAN seek to boost ties amid US-China rivalry
June 16, 2022 GMTNEW DELHI (AP) — A special meeting of foreign ministers from India and Southeast Asian countries opened Thursday with co-chairs India and Singapore calling for a strengthening of ties amid Russia’s war in Ukraine and a heightened rivalry between the United States and China that threaten peace and stability in the region.