India and China wall off border rows to focus on trade and security
Monday, April 20,2026,10:12
A cautious reset in India-China relations is taking root, according to analysts, with the two rivals increasingly walling off their border disputes from expanding cooperation on trade, security and multilateral diplomacy. The clearest marker yet came last week in New Delhi, where the two sides held their first-ever bilateral consultations focused exclusively on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), the Eurasian security bloc that also includes Russia, Iran, Pakistan and four Central Asian... .. read more..
‘Worst I’ve seen’: forest fires rage across Thailand, Mekong region
Monday, April 20,2026,09:36
Forest fires raging through Laos, Myanmar and Thailand have smothered large areas in dangerous smoke, leaving overstretched firefighters battling blazes and smog-choked communities looking to the skies for rain and their governments to fix a scourge that worsens each year. Dry season fires have brought a public health crisis to northern Thailand, including Chiang Mai, as well as much of Laos and eastern Myanmar, as parched bush provides tinderbox conditions for wildfires. Some fires are also due... .. read more..
Can a US-governed ‘Pax Silica’ hub turn Philippines into a chip powerhouse?
Monday, April 20,2026,09:00
The United States is planning to build an “economic security zone” in the Philippines to counter China’s dominance in critical technologies. The 4,000-acre (1,619-hectare) hi-tech industrial hub will reportedly be the first of its kind in the world, operating under US common law despite being on Philippine soil. Washington says it will be the first “AI-native investment acceleration hub” developed under the US-led Pax Silica initiative, a framework aimed at mobilising allied economies around... .. read more..
China calls for ‘concerted’ industry efforts to tackle excess solar production
Monday, April 20,2026,08:53
China is the undisputed global leader in solar energy, making more than 80% of the world's solar panel components. .. read more..
Asian Shares Rise Despite Mideast Tensions
Monday, April 20,2026,08:38
Asian stocks ended mostly higher on Monday, even as regional gains remained modest somewhat amid uncertainty surrounding the second round of diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran. .. read more..
Delays, rising costs hit Asia’s trade as Gulf crisis spills beyond oil
Monday, April 20,2026,08:36
Malaysia’s busiest container port has started refusing Middle East-bound cargo unless shipping lines can guarantee prompt pickup, in one of the clearest signs yet that the Gulf crisis is working its way past oil and into the everyday trade that moves across Asia. Longer transit times, missed sailings and sharply higher insurance premiums are now rippling across the region’s logistics chain, with wine, spirits and other time-sensitive goods acting as an early indicator of disruption that analysts... .. read more..
Asia markets mostly rise as U.S.-Iran tensions escalate after ship seizure
Monday, April 20,2026,08:24
Asia-Pacific markets were mostly higher Monday as a U.S. seizure of an Iranian vessel deepened tensions, keeping investors on edge. .. read more..
U.S. dollar closes lower on Taipei forex market
Monday, April 20,2026,08:17
Taipei, April 20 (CNA) The U.S. dollar fell against the Taiwan dollar Monday, shedding NT$0.065 to close at NT$31.531. .. read more..
Tsunami warning issued in Japan after magnitude-7.4 quake hits northeast
Monday, April 20,2026,08:12
A tsunami warning was issued for northeast and northern Japan after an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.4 struck at 4.53pm on Monday. The epicentre of the quake, which had a depth of 10km (six miles), was off the Sanriku Coast, the Japan News reported. A tsunami warning was issued for Hokkaido and Iwate prefectures, with an expected height of three metres (10 feet). Reporting by Kyodo, Reuters. Additional reporting by SCMP’s Asia desk More to follow... .. read more..
Taiwan's pet cats reach 1.74 million in 2025, outnumbering dogs
Monday, April 20,2026,08:09
Taipei, April 20 (CNA) The number of pet cats in Taiwan surpassed that of pet dogs for the first time in 2025, reaching 1,742,033, a 32.8 percent increase from 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) said Monday, citing a survey. .. read more..
'Resumption of hostilities': seized ship, vessel attacks push U.S.-Iran cease...
Monday, April 20,2026,08:05
A U.S. seizure of an Iranian cargo ship and reports of vessels coming under fire in the Gulf have pushed a fragile ceasefire with Tehran to the brink. .. read more..
Asian financial bodies sound alert on Anthropic’s Mythos AI hacker
Monday, April 20,2026,07:47
Regulators across Asia are stepping up scrutiny of cybersecurity risks in their financial systems, as concerns over Anthropic’s latest AI model Mythos spread. Singapore’s financial regulator is urging banks to plug holes, while South Korea’s government agencies have met to review and discuss how to respond to the risks. In Australia, authorities expect lenders to be vigilant to ensure clients are not put at risk by inadequate controls. The actions around the region reflect rising global concern... .. read more..
Business group urges Taiwan gov't to ease curbs on China measures
Monday, April 20,2026,07:43
Taipei, April 20 (CNA) A Taiwanese business group on Monday urged the government to "ease or lift" restrictions in response to a slate of tourism and commercial measures announced by China. .. read more..
Shares in Acer's smart home appliance unit soar on OTC debut
Monday, April 20,2026,07:35
Taipei, April 20 (CNA) Shares in Acerpure Inc., a smart home appliance subsidiary of PC brand Acer Inc., rose sharply by over 40 percent on Monday, the first day of its listing on the Taipei Exchange's over-the-counter (OTC) market. .. read more..
Vietnam and Philippines trust Japan. Why doesn’t Indonesia?
Monday, April 20,2026,07:02
For Southeast Asia, trust in Japan runs deepest where China presses hardest and breaks down where neutrality is a point of pride. Analysts say that dynamic, revealed in an annual survey released earlier this month, explains why Vietnam and the Philippines both see the East Asian nation as a trusted partner while Indonesia, a country that has long prized non-alignment, is uncomfortable with Tokyo’s deepening embrace of Washington. Trust in Tokyo is highest in the Philippines (77.3 per cent),... .. read more..
Indonesian rights body says soldiers killed 12 civilians in Papua. Military d...
Monday, April 20,2026,06:17
Indonesia’s National Human Rights Commission strongly criticised the military on Monday as it investigated the killing of 12 civilians last week during an operation against rebels in Papua province. The military said it had no information about the deaths, but the state-run rights commission said over the weekend that 12 people including women and children had been shot dead during an operation against separatists in central Papua on Tuesday. Dozens of others sustained serious injuries, it... .. read more..
Taiwan shares close up 0.42%
Monday, April 20,2026,05:59
Taipei, April 20 (CNA) Taiwan shares ended up 154.46 points, or 0.42 percent, at 36,958.80 Monday on turnover of NT$919.98 billion (US$28.97 billion). .. read more..
Taiwan to host global space forum in November
Monday, April 20,2026,05:55
Taipei, April 20 (CNA) Taiwan will host a major international space industry forum in November, with more than 3,500 professionals from over 18 countries expected to attend, the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) said Monday. .. read more..
Confidence in Taiwan economy weakens amid Middle East conflicts: Poll
Monday, April 20,2026,05:19
Taipei, April 20 (CNA) Confidence in Taiwan's economy weakened in April as sentiment was dampened by the ongoing military conflicts in the Middle East, according to a survey released by Cathay Financial Holding Co. on Monday. .. read more..
Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries sees shares jump nearly 4% on first ever ...
Monday, April 20,2026,05:10
This will be Japan's first ever warship export project, and the first ship is scheduled to be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy in 2029. .. read more..
Asia growth forecasts slashed as Iran war and tariffs threaten supply chains
Monday, April 20,2026,05:00
Asia-Pacific economies are likely to suffer a slowdown in growth this year, as rising costs linked to the US-Israel war on Iran combine with lingering trade uncertainty to threaten global trade flows, according to forecasts by top international organisations. The predictions come despite China showing resilience in the first quarter by posting better-than-expected growth of 5 per cent and finance minister Lan Foan last week stressing that the world’s second-largest economy would remain an engine... .. read more..
For foreign spouses, Taiwan's domestic violence safety net offers hope, obsta...
Monday, April 20,2026,04:55
Thousands of miles from her home in Vietnam, A-Yueh once believed she was facing a violent marriage alone, until social workers stepped in, helping her escape abuse and rebuild her life. .. read more..
Indian Shares Give Up Early Gains As US-Iran Tensions Return To Haunt
Monday, April 20,2026,04:29
Indian shares were subdued on Monday, giving up early gains as Middle East tensions escalated over the weekend and the Strait of Hormuz remained closed, leading to wild swings in energy markets. .. read more..
New Zealand declares emergency in Wellington as record rainfall triggers flas...
Monday, April 20,2026,04:26
Residents in low-lying areas of New Zealand’s capital city Wellington were urged to evacuate on Monday, as heavy rain continued to drench the city, which experienced flash flooding overnight. A state of emergency was declared for the region on Monday afternoon, while weather forecaster MetService upgraded its heavy rain warning to red, the highest level, which indicates a threat to life from dangerous river conditions, significant flooding and slips. Mayor Andrew Little told state-owned Radio... .. read more..
Teng Kai-wei tosses 2 scoreless innings in Astros 7-5 loss to Cardinals
Monday, April 20,2026,04:07
Taipei, April 20 (CNA) Teng Kai-wei (鄧愷威) on Sunday continued his strong start to the Major League Baseball (MLB) season, tossing two scoreless innings in the Houston Astros' 7-5 home loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. .. read more..
Japan to focus on lunar rover after US halts moon space station
Monday, April 20,2026,04:00
A US move to freeze the Lunar Gateway orbiting space station could render Japan’s new technologies redundant – but its space agency is expected to be diplomatic in its response. The gateway project was initially planned as an installation that would orbit the moon as part of the United States’ Artemis programme, which recently made headlines for a record-breaking journey that went deeper into space than anyone had ever flown before. Artemis’ aim is to return astronauts to the moon’s surface for... .. read more..
Australian Market Trims Early Losses In Mid-market
Monday, April 20,2026,03:43
The Australian stock market is trimming its early losses in mid-market trading on Monday, extending the losses in the previous two sessions, despite the broadly positive cues from Wall Street on Friday. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index is falling to near the 8,900.00 level, with weakness in iron ore miners and energy nearly offset by gains in gold miners and technology stocks. .. read more..
Asian Markets Track Wall Street Higher
Monday, April 20,2026,03:00
Asian stock markets are trading mostly higher on Monday, following the broadly positive cues from Wall Street on Friday, as traders remain cautious amid the uncertainty prevailing around the peace talks between the U.S. and Iran. Tensions in the Middle-East escalated over the weekend with Iran reportedly not ready for new face-to-face talks with the U.S., citing maximalist demands. .. read more..
How Sanae Takaichi is redefining Japanese diplomacy with personal touches
Monday, April 20,2026,02:40
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has been putting her own spin on omotenashi, the Japanese concept of hospitality, to build personal rapport with foreign leaders as her diplomatic skills are put to the test about six months into office. Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, who was not widely known for her diplomatic experience before taking office, has been adding an element of entertainment to summit talks and relying on personal gifts to win over her counterparts. Most... .. read more..
Indian Shares Seen Tad Higher At Open
Monday, April 20,2026,02:36
Indian shares are seen opening a tad higher on Monday, tracking mostly positive cues from global markets. .. read more..
U.S. dollar down in Taipei trading
Monday, April 20,2026,02:10
Taipei, April 20 (CNA) The U.S. dollar was traded at NT$31.500 at 10 a.m. Monday on the Taipei Foreign Exchange, down NT$0.096 from the previous close. .. read more..
Thai Shares Tipped To Open Under Water Again
Monday, April 20,2026,02:03
The Thai Stock market has moved lower in back-to-back sessions, slumping almost 25 points or 1.6 percent along the way. The Stock Exchange of Thailand now sits just above the 1,480-point plateau and it may see continued consolidation on Monday. .. read more..
Singapore tycoon sues banks for US$1 billion from collapse of Australian NewSat
Monday, April 20,2026,02:02
In the early 2010s, a small Australian company tried to build a fleet of satellites before lenders, concerned about its chief executive officer’s flamboyant behaviour, pulled hundreds of millions of dollars of financing. The firm collapsed in 2015. More than a decade later, Singapore real estate tycoon Ching Chiat Kwong, who says he put US$100 million of his own money into NewSat, has not forgotten. The Supreme Court of Victoria begins hearing a case on Monday brought by the liquidators of the... .. read more..
Three family members die in Chiayi house fire
Monday, April 20,2026,01:57
Taipei, April 20 (CNA) A fire at a residential building in Chiayi City claimed the lives of a couple and their 5-year-old daughter on Sunday night, according to the city's Fire Bureau. .. read more..
Taiwan headline news
Monday, April 20,2026,01:45
Taipei, April 20 (CNA) The lead stories in major Taiwan dailies on Monday are as follows: .. read more..
China keeps benchmark lending rates unchanged as economic growth revs up, Mid...
Monday, April 20,2026,01:40
The upbeat economic growth has reduced the urgency for fresh stimulus measures, prompting economists to postpone forecasts on the timing of interest rate cuts. .. read more..
Japanese Market Notably Higher
Monday, April 20,2026,01:37
The Japanese stock market is trading notably higher on Monday, reversing some of the sharp losses in the previous session, following the broadly positive cues from Wall Street on Friday, with the Nikkei 225 moving above the 58,900 level, with gains across most sectors led by index heavyweights, automakers and financial stocks. .. read more..
Renewed Selling Pressure Likely For Indonesia Stock Market
Monday, April 20,2026,01:33
The Indonesia stock market on Friday snapped the two-day slide in which it had stumbled more than 70 points or 0.9 percent. The Jakarta Composite Index now rests just above the 7,630-point plateau although it's likely to head south again on Monday. .. read more..
South Korea targets India, Vietnam in ‘co-prosperity’ push for trade and tech
Monday, April 20,2026,01:30
Bolstering strategic partnerships and economic ties will be high on the agenda during South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s six-day trip to India and Vietnam, as Seoul seeks to expand cooperation with the Global South amid the Middle East turmoil. Lee, who arrived in New Delhi on Sunday, is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, business leaders and Korean expatriates before concluding the visit on Tuesday. National security adviser Wi Sung-rak said South Korea will “comprehensively... .. read more..
Hong Kong Shares May Take Further Damage On Monday
Monday, April 20,2026,01:18
The Hong Kong stock market on Friday ended the three-day winning streak in which it had jumped almost 750 points or 3 percent. The Hang Seng Index now rests just above the 26,160-point plateau and it's likely to open in the red again on Monday. .. read more..
Taiwan shares open higher
Monday, April 20,2026,01:10
Taipei, April 20 (CNA) The Taiwan Stock Exchange's main index opened up 45.90 points at 36,850.24 Monday on turnover of NT$15.85 billion (US$497.86 million). .. read more..
China Bourse May Open In The Red On Monday
Monday, April 20,2026,01:03
The China stock market on Friday snapped the five-day winning streak in which it had rallied almost 90 points or 2.2 percent. The Shanghai Composite Index now sits just above the 4,050-point plateau and it's looking at another soft start on Monday. .. read more..
Australian Markets Notably Lower
Monday, April 20,2026,00:56
The Australian stock market is notably lower on Monday, extending the losses in the previous two sessions, despite the broadly positive cues from Wall Street on Friday. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index is falling to near the 8,900.00 level, with weakness in mining, energy and financial stocks. .. read more..
Lower Open Tipped For Taiwan Stock Market
Monday, April 20,2026,00:33
The Taiwan stock market on Friday wrote a finish to the eight-day winning streak in which it had surged almost 4,600 points or 13.7 percent. The Taiwan Stock Exchange now sits just above the 36,800-point plateau and it's looking at another soft start again on Monday. .. read more..
Losing Streak May Continue For Singapore Stock Market
Monday, April 20,2026,00:03
The Singapore stock market has finished lower in consecutive trading days, slipping almost 25 points or 0.5 percent in that span. The Straits Times Index now rests just beneath the 5,000-point plateau and it's likely to open under pressure again on Monday. .. read more..
Asia’s EV revolution shifts into overdrive with Iran war oil shock
Monday, April 20,2026,00:00
Across Asia, a revolution in how people move was already gathering speed. War in Iran just hit the accelerator. Prashant Tiwari was among the first people at his company to go electric when he swapped his petrol car for a Hyundai Kona five years ago. Now, his colleagues at Fusemachines Nepal – an AI firm in Kathmandu – are calling him a prophet. “They say you don’t have any problem,” the 36-year-old product manager said. “I think it is foolish to buy a petrol-run car now, and everyone generally... .. read more..
Malaysia Shares May Run Out Of Steam On Monday
Sunday, April 19,2026,23:33
The Malaysia stock market has moved higher in back-to-back sessions, collecting almost a dozen points or 0.8 percent along the way. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index now sits just above the 1,695-point plateau although investors may lock in gains on Monday. .. read more..
Japan Shares May Extend Friday's Losses
Sunday, April 19,2026,23:18
The Japan stock market on Friday snapped the three-day winning streak in which it had surged more than 3,000 points or 5 percent. The Nikkei finished just above the 58,475-point plateau and it may extend its losses on Monday. .. read more..
KOPSI May Open Under Pressure On Monday
Sunday, April 19,2026,23:03
The South Korea stock market on Friday snapped the three-day winning streak in which it had jumped more than 410 points or 5.3 percent. The KOSPI now sits just above the 6,190-point plateau and it may take further damage on Monday. .. read more..
North Korea launches ballistic missiles as UN warns of nuclear advances
Sunday, April 19,2026,13:54
North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles towards the sea on Sunday, its neighbours said, days after the UN’s nuclear watchdog warned that North Korea was making “very serious” advances in efforts to build nuclear weapons. The missiles fired from the North’s Sinpo area flew about 140 kilometres (87 miles) each towards the country’s eastern waters, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said. It said South Korea maintains a readiness to repel any provocations by North Korea and is... .. read more..