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Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro at a press conference on Monday. Photo: Getty Images via TNS
Venezuela

US naval buildup in Caribbean draws fiery response from Venezuela’s Maduro

The US says it aims to counter Latin American drug cartels, but Venezuela’s president condemns American naval presence as an ‘extravagant’ threat.

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Robert F. Kennedy

Former CDC heads say Kennedy Jnr ‘endangering’ all Americans

Medicine

Trump plans hefty tax on imported drugs, risking higher US prices and shortages

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Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong police drug crackdown snares 418, with boy, 13, youngest arrested

Police say officers smashed 303 drug cases during seven-week operation, with 338kg of various suspected narcotics seized.

Hong Kong police display various suspected drugs seized in a recent case. Photo: Handout
Crime in Hong Kong

2 arrested as Hong Kong police find 44.5kg of ketamine hidden in storage units

Two local men, aged 23 and 30, were arrested, with 178 packs of drugs found in two separate storage units.

Crime in Hong Kong

29 arrested in anti-drug operation in Hong Kong, including 13-year-old boy

Police also raid suspected drug storage sites in Kwun Tong, Sham Shui Po and Tai Po in four-day operation.

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Americas and the Caribbean

US-Venezuela tensions rise as US naval force arrives in Southern Caribbean

US warship presence is meant to target Latin American drug cartels, but Venezuela’s Maduro calls it a threat.

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro and other officials in Caracas on Thursday. Photo: Miraflores Palace via Reuters
Crime in Hong Kong

Etomidate abuse surges in Hong Kong with 338 users reported in first half of 2025

Authorities say 211 of users aged 21 or under, while youngest only 11.

United States

Trump implores banks to step up monitoring of China money laundering linked to fentanyl

Treasury advisory highlights how informal Chinese money-laundering operations allow Mexican drug cartels to bypass financial safeguards.

Singapore

Singapore imposes caning and jail for dealers of drug-laced vapes

The city state classified certain vape substances as controlled drugs, leading to fines, imprisonment, and possible deportation for dealers.

A man exhales while smoking an e-cigarette. Photo: AP
South Korea

South Korea’s ‘Gangnam Style’ star Psy faces police probe over drug allegations

The K-pop superstar is accused of using intermediaries to obtain Xanax and Stilnox, bypassing the required in-person doctor visits.

Psy. Photo: Fairfax Media
Japan

Is this Japanese non-addictive painkiller the answer to the opioid crisis?

If larger-scale trials in the US prove successful, the drug could go on the market in about two years, the Kyoto University team says.

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War and conflict

Editorial | Reviving the Monroe Doctrine won’t keep China out of the Americas

The Trump administration’s threats against Venezuela will only push the beleaguered country and its neighbours closer to China.

Crime

Mexican drug lord ‘El Mayo’ pleads guilty in US to drug-trafficking charges

Ismael Zambada, 77, said he was sorry for flooding the US with cocaine and heroin. He is set to be sentenced on January 13 to life in prison.

A newspaper seller arranges newspapers reporting the arrest of drug lord Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada in Mexico City in July 2024. Zambada on Monday pleaded guilty to drug-trafficking charges in the US. Photo: Reuters
Malaysia

From Ferraris to felonies: son of ex-PM arrested with heroin in Malaysia

The arrest of the son of a former prime minister with heroin in his car is drawing comparisons to past cases of the elite escaping justice.

The Ferrari belonging to the son of a former Malaysian prime minister that police impounded after discovering heroin inside. Photo: Handout
Indonesia

Bali police arrest woman who smuggled cocaine in a sex toy

A Peruvian woman who arrived from Qatar could face the death penalty after officers found cocaine hidden in a sex toy and her underwear.

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The Philippines

Smoke and mirrors: cannabis drama swirls around Philippine Senate’s ‘bad boy’

Ex-action star Robin Padilla’s past antics have spanned a live-streamed wardrobe malfunction and an IV drip session in his Senate office.

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Matthew Perry

‘Ketamine Queen’ accused of selling fatal dose to Matthew Perry to plead guilty

Jasveen Sangha, the final defendant charged in the 2023 overdose death of the Friends star, faces 45 years in prison.

Actor Matthew Perry in 2022. The Friends star died in 2023. Photo: Invision / AP
Singapore

In rare move, Singapore grants clemency to drug trafficker on death row

Home affairs ministry says clemency – exercised as an act of ‘executive grace’ – was granted to reduce the ‘disparity’ in the sentences of Tan and his co-offender.

Hong Kong society

Video | Man clings to bonnet of speeding car after argument with girlfriend

Malaysia

Senior Malaysian army officers held for running smuggling ring

Five senior military officers and five civilians were arrested in a massive crackdown that followed a year-long surveillance operation.

Replica weapons seized in Wednesday’s raid. Photo: The Star
Wellness

From Disney to drug overdose, how this addict turned his life around

Hong Kong-based James Gannaban reveals how discovering yoga and becoming a teacher helped him recover after hitting rock bottom.

James Gannaban performs a lateral bending compass pose in 2024. He reveals how he went from Disney performer to nightclub manager battling addiction to recovering through yoga. Photo: Instagram/jamesgannaban
US-China relations

US and Chinese trade teams to meet in 2 to 3 months: Trump’s Treasury chief

Scott Bessent added that China’s Xi Jinping had invited the US president to a meeting, but Trump had not accepted yet.

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Spain

Spain police bust ‘spiritual retreat’ offering frog venom, other psychedelics

Group allegedly offered multi-day stays that included consuming ayahuasca, San Pedro cactus and a frog venom known as Kambo.

Hong Kong society

Opinion | Time for Hong Kong to properly integrate private and public healthcare

The Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme was a step in the right direction but without deeper systemic reform, it will struggle to make an impact.

Illustration: Stephen Case
Donald Trump

Mexico vows ‘no invasion’ over Trump threat to target cartels

President Sheinbaum was responding to reports that the US leader had ordered his military to target the criminal organisations.

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Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum speaks during her daily press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City on Thursday. Photo: EPA
Venezuela

US doubles reward for arrest of Venezuela’s Maduro to US$50 million

The Trump administration has accused Venezuela’s president of being one of the world’s largest narco-traffickers.

Crime in Hong Kong

Man arrested in Hong Kong over smoking products, 30kg of drugs found in luggage

Authorities seized HK$12 million of illegal items, including ketamine from passenger who flew to city from the Netherlands.

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