Dance, off: South Korea’s live music venues caught in regulatory limbo

Small music venues registered as restaurants face suspensions for dancing.

Zelensky tweets the war, producing Ukraine’s own situation report

Sometimes deciding how to frame these weekend updates can be a challenge. There are usually a number of important issues that need discussing each week, and choosing the ones to highlight and the balance of time to spend on each (I want to keep these updates to a somewhat

Indonesia rescuers searching for 129 people still missing after passenger ship capsizes

At least six people have died after the Virgo Transport 8 ship capsized on Sunday.

Indonesia rescuers searching for 129 people still missing after passenger ship capsized

The Virgo Transport 8 ship carrying 243 people initially went missing in bad weather on Sept 13.

Philippines halts exports of fresh purple yam as demand rises

The indefinite suspension, imposed in mid-August, covers the crop and its propagative planting material.

Malaysia says DBS-linked 1MDB asset recovery not just about lost funds

The fallout from the scandal continues to reverberate years after billions were allegedly siphoned from 1MDB.

Trump dismisses report China entities helped Iran before attack that killed US troops

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE, Sept 13 - U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday brushed aside a report that Iran acquired satellite images of a base in Jordan from Chinese entities before an attack that killed three U.S. troops there in July.

Chinese defence forum set to open amid roiling regional tensions

Hundreds of military officers, diplomats from dozens of countries are expected to attend the three-day event.

A $9.4 billion gas bill sees developing Asian nations sour on LNG

The more than doubling of costs threatens to tarnish the reputation of LNG as a reliable energy source.

Polls open in Philippine Muslim enclave after deadly shooting

Okinawa election win may give Tokyo freer hand on military build-up

TOKYO, Sept 14 - A candidate backed by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government won Okinawa's gubernatorial election on Sunday, ousting an opponent of Tokyo's military build-up across the strategically important island chain near Taiwan and China.

Why a fresh wave of North Korean soldiers may fight in Russia's war in Ukraine

North Korea will continue to send its soldiers to fight in Russia's war, but only for as long as it is profitable to do so, writes the BBC's Quentin Sommerville.

North Korea says it conducted 'firepower attack drill'

Attack hits Panguna camp as Bougainville backs copper mine restart

WELLINGTON, Sept 14 - Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama condemned an attack on a mining camp at Panguna and said his government would press ahead with plans to reopen the long-shuttered copper mine despite opposition from some groups.

The Himalayas are melting faster - and India's economy is 'at risk'

A new report warns Himalayan glaciers are melting faster, threatening India’s water, economy and communities.

Polls open in Philippine Muslim enclave after shooting kills 3

The shooting took place just before midnight as members of rival political factions jostled for the right to cast their votes first in Cotabato City.

Indonesia and South Korea upgrade their strategic relationship

South Korea and Indonesia this year have been working on elevating their relationship. Both countries are vulnerable to the changing geopolitical currents of our times. From a security perspective their situations are different: Korea has long maintained a close treaty alliance

North Korea says missile launches were part of live-fire drills

The “joint firepower attack drill” on Sept 12 involved five army units and tested several weapon systems.

North Korea held live-fire drills involving artillery and missiles, KCNA says

SEOUL, Sept 14 - North Korea held a live-fire drill to test long-range artillery and missile units of its army, state media KCNA reported on Monday.

Trump downplays warnings of AI risks, citing rivalry with China

The US president said "negative forces" were airing concerns about "things that won't happen".

Nepal tunnel survivor finds solace in village homecoming

Sanjay Sah was one of just three pulled from debris-buried tunnels.

Six dead, 130 missing after Indonesian ferry capsizes in Java Sea

Ships and helicopters are searching for those missing from the Virgo Transport 8 ship, which had encountered bad weather.

Seoul’s Myeong-dong holds lead as South Korea’s tourist shopping hub

Seoul’s Jung-gu, home to Myeong-dong, captured nearly a quarter of foreign-card spending for shopping.

Can a 20-second Modi-Xi handshake at the BRICS summit break years of India-China ice?

Xi’s first India trip in seven years stirs hope, but border tensions and tech curbs hinder a full reset

South Korea aims to finalise details of US investment plan this week, minister says

A US$200 (S$253.46 billion) billion ceiling for strategic investments has been agreed on.

Chiefs of Japan’s nuclear plant operator to quit over data fraud

The company earlier commissioned an investigation into alleged earthquake-risk data falsification.

Iran war reshapes Brics ties but also exposes divisions

Brics members agree they need a new global order but it's harder to answer what should replace it and how to get there.

Russia hits truck near Polish border in latest strike near NATO

KYIV/MOSCOW Sept 13 - Russia attacked a truck near Ukraine's border with Poland, Polish and Ukrainian officials said on Sunday, the latest strike to hit areas near NATO as Moscow and Kyiv intensify their long-distance strikes to try to shift momentum in the war.

Seoul to designate patient-friendly hotels as medical tourism surges

Foreign patient numbers rose 71.9 per cent to 2.01 million in 2025.

Hong Kong homes flattened for US$28 billion high-tech hub

An area roughly a third of Hong Kong including villages, natural wetlands and farmland is being converted into the "Northern Metropolis", an ambitious project aimed at deepening integration with mainland China.

Hong Kong homes flattened for $36b high-tech hub

The government says the Northern Metropolis will cost at least HK$224 billion (S$36.2 billion).

China, Russia, India seek economic cooperation at BRICS

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pointed out that the bloc represents 40 per cent of global GDP.

Philippines says it may take months to identify ferry fire victims

Officials said more remains could still be found, adding that “most of them are already in a charred condition”.

Philippine ferry fire victims may take months to identify, authorities say

CORON, Phliippines, Sept 13 - Authorities in the Philippines said on Sunday it could take weeks or months to identify the victims of a ferry fire that killed 76 people, as forensic experts begin collecting and comparing DNA samples from charred remains and investigators

Malaysian PM Anwar strikes a chord at BRICS summit with Bollywood tunes

Geopolitics and trade negotiations took a brief break for Bollywood diplomacy.

'Second life': Nepal tunnel survivor recalls ordeal

Nepali hydropower worker Sanjay Sah's survival was a rare ray of hope after a disaster that killed at least 1,429 people and left more than 5,640 missing.

Search underway for Indonesian passenger ship carrying 240 people after it loses contact

The Virgo Transport 8 had left Surabaya for Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan on Borneo island.

Indonesia says six killed, more than 120 missing after ferry capsizes off Java

Basarnas, Indonesia's national search and rescue agency, said in its latest update that six people were killed and 129 were missing. It said 108 people had been rescued.

Lights out in Laos as electricity exports surge

Exports of electricity to neighbouring countries are a key source of revenue for the landlocked nation.

Rescuers search for 130 people after Indonesia passenger ship flipped; six dead, government says

The ship was reported missing after losing contact with the authorities on Sept 13 during bad weather.

Indonesia passenger ship with 243 people reported missing at sea, agency says

Rescuers have launched a search, deploying a team toward its last known position.

Modi and Xi 'expressed commitment' to resolving border issue, strengthening ties

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said both countries should “stay committed” to resolving the boundary question and “maintain peace and tranquility in border areas”.

Myanmar government revokes status of UN permanent representative Kyaw Moe Tun, seeks action against him

Kyaw Moe Tun was dismissed from the civil service on Feb 27, 2021, for failing to follow instructions.

Myanmar government revokes status and seeks action against UN envoy Kyaw Moe Tun

Sept 13 - Myanmar's military-backed government said on Sunday its permanent representative to the United Nations was undertaking \"illegal activities\" and that his status had been revoked and withdrawn.

Scars of Marawi siege linger as Philippine polls near

The Philippine military and gunmen linked to the Islamic State group fought brutal house-to-house battles in 2017.