Indonesia tests a new weapon against forest fires. Does it work?
It is trying out a fire-suppressing gel as peat fires fuel a severe haze crisis.
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Haze chokes Malaysia’s farmers, families and businesses as economic costs mount
The financial impact can be seen in delayed harvests, rising medical bills and falling sales.
The Tree at Panmunjom vividly revisits 1976 tensions
Jeffrey Miller’s newest novel, The Tree at Panmunjom, begins in the summer of 1976, as a soldier fresh out of basic training named Bill Davis arrives in South Korea and finds himself assigned to Camp Kitty Hawk just before serving a tense 24-hour shift at the nearby
Top global climate science body meet ends without deal on review timeline
Oct 16 - The meeting of the members of the world's leading authority on climate change ended on Friday without an agreement on a timeline to publish its next review of the latest science on the warming planet, four sources familiar with the matter said.
Welcome to Israel, Trump’s country
TEL AVIV — There is one country on earth where Donald Trump could plausibly win a national election, and he knows it. “I could run for Prime Minister,” he joked in May, claiming 99% approval here. No poll has ever shown that. But the joke landed because it is only half a joke.
Wars and the oil blockades may be waiting for Xi’s party congress
Just as Vladimir and Estragon waited for Godot in Beckett’s famous play, the world may now be waiting for Xi Jinping in the present political drama. America is stuck in two wars. In Ukraine, it would like to reach a compromise with Russia. In the Middle East, it is trying to
Uyghur activists urge Rubio to raise rights concerns with Central Asian officials
Uzbekistan trip is a chance to reassert U.S. moral leadership by pressing the C5 to protect Uyghur communities.
Dodge the cops, reach the protest: India's latest online political game goes viral
NEW DELHI, Oct 16 - A web-based multiplayer game in which players dodge police and detention on their way to a protest site in New Delhi has gone viral, as young Indians use satire and humour to respond to police actions.
Tibetan rights group: South Africa arson attack is transnational repression by CCP
Police are still investigating the firebombing of the Dalai Lama representative’s home office in South Africa.
Fire at JB power facility causes major blackout; two workers electrocuted
The two contractors electrocuted in the incident are in stable condition and receiving treatment.
Devastated families mourn children killed by Pakistan school roof collapse
ISLAMABAD, Oct 16 - When 7-year-old Rumaisa Khan set off for school on Thursday she was wearing a brand-new pair of shoes her father had just bought for her. Within hours she was dead, one of 34 students killed when the roof of her school collapsed in the northwestern Pakistani
Millions of personal records in Japan, South Korea exposed amid surge in AI-powered cyberattacks
Escalating hacking threats show an urgent need to strengthen digital security to protect consumer privacy.
TSMC’s global buildout faces crucial capital efficiency test
TSMC expects overseas manufacturing to reduce its consolidated gross margin by nearly two percentage points in 2026, with the impact widening to three to four points later in its expansion program. The company plans to spend $60 billion to $64 billion on capital expenditure
Malaysia's palm oil industry steps up fire prevention efforts as 'Godzilla' El Nino fuels haze woes
Prolonged dry weather linked to El Nino is affecting crop yields and hampering efforts to contain fires contributing to the regional haze, industry players say.
India's 'cockroach' party founder detained ahead of protest
The youth-led movement had called for a Delhi protest after mass detentions last week and the jailing of two leaders.
Jio’s IPO seeks a tech multiple for old-school mobile business
India’s largest initial public offering (IPO) opens October 21, and investors in Tokyo, Singapore and Hong Kong are being asked a simple question: What is a Jio customer’s monthly bill worth? Jio Platforms, the Reliance-owned mobile carrier with some 524 million India-based
Iran ships some LPG, jet fuel despite US blockade, data shows
DAMASCUS/LONDON, Oct 16 - Iran has managed to export some liquefied petroleum gas and jet fuel since July, despite a US naval blockade, shipping intelligence showed and people involved in security said.
Catholics in Africa outnumber those in Europe, Vatican says
VATICAN CITY, Oct 16 - There are now more Catholics in Africa than in Europe, the Vatican said on Friday, releasing the latest Catholic Church statistics compiled by its news agency Fides.
Philippines eyes billions in investment from Pax Silica tech hub, but farmers fear for their livelihoods
A proposed industrial park in Tarlac province under the United States-led Pax Silica initiative could create thousands of jobs, but residents and experts are raising concerns over transparency, displacement and pressure on resources.
Philanthropy can help bridge gaps as AI and climate change reshape societies, says Philanthropy Asia Alliance chief
The Tsinghua-Philanthropy Asia Alliance Impact Summit brought together leaders from philanthropy, business, government and academia to explore how innovation and collaboration can help tackle challenges.
Why young Indonesians are falling back in love with cinemas and the analogue lifestyle
In an increasingly digital world, why are young Indonesians drawn to activities that bring them offline and together?
Hot US inflation singes Asia as higher-for-longer Fed rates loom
TOKYO — An unwelcome blast of US inflation is blowing across Asia’s markets. September’s hotter-than-expected price data revived concerns that the Federal Reserve will keep rates higher for longer, threatening fresh pressure on currencies, capital flows and economic growth
Millions may be forced to move as climate change hits South Asia: UN
In a worst-case scenario, up to 40.5 million people in South Asia may be forced to move by 2050.
China's central bank to further open up Chinese financial markets to foreigners
"China’s steady economic growth and rapid development of high-tech industries provide solid support for RMB assets," said China's central bank governor Pan Gongsheng.
Haze: Fires in Indonesia are outside Malaysian firms’ areas, says minister
Fahmi Fadzil said a fire had spread to a Malaysian-owned plantation but did not originate from there.
Thai farmers, fishermen challenge IMF, World Bank at Bangkok rally
They want a say in policies shaping their livelihoods.
‘Under attack’ from fragrance, Hanoi prunes its famous blossoms
The Vietnamese capital boasts over 14,400 alstonia scholaris, tall evergreens that shade the streets
Families of children killed in Pakistan school roof collapse demand justice
Initial reports suggested the roof collapse was due to “weak infrastructure”.
IMF chief says AI risks may exceed opportunities without safeguards and ethical framework
AI was a dominant topic at this week’s annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank in Bangkok.
China tells Israel to stop 'forced establishment' of West Bank settlements
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke to Israeli President Isaac Herzog on the sidelines of a conference.
Seoul mountain trail behind presidential Blue House reopens after being closed for nearly 60 years
A 1968 clash between South Korean security forces and North Korean armed commandos led to the mountain's closure.
Why India’s voter revision drive has stoked fear and anger
Thousands have held protests in the capital calling for the resignation of the chief election commissioner.
New rules allow Thai airport staff to open checked luggage without owners present
This is only when X-ray screening finds suspicious objects, items that could affect aviation safety.
Trump’s Ukraine policy swings back toward Moscow
Subscribe now with a one-month trial for only $1, then enjoy the first year at an exclusive rate of just $99. China’s industrial rise fuels Japan’s machine tool boom Scott Foster reports that surging Chinese industrial demand is helping drive a record boom in Japanese machine
Rogue AI agents broke into Indian firms’ live systems, government says
It is India’s first such official account after similar incidents of rogue AI behaviour worldwide.
China’s Tencent says AI agents showed unintended browsing behaviour
It appears to be the first known incident of rogue agent actions acknowledged by a major Chinese company.
Taiwan to curb AI chip exports to China as part of US trade deal
After the measures take effect, shipping restricted AI hardware to China will become a criminal offence.
Hong Kong teen pleads guilty to acid attack on Singaporean tourist
Sentencing has been adjourned to Oct 29.
China previews a world where the algorithm is switched off
The Albanese government has introduced its digital duty of care legislation to parliament today. The bill includes an “off switch” to allow social media users to opt out of recommender algorithms. If passed, Australians could choose to switch off their algorithmic
Trump's new press secretary says China lacked 'proper' toilets
"I remember this very distinctly, having just come from China, thinking, 'How is China the next country on the horizon? They don't even have proper toilets'," said White House press secretary Katie Zacharia.
Security stepped up in India's capital for 'cockroach' movement rally
The rally on Friday (Oct 16) is in support of the two Cockroach Janta Party leaders detained and sent to jail this week for demonstrating at a protest site, said founder Abhijeet Dipke.
Don’t let Musk and the billionaires buy America’s elections
On a recent episode of the Bulwark podcast, journalist Ron Brownstein described the election as a contest between “the wave versus the wall.” The wave being voter anger and President Donald Trump’s plummeting popularity. The wall being structural impediments to voters’ voices,
Indian police detain ‘cockroach’ founder, student leaders ahead of Delhi rally
The youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has called for a rally in New Delhi's central business district.
US Fed’s Kevin Warsh surprised by world economy’s ‘resilience’
He refrains from sharing his view of what may transpire at Fed's gathering in October.
The inflation conflagration is back and here to stay
Two years ago, central bankers on three continents all but declared victory over inflation. Markets took them at their word, and plenty of investors built their portfolios on the assumption that the price surge of 2022 was behind us. That assumption was wrong, and the
China targets practical action from global governance forum next week
BEIJING, Oct 16 - China is aiming to spur more effective and accessible global governance solutions at a forum next week, convened under its push for an alternative governance system for the world.
Four killed fighting wildfires in Indonesian national park
The four men were overwhelmed while battling flames in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java.
