Trump-branded golf resort in Vietnam hits snag over land dispute

Right now, it remains just fields of banana and orange trees as angry farmers challenge the site’s clearance plans.

Chinese pundits claim victory after Trump’s trade concessions

Chinese media and commentators erupted in celebration following the latest summit between the top leaders of China and the United States, as Washington agreed to halve the 20% fentanyl-related tariff and to extend the suspension of the 24% reciprocal tariffs by a whole year,

Commentary: Now comes the real test of Thailand and Cambodia’s border truce

As Thailand and Cambodia progressively withdraw heavy weaponry from disputed border areas, keeping the peace will depend on several other factors, says Control Risks’ Harrison Cheng.

Pakistan, Afghanistan agree to continue ceasefire, Turkey says

ISTANBUL - Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed on Thursday to extend a ceasefire during talks in Istanbul after the worst border clashes between the neighbours in years, according to Turkey which mediated the talks along with Qatar.

Panda-mania: China’s national treasure draws fans locally, wins soft power abroad

Panda-related consumer spending has shot in Chengdu, the self-styled 'panda capital' in Sichuan province.

‘We are RFA’: The journalists behind the stories

Radio Free Asia on their commitment in bringing critical information to audiences where facts are suppressed.

US ​supersonic low altitude missile (SLAM) and Russian Burevestnik

Burevestnik has been a thorn in the side of the Russian defense establishment despite the recent test that the Russians claim was successful. Burevestnik (Storm Petrel) is a nuclear-powered cruise missile with, allegedly, unlimited range and endurance. It appears to be an

Tokyo’s youth culture district bans ‘Nuisance Halloween’ again

Tokyo’s Shibuya district, which has long been known as the center of youth culture in Japan, has once again moved to restrict its Halloween street celebrations. A mayoral edict against so-called “Nuisance Halloween” has led to a series of strict measures in recent years,

Nvidia's Huang meets Samsung, Hyundai in deepening of South Korea ties

In a reversal of remarks on Wednesday, Trump said he did not discuss Nvidia's Blackwell AI chip with Xi.

Turkey's Erdogan to Merz: does Germany not see Israeli 'genocide' in Gaza?

ANKARA - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan criticised Germany over what he said was its ignorance of Israel's \"genocide\" and attacks in Gaza, at a joint news conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday.

Signs of a nascent Texas boom in rare minerals-related industries

Major oil companies are drilling in East Texas again, but not for oil. This time, they’re after lithium for batteries and other rare elements. Chevron and Halliburton announced East Texas projects in the summer of 2025. Exxon has acreage across the border in Arkansas. Smackover

‘Quiet city’ on high alert: Gyeongju tightens security as Apec summit kicks off

World leaders including Trump, Xi and Takaichi were in town for the economic meetings, with bilateral summits on the sidelines.

Trump-Xi summit: Who walked away happier, and what’s next for Sino-US ties?

The Busan summit may not have changed the fundamentals of the US-China relationship, but it has bought both sides time - and space - to manage competition more predictably, say analysts.

Japan’s hunters bag higher pay as bear problem mounts

Hunting associations have called for compensation rules and sums to be standardised.

School building collapse in Indonesia kills student, a month after similar fatal incident

Preliminary findings suggest the collapse was caused by extreme weather.

South Korea investigates death of worker at London Bagel Museum over reported overwork

The 26-year-old employee had reportedly worked nearly 80 hours in a week.

‘Amazing’ Trump-Xi talks produce a pause in US-China trade war

Several pain points – rare earths, soya beans and fentanyl – were addressed.

US Treasury's Bessent says China has approved TikTok transfer deal

WASHINGTON - China has approved the transfer agreement for the short video app TikTok, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday, adding that he expects it to move forward in coming weeks and months but giving no other details.

Afghanistan and Pakistan restart peace talks in Istanbul, sources say

ISLAMABAD - Afghanistan and Pakistan have resumed peace talks in Istanbul, four sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday, a day after Islamabad said the discussions had ended in failure.

Canada's Carney to meet China's Xi in South Korea

OTTAWA - Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday at 4 p.m. local time/0700 GMT in South Korea, the prime minister's office said on Thursday.

Cyclone Montha damage estimated at $603 million, Indian state says

HYDERABAD, India - A severe cyclone that battered India's eastern coast this week caused damage estimated at nearly 53 billion rupees ($603 million), as farms, roads and buildings were flooded in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, authorities said on Thursday.

German court orders Afghan who killed toddler in knife attack into care

ASCHAFFENBURG, Germany - A German judge ordered an Afghan national to be sent into psychiatric care after he fatally stabbed two people, including a toddler, nine months ago in an attack that shocked the country.

German courts convict Russian spy, start trial of three other suspects

MUNICH - A German of Russian ethnic background was convicted of spying and planning arson attacks on military installations and railways in Germany on behalf of Russia and sentenced on Thursday to six years in prison.

UK sanctions Iranian banker for supporting Iran's Guards

LONDON - Britain sanctioned Iranian banker and businessman Aliakbar Ansari on Thursday, citing his role in financially supporting the activities of Iran's Revolutionary Guards as the reason for its action.

Tanks in Europe, Trump in Asia

Subscribe now with a one-month trial for only $1, then enjoy the first year at an exclusive rate of just $99. Battlefield wins embolden Russia as Putin hardens terms for peaceJames Davis reports that Russian forces are closing in on Pokrovsk and Kupyansk, tightening control

Japan's new PM in first talks with South Korean president

Trump-Xi talks end in truce, not deal, with new potent risks

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping finally met in Busan, South Korea, for long-awaited talks aimed at easing trade tensions. If that was the objective, it was only narrowly achieved: the US “fentanyl tariffs” on China were halved—from 20% to 10%—bringing

Air Japan to cease operations from March 2026; final S’pore to Tokyo flight on March 29

Air Japan will fly its final Singapore to Narita route on March 29.

South Korea's Lee, Japan's Takaichi to strengthen ties, Lee's office says

GYEONGJU, South Korea - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung told Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that it was more important than ever to strengthen bilateral ties given how the countries had much in common under the current trade environment, Lee's office said on

Japan’s new PM, South Korean president stress importance of ‘forward-looking ties’ at first meeting

Relations have suffered over issues related to Japan’s 1910 to 1945 occupation of the Korean peninsula.

Xi and Trump find temporary truce as China plays longer game

Talks have helped to steady a rocky relationship between the world's top two economies - but the rivalry persists.

Burevestnik: How Russia’s nuke-powered missile ups tactical risk

Russian President Vladimir Putin, dressed in a military uniform, announced on October 26, 2025, that Russia had successfully tested a nuclear-powered missile. If true, such a weapon could provide Russia with a unique military capability that also has broader political

Snap Insight: Trump-Xi meeting in Busan cools tensions, but mistrust still runs deep

The outcome of the meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in Busan signals a de-escalation of tensions, says former US news bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh.

China's BYD reports biggest quarterly profit fall in over four years

Trump hails 'amazing' meeting with China's Xi but no formal trade deal agreed

The US president and his Chinese counterpart met face-to-face for the first time in six years.

Trump’s nuke test resumption a blunder framed as strength

President Trump’s announcement that the United States will resume nuclear weapons testing after a 33-year moratorium represents precisely the kind of reflexive, muscle-flexing response that substitutes for strategy in Washington’s foreign policy establishment. Made just hours

World Bank calls on Malaysia to ‘significantly expand’ social pensions amid ageing population

The World Bank report noted that while EPF - which is Malaysia’s retirement fund - contributions have improved in volume and scope, overall retirement savings adequacy remains a critical problem.

Malaysia considering linking school CCTVs with police for live monitoring

The Education Ministry has allocated $2.5 million to install CCTVs at strategic areas in schools.

Over 350,000 have registered for QR code system at JB checkpoints

The existing QR code system and the MyBorderPass app remain valid for entry and exit.

Turning up the heat: New Zealand rolls out first all-women firefighter calendar

Thirteen of New Zealand’s female firefighters posed in support of breast cancer research.

APEC summit in South Korea close to reaching consensus, after Trump leaves

GYEONGJU, South Korea - Member countries of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum are close to reaching a consensus on a joint declaration at the annual summit in South Korea starting Friday, the host country's foreign minister said on Thursday.

Syrians to use Turkish military barracks, attend military academies, Turkish ministry says

ANKARA - Syrian soldiers will be allowed to use Turkish military barracks for training meant to boost Syria's military capabilities, while 49 Syrian students will begin schooling at Turkish military academies from Friday onwards, Ankara said on Thursday.

Commentary: Japan’s new leader revives Abe’s economic vision – with a twist

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has pledged to revive Shinzo Abe’s economic vision of high public spending and cheap borrowing. This comes with risks, says East Asia expert Fumihito Gotoh.

Pakistan’s return as America’s dutiful little brother

When US President Donald Trump recently referred to Pakistan’s chief of army staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, as “my favorite field marshal,” it was more than a casual remark. The comment came soon after Washington helped mediate a tense 10-day border war between Pakistan and

Watch: US and China's different reports of their trade meeting

The BBC's Laura Bicker explains how the two nation's have reported on the trade negotiations.

Hungary's Orban to visit Trump, discuss path to US-Russia meeting

BUDAPEST - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will meet U.S. President Donald Trump on November 7 in Washington, where he aims to discuss a path to a U.S.-Russia meeting and seek exemption from U.S. energy sanctions, Orban's chief of staff said on Thursday.

‘Amazing’ Trump-Xi summit brings tactical truce, not major reset

The deal exposes the mismatch between what Washington wants and what Beijing is willing to offer.

Trump-Xi 'amazing' summit brings tactical truce, not major reset

BUSAN, South Korea/BEIJING - U.S. President Donald Trump hailed a meeting with China's Xi Jinping as \"amazing\" and \"12\" on a 10-point scale, but the agreement the two leaders reached appears to be no more than a fragile truce in a trade war with root causes still unresolved.

Trump’s ‘amazing’ bargain with Xi turns out a dud

US President Donald Trump touted the trade-war breakthrough with China’s Xi Jinping with predictable triumphalism. On Thursday, Trump gushed about an “amazing” meeting with Xi, where he agreed to cut China’s tariff to 47%. But the odds that posterity will concur are exceedingly