US tightens sanctions on N. Korea after Trump-Kim summit snub

Sanctions announced on two financial institutions and eight individuals for helping the regime launder funds.

Typhoon Kalmaegi death toll hits 114 in Philippines; storm rebuilds strength as it heads to Vietnam

CEBU, Philippines - The death toll in the Philippines from Typhoon Kalmaegi rose to 114 with another 127 people still missing, the disaster agency said on Thursday, as the storm that devastated the country's central regions regained strength as it headed towards Vietnam.

Powerful Typhoon Kalmaegi poised to drench Vietnam’s key coffee region

Kalmaegi is gathering strength in the South China Sea and is set to reach top sustained winds of 204kmh.

At least 114 dead as Philippines reels from Typhoon Kalmaegi

Kalmaegi left the Philippines on Thursday morning and is currently moving toward central Vietnam.

Miss Universe Thailand director Nawat Itsaragrisil apologises for controversy, claims he said 'damage', not 'dumb head'

During the welcoming ceremony for Miss Universe 2025 on Wednesday (Nov 5) night, Miss Universe Thailand director Nawat Itsaragrisil apologised for the recent controversy surrounding this year's pageant.

Great Barrier Reef may partially recover from 'grim future' if global warming stays below 2C

A new study has found certain corals are more resilient in warmer waters, giving hope to the world-famous reef.

Taste of horseshoe crab draws visitors to Johor

A diner said the meat on its legs are "chewier and sweeter" than a normal crab's.

Typhoon Kalmaegi death toll tops 140 with over 100 missing in the Philippines

Most of the deaths were reported in the central province of Cebu, which was pummelled by Kalmaegi on Tuesday, setting off flash floods and causing a river and other waterways to overflow.

Taiwan says senior Fijian UN diplomat visited, despite Fiji’s formal ties with China

Fiji’s permanent representative to the UN Filipo Tarakinikini met Taiwan's Vice-President Hsiao Bi-khim.

Taiwan says senior Fijian UN diplomat visited, despite Fiji's formal ties with China

TAIPEI/SYDNEY - Taiwan said it welcomed a senior Fijian diplomat this week who met with Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, a highly unusual trip given the Pacific island state only has formal relations with Beijing, which decries any international exchanges with Taipei.

Taiwan must be allowed equal participation when China hosts Apec, US says

This comes after Taipei complained that Beijing had "added a lot of conditions" to its attendance.

Taiwan must be allowed equal participation when China hosts APEC, US says

WASHINGTON - Taiwan must be allowed full and equal participation when China hosts APEC next year, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday, after Taipei complained that Beijing had \"added a lot of conditions\" to its attendance.

Rubio plans to visit five Central Asian states in 2026

WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday he planned to visit the five Central Asian countries in the coming year, as he met their foreign ministers as part of a Trump administration charm offensive aimed at the resource-rich region.

Malaysia high court orders government, police to pay $9.6m to family of kidnapped pastor

Pastor Raymond Koh had been abducted by a group of armed men in 2017.

Controversial rapper Namewee held over influencer's death

Police have reclassified Iris Hsieh's "sudden death" as murder and remanded Namewee in custody.

Trump pressed China’s Xi to release jailed HK media tycoon Jimmy Lai, say sources

The US leader spoke broadly about concerns surrounding the 77-year-old publishing mogul's well-being.

Miss Universe contestants walk out after organiser berates Miss Mexico

Video of the incident, which was live streamed, has been shared widely on the internet.

North Korea condemns ‘wicked nature’ of latest US sanctions

Washington sanctioned eight individuals and two entities linked to North Korean money-laundering schemes.

North Korea says antagonised by US sanctions, will respond

SEOUL - North Korea slammed the U.S. President Donald Trump's administration for imposing sanctions that \"antagonise\" it, and vowed to respond correspondingly, state media KCNA said on Thursday.

Seven Italian climbers still missing in Nepal

Three other Italian climbers have been confirmed dead this week.

France moves to suspend Shein website as first store opens in Paris

Hundreds of shoppers streamed into Shein's permanent physical store on the sixth floor of the BHV department store, a landmark that has stood across from Paris City Hall since 1856.

China intentionally spreads authoritarian practices abroad

Protests erupted in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, in October 2020 following disputed parliamentary elections. Only four political parties out of 16 had passed the threshold for entry into parliament. Three of these had close ties to the country’s then-president, Sooronbay

US Supreme Court questions legality of Trump's global tariffs

WASHINGTON - U.S. Supreme Court justices raised doubts on Wednesday over the legality of President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs in a case with implications for the global economy that marks a major test of Trump's powers.

China’s bet on self-reliance won’t fix an unbalanced economy

Every few years since 1953, the Chinese government has unveiled a new master strategy for its economy: the all-important five-year plan. For the most part, these blueprints have been geared at spurring growth and unity as the nation transformed from a rural, agrarian economy to

Wife of abducted Malaysian pastor wins landmark lawsuit against state

The high court held the government and police liable for what will be the largest sum for damages in Malaysian history.

EU sends warship to Somali coast after suspected pirate attack - sources

LONDON - The European Union's counter piracy force has deployed a warship to the coast off Somalia after a suspected pirate group tried to target ships in the area, maritime sources said on Wednesday.

Americans punish Trump and Republicans for government shutdown

One year and a day after Donald Trump won a second term as president – and on the 35th day of the US government shutdown, which has tied a record for the longest in history – the Democrats swept to victory in key races across the county. Democratic candidates won the

Democrats’ NY mayor will shake things up starting with child care

Zohran Mamdani, the 34-year-old New York State Assembly member and democratic socialist, was elected New York City’s mayor on November 4, 2025, after pledging to make the city more affordable through policies that include freezing rents, providing free public buses and a

Germany offers to pay Afghans to drop relocation plans

BERLIN - Germany has offered cash to Afghan nationals stranded in Pakistan if they give up efforts to enter Europe's biggest economy under a resettlement programme, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said on Wednesday.

Pilot error caused deadly Bangladesh jet crash: Government

Afghans call for Taliban government to help repair Blue Mosque after quake

MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan - Some residents in northern Afghanistan called on Wednesday for the Taliban government to help rebuild and restore a historic mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif that was damaged in a powerful earthquake.

Estonia FM urges China to join US, European pressure on Putin

BEIJING - Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna called on China to stop its economic support of Russia's war in Ukraine and urged Beijing to join European and U.S. efforts to pressure President Vladimir Putin into a ceasefire during a Tuesday interview.

Space terrorism no longer the realm of science fiction

As satellite technology surges ahead and space becomes increasingly accessible to private and state actors alike, the new and unsettling threat of space terrorism looms above Earth’s atmosphere. Once the domain of science fiction, the idea of terrorist activity in outer space

Rescuers recover bodies of two climbers hit by avalanche in Nepal

KATHMANDU - Rescuers in Nepal have recovered the bodies of two foreign climbers killed when an avalanche hit their expedition on a Himalayan peak, police said on Wednesday, as the search continued for five others.

CNA wins gold at WAN-IFRA awards with climate change series on Pacific islands

Sustainability correspondent Jack Board wins the top prize under the “Best Climate Impact story” category at the Asian Digital Media Awards 2025 for his reports about life and lessons from the frontlines of climate change in the Pacific island-nations.

New Cold War, new cold lines

Just hours before Zohran Mamdani’s election as mayor of New York, the most important and iconic American city, Dick Cheney, the heart and mind of traditional, centrist conservative America, passed away. Perhaps a new America is born with the virtual competition between two rare

Hong Kong police arrest 80 suspects linked to one of the biggest crypto frauds in city

Those arrested include social media influencers who allegedly assisted in the promotion of the scam.

Toyota, Honda turn India into car production hub in pivot away from China

India’s low costs, vast labour pool, improved quality of manufactured goods, and incentives attract manufacturers.

Dick Cheney’s vision of presidential power culminates in Trump

Former Vice President Dick Cheney will be remembered for many things. He was arguably the most powerful vice president in American history. He was a paragon of conservatism. He was the architect of many of the more extreme measures in President George W Bush’s “war on terror.”

Turkey's Erdogan heralds "new phase" in PKK peace process

ANKARA - President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Turkey had entered a \"new phase\" in efforts to end Kurdish militant violence and signalled he was open to the idea of jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan addressing lawmakers.

‘Can’t even get 1 cent’: Residents’ livelihoods hit by Johor River pollution linked to sand mining

Malaysian authorities said a sand mining firm - identified as Hiap Aik Evergreen - could face sanctions for its alleged role in the pollution.

Germany arrests 18 in international crackdown on online fraud, German authorities say

WIESBADEN, Germany - An internationally coordinated action against alleged online fraud and money laundering networks that included German payment service providers resulted in 18 arrests, German authorities said on Wednesday.

Markets quake as investors put profit over promise from AI

Global markets are undergoing a long-anticipated valuation reset. The latest sell-off, triggered on Wall Street and spreading through Asia and Europe today, shows that investors are beginning to question whether the optimism buoying AI and tech shares generally can be justified

In Mamdani's New York win, India's Nehru finds an echo

At his New York victory rally, Zohran Mamdani gave a nod to Nehru’s iconic speech marking India's independence.

Vingroup’s legal bullying doesn’t work in Germany like in Vietnam

A Berlin court has rejected most of the defamation claims filed by Vietnamese billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong and VinFast Germany GmbH against exiled journalist Le Trung Khoa, ruling that the plaintiffs must bear nearly 88% of total legal costs, a major setback for Vingroup’s

China's Shenzhou-20 return mission delayed due to space debris impact

China pins hopes on Olympic star Vivian Kong for ‘high quality’ Hong Kong democracy

Analysts say Kong’s star allure will spotlight an institution criticised as a pro-Beijing echo chamber.

Former Taiwan president Tsai to visit Germany in outreach to Europe

She is expected to leave for Berlin on Nov 8 and speak on Nov 10 at the Berlin Freedom Conference.