China’s sanctions on Taiwan allies project its power, but with limited effect

Beijing sent a message by sanctioning officials from Paraguay and Belize, but both remain loyal to Taipei.

Philippine authorities investigate Thomas Markle, father of Meghan, after child sexual abuse images claims

MANILA/LONDON, Oct 23 - Authorities in the Philippines are investigating Thomas Markle, father of Meghan, the wife of Britain's Prince Harry, the Philippine justice undersecretary said on Friday, after allegations he possessed child sexual abuse images.

Japan-Russia ties hit new low amid Moscow’s geostrategic shift

Russia’s arrest of Japanese journalist Yuki Imai constitutes what observers describe as a calculated act of “hostage diplomacy”.

Russian espionage evolves from elite spies to gig operatives

Russian hostile activity costs the UK at least £2 billion (US$2.7 billion) annually, according to a recent report by Scottish MP Graeme Downie, who has called on the government to measure what these actions cost Britain. But this figure is just the baseline. In reality, a

China's foreign minister urges stronger governance of deep sea and outer space

XIONGAN, China, Oct 23 - China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for stronger governance of the deep sea, polar regions and outer space as he addressed the opening of the country's Global Governance Forum in Xiongan on Friday.

Malaysia’s offer to help Indonesia fight forest fires still stands, says minister

He said Malaysia had yet to receive a full response from Indonesia on the assistance it was prepared to accept.

British jets join French nuclear exercise for first time, France says

PARIS, Oct 23 - British and French jets flew together over the Mediterranean in their first joint exercise involving France's airborne nuclear capability, Paris said on Friday, underscoring their cooperation at a time of friction with Russia.

The world's oldest cave paintings in Indonesia under threat of wildfires

In a cave in South Sulawesi's Maros-Pangkep, an artwork depicting human-like figures interacting with a pig was dated by researchers from Australia's Griffith University to be at least 51,200 years old.

Two Japanese climbers die on a Himalayan peak in Nepal

KATHMANDU, Oct 23 - Rescuers recovered the bodies of two Japanese climbers missing since October 15 on a Himalayan peak in northwest Nepal, an official said on Friday.

Rescuers retrieve bodies of 2 Japanese climbers killed on Himalayan peak

They had been missing since Oct 15, and were later found on the Gangapurna West peak.

Saudi missile plant expansion may produce more powerful missiles, study says

WASHINGTON, Oct 23 - Saudi Arabia appears to be expanding its ballistic missile factory to build larger solid-fuel missiles that could fly farther or carry heavier payloads, according to two US researchers who analyzed more than a year of commercial satellite images.

Malaysia’s Registrar of Societies, Home Minister file appeal against stay on PN’s deregistration

They said that they were unsatisfied with the decision by High Court judge that was delivered on Oct 22.

Seoul police to mobilise 4,600 for crowd safety measures during Halloween festivities

This will take place in five areas during the special management period from Oct 23 to Nov 1.

How China's October 26 to 29 Communist Party plenum works

Oct 23 - The elite Central Committee of China's ruling Communist Party holds a closed-door meeting in Beijing from Monday to Thursday that will set the political tone ahead of late 2027's once-every-five years party congress, and potentially discuss key personnel moves.

Why China’s AI triumphs aren’t saving its flagging stock market

TOKYO – When Chinese stocks lose a South Korea-sized sum in five months, Beijing has a problem. The US$2.4 trillion plunge in market value since May sits between Korea’s $2.25 trillion GDP and Canada’s $2.49 trillion. Many factors could explain Chinese shares entering bear

Indonesia seizes 1.1 tonnes of ketamine in major haul

Indonesian authorities seized the drugs from a foreign vessel in Sumatran waters.

Philippines puts bounty on Duterte’s fugitive drug-war enforcer

This comes nearly a year after the International Criminal Court ordered Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa's arrest.

Malaysia may completely ban Waze if alternative navigation apps available, says PM Anwar

He urged Waze users not to jeopardise the country’s security for an Israeli app.

Generations of women sustain Kelantan's famed Siti Khadijah Market

Women make up more than 90 per cent of traders at Siti Khadijah Market, one of Kelantan’s best-known attractions.

Appeals court acquits Seoul mayor in campaign finance trial

Prosecutors said they would appeal the ruling, calling the decision “disappointing”.

Iran’s mountain shelters offer Taiwan a China survival playbook

Iran’s rapid post-strike recovery of its Eagle 44 airbase proves that hardened mountain shelters remain a decisive shield against precision firepower, transforming how inferior air forces survive and deter superior adversaries. This month, The War Zone (TWZ) reported that Iran

China’s market is tougher than ever. Where can Singapore firms still find room to grow?

Singapore firms can still grow in China by finding niches rather than fighting Chinese rivals head-on.

Hundreds of flights cancelled as Typhoon Champi shuts Taiwan

One person has died after being swept away by waves in Taiwan's Liuqiu island, authorities say.

China says US should stop discriminatory measures against Chinese research institutions

The comments were made in relation to the US Department of Defense putting US research funding restrictions on dozens of Chinese universities.

Japan to simulate cyberattacks as PHP flaws roil global internet

TOKYO, Oct 23 - Japan said on Friday it will set up a team to simulate cyberattacks using AI to identify weaknesses in technology systems as organisations scramble to curtail risks from flaws in the PHP programming language that underpins much of the internet.

All 14 Indians in yacht incident off Yemen coast reported safe, embassy says

MUMBAI, Oct 23 - All 14 Indian nationals on a yacht involved in an incident off Yemen's coast are reported safe, the Indian embassy in Yemen said on Friday.

Sarawak heads for state polls as pressure mounts for Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim

The GPS coalition won 76 of 82 seats in 2021 and is favoured to retain control.

Sarawak state assembly to be dissolved on Oct 26, paving way for election within 60 days

The dissolution of the Sarawak state assembly follows a series of state elections across Malaysia over the past year, including in Sabah, Johor and Negeri Sembilan, with Melaka set to head to the polls on Nov 14.

Indonesia makes two major drug busts worth millions

Ketamine functions primarily as a fast-acting anaesthetic but is widely abused as an illicit party drug.

Middle schooler in South Korea beaten by peers over deepfake images of classmates

The student allegedly created the deepfakes using photos of female students taken without consent.

Malaysia opposition bloc PN survives deregistration for now, but internal rifts cloud political future: Analysts

Perikatan Nasional can now contest next month’s Melaka election under its own name and symbol, after securing a temporary legal reprieve from deregistration.

Indonesia seeks to rev up domestic EV production amid rising demand

Indonesia is the world's leading nickel producer, giving it an advantage in developing a local EV battery supply chain and expanding manufacturing.

Ambani's US$3.2 billion Jio Indian IPO lures investors as bids surge on final day

Jio Platforms', India's largest ever, is being closely watched as a test of investor appetite for large listings at a time when AI-linked stocks are facing increased scrutiny.

From Buenos Aires to Colombo, discontent simmers under the surface of rebounding economies

LONDON/BUENOS AIRES/COLOMBO, Oct 23 - Gustavo Raul Perez furrows his brow over a notebook at the hardware shop he has run for six years on the outskirts of Buenos Aires.

Why is Indonesia facing a rare MSCI downgrade and what's at stake?

Only three other markets have faced a double MSCI downgrade from emerging market to “standalone” status since 1997.

Taiwan union says Micron workers reject bonus proposal

An official said the company had agreed to introduce a quarterly profit-sharing bonus system.

World’s oldest cave paintings in Indonesia threatened by wildfires

Firefighters in Sulawesi battle to save 67,000-year-old art from severe heat and soot.

Tougher discipline, and Xi’s authority, key at China’s Communist Party’s fifth plenum

The party’s current Central Committee will convene in Beijing from Oct 26 to Oct 29.

Taiwan says China using militia boats to expand 'battlefield preparation' in western Pacific

TAIPEI, Oct 23 - China is combining militia vessels with coast guard ships to expand \"battlefield preparation\" around Taiwan and into the western Pacific, Taiwan's Coast Guard said, warning the operations were also putting pressure on Japan and the Philippines.

South Korea proposes holding border talks with North

The proposal comes after a landmine explosion in the demilitarised zone last month that injured three South Korean soldiers.

South Korea proposes talks with North Korea on land border again

SEOUL, Oct 23 - South Korea's defence ministry again proposed on Friday military talks with North Korea in order to agree on the exact location of the land border between the two Koreas and to reduce the risk of accidental clashes.

US-China AI race turning ASEAN neutrality into a liability

For decades, Southeast Asia has turned great-power rivalry to an economic advantage. By maintaining healthy ties with Washington and Beijing, ASEAN governments attracted investment, expanded trade and preserved room for diplomatic maneuver. The great-power race for

China's first AI film hits cinemas but ticket sales lag

Nearly 100 people took more than two years to make the film, which cost more than 10 million yuan (US$1.5 million).

Deer carcasses near Nara temples prompt patrols over ‘unnatural’ deaths

Dead fawns with missing body parts have been found in recent months near famous temples in Nara.

India stirs up its gastronomy with French cooking schools

Marie biscuits maker Lee Biscuits shutters Johor factory after 92 years

The company is reportedly exiting snack manufacturing to consolidate its assets and focus on its core holdings, which include rubber and palm oil operations.