Cambodia wants to shed its scam image, but will it go after powerful individuals?

The US has sanctioned two Cambodian senators for their links to scam operations and human trafficking.

Houthis reframing the narrative casting them as an Iranian proxy

A deadly Houthi attack on Riyadh’s international airport has highlighted how the Yemeni group is reframing its perceived “Iran proxy” role and shifting its regional focus to its ongoing battle against Saudi Arabia. The October 10 strike, in which 13 people were killed and

Throttling Ukraine’s Starlink access heightens concerns over Musk

The Ukrainian government on Tuesday night said that its access to the SpaceX-owned Starlink satellite internet service was throttled, prompting critics to question the wisdom of depending on any company owned by far-right billionaire Elon Musk. According to a Wednesday report

Atlantic Ocean currents can recover from severe climate weakening, study finds

COPENHAGEN, Oct 14 - An Atlantic Ocean current system weakened by global warming could recover over time if the climate cools, a study by the Danish Meteorological Institute showed on Wednesday.

Australia's first-ever Michelin stars go to 11 restaurants in one state

All of the spots are in South Australia, reportedly because the state government paid for incognito inspectors to visit.

Jailed Imran Khan's woes compound after Pakistan suspends his provincial government

LAHORE, Pakistan, Oct 14 - A state of emergency declared in Imran Khan's main political stronghold is another setback for Pakistan's jailed former prime minister whose health is worsening according to his family.

Youth protests present a new dilemma for PM Modi and India

The protests articulate a crisis of trust in the government and its institutions.

Japan farm minister steps down, first for Takaichi cabinet

TOKYO, Oct 14 - Japanese farm minister Kazuo Yana stepped down on Wednesday after coming under fire for remarks about cutting road funding for municipalities that did not support him, becoming the first minister in Sanae Takaichi's government to resign.

Nepal flood triggered by rock and ice avalanche: Report

The flood left five people missing, destroyed 200 houses and five bridges.

EU seeks to raise cash for Ukraine at IMF and G7 meetings, Dombrovskis says

BANGKOK, Oct 14 - Ukraine faces a funding gap for 2027 and the European Union is trying to raise extra cash for the country at the meetings of the International Monetary Fund and G7 finance ministers this week in Bangkok, European Economic Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said.

Trade conflicts cost prosperity around the world, German Finance Minister says

BERLIN, Oct 14 - Trade conflicts, tariff disputes, and distortions of competition create massive instability and cost prosperity around the world, German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said on Wednesday in Berlin.

Japan minister Yana resigns in blow for Takaichi

A new farm minister will be announced on Oct 15.

India’s ‘Goldilocks’ year curdles on weak rupee, Chinese inputs

TOKYO – Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” campaign has become a global brand. As China’s economy slows and multinationals look to diversify supply chains, the world’s most populous nation has eagerly cast itself as the obvious alternative. This was supposed to be the year the

Haze in Malaysia: Schools in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Pahang to reopen on Oct 15

Schools were closed on Oct 14 due to haze.

Fuel shortage triggers queues on resort island Bali

Lines snaked up to a kilometre at some petrol stations.

Malaysia PM Anwar urges Transport Minister Anthony Loke to stay on

Loke submitted his resignation on Sept 28 over the decision allowing Najib Razak to serve the rest of his jail term under house arrest.

Indonesia names over 200 people, nine firms as suspects over forest fires as transboundary haze worsens

The latest comments from the Indonesian authorities come as Malaysia on Wednesday (Oct 14) said that the two countries have “for the first time” begun discussions to explore ways of working together to tackle forest fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra.

Across the border, India’s ‘cockroach’ movement draws young Pakistani interest

India’s “cockroach” protest movement is resonating with some youths in Pakistan, who see parallels in their own struggles over education, jobs and opportunities.

IMF calls for US to cut deficits amid bond woes, China to shift away from exports

The surge in bond yields has left governments with little fiscal room to manoeuvre.

European countries, Vietnam to sign free trade deal on Sunday, officials say

HANOI, Oct 14 - The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Vietnam are set to sign a free trade deal on Sunday, officials said this week, after long-stalled talks were relaunched last year amid global tensions over US tariffs.

India festival boat capsize kills 13 children

Six people were pulled out alive, including two children reported to be in critical condition.

Indonesia adapts 1940s dry-ice technology in fight to clear haze

The authorities plan to focus on areas upwind of airports.

India found itself ‘let down miserably’ during Covid-19, says minister

Russia arrests Japanese journalist on spying charges

The Hokkaido Shimbun journalist is accused of collecting information on Moscow's defence capabilities for Tokyo.

Japan PM Sanae Takaichi says housework makes her busier than male predecessors

Takaichi is a self-described workaholic.

Malaysia court denies ex-PM Najib Razak’s request to suspend 15-year jail term

The judge said there were no special circumstances warranting a stay of the sentence.

Osaka’s iconic Glico sign to be upgraded in 2027, first time in 13 years

The light on the current sign will be turned off on Nov 30 to allow renovation work to begin.

The slow boiling of Indonesian democracy

The most consequential changes in a democracy do not always arrive with a constitutional crisis. Rather, they come through appointments, legal amendments and seemingly ordinary political bargains, accumulating one after another until the political system begins to look

Malaysia court denies ex-PM Najib Razak's request to suspend 15-year jail sentence

There were expectations that Najib Razak could soon be transferred to house arrest, following a royal pardon in a separate case.

Barbados joins push for global panel to tackle inequality

BANGKOK, Oct 14 - Barbados is joining a group of countries calling for the establishment of an international panel to address inequality, at a time when heightened geopolitical tensions, climate change and rapid technological advances threaten to widen the divide between

India's 'cockroach' leaders jailed after holding protest

The youth leaders were sent to custody on charges of trespassing at Jantar Mantar, a now denotified protest site.

Indonesians on fire-ravaged island sue state for clean air

Lawyers in Indonesia have filed a class action case claiming "negligence, omission and failure" on the part of the government that has resulted in "a massive public health crisis".

S. Korea to inspect glasses of students taking college entrance exam amid cheating fears

The measures come after two suspected cheating attempts involving smart glasses were detected.

Pressured at home, EU leaders weigh China trade steps

BRUSSELS, Oct 14 - European leaders gather in Brussels on Thursday to weigh up the future of trading ties with China, whose surging exports of cars and other manufactured goods are threatening to harm local industry and cause mass layoffs across Europe.

Vietnam mourns 700 war dead amid major push to identify missing

The 731 sets of remains were exhumed from a tree-shaded public park.

Saudi Arabia overturns death sentence for man over Facebook comment, Sri Lanka says

Anojan Sivarasa's case sent shockwaves through Sri Lanka, spurring diplomatic efforts to seek clemency.

F1 race at Malaysia’s Sepang generated nearly US$232 million: Sports ministry

The Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, which was relocated to Malaysia’s Sepang circuit as a one-off event, drew 827 million viewers worldwide, according to Malaysian Youth and Sports Minister Taufiq Johari.

Malaysian youth rack up $1.7 billion in Buy Now, Pay Later purchases

This accounts for 37.9% of the nation’s 173.9 million total BNPL transactions.

Vietnam says trade talks with US nearly completed; US officials more cautious

HANOI, Oct 14 - Vietnam and the US have nearly completed negotiations covering a trade deal, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc said on Wednesday at an event in Hanoi, though US officials appeared more cautious.

Kamala Harris warns window closing for AI safeguards, urges US-China cooperation

SEOUL, Oct 14 - Former US Vice President Kamala Harris urged governments and technology companies on Wednesday to urgently put safeguards in place for artificial intelligence, warning that the window for containing its gravest risks was closing.

Japan protests against Chinese delegation visit to island held by Russia

It's the latest indication of a growing alignment between Russia and China to pressure PM Sanae Takaichi's government.

Top Indian 'cockroach' leaders jailed 5 days over trespassing: Party

The leaders of India's youth-led Cockroach Janta Party, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, were detained on Tuesday (Oct 13) for entering Jantar Mantar.

India's 'cockroach' movement leaders detained in jail for five days, party and police say

NEW DELHI, Oct 14 - An Indian court ordered that two leaders of the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) be detained in jail for five days, the party and police said on Wednesday, a day after they scaled barricades to enter a historic site popular for protests and chanted

Can AI be conscious? Ask the Indian sages

The debate over artificial intelligence has settled into a familiar rhythm. Will large language models eventually wake up? Do they possess an inner life, or are they merely sophisticated mimics of human output? Researchers disagree, and so do philosophers. A 2025 survey of 582

Postpone AI public offerings until US Congress acts

Anthropic, the maker of the Claude AI models, is preparing what could be the largest initial public offering in history, raising more than $100 billion, according to The New York Times, at a valuation near US$2 trillion. According to Reuters, which reviewed the draft prospectus

Taiwan must 'bear the consequences' of water cannon incident, China says

A Taiwan Coast Guard ship this month fired its water cannon at a Chinese fishing boat near the Pratas Islands.

Pressure mounts on Japan’s farm minister Kazuo Yana ahead of Takaichi meet

There are allegations that Agriculture Minister Kazuo Yana breached election laws.

Top Indian ‘Cockroach’ leaders accused of trespassing sent to jail

Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were detained on Oct 13 for entering Jantar Mantar.