Jokowi testifies in fake diploma trial as supporters throng Jakarta court

It was his first public appearance since news broke on Nov 3 of an explosive wiretapping scandal.

South Korean audit reveals friction in US alliance as Washington's priorities shift

SEOUL, Nov 5 - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has come under fire from the opposition over his management of the US alliance following revelations of strains in ties during a month-long parliamentary audit that ended last week.

China says US farm purchases hinge on tariff-cut deal

BEIJING, Nov 5 - China is open to buying US farm goods, but only on the condition that the two sides reach an agreement on reciprocal tariff cuts, the commerce ministry said on Thursday.

US midterms: Will Trump take a tougher stance on China after his election setback?

Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to meet for the third time in November.

Trump's political humbling signals short-term gain, long-term pain for China

BEIJING, Nov 5 - The midterm drubbing of Donald Trump's Republicans may strengthen China's hand in trade talks with Washington, but Beijing is unlikely to revel in the misfortunes of a US president whose successor could prove less accommodating.

Dozens of homes damaged as rare hailstorms hit West Java, Lampung

An estimated 90 to 100 buildings were damaged in West Java.

Seeds from Japan’s only tree to survive the 2011 tsunami to be stored at a British seed bank

The original tree died in 2012, just a year after the massive earthquake.

Italian chef fired after refusing to put pineapple on pizza

He had told his employer, an Australian restaurant, that pineapple on pizza was "offensive" to Italian culture.

South Korean army faces backlash over soldiers’ runway training

Special forces soldiers were taught runway walks and model poses in what the army says was training intended to improve posture.

Dozens of pilot whales stranded on New Zealand coast

Nov 5 - Dozens of pilot whales have been found stranded on a beach in New Zealand's North Island and rescuers are trying to refloat a handful of the survivors, the country's conservation department said on Thursday.

US midterm elections: The ‘blue tsunami’ leaves Japan jittery over Trump’s next foreign policy moves

How Trump reacts will have security implications for allies.

North Korea’s nomination of taekwondo for UNESCO listing expected to go through

South Korea filed its own nomination after considering a joint inscription with the North.

Indonesian parties weigh parliamentary inquiry into vice president's education credentials

Three parties within Prabowo's camp and one outside the coalition said they were currently considering three legislative courses of action, officials said.

New Zealand leaders make final appeals as election remains tight

WELLINGTON, Nov 5 - New Zealand's party leaders made final appeals to voters on Thursday, three days before a general election that polls show is too close to call as discontent around an ailing economy continues to swell.

How the Democrats will try to stop Trump’s Iran war

The Democrats’ sweeping victory in the US midterm elections puts them in a stronger position to interfere with President Donald Trump’s agenda. This includes his deeply unpopular and costly war against Iran, which could be among their first priorities. As president, Trump will

India’s $22 billion defense push can’t hide its missing fighter jets

India’s military modernization drive has a core problem. While officials keep approving billions of dollars in new weapons, the country’s aerospace industry is struggling to deliver aircraft ordered years ago The gap raises questions about the country’s industrial capacity, its

Japan police to share scam account data nationwide to prevent damage

Losses from such scams reached a provisional 261 billion yen (S$2.17 billion) during the January-September period.

Indonesia Q3 GDP growth at 5.47%, beats expectations

Indonesia has contended with weaker investor sentiment this year amid heightened scrutiny of the government's fiscal plans and its broader policy directions.

China’s amphibious surge confronts a Taiwan invasion’s hard math

China’s sudden surge in amphibious warship construction has thrust a foundational military question to the forefront: can sheer industrial mass and converted civilian shipping overcome the lethal tactical choke points of a cross-strait invasion? The South China Morning Post

Taiwan sees continued US arms sale support after midterm election

While US President Donald Trump last December approved US$11 billion in arms for Taiwan, a second package worth about US$14 billion has stalled.

Soaring petrol prices amid Middle East conflict drive highest Philippine inflation in years

The Philippine's latest inflation number is the highest since February 2023.

Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong sentenced to 10 more years in jail

Wong has already spent almost six years behind bars and turned 30 in October.

China indicts ex-Politburo member Ma Xingrui for bribery

He was among 33 officials listed as expelled.

Petrol prices drive highest Philippine inflation in years

The Middle East conflict has had a harsh impact on the oil import-dependent Philippines.

US Marine dies during training in Japan’s Okinawa

The cause “is still under investigation”, a spokesman said, declining to disclose further details.

South Korea’s President Lee to launch YouTube show

The aim is to give candid answers and explain the reasons behind policy choices.

Joshua Wong, face of Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests, jailed for 10 years

Wong, 30, is among hundreds of Hongkongers detained under the controversial national security law.

Troops deployed in Indonesia as President sacks aide accused of wiretapping

Listyo Sigit Prabowo, appointed chief of staff a few weeks ago, was detained on Nov 3.

South Korea to deploy military mission to help keep Hormuz open

Seoul maintains it will not deploy troops to intervene militarily in the Iran war.

South Korea to expand anti-piracy unit operations closer to Strait of Hormuz

SEOUL, Nov 5 - South Korea plans to expand the operations of its anti-piracy Cheonghae unit to waters closer to the Strait of Hormuz, the Defence Ministry said, following pressure from US President Donald Trump to provide support for the war in Iran.

Democrats gain influence over trade agenda, but tariff repeals to hit Trump veto wall

HOUSTON, Nov 4 - Democrats' resounding sweep to a majority in Congress gives them a big microphone and spotlight to scrutinize President Donald Trump's trade policies, but largely leaves them unable to override his veto on any vote to overturn his tariffs or rescind trade

Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong to be sentenced for collusion

Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong sentenced to 10 more years for collusion

Rights groups have decried the collusion charge against Joshua Wong as a deliberate attempt by authorities to keep him incarcerated.

Australia's oldest department store David Jones folds after 188 years

The brand's 38 physical stores and online site will continue to operate while receivers review its operations.

JB developer ordered to pay US$2.58 million to condo owners, including Singaporeans, over delays

The owners of 84 units in R&F Princess Cove, a waterfront development overlooking the Woodlands Causeway, were awarded compensation for delays involving their units and shared facilities. The developer intends to appeal the decision, its lawyer told CNA.

Typhoons batter East Asia as El Niño makes Pacific 'burn with fever'

Even for countries where typhoons are a way of life, the last few months have brought unusually wild weather.

Hong Kong pro-democracy poster boy Joshua Wong facing longer prison stint

Joshua Wong will likely have his jail term extended beyond the six years he has already served.

Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong set to be sentenced on national security charge

HONG KONG, Nov 5 - Activist Joshua Wong, who became the global face of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, is due to be sentenced on Thursday on a charge of collusion with foreign entities, which could put him behind bars for life under the city's national security law.

North Korea says it tested air-defence missile, staged cruise missile drill

South Korea said on Nov 4 that Pyongyang fired multiple missiles towards the sea from the Sondok area on the east coast.

US midterms: Democrats' victory puts Trump's China diplomacy to the test

Democrats have seized both chambers of Congress in a major blow to US President Donald Trump, shifting the balance of power in Washington as Asia watches for signs of policy change.

Commentary: Zetrix's financial collapse poses a major governance test for Anwar's government

A deepening financial crisis at Zetrix AI, a provider for digital government services in Malaysia, is presenting the Anwar Ibrahim administration with a governance dilemma, writes CNA’s Leslie Lopez.

A Chinese medicine’s popularity drove up donkey prices in Africa

The demand for donkey hides has grown exponentially over the past 15 years, driven mainly by demand from China. Lauren Johnston is a specialist on China trade with Africa. She has spent several years looking into the donkey trade, and has just published a book, China, Africa

A stink over flies is pushing Malaysia’s poultry farms to pack up and relocate

Farmers voice concern over food security while grappling with massive compliance and relocation costs.

With Iran war a huge vote factor, will Dems become peace party?

Nearly three-quarters of Americans who voted in Tuesday’s midterm elections and spoke with NBC exit pollsters afterward said that President Donald Trump’s illegal war of choice on Iran was a significant factor in their vote, a figure that opponents of US militarism said

Accountability Day

Let me offer an apology. When I wrote a month ago that “Plainly, Trump does not care about the mid-terms” I was wrong, at least in part. In the end he campaigned quite hard during the final weeks of the elections, culminating on November 2nd in one of the most bizarre

The main parties vying to form New Zealand's next government

WELLINGTON, Nov 5 - New Zealand votes in a general election on November 7 with opinion polls pointing to another close contest between the ruling centre-right National-led coalition and opposition parties, the largest of which is the centre-left Labour Party.