North Korea denies Binance accusation, refuses dialogue with Washington

Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, said the FBI’s accusation showed “US hostile policy” towards Pyongyang.

Thailand reaches for the stars as Southeast Asia's space ambitions grow

Thailand is expanding its space ambitions, with plans for a launch facility and efforts to build a domestic satellite industry. But attracting investment and developing commercial demand remain major challenges, experts say.

Hanoi’s historic heart set for $1.1b makeover, but battle over its soul continues

A triumphal arch, public square and parks are planned for Hoan Kiem Lake, with some buildings to be demolished.

A strong start for Takaichi, but the real work is only beginning

Originally published by Pacific Forum, this article is republished with permission. Sanae Takaichi has just completed her first year as Japan’s prime minister. It has been a good one: She has retained stratospheric popularity (for a Japanese prime minister), avoided major

Israeli ex-generals condemn settler violence, help Palestinian farmers

QUSRA, West Bank, Nov 3 - A group of senior Israeli ex-military officials helped Palestinian farmers on Tuesday to harvest olives, in a gesture of solidarity amid an upsurge in militant settler violence targeting Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

Top UN court to rule Nov 19 on Myanmar/Rohingya genocide case

A ruling that Myanmar committed genocide would heap more international pressure on its military junta.

Sanctions-evading China-bound billions turn untraceable in Moscow

At the sprawling Sadovod market in southeast Moscow, among the 160 acres of clothing, jewelry and appliance booths, at least eight teams are spotted, working apart from the everyday hustle and bustle of the market. Throughout a business day, these teams, known in confidential

Indonesia arrests ex-police chief Listyo for alleged wiretapping of Prabowo

Listyo and two senior officers face up to 24 years in jail under Indonesian cyber and criminal laws.

Former Indonesian national police chief among three arrested for the alleged illegal wiretapping of Prabowo

Listyo Sigit Prabowo was removed from his position as National Police chief by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Oct 1 and was subsequently appointed Chief of Presidential Staff in a Cabinet reshuffle.

China’s Baidu launches AI model simulating road environment for robotaxis

It can generate “up to 100,000km” of simulated driving daily, equivalent to about three years of real-world testing.

Brazil wraps up COP30 with fossil fuel, forest roadmaps, urging shift from talks to action

BRASILIA, Nov 3 - Brazil is ending its year-long presidency of the UN climate process with roadmaps aimed at curbing deforestation and accelerating a shift away from fossil fuels to help governments deliver on past climate agreements.

Thai opposition leader targeted in spyware attack: Party

Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, whose progressive People's Party came second in February's election, shared in a social media post on Tuesday screenshots from his device of a "threat notification" from Apple.

Hours before midterm elections, Trump bombs Iran’s Qeshm Island

The Trump administration launched a new bombing attack on Iranian territory Monday night, striking Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz on the eve of the US midterms amid mounting fears of a massive post-election assault. The Wall Street Journal was first to report the strikes,

Lions will be ready for rescheduled AFC Asian Cup, safety remains top priority: FAS

The 24-team tournament, which Singapore qualified for on merit, was moved from January to December 2027 amid security concerns following Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.

Indian tourist killed after two helicopters collide near Everest base camp

The two aircraft crashed just metres from the ground after trying to land at the same spot.

Thailand’s Chiang Mai airport to cut flight operating hours for lantern festival in late November

More than 200,000 sky lanterns and smoke lanterns are expected to be released within the airport’s aviation safety zone.

China foreign minister meets Southeast Asian officials amid relations push

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met separately with officials from Thailand, Laos and Myanmar.

China's Xi mourns Liu Yandong, rare woman official among country's Communist elite

Former Chinese vice-premier Liu Yandong was one of the six women that have been a full member of the 25-member Politburo.

How North Korea became the crypto heist king

Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, was the victim of a massive heist in late October. Approximately US$6.36 billion of funds were stolen within the space of 20 minutes in an attack that has been described as the largest of its kind in history. The source of

China’s tech boom borrowing the playbook of its property bust

On October 28, 2026, Unitree, China’s top robotics company, released its first quarterly report since going public in Shanghai. Third-quarter profit fell 17.4%, even as the stock traded at more than 465 times earnings. Those numbers explain why its founder, Wang Xingxing,

South Korean police arrest 13 people for alleged meth production using cold medicine

'Fuel of the poor' LPG soars in Pakistan, forcing rickshaw drivers to cut meals

Traders said the price of a 12kg cylinder surged 56 per cent to 7,000 Pakistani rupees (US$25.30) within days of border closures triggered by the war in Iran, or about 583 rupees per kg on the open market.

Pagoda spire at Wat Mai Nong Hoi in Chiang Mai collapses

The authorities race to determine the cause after the pagoda’s spire crumbles in Doi Lo District.

South Korea, Turkey to cooperate in nuclear, defence, infrastructure

SEOUL, Nov 3 - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan agreed at a summit on Tuesday to expand cooperation in nuclear energy and defence, including on one of Turkey's biggest power projects, Lee said.

Thai PM Anutin to face his first censure debate in December

The opposition's allegations include fraud in the upper house election process, corruption in local government examinations and mismanagement of the economy and recent floods.

Phone set up in Hokkaido to help ease grief after Shiretoko sinking

The Kazu I sightseeing boat sank in 2022, leaving 20 people dead and six others missing.

Lahore, Delhi choke as air pollution spikes in parts of South Asia

Air pollution becomes a severe problem for the region around this time of the year when cold, dense air traps emissions, pushing pollution levels to the highest in the world and exposing residents to serious respiratory risks.

‘Fuel of the poor’ LPG soars in Pakistan, forcing rickshaw drivers to cut meals

LPG prices have surged since Oct 17, when two Iranian border crossings closed.

Hong Kong logs new record for hottest October

This year’s exceptionally strong El Nino has driven up temperatures around the world.

Bangladesh garment workers stage fourth day of wage protests

Clashes were reported across industrial belts around Dhaka, including Ashulia, Gazipur and the capital's Mirpur area, as workers staged fresh demonstrations and attempted to block major highways.

‘Boiling Point’: How America lit and fueled the Ukraine war

The narrative surrounding the Ukraine war often marks its beginning on February 24, 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion. But the rivalries and political decisions that brought the two countries into conflict stretch back centuries. The start of the Cold War,

Why electric stunning of chickens at a Selangor slaughterhouse triggered halal concerns

A raid raised questions over enforcement and consumer confidence in Malaysia’s halal supply chain.

More Malaysians marrying later, household sizes decreasing: Survey

But the desire to start a family stays strong, with over 80% of singles expressing intention to marry.

Malaysia admits to gaps in airport drug screening, will modernise security assets

The facilities used older technology, while smugglers increasingly adopt new methods that help them evade detection.

New Zealand's National and Labour in dead heat days before election, poll shows

Nov 3 - New Zealand's ruling National party and centre-left opposition Labour are neck-and-neck in the final days before Saturday's general election, according to the latest opinion polling.

The emerging shape of China’s military reach in SE Asia

A 2,000-meter runway in Ban Keun, situated about 50 kilometers north of the Lao capital of Vientiane, is an unlikely location for US-China great-power rivalry. Yet it may become one of the most revealing markers of China’s strategic ambitions in Southeast Asia. On September 29,

Cyclone Murasu makes landfall on India's eastern coast

BHUBANESWAR, India, Nov 3 - Cyclone Murasu made landfall along India's eastern coast on Tuesday, the country's weather department said, the second storm to hit the region in a week as authorities evacuated thousands of people to safety.

Hong Kong logs hottest October on record

The Hong Kong Observatory logged a monthly mean temperature of 27.6°C - a 0.2°C increase from last year's already record-breaking figure for the same period.

Asian Cup postponed until December 2027, AFC says

Indonesia unlikely to export electricity in the near future, citing domestic demand: Minister

Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Downstreaming and Energy Transition Bahlil Lahadalia did not name any country specifically, but Singapore had previously granted conditional approvals for firms to import low-carbon electricity from Indonesia.

Thai PM to face his first censure debate in December

BANGKOK, Nov 3 - Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's government has agreed to a December 7 to 11 schedule for its first censure debate in parliament, an official said on Tuesday.

Indian national killed after two helicopters collide in Nepal's Mount Everest region

The accident comes during the peak trekking season in Nepal, when helicopters ferry hikers and climbers in the region.

Indonesian police name suspects after 58 citizens lured to Russia to serve as mercenaries

The Indonesian citizens were initially offered jobs in logistics, border security and defence construction, but when arriving in Russia, were told to sign contracts to serve as mercenaries, undergo training and potentially be deployed to conflict zones.

Hong Kong to sentence activist Joshua Wong on Nov 5

Wong is already serving a nearly five-year jail term for subversion and was due for release in early 2027.

Why the latest North-South Korea tensions are different - and what could happen next

Despite echoes of past confrontations, North Korea’s shifting strategic priorities and hostile stance towards Seoul have raised questions about how the latest tensions could unfold.