Borneo burning: Life on the frontline of South East Asia's toxic haze
A "Super El Niño" has fuelled months-long fires in Indonesia, making hundreds of thousands of people sick.
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Is Donald Trump ready to do business with Myanmar?
There are signs the United States is shifting its policy towards Myanmar, formerly a global pariah.
Suspect in vehicle attack on Australian lawmaker appears in court as police probe motive
Authorities say the attack on independent MP Helen Haines was deliberate.
Man accused of ramming car into Australian lawmaker to face three charges in court
SYDNEY, Oct 21 - The man who allegedly rammed his car into Australian lawmaker Helen Haines outside her electoral office will appear in court on Wednesday after being charged with three offences, in an attack authorities say was deliberate.
Deadline for change: How APEC is accelerating Shenzhen's makeover - and what could last
Shenzhen is accelerating improvements to visitor services and urban safety as it prepares to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November. But which changes will endure after world leaders leave?
Commentary: Apple’s iPhone factories won’t make India the next China
India is inserting itself deeper into the global electronics supply chain. Has that progress been worth what taxpayers have paid for? Andy Mukherjee weighs in for Bloomberg Opinion.
UN experts urge Indian authorities to cease ‘use of excessive force’ to curb protests
India has repeatedly dismissed such criticism and cast it as interference in the country's internal affairs.
UN experts urge Indian authorities to cease 'use of excessive force' to curb protests
WASHINGTON, Oct 20 - UN experts called on Tuesday for an independent investigation into Indian authorities' conduct in a recent crackdown on protests, where they said demonstrators had sustained injuries and some reported being subjected to ill-treatment.
JD Vance-founded, Korea-tied firm now influencing Brazil election
In the first round of Brazil’s elections on Oct. 4, 2026, Flávio Bolsonaro, of the right wing Liberal Party (PL), came in first with 47.03% of the valid votes, compared with 45.16% for the current leftist president and Workers’ Party (PT) candidate, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
China-Laos air base could be another Southeast Asian forward outpost for Beijing
Like Ream Naval Base in Cambodia, Ban Keun could lay the groundwork for increased Chinese presence, analysts said.
Iran's Pezeshkian discusses mediation efforts in meeting with Pakistan's army chief
CAIRO, Oct 20 - Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian discussed mediation efforts and regional developments during a meeting with Pakistan's army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir in Tehran, Iran's Nournews reported on Tuesday.
Houthi hits on infrastructure helping lure Aramco to Bangladesh?
On January 5, 2025, Saudi Arabia’s then ambassador to Bangladesh, Essa Youssef Essa Al Duhailan, delivered a stark reminder of a lost opportunity. Saudi Aramco, the Kingdom’s state-owned oil giant, had sent high-level delegations to Bangladesh three times between 2016 and 2018
Brazil's Newcastle poultry outbreak unlikely to have major long-term impact, analysts say
SAO PAULO, Oct 20 - An outbreak of Newcastle disease in Brazil is unlikely to cause lasting damage to the country's poultry industry if authorities contain it quickly, analysts said, though uncertainty over trade restrictions, particularly from China, remains a key risk for
Live snake found on plane after flight cancelled in south-western Japan
The snake, measuring about 40cm in length, was found by a mechanic under the carpet in the aircraft at Fukuoka Airport.
Blame game erupts between Jakarta and provinces as Indonesia fires rage
The forestry ministry insists that fire prevention and control are shared responsibilities.
Rubio says Ukraine interceptors may not have been delivered, but not for political reasons
MUMBAI, Oct 20 - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday acknowledged that a batch of interceptors purchased for Ukraine under the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) program may not have been delivered, but that this was not because of any political intent.
North Korea publishes photos of Kim Jong Un - why do rumours of his death keep coming back?
North Korean state media has published photos of the dictator with his daughter after the unsubstantiated rumour spread.
Brutal attack on MP in Australia prompts national reckoning over rising threat of political violence
The attack has stunned the nation, where politicians tend to mingle freely with the public.
Rubio says India diversifying oil, trade deal ‘very close’
India is a major importer of Russian oil.
Man charged with attack on Australia MP to face court
Brendan Nugent's family say they have known Helen Haines, who remains in a critical condition, for more than 20 years.
Iran prolongs talks in stalemate to influence US midterms, officials say
DUBAI, Oct 20 - Iran has deliberately prolonged talks with the US to try to weaken Donald Trump politically ahead of November's US midterm elections, senior officials say, while fears of renewed military action and deep distrust of Washington have reinforced Tehran's reluctance
Two years into presidency, Indonesia’s Prabowo faces tough balancing act between ambitious promises and fiscal discipline
As Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto enters his third year in office, observers say the challenge will be to translate his ambitious promises into tangible results while balancing public expectations with economic and political stability.
Indonesia haze disrupts over 2,600 flights, forces 14 cancellations on Singapore routes
Twelve flights between Singapore and Pontianak in West Kalimantan were cancelled in September, while another two between Singapore and Palembang in South Sumatra were cancelled on Oct 15, according to Indonesia’s Transportation Ministry.
UN says 19.2 million Afghans facing acute food insecurity by April 2027
The food crisis in Afghanistan is projected to affect millions of children in 2027.
Vietnam eyes remote work, online classes as air quality worsens
Hanoi regularly ranks among the world’s most polluted cities during the winter months.
Launderette underwear thief jailed nine months in Melaka
Mohammad Hamdan Awal was charged with stealing several pieces of underwear belonging to a 26-year-old woman.
Why Starshield’s slowdown really hurts Ukraine
Reports that SpaceX temporarily restricted its satellite internet service for Ukraine’s armed forces have generated serious concern in Kyiv and among the country’s allies. SpaceX operates the civilian Starlink system and its lesser-known military-grade counterpart, called
Australian police charge man over ‘targeted’ attack on lawmaker
The man, named by the local media as Brendan Nugent, remains in custody and will face court on Oct 21.
Calls mount for a true accounting of Trump’s Iran war
Democrats on the US Senate Armed Services Committee called on the Pentagon on Monday to reveal how much President Donald Trump’s Iran war is costing American taxpayers, citing “ongoing efforts to hide the true cost.” US Central Command (CENTCOM) told Congress that the war had
China’s push for contributions to bolster social insurance schemes draws online backlash
Social media users are demanding better jobs and higher wages first.
Dhaka’s silence on Saudi executions puts remittances over lives
Saudi Arabia executed two Bangladeshis on October 14 but Dhaka’s response was conspicuously restrained. Its consulate in Jeddah reportedly sought formal confirmation and the foreign ministry requested details. Officials then reassured Riyadh that bilateral relations would
China opposes ban on use of DeepSeek by US government agencies
Beijing said the move “overstretched” the concept of national security.
‘Memorial runs’ for athlete who died during race in South Korea spark debate online
Yoo Ji-won collapsed during the 2026 Seoul Race half-marathon on Oct 11, about 500m from the finish.
China flags APEC's role as key for a challenged global economy
China's Finance Minister Lan Foan called on APEC members to work more closely together to boost growth at a time when the global economy has been rocked by rapid change and the fallout from geopolitical conflicts.
Malaysia de-registers main opposition bloc Perikatan Nasional as elections loom
Perikatan Nasional's dissolution would mean that its component parties would not be able to contest the upcoming elections under a common banner.
China-Russia backing lets Pyongyang tune out Seoul’s old song
Recent incidents involving the explosion of a North Korean landmine in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and the repatriation of North Korean POWs held in Ukraine have led to a dramatic increase in North Korea-related coverage by South Korean media outlets, which had shown little
Near miss: Indonesia probes crash of suspected Chinese rocket fragment
Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency said the debris appeared to come from a Zhuque-2E rocket.
Malaysia de-registers main opposition bloc as elections loom
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 - Malaysia cancelled the registration of the country's main opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional (PN) on Tuesday amid a dispute between its key parties, dealing a blow to the bloc ahead of elections expected in coming months.
South Korea to pull more Ukraine embassy staff after POW dispute
SEOUL, Oct 20 - South Korea will withdraw additional embassy personnel from Ukraine following Kiev's lack of \"constructive response\" in a dispute about North Korean prisoners of war, Seoul's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
South Korea to withdraw some Ukraine embassy staff after POW row
Ukraine has insisted that "diplomacy must prevail over emotions" in relations between the countries and that they consider "the situation resolved".
The fake commute: How China’s unemployed save face
The scale of online engagement suggests pretending to have a job is widespread.
The fake commute: How China's unemployed save face
BEIJING/HONG KONG, Oct 20 - A photo of a home-cooked lunch almost exposed Coco Li's secret.
Busan shark Bukang-i may have just 2 weeks to live, says expert
Bukang-i was first spotted in the canal at the North Port Waterfront Park on Sept 18.
Drone strike in disputed Sudan-South Sudan area kills dozens, minister says
NAIROBI, Oct 20 - At least 73 people were killed when drones struck a market in the disputed Abyei region along the border of South Sudan and Sudan, the caretaker information minister for the jointly administered region said on Tuesday, accusing Sudan's army of carrying out the
Attack on Australian politician follows years of threats to public figures
As many as 85% of federal lawmakers and their staff had experienced violent or threatening behaviour.
Malaysian government working to ensure its students’ safety amid unrest in France
Malaysian Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir said students have been told to avoid unrest areas.
As Japan pursues a chip-industry reboot, it’s being pressed to build America’s
It is not the first time that Japan has been pushed around by the US over chips.