Mission set to blast off for Mars to grab a piece of its moon

A spacecraft is set to launch on an ambitious mission to bring 10g of Martian moon dust back to Earth.

No easy gig: China's push to better protect platform workers faces hurdles

China's proposed rules aim to improve pay, rest and working conditions for tens of millions of gig workers, but analysts warn that financial pressures, differing work arrangements and enforcement challenges could limit their impact.

Commentary: Despite devastating floods, Nepal has limited options for climate compensation

Demands for compensation from climate-vulnerable countries are unlikely to yield outcomes soon, says COP30 special envoy and think tank founder Arunabha Ghosh.

Sydney’s new $5 billion airport opens with barely any flights

The airport is set to welcome its first passengers on Oct 25, but is said to have attracted few airlines.

Taiwan says it drove away 16 Chinese ships involved in ‘maritime harassment’

The locations were off Taiwan’s eastern, southern and south-western coastlines, and around Pratas.

Japan PM Takaichi’s support rate falls below 50%, lowest since taking office: Report

The decline might be due to Takaichi’s slow response surrounding the resignation of Kazuo Yana.

Japan to launch historic round-trip mission to Mars moon

The flagship H3 rocket carrying the MMX is set to blast off from the Tanegashima Space Center on Tuesday (Oct 20) at 4.41am.

Out-of-control truck kills 13 at Hindu festival in India

The heavily loaded truck reportedly lost control in the early hours of Sunday (Oct 18) and hit devotees gathered at a temple in Gwalior, in the central state of Madhya Pradesh.

Nepal seeking legal amendments to expedite death certificates for 54 Malaysians, says KL minister

Current laws require 3-year wait but victims' families need to handle financial, insurance affairs.

Haze in Malaysia: Schools in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Pahang, Penang to reopen on Oct 19

KL’s Education Department said students and school staff should wear masks to protect themselves from the haze.

Over 6,000 complaints of overcharging made by foreigners against taxis in Seoul in 5 years

Seoul’s 500,000-won (S$479) reward for reporting taxi overcharging has also gone unused since 2021.

Malaysia’s Selangor investigating 7 petrol stations after contaminated RON95 complaints

Motorists reported problems including abnormal engine noises, jerking, loss of power and engines failing to start. Some vehicles were also reported to have suffered burnt engine valves.

Indonesia primed to lead a Global South forest protection bloc

Indonesia, Brazil and the Democratic Republic of Congo together hold more than half of the world’s tropical rainforests. In 2022, when Indonesia hosted the G20 summit in Bali, the three countries pledged to cooperate on how to pay to protect those forests. The promise was one

Asia • 1d

Old records, new troubles: Vietnam’s tax clean-up catches taxpayers off guard

Former business owners with long-forgotten tax obligations have been barred from leaving the country.

Malaysians advised to postpone non-essential travel to France amid demonstrations

No Malaysians had been reported involved in or adversely affected by the demonstrations so far.

Vietnam signs free trade deal with four European nations

The deal, between Southeast Asia's fastest-growing economy and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) eliminates or reduces customs duties, including on imports of industrial, fish and agricultural products.

Vietnam signs free-trade pact with European countries including Norway, Switzerland

Oct 18 - Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein have signed a free-trade agreement with Vietnam, the governments of Norway and Vietnam announced on Sunday.

‘Heartbreaking’: Out-of-control truck kills 13 at Hindu festival in India

The heavily loaded truck reportedly lost control and hit devotees gathered at a Gwalior temple.

Dozens of orang utans saved from Indonesia blazes

Two organisations said a team had evacuated 51 orang utans from locations in Kalimantan since Aug 6.

Singing, dancing and getting dumped by AI on South Korean TV

A survey found that South Korea had the lowest level of concern about AI in the world.

US racing to field drone wingmen to close fighter gap with China

A recent breakthrough in airborne drone control has offered a tangible glimpse into the future of US air combat, signaling the US Air Force’s accelerating push to integrate autonomous wingmen alongside frontline fighters. This month, The War Zone (TWZ) reported that a US Air

Asia • 1d

Festival crush in Indian city of Kolkata kills at least 17, local media say

Oct 17 - A crush at a religious festival in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata killed at least 17 people and injured dozens, local media reported on Saturday.

Dozens of orangutans saved from Indonesia blazes

The West Kalimantan conservation agency and Indonesian non-profit YIARI said a team evacuated 51 orangutans from locations in the province from Aug 6 to Oct 19.

Rubio heads to Central Asia while other US officials hit foreign policy hot spots

WASHINGTON, Oct 18 - While the Iran war smolders, Saudi Arabia fights the Houthis and a new rift opens in US-Ukraine relations, Secretary of State Marco Rubio travels on Sunday to Uzbekistan, a nation far removed from the biggest US foreign policy challenges.

Malaysia’s BN to announce candidates for Melaka polls on Oct 28: State chairman

Ab Rauf Yusoh, who is also Melaka’s caretaker chief minister, said the candidates would carry the responsibility of continuing the coalition’s mandate and securing victory at the polls.

Western brands under pressure as ‘pre-owned’ luxury booms in China

Chinese were once massive buyers of luxury Western brands, accounting for around a third of worldwide spending.

Rubio says Trump to take up to 60 days to weigh Russia sanctions

Oct 17 - The day after waiving sanctions and tariffs related to Russian exports, US President Donald Trump said on Saturday he has yet to announce a final decision on the matter, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio said officials want more time to evaluate the situation.

Western brands under pressure as 'pre-owned' luxury booms in China

French luxury house Louis Vuitton has closed five stores in mainland China in the past two years - including a chocolate boutique in Shanghai - while Parisian department store Galeries Lafayette shut its Beijing flagship in May.

Oxygen tanks, purifier sales spike as haze crisis hits South-east Asia

Families are now rushing to buy devices to keep indoor air clean.

Indonesia drops 2.4 tonnes of dry ice over South Sumatra to tackle haze

The province is among six prioritised by Indonesia for forest and land fire prevention and response.

Johor schools, educational institutions to reman closed for 5 more days

The state government had earlier ordered all schools to close for two days from Oct 8, before extending the closure to educational institutions for another five days from Oct 12.

Johor schools, educational institutions to remain closed for 5 more days

The state government had earlier ordered all schools to close for two days from Oct 8, before extending the closure to educational institutions for another five days from Oct 12.

Malaysia exploring using drones to deliver critical cargo to remote communities

The cargo services could be utilised in plantations, islands and offshore facilities.