She made India fall in love with women's cricket - now her era as captain is over

The skipper who led India to the historic 2025 World Cup win has stepped down from her role in all three formats.

Award-winning Kashmiri filmmaker Arfat Sheikh detained by US immigration authorities

WASHINGTON, Oct 7 - An award-winning filmmaker whose work has explored conflict in his native Kashmir has been detained by US immigration officials after legally coming to the United States to study and later claiming asylum, his family and friends said on Wednesday.

Samsung flags US$80 billion profit on AI boom, highest quarterly for any tech company

Samsung Electronics has estimated a nearly nine-fold jump in third-quarter earnings as booming demand for AI chips drove strong memory sales.

How toxic haze is causing Singapore’s landmarks to disappear

The BBC’s Tessa Wong breaks down how one of Indonesia’s worst wildfire seasons is impacting countries around South East Asia.

Thailand, US writing ‘final paragraph’ of trade deal, says PM Anutin

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul received a letter from US President Donald Trump last week confirming both countries were “at the final stage” on the agreement, he said at a forum in Singapore on Wednesday (Oct 7).

Malaysia budget 2027: Anwar faces balancing act on cost-of-living relief as general election looms

Middle-income households are expected to get greater attention, even as economists warn that electoral pressures could slow politically difficult fiscal reforms.

Commentary: UMNO’s dark September - twin storms threaten party’s 'blue wave'

Despite UMNO’s resurgence, recent events have shown that the party has a long way to go before it can complete a political comeback, writes CNA’s Leslie Lopez.

Indonesia’s efforts are keeping the terror threat under control, but can it continue to stay ahead?

Years of disruption have weakened Indonesia’s militant networks, but the latest arrests also showed how extremists are adapting.

Trump administration plans to charge international students $70,000 for work authorization

WASHINGTON, Oct 6 - The US Department of Homeland Security has proposed that international students pay at least $70,000 in training fees if they want to work in the country, according to a government notice posted online on Wednesday, part of the Trump administration's wider

Taiwan’s US envoy says ties robust after Trump-Xi summit

Trump held back approval of new arms sales to Taipei to maintain warm relations with China's Xi.

Taiwan's US envoy says ties robust after Trump-Xi summit

WASHINGTON, Oct 7 - Taiwan's de facto ambassador to Washington said on Wednesday that ties with the United States remained robust after last month's summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, while stressing the importance of timely delivery of US

Attacks on tankers in Hormuz hit highest of any week since start of Iran war, sources say

LONDON, Oct 7 - Attacks on tankers sailing through the Strait of Hormuz hit their highest last week of any week since the Iran war began, according to maritime security sources tracking incidents, amid a bigger export push by Gulf producers.

Rahul Gandhi, opposition lawmakers detained again in India over election chief protest

Protesters are seeking the resignation of India's election chief over a controversial revision of voter lists.

Rahul Gandhi, Indian opposition lawmakers detained over election chief protest for second day

NEW DELHI, Oct 7 - Indian police detained opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and several lawmakers for the third time in two days on Wednesday as they launched an unannounced protest demanding the resignation of the election chief over a controversial revision of voter lists.

Former Thai PM Thaksin cites personal safety in tax challenge

The tax claim was upheld against Thaksin over the 2006 sale of his telecoms firm.

Iranian official says 'illegal routes' in Strait of Hormuz to soon be blocked

DUBAI, Oct 7 - Transit routes in the Strait of Hormuz deemed illegal by Iran will soon be closed, an adviser to the Revolutionary Guards' Commander told the semi-official Fars News Agency on Wednesday, referring to the southern pathway hugging Oman's coast.

All schools in Johor to shut on Oct 8 and 9 as air quality deteriorates due to haze

Parents were advised to keep their children indoors and make sure they are hydrated.

All schools in Johor to close for two days amid worsening haze

The state government’s decision on Wednesday (Oct 7) followed a directive from Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim and was taken as a precautionary measure to safeguard the health and safety of students.

Former Indonesian anti-graft prosecutor goes on trial for corruption

Indonesia has long struggled with corruption and has arrested scores of public officials in recent years.

Turkey sending technical, defensive support to Saudi Arabia to help fight Houthis, officials say

ANKARA/RIYADH, Oct 7 - Turkey is sending mainly defensive and technical support to Saudi Arabia to help it fight Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis, two officials said on Wednesday, after the NATO member and Pakistan pledged to act on the collective defence commitment of their newly

How Yemen’s renewed civil war could set the whole region ablaze

The Middle East has seen many explosions of violence in recent years. But while the US-Iran war has grabbed the headlines this year, the rapidly escalating conflict between the Houthis and Yemen’s internationally recognized government and Saudi Arabia risks becoming just as

Asia • 1d

Indonesian court hears 'negligence' complaint against state over fires, haze

Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto and the governor of West Kalimantan are among 10 defendants.

Kagan and Soai win 2026 Nobel chemistry prize

STOCKHOLM, Oct 7 - Scientists Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry \"for the discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis,\" the award-giving body said on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka's ex-first lady arrested over alleged misuse of children's hospital donations

The 73-year-old has been arrested over allegations that a charity she is linked to misused donations.

Asahi and Kirin among Japan beer giants raided over alleged price-fixing cartel

Japan's Fair Trade Commission conducted searches of the country's largest beer-makers.

Malaysian PM Anwar set to boost budget spending as election speculation grows

He is likely to prioritise cash handouts to middle-income groups when he presents the 2027 spending plan to Parliament.

Greenpeace catches Hong Kong geopark ‘golden week’ visitors damaging marine life

These included catching live sea cucumbers, using metal tools to dig out sea snails and clams, and picking up coral skeletons.

South Korea plans to ease student visa rules, new gap-year track to woo foreign talent

Proposals include simpler part-time work permits and new pathways to employment and long-term residence.

Thailand floods death toll rises to 60 since mid-September

In central Prachinburi province, 19 people have died, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

Indonesia’s bourse rebuild is really a monetary policy story

For decades, the Indonesia Stock Exchange has run like a members’ club, where the brokers who trade on the IDX also own it. But that cozy arrangement is about to end under an amended financial sector law that requires the exchange to demutualize. The Financial Services

Asia • 1d

Taiwan indicts 10 for alleged resale of US chips to China

They allegedly repackaged controlled chips and disguised them as non-controlled chips “made in Taiwan”.

Next steps unclear after Indonesia’s pledge to stop clearing forests for rice fields

The Forestry Ministry says it cannot yet say if or when all activities will automatically stop.

Indonesian court hears ‘negligence’ complaint against state over fires, haze

President Prabowo Subianto and the governor of West Kalimantan are among 10 defendants.

Micron workers at Taiwan plant vote to strike over bonuses

Move comes after talks with US memory chip giant on bonus reforms collapsed.

US-Australia hypersonic push no silver bullet against China

The inaugural flight-test release of a US air-launched hypersonic weapon over an Australian weapons range demonstrates both nations’ push for standoff hypersonic strike, yet the weapon’s true combat value hinges on whether allied airbases and kill chains can survive China’s

Asia • 1d

Myanmar leader lands in Malaysia for migrant return talks

Malaysia says that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will host Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing for talks on the "safe repatriation of Myanmar nationals of all ethnic groups who have been in Malaysia illegally".

Japan raids beer giants over alleged price cartel

Asahi Breweries, Kirin Brewery, Sapporo Breweries, and Suntory are under investigation over suspicions they colluded to hike beverage prices in a violation of anti-monopoly laws.

Pacific's new climate fund gets $15 million boost but remains far below target

NADI, Fiji, Oct 7 - Nations including Fiji and Ireland said on Wednesday they were donating about $15 million to a fund to finance climate resilience and adaptation projects in Pacific islands, but pledges remain far below the fund's target.

Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing arrives in Malaysia; repatriation among key issues

He will be accorded an official welcoming ceremony at the Perdana Putra Complex on Oct 8.

Indian central bank hikes rates for first time since 2023

In doing so, the RBI has shifted gears to join several central banks around the world who have raised rates to curb price rises or boost their currencies.

Constitutional Court rejects bid to disqualify Indonesian V-P Gibran over high school credentials

Petitioners lacked legal standing, but now they plan to take their case to Parliament.

South Korea launches 'K-brand' scheme to fight counterfeits

Under the new "K-Brand Government Certification System", consumers will now be able to check whether a product is authentic by scanning a QR code attached to it with their mobile phone.

Malaysia’s former PM Najib notified of house arrest rules; details to be released soon

Malaysia’s Prisons Department is expected to release the SOPs on Najib’s house arrest soon.

Four Indonesian seamen return home after Somali pirate ordeal

The pirates had already killed 5 crew members before the vessel was rescued.

South Korea launches ‘K-brand’ authentication scheme to fight counterfeits

The authentication system that will let consumers know if goods they are purchasing are the real deal.

Trump finds it’s funny to joke about Iran bombing California

In a stemwinder of a speech in Nebraska, our mentally ill president joked around that if Iran took out Los Angeles and San Diego, it would be a small price to pay for keeping the rest of the country safe. Or at least that is what he appeared to say. What his slurred free

Asia • 1d

China says it’s talking to Russia on suspected plague case

Irkutsk is a major hub with frequent flights and rail links to Chinese cities.

Once shunned, Myanmar's military-backed leader set for Malaysian red carpet

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 - Myanmar's junta chief-turned-president Min Aung Hlaing will arrive in Malaysia on Wednesday for talks with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, as the military-backed leader once shunned by regional nations seeks international legitimacy.