Locked offices and millions in donations: Inside India's little-known political parties
Little-known political parties are receiving millions in donations despite limited electoral activity.
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A Chinese view: Fear not Silicon Valley’s ‘AI slowdown theory’
(Publisher’s note. The American AI doomsday debate is in full gear and dutifully chimed into by West European media. The most recent wave was kicked off by a September 6 blogpost by OpenAI chief scientist Jacub Pachocki, amplified on September 8 when Anthropic researcher Jacob
North Korea says US-driven nuclear submarine push justifies its own weapons build-up
The country has been advancing its own push for a nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed submarine.
Former Philippines leader Duterte due in ICC courtroom to assess if he’s fit for murder trial
His lawyers have argued that he suffers from cognitive decline and is not well enough.
Russia team trained killer drone with Claude, Ukraine war footage
A new threat intelligence report from the AI company Anthropic has revealed that a Russian team scraped Ukrainian combat videos to train an autonomous “kamikaze” drone to choose its own targets and destroy them. Scraped footage is video content that has been automatically or
Will global music acts choose KL over S’pore, as Malaysia offers new incentives?
Malaysia is cutting costs and red tape to draw international acts and regional concertgoers to KL.
Why South Korea is giving 51 million people unlimited AI
Before the end of this year, every resident of South Korea will have free and unmetered access to a general-purpose AI chatbot and a public service agent built on domestic models. The capacity to evaluate how those systems affect hiring, credit, and public services remains to
Plain speak on AI controls: What, exactly, would we have to stop?
In one of our more important write-ups early this year, we discussed how AI is going to be our economics and AI is going to be our politics for years and decades ahead. The debate over controlling it is making that plain. We normally prefer to reach our conclusion with the
South Korean workers challenging Trump administration over Georgia raid, report says
The workers were arrested in a raid at a Hyundai Motor plant by the US authorities in September 2025.
More than 100,000 people in Japan are now aged 100 or older
Figures show 88% of the centenarians are women as the population continues to age and shrink.
Rodrigo Duterte suffering 'significant memory impairment': Defence
Judges are weighing whether former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte is mentally fit to face charges of crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court.
Limit AI now or humanity will lose its agency, says Nobel laureate Ressa
OSLO, Sept 15 - Artificial intelligence, having hijacked humanity's attention through social media and our biology by manipulating our need for intimacy, will take away our agency unless we legislate now to limit it, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa said.
Millions affected as floods strike India's Bihar
Bihar is downstream from Nepal, which suffered deadly flooding last month.
Haze worsens in Malaysia, with 40 areas recording unhealthy air quality, including 7 in Johor
Johan Setia in Selangor recorded the highest Air Pollutant Index reading of 189.
Indonesian shipwreck survivor saw vessel capsize in minutes then waited 10 hours for rescue
No alarm was raised even as the ship keeled close to tipping over, according to survivors.
Bad weather hampers Indonesia ferry rescue, dozens still missing
"We cannot fight nature; the swells and waves in the area were extremely high," said the national search and rescue agency, Basarnas.
Australian woman dies after falling from cliff at Bali’s Kelingking Beach
Rescue efforts were difficult to to the route's narrow access and high waves near the shoreline.
South Korea, Kazakhstan sign MoU on atomic energy, explore mineral trade
SEOUL, Sept 15 - South Korea and Kazakhstan signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation on the peaceful use of nuclear energy as their leaders met on Tuesday and pledged to work together on trade, energy and critical minerals and AI, Seoul said.
Former Malaysian PM Muhyiddin acquitted of 4 charges in graft trial
He still faces three more charges of using his position for an RM25.3 million bribe.
Former head of Chinese food and drug watchdog jailed for bribery
BEIJING, Sept 15 - A Chinese court on Tuesday sentenced Bi Jingquan, former head of the now-defunct China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA), to 14 years in prison over bribery.
One missing after fishing boat carrying 10 capsizes near Phu Quy Island in Vietnam
The boat was returning to unload its catch when it listed and seawater rapidly flooded its hold.
Cambodia 'playing the victim', Thailand tells global mediators
Presenting Bangkok's case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in Singapore, Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said Cambodia sought to "vilify Thailand through false narratives, distortion of facts, and unfounded accusations ... including at international forums".
Poland seeks new defence deals with Philippines
MANILA, Sept 15 - Poland is seeking new defence partnerships with the Philippines, a senior foreign ministry official said on Tuesday, after completing the delivery of Black Hawk helicopters to Manila last month.
Norway police investigate Telenor over suspected crimes against humanity in Myanmar
OSLO, Sept 15 - Norwegian police said on Tuesday they are investigating Telenor on suspicion that the telecoms operator aided and abetted crimes against humanity in Myanmar following a military coup in 2021.
Indian police to query Google over 500,000 fake Gmail IDs linked to bomb hoax
It was not immediately clear what legal charges or penalties, if any, Google could face.
South Korean lawmaker says Trump due to announce US investment details on Friday
SEOUL, Sept 15 - A South Korean lawmaker said on Tuesday, while questioning the country's finance minister nominee, that U.S. President Donald Trump was due to announce details of Seoul's planned investment in the United States on Friday.
Changing the finance minister is easier than making Indonesia investable
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has replaced Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa with Suahasil Nazara. It’s easy to change a minister, but harder to prove that the change will deliver what investors actually want. Indonesia enters this transition with Moody’s and Fitch
Japan’s land prices up for fifth straight year on housing, tourism demand
The nationwide overall average logged a 1.5 per cent increase.
Indian police detain driver who hit female biker in viral video
The incident has sparked a broader discussion about the harassment and hostility faced by female motorcyclists.
Cambodia and Thailand kick off maritime conciliation in Singapore with a fiery start
Despite Thai Foreign Minister's strongly worded speech, analysts are optimistic the two countries can resolve differences.
How China is preparing for the risk of AI escaping human control
While debate in the United States focuses on whether frontier artificial intelligence could threaten humanity, Chinese policymakers largely see AI as a powerful but governable technology.
Ousted Indonesia finance minister says he was 'upset', but half expected removal
"Last night, going to sleep was difficult. I was upset, but now it's not too bad," Purbaya told reporters on Tuesday (Sep 15) after a handover ceremony at the finance ministry.
Hot, dry spell in Sarawak to persist into next month as haze lingers, water levels fall
For weeks, residents have endured scorching daytime temperatures and choking haze.
China warns against space ‘battlefield’ after US says weapons deployed
This comes after US Space Force confirmed it had deployed weapons into orbit for the first time.
Indonesia’s housing deal with China needs a green clause
This week, Maruarar Sirait, Indonesia’s housing minister, spent four hours at the Jakarta residence of China’s ambassador, Wang Lutong, and emerged with the outline of an ambitious plan. China will help Indonesia build large numbers of apartment blocks, known locally as rusun,
Coalition likely in Philippines’ Muslim south with no clear winner in election
The vote is widely viewed as the most significant milestone since a 2014 peace agreement between Manila and the MILF.
‘The situation is tense’: Why a rift is growing between Malaysia PM Anwar and deputy Zahid
Amid public sparring between Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his deputy Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, analysts and politicians say the brinkmanship is largely about keeping UMNO’s options open ahead of the next general election.
China's new tech, national security exit-entry rules take effect
Foreign nationals may be denied entry to China for one to five years for false statements made in visa applications.
South Korea to explore development of ‘teen-only smartphones’ to combat digital addiction
The phones should limit functions that could cause addiction or over-dependence, says one politician.
Hong Kong's five-year plan to retain capitalism, uphold ‘one country, two systems’ principle
A long-term plan could give businesses greater certainty over the government's priorities and more confidence to invest in the mega-project, according to analysts.
Australian far-right leader Pauline Hanson sorry over ‘primitive’ indigenous comments
The Queensland senator is long known for making racist and inflammatory statements about minorities.
Putin’s diplomacy blitz strategically targeting the Global South
Over the past two weeks, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin staged a major diplomatic blitz. Across three events in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Vladivostok in Russia’s Far East and New Delhi, India, as well as a state visit by Vietnam’s leader, he met with some 18 heads of state. Among
China tightens travel restrictions for citizens
Observers say the new rules will further tighten the Chinese government's control over its citizens.
Japan may spend 3.5% of GDP on defence after US pressure
The move could send a shockwave through financial markets concerned about PM Takaichi’s spending plans.
China launching multidomain drone swarms for next-gen warfare
China’s pursuit of multidomain drone swarms reflects a broader effort to turn autonomous systems from standalone weapons into the connective tissue of a networked form of warfare built around speed, redundancy and system-level disruption. China is expanding its uncrewed combat
Japan’s Yamanashi eyes September 2027 start for helicopter rescue fees in Mount Fuji’s off-season
A rescue fee of 8,000 yen (S$66) per five minutes already introduced in another prefecture will be used as a reference.
South Korean man’s death goes unnoticed for days by family members with severe intellectual disabilities
The South Korean police believe the victim’s mother and brother were unable to recognise that he had died.
China’s factories rev up, but slower consumption fuels concerns
Industrial output grew 5.2 per cent in August from 2025.
China is moving corporate credit out of the supply chain
China’s new SME payment rules, released this month, include a financing instruction that deserves scrutiny. Beijing is encouraging large companies to use bank loans and bond financing to replace accounts payable and pay suppliers in cash, effectively shifting the
Chinese state media dismisses ‘self-serving’ AI slowdown call
It said the calls from leading US AI executives blunt competition from China.