Taiwan pleased Trump made no mention of island in readout of Xi call

Taiwan has offered subtle support to Japan amid Tokyo’s growing dispute with China.

How do Pakistan and Taliban Afghan militaries stack up as tensions flare?

Fresh tensions flared between Afghanistan and Pakistan on Tuesday as the Taliban accused Pakistani forces of a bomb attack in Khost province that killed nine children and a woman.

Toxic mines put Southeast Asia's rivers, people at risk: Study

Research from the United States-based Stimson Center think tank marks the first comprehensive study of potentially polluting mines in mainland Southeast Asia.

Two climbers die after falling from New Zealand's highest peak

Hikes to the summit of Mount Cook are known to be challenging even for experienced climbers.

Nine children killed in Pakistani attack in Afghan province, Taliban says

Pakistan also carried out raids in the provinces of Kunar and Paktika, injuring four civilians.

Japan PM Takaichi holds call with Trump amid China dispute

This was the first conversation between Japan PM Sanae Takaichi and US President Donald Trump since her remarks on Taiwan.

‘Return’ to China not an option, Taiwan’s Premier says in response to Xi

This comes after Xi Jinping pressed his country's sovereignty claims in a call with Donald Trump.

Thai woman found alive in coffin after being brought in for cremation

Japan sends letter to UN chief rebutting China’s demand over Taiwan remarks

Tokyo said it expects the Taiwan question to be resolved peacefully through dialogue.

Japan PM Takaichi to speak with Donald Trump by phone on Tuesday, FNN says

TOKYO - Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and U.S. President Donald Trump are preparing to speak on the phone on Tuesday, Japanese broadcaster Fuji News Network reported.

Flood-hit Malaysian states: Higher education institutions can switch to online learning

Malaysians have been advised to postpone travel to Vietnam and Thailand.

Taiwan, China, World War Two and its aftermath

Chinese President Xi Jinping told U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday that Taiwan's \"return to China\" at the end of World War Two was a key part of Beijing's vision for the world order.

Music eases surgery and speeds recovery, Indian study finds

A new study finds patients who listen to music during surgery wake faster and need fewer painkillers.

Dharmendra, iconic Bollywood actor and Indian cinema's 'He-Man', dies at 89

The legendary actor, who appeared in over 300 films such as Sholay and Chupke Chupke across six decades, was hospitalised multiple times before his death.

Thai police seek to arrest mother of 12-year-old forced into sex work in Japan

Thai police are alleging human trafficking in connection with the case.

Nvidia’s H200 chips could be ‘sugar-coated bullets’ for China

Washington reportedly is considering allowing the export of Nvidia’s H200 graphics processing units (GPUs) to China, but Chinese commentators warn the offer could amount to “sugar-coated bullets” that would slow the long-term growth of China’s artificial intelligence chip

Trump touts 'extremely strong' China relations after call with Xi

Chinese leader Xi Jinping told US President Donald Trump that Taiwan's "return to China" is a key part of Beijing's vision for the world order.

Brash but popular: Indonesia’s new finance minister Purbaya wins public praise but worries investors

While ordinary Indonesians celebrate his boldness, investors and analysts have expressed some unease about Purbaya’s expansionary policies and combative tone.

Statehood issue again could block Israel, Arabs from making nice

Mohammed bin Salman wants to bring Saudi Arabia into the Abraham accords, the network of agreements to normalize Israel’s relations with other countries in the Middle East and, increasingly, beyond. Donald Trump would have enjoyed hearing this when the Saudi crown prince

Iran's foreign minister to hold talks in Paris on Nov. 26, French foreign ministry says

PARIS - France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot will hold talks with his Iranian counterpart in Paris on November 26 to discuss bilateral and regional issues as well as Iran's contested nuclear programme, France's foreign ministry said on Monday.

Three vessels bound for US Gulf Coast terminals to load soybeans, sorghum for China

CHICAGO - Two cargo vessels were headed for grain port terminals near New Orleans on Monday to load with the first U.S. soybean shipments to China since May, according to a shipping schedule seen by Reuters.

‘I Deliver Parcels in Beijing’ depicts grueling gig-economy toil

From the HBO drama Succession to Netflix reality show Selling Sunset, TV depictions of work tend to treat it as a vehicle for social betterment rather than a means of survival. The Chinese writer Hu Anyan’s arresting memoir, I Deliver Parcels in Beijing, just published in an

Think India’s digital ID system’s the world standard? Think again

The UK government is promoting its plan for a new digital identity scheme as a way to streamline services, prevent fraud and ensure that welfare benefits reach only those entitled to them. The prime minister, Keir Starmer, has argued that digital ID is central to modernizing

US senators say Trump has failed to prevent Russian LNG from helping fund war in Ukraine

WASHINGTON - Four Democratic U.S. senators said on Monday that lax enforcement by the Trump administration of sanctions on Russia's Arctic LNG 2 export terminal allows China to buy discounted liquefied natural gas and helps Moscow fund the war in Ukraine.

Xi tells Trump that Taiwan’s ‘return’ is key to post-war order in phone call

Trump said the call was “very good”, agreed to visit Beijing in April and invited the Chinese leader for a state visit.

China's Xi tells Trump Taiwan's 'return' key to post-war order, Xinhua reports

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping told U.S. President Donald Trump during a phone call on Monday that Taiwan's \"return to China\" is a key part of the post-war international order, state news agency Xinhua reported.

US terminates temporarily legal status for Myanmar citizens

WASHINGTON - The Trump administration is ending temporary legal status for citizens of Myanmar who are in the United States, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said in a notice on Monday.

South Korea president warns of risk of accidental clashes with North

"There is not even the most basic level of trust,” says South Korean President Lee Jae Myung of relations with North Korea.

China to launch Shenzhou-22 spacecraft on November 25

BEIJING - China will launch the unmanned Shenzhou-22 spacecraft on Tuesday, its space authorities said on Monday, a move that will help return its space station and manned flight programme to normality after a vessel was damaged in early November.

UK PM Starmer says more work needed for 'just and lasting peace' in Ukraine

LONDON - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday there was more work to do to establish a \"just and lasting peace\" in Ukraine, but progress was being made.

India's Tejas jet-maker HAL calls Dubai crash an isolated occurrence

South Korea kicks off martial law probe into 49 government ministries, agencies

An “Insurrection Reporting Centre” that will accept tip-offs has also been set up.

Russian air defences down eight drones en route to Moscow, mayor says

MOSCOW - Russian air defences shot down eight drones en route to Moscow on Monday, the city's mayor said, a day after a Ukrainian strike on a power and heat station cut off heating for thousands outside the Russian capital.

100kg iron rod detaches from truck in Johor, pierces car and kills passenger

The case is being investigated for reckless or dangerous driving causing death.

EU vows to keep supporting Ukraine with cash and weapons as peace talks continue

LUANDA - European Council President Antonio Costa pledged on Monday that the European Union will keep on supporting Ukraine, as he hailed \"new momentum\" in peace negotiations to end the war triggered by Russia's invasion.

3 killed after van hits visitors on South Korean island in Jeju

All 14 victims were reported to be tourists.

Hondurans face tense election with fraud claims and international scrutiny

TEGUCIGALPA - Hondurans will go to the polls on Sunday to vote in a tightly fought presidential election beset by heated accusations of fraud in one of Latin America's poorest countries.

Poland charges third Ukrainian with helping Russia in railway sabotage

WARSAW - Polish prosecutors have arrested a Ukrainian man suspected of collaborating with Russia to sabotage a rail track, they said on Monday.

China to launch Shenzhou-22 spacecraft on November 25, state media reports

BEIJING - China will launch the unmanned Shenzhou-22 spacecraft on November 25, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Monday, a move that will help return the country's space station and manned flight programme to normality after a vessel was damaged in early November.

G20 declaration in defiance of US marks rare victory for multilateralism

JOHANNESBURG/WASHINGTON - Born of crisis but torn by years of tensions among its members, the Group of 20 major economies scored a rare victory this weekend for multilateralism after overcoming the boycott and objections of its most powerful member, the United States.

Illegal moneylending ring in South Korea that exploited over 9,000 migrant workers busted

Six members have been referred to prosecution while the leader remains at large.

India’s military turning a dangerous shade of saffron

India’s latest display of cross-border bravado — most dramatically the so-called Operation Sindoor, advertised as a “decisive strike” on terror infrastructure across the Line of Control in May — is not just another spike in South Asia’s long history of flare-ups. It marks

‘Not my sister’: Philippines’ Marcos hits back at sibling over cocaine claims

The sister's allegations laid bare the depth of the rift within the South-east Asian nation’s ruling family.

South and North Korea in ‘very dangerous’ stand-off, Yonhap quotes South Korea’s Lee Jae Myung

North Korea is refusing to answer calls by Seoul to establish contact.

Dharmendra dies at 89: Six decades, 300 films and a legacy that shaped Bollywood

Dharmendra spent his early years in Sahnewal and studied in Ludhiana where his father was a school headmaster.

North, South Korea in 'very dangerous' standoff, Yonhap quotes Lee saying

SEOUL - North and South Korea are in a \"very dangerous situation\" where an accidental clash is possible any time and it was crucial for Seoul to engage Pyongyang in dialogue, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Monday, according to Yonhap News.

Chinese humanoid robot strides into world record with three-day trek

The 169cm AgiBot A2 set off from Suzhou and arrived at Shanghai’s historic waterfront Bund area.

Malaysia floods: Number of people affected rises, with over 13,000 evacuated across seven states

Kelantan remains the hardest hit with 9,314 people housed in 37 temporary relief centres.