Rubio says India made ‘substantial progress’ in diversifying oil purchases
India is a major importer of Russian oil.
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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
Indonesian President Prabowo marks 2 years in office with economic gains, but challenges loom
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 was angered after Ukraine disclosed the transfer of two North Korean soldiers to South Korea.
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
SYDNEY, Oct 20 - Australian lawmakers and enforcers have to sought to lower the temperature of political debate and warned about growing threats to public figures since 2021, when anti-lockdown protesters put an effigy of a state leader on a makeshift gallows in Melbourne.
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.
China sends naval forces to monitor US warship near disputed shoal
BEIJING/TAIPEI, Oct 20 - China's military said on Tuesday it had sent forces to watch a US warship that \"illegally\" entered waters around a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, while further north in the waterway, Taiwan reported a standoff with a Chinese ship.
Beijing sends naval forces to monitor US warship near disputed South China Sea shoal
Taiwan says Chinese Coast Guard ship enters "restricted waters" near the Pratas Islands it controls.
Indonesia to deploy more than 9,000 security officers at protests marking Prabowo's two years in power
Students, including from the University of Indonesia, will protest against recent forest fires, as well as the rout on the stock market.
Japan slams lack of access to journalist detained in Russia
Tokyo said it was "extremely regrettable" that its diplomats had been unable to visit the Japanese journalist detained in Russia, despite a bilateral protocol that guarantees the right to consular access.
Malaysia will form special committee to probe ‘corporate mafia’
The body will publish a report within three months.
Ghosts of ’97 haunt Prabowo as MSCI eyes Indonesia’s exit
2026, it is learning how quickly an index provider can show Southeast Asia’s biggest economy the exit, wreaking havoc on its stock market. The provider is MSCI, which may be about to follow through on its threat to downgrade Indonesian stocks to “frontier” status, or to
Security firm finds China-linked AI agent behind Japan cyberattacks
The AI agent concerned has been allegedly also used in recent cyberattacks against South Korean financial institutions.
Payment giant Mynt boosts Philippine market hopes with IPO record
Analysts said the listing could significantly raise the fintech profile of the country.
Asian Para Games trace roots to Japanese disability sports pioneer
Yutaka Nakamura also helped bring the 1964 Tokyo Paralympics to fruition.
Australia to sue Facebook, TikTok for alleged breaches of ban: Minister
Companies are required to take steps to stop underage users from holding social media accounts.
Declared dead: Indian voters fight to get back on electoral rolls
Voters struck off the rolls are worried about access to subsidised ration and welfare schemes.
Seoul vows 'resolute punishment' after North Korea threatens new border measures
North Korea has threatened to deploy additional tactical strike weapons along the border and resume loudspeaker broadcasts towards the South.
King Charles sends Aung San Suu Kyi books, says Myanmar government
Nay Pyi Taw has released rare photographs of Suu Kyi receiving the books along with a sealed letter.
Chinese patrols to Taiwan’s east are ‘destabilising’: US Congress-appointed official
China has stepped up activity off the island’s east coast since June with regular coast guard patrols.
Trumpflation is here and it’s all Trump’s doing
Donald Trump loves to put his name on things, and when it comes to the recent burst of inflation, it’s totally deserved. Trump and Republican politicians are doing their best to try to make a simple story complicated. But there is no doubt that Trump is the lead and almost sole
For Seoul and Taipei markets, blue skies above the haze
I am writing this from Singapore, where the haze is back. For the uninitiated, smoke from fires several hundred kilometres away drifts over the island, the skyline turns the color of weak tea and the whole city checks its air-quality app with a devotion normally reserved for
South Korea warns of ‘firm’ response to further provocations from North
A string of cross-border incidents has weighed on North-South ties in recent years.