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

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 as 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.

Japan to launch historic round-trip mission to Mars moon

It could also help lay the groundwork for eventual human exploration.

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.

Photos show luxury boat with 50m pool and water slides near Kim Jong Un's summer retreat

Satellite images give clues about how Kim spends his holidays - something far out of reach for most North Koreans.

19 dead, 25 hurt in stampede at India religious gathering

Deadly crowd incidents are a frequent occurrence at Indian mass events, such as religious festivals, due to poor management and safety lapses.

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

At least 17 dead in crush at Hindu festival event in India

Many more have been injured at an event in the Indian city of Kolkata to mark a Hindu festival.

India says pilot action cause of 2023 Learjet crash in Mumbai

The accident had left eight people, including the crew, seriously injured.

High debt, growing strains put focus on need for new development approaches

BANGKOK, Oct 17 - High debt levels, rising debt-service costs and a sharp drop in official development assistance are forcing developing countries and institutions that help them to rethink development and look for new sources of funding, including from the private sector.

At least 10 killed in fire at Bangladesh beach resort

DHAKA, Oct 17 - At least 10 people were killed and several others injured in a fire on Saturday at a resort near Inani Beach in Cox's Bazar, a popular tourist destination in southeastern Bangladesh, officials said.

Missing records cloud whether ousted Japanese farm minister pressed for road cuts

He was forced to resign by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi earlier this week.

India's 'cockroach' movement founder released a day after detention

Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, rose to prominence this year when a weeks-long sit-in contributed to India's education minister resigning.

Trump protects Putin from Graham-Blumenthal bill

The single most predictable action of the Trump second presidency happened just a few hours ago. Trump signed an executive order that exempted Russia from all of the key possible sanctions that could have been placed on it by the Graham-Blumenthal bill. Here is a link to the