Trump’s second Asean summit presence comes at a price for region
Sunday, October 18,2026,00:00
US President Donald Trump is expected to drive hard bargains on tariffs and critical minerals in his return to the Asean summit in Manila next month, with Washington seeking greater economic and strategic concessions while remaining hawkish on China. The Philippines confirmed on Wednesday that Trump would fly in for the summit from November 16 to 18, before attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Shenzhen that same week. Trump’s second consecutive appearance at the forum... .. read more..
19 dead, 25 hurt in stampede at India religious festival
Saturday, October 17,2026,23:31
At least 19 people were killed and two dozen more injured on Saturday in eastern India after a stampede that occurred during sudden rainfall at a Hindu religious gathering, officials and Indian media said. West Bengal’s Chief Minister Suvendhu Adhikari told reporters the fatalities included a seven-year-old girl, adding that 25 other people were injured outside a pavilion “in a stampede” at the Hindu festival of Durga Puja in the city of Kolkata. “Six bodies have so far been identified,”... .. read more..
‘Cockroach’ party founder released by Indian police
Saturday, October 17,2026,17:48
India’s youth-led Cockroach Janata Party founder Abhijeet Dipke was released from detention on Saturday, a day after his arrest during a police crackdown on protests against the election authority. Dipke, 31, was detained Friday in New Delhi as he headed to join a rally that the CJP protest movement had called in the capital’s central Connaught Place district. He walked out of a police station on Saturday afternoon waving to the media and giving a thumbs up as he was driven away. “Abhijeet Dipke... .. read more..
Semiconductor market to remain solid ‘at least through next year,’ South Kore...
Saturday, October 17,2026,16:45
South Korea's finance minister said semiconductor growth can last at least through 2027 as supply remains tight despite a global chip sell-off. .. read more..
Taiwan security chief urges closer Europe ties against authoritarianism
Saturday, October 17,2026,13:19
Berlin, Oct. 17 (CNA) Taiwan's top national security official said Thursday that peace in the Taiwan Strait is closely tied to Europe's interests, calling for closer Taiwan-Europe cooperation in the face of growing authoritarian expansion. .. read more..
Gant's eight scoreless innings lift Dragons to win in Taiwan Series opener
Saturday, October 17,2026,12:26
Taipei, Oct. 17 (CNA) John Gant pitched eight scoreless innings to lead the Wei Chuan Dragons to a 3-0 win over the CTBC Brothers in Game 1 of the Chinese Professional Baseball League's Taiwan Series at Taipei Dome on Saturday. .. read more..
Fees proposed for new Qilai Mountain Cabin, Paiyun Lodge rate hike
Saturday, October 17,2026,11:57
Taipei, Oct. 17 (CNA) Stays at the new Qilai Mountain Cabin in Taroko National Park would cost NT$800 (US$24.65) per person per night on weekdays and NT$1,200 on holidays under a proposal released Friday, which would also raise fees at Paiyun Lodge in Yushan National Park. .. read more..
Bangladesh tourist resort fire kills 10
Saturday, October 17,2026,11:18
At least 10 tourists have been killed in a fire at a seaside resort in the southeastern Bangladeshi district of Cox’s Bazar, the country’s largest travel destination, officials said on Saturday. Dolon Acharya, an officer at the Fire Service and Civil Defence department, said the fire broke out in the morning at Tuptup Resto and Resort at Patuartek beach. The flames gutted the entire facility. The scene is located more than 320km (199 miles) southeast of the capital Dhaka. Acharya said... .. read more..
Typhoon Champi could approach or cross Taiwan next week: CWA
Saturday, October 17,2026,10:15
Taipei, Oct. 17 (CNA) Typhoon Champi could continue to strengthen and approach waters off eastern Taiwan next Thursday, with some forecast models suggesting it could move further west and cross the island, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said Saturday. .. read more..
CPC freezes fuel prices for fifth straight week
Saturday, October 17,2026,09:46
Taipei, Oct. 17 (CNA) State-owned oil supplier CPC Corp., Taiwan, said Saturday it will keep domestic gasoline and diesel prices unchanged next week to ease inflationary pressure, even as international crude prices remained high amid military tensions in the Middle East. .. read more..
TRC reminds riders of etiquette after two reported incidents
Saturday, October 17,2026,08:49
Taipei, Oct. 17 (CNA) The Taiwan Railway Corporation (TRC) late Friday urged passengers to observe proper train etiquette, after a foreign passenger was asked to stop putting their legs up against a train wall earlier the same day. .. read more..
Taiwanese visits to China rise nearly 20% despite travel warning: Agency
Saturday, October 17,2026,08:19
Taipei, Oct. 17 (CNA) Taiwanese made 2.492 million trips to China in the first eight months of this year, up 19.63 percent from a year earlier, even as the government kept its orange travel warning in place for China, Hong Kong and Macau. .. read more..
More than 3 million people take Taiwan's public flu vaccinations in 2 weeks
Saturday, October 17,2026,08:04
Taipei, Oct. 17 (CNA) More than 3 million flu vaccines and nearly 1 million COVID-19 vaccines have been administered under a publicly-funded program launched two weeks ago, with both types of vaccinations in Taiwan up significantly from a year earlier, health authorities said on Saturday. .. read more..
2 foreign visitors investigated for touching green sea turtle in Taiwan
Saturday, October 17,2026,07:34
Taipei, Oct. 17 (CNA) Two foreign visitors are being investigated for allegedly touching green sea turtle on Xiaoliuqiu off Pingtung County, a violation of the Act on Wildlife Conservation, Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) said on Saturday. .. read more..
Modi under pressure as India’s youth protests rise to highest level in a decade
Saturday, October 17,2026,07:13
Despite tens of thousands of security personnel deployed to stop them, youth protesters in India scaled barricades last week, chanted anti-government slogans and scuffled with police officers trying to drag them away. “Long live the revolution,” shouted one young man before police bundled him into a bus. Street protests in India this year are likely to be higher than at any time in the past decade, the independent Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project has said, as dissent mounts... .. read more..
Hon Hai to acquire 50% stake in Mitsubishi Electric Mobility
Saturday, October 17,2026,05:32
Taipei, Oct. 17 (CNA) Taiwan-based manufacturing giant Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. has agreed to acquire a 50 percent stake in Mitsubishi Electric Mobility Co. from Mitsubishi Electric Corp. to establish a partnership to jointly operate an automotive equipment business. .. read more..
Asean climate monitor issues highest alert level over toxic haze
Saturday, October 17,2026,05:26
Ongoing fires in Indonesia that have blanketed parts of Southeast Asia with toxic haze have triggered the highest-level alert by the regional bloc’s climate and fire monitor. “Activation of Alert Level 3 for the Southern Asean region,” the Singapore Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) said on its website, seen on Saturday. Based near Singapore’s Changi Airport, the ASMC uses a four-tiered alert level system, from zero to three, with the highest triggered if there is a “high risk of... .. read more..
Asean’s Myanmar peace push needs Japan’s ‘silent diplomacy’
Saturday, October 17,2026,05:00
Japan has long established itself as a pioneer of mediation in Southeast Asia. In 1990, for example, its officials helped broker talks between Cambodia’s warring factions, supplementing international efforts to end conflict in the country. Now, Tokyo is seeking to upgrade its diplomatic toolkit. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ International Peace Mediation Unit was set up in March, followed by the launch of the Parliamentary Association for Peace Mediation in May. Around the same time, the... .. read more..
Ex-Malaysian minister Nik Nazmi admits lapse in judgment after ‘khalwat’ arrest
Saturday, October 17,2026,04:26
Former Malaysian minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has confirmed that he was one of two individuals detained by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) over an alleged khalwat case. Nik Nazmi, who helms Parti Bersama Malaysia, said he was at a residence in Petaling Jaya on Thursday with a woman after they decided to continue a discussion about a project there. “We had initially started the discussion with friends at a studio in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, before moving to Petaling Jaya to... .. read more..
Nuit Blanche Taipei to take place Oct. 31 with art, performances
Saturday, October 17,2026,04:22
Taipei, Oct. 17 (CNA) Taipei's Nuit Blanche arts festival will be held at the Taipei Expo Park on Oct. 31, featuring more than 30 art installations and 50 performances under the theme "Night Ka Shi," the city's Department of Cultural Affairs said Friday. .. read more..
Shunned in the West, Ye hands Indonesia a rare mega-tour coup
Saturday, October 17,2026,04:00
Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga each chose Singapore as their only Southeast Asian stop on recent world tours. Fellow American singer Olivia Rodrigo played Thailand and the Philippines, but likewise skipped Indonesia. Next weekend, however, Jakarta is finally getting the big international headline act it has been craving – in the form of Ye. The controversial American rapper, formerly known as Kanye West, is set to play Indonesia’s capital next Saturday, marking the only Southeast Asian appearance on... .. read more..
Chinese coast guard ships enter restricted waters near Dongsha: CGA
Saturday, October 17,2026,03:45
Taipei, Oct. 17 (CNA) Two Chinese coast guard vessels entered restricted waters around Taiwan-controlled Dongsha Atoll Friday afternoon, prompting Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) to deploy vessels to monitor them and order them to leave. .. read more..
Warm easterly winds could raise mercury to 36°C Saturday: CWA
Saturday, October 17,2026,03:09
Taipei, Oct. 17 (CNA) Daytime temperatures in Taiwan could reach as high as 36 degrees Celsius Saturday under a warm easterly wind system, with mostly sunny skies expected across the country, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. .. read more..
‘Thai people already poor’: developing nations protest IMF’s austerity call
Saturday, October 17,2026,03:03
Coconut farmer Sombat Chuekrod travelled more than 200km (120 miles) to join hundreds on the streets of Bangkok on Friday demanding that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank change how they deal with the developing world. Finance ministers, central bank governors and other top policymakers gathered this week in the Thai capital for the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings, as decision makers tackle an inflation crisis fuelled by the Iran war and other economic shocks. The message from... .. read more..
Taiwan drugmaker PharmaEssentia plans US$46 million Puerto Rico plant as it e...
Saturday, October 17,2026,02:48
Taipei, Oct. 17 (CNA) Taiwan-based biopharmaceutical company PharmaEssentia Corp. is expanding its global manufacturing and commercial footprint, planning a US$46 million production facility in Puerto Rico to begin operations in 2027 while consolidating its North American business to support the international growth of its blood cancer drug ropeginterferon alfa-2b (Ropeg). .. read more..
Taiwan headline news
Saturday, October 17,2026,02:38
Taipei, Oct. 17 (CNA) The lead stories in major Taiwan dailies on Saturday are as follows: .. read more..
Air rage incidents in Japan surge, led by late check-in ‘flashpoint’
Saturday, October 17,2026,02:00
Airline employees in Japan are experiencing a surge in abuse incidents from customers linked to delays or cancellations of flights or from being refused boarding due to late check-in, according to a survey. Some 30 per cent of ground staff or cabin crew reported bearing the brunt of passengers’ anger over such matters in the past year, according to the survey by the Japan Federation of Aviation Industry Unions released last month, rising from 7 per cent in its previous survey in 2023. In... .. read more..
Philippines’ ‘China-free’ manufacturing strategy is a high-risk bet
Saturday, October 17,2026,01:30
China and the Philippines recently traded accusations over the medical evacuation of a Philippine serviceman from a grounded naval vessel in the hotly disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea. The incident has sparked renewed worries about potential armed skirmishes in a global artery of trade. But Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr was also quick to emphasise the economic dimensions of a major conflict. After a decade of rapid economic growth, the Philippines is facing... .. read more..
Japan’s Takaichi sends offering to controversial Yasukuni war shrine
Saturday, October 17,2026,00:33
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Saturday sent a ritual offering to Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, regarded by Japan’s neighbours as a symbol of the country’s past militarism, at the start of its three-day autumn festival. Takaichi, known as a conservative who routinely visited the Shinto shrine before becoming prime minister a year ago, was unlikely to visit the shrine during the festival, a source close to her said, amid strained relations with China and relatively stable ties with South Korea. The... .. read more..
Malaysia’s shoppers love Chinese e-commerce. Its factories pay the price
Saturday, October 17,2026,00:00
In hindsight, it was only a matter of time before Esha Yusof joined the growing ranks of Malaysian shoppers being drawn to Chinese e-commerce giant Pinduoduo. Esha is a relative newcomer. She signed up in July, more than half a year after the platform launched in Malaysia – and has been smitten with it ever since. Rock-bottom prices, a vast range of products and seamless payments through a popular local e-wallet make it easy for the 32-year-old to spend an average of 500 ringgit (US$122) a month... .. read more..
North Korea says it tested new torpedo with AI tech
Friday, October 16,2026,23:37
North Korea conducted an underwater test of a new torpedo weapon system on Thursday to verify technological upgrades, state news agency KCNA reported on Saturday, describing the test as a success and a significant step in the country’s naval development. The test verified propulsion technology developed through more than 180 tests over the past five years, KCNA said, adding that artificial intelligence was used for target detection and guidance in the new high-speed precision-guided... .. read more..
U.S. presses China on Mastercard, Citigroup market access in bilateral Bangko...
Friday, October 16,2026,16:46
The U.S. raised market access issues for Mastercard and Citigroup in China during bilateral meetings in Bangkok this week, a U.S. Treasury official says. .. read more..
Chinese exchange student deported over video showing him 'pinching Lai'
Friday, October 16,2026,12:45
Taipei, Oct. 16 (CNA) A Chinese exchange student was deported on Friday after posting a video that appeared to show him pinching President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) between his fingers, with comments including "Got the little Lai Ching-te." .. read more..
Chiang proposes easing urban renewal threshold; Shen questions bottlenecks
Friday, October 16,2026,12:22
Taipei, Oct. 16 (CNA) Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) proposed easing requirements for city assistance with urban renewal Friday, while Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋), his election challenger, said the changes would not resolve bottlenecks preventing projects from reaching construction. .. read more..
Indian police detain ‘cockroach’ movement leader ahead of New Delhi protest
Friday, October 16,2026,12:06
Police detained India’s ‘cockroach’ movement founder Abhijeet Dipke on Friday, live images from his group showed, ahead of a protest called by him in capital New Delhi’s central business district, the latest rally to demand the resignation of India’s election chief. The youth-led ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ (CJP), opposition groups and student organisations have held almost daily protests this month demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over a revision of voter lists... .. read more..
Champi expected to become typhoon within 24 hours; path remains uncertain
Friday, October 16,2026,11:40
Taipei, Oct. 16 (CNA) Tropical Storm Champi is expected to strengthen into a typhoon within 24 hours, but its future path remains uncertain, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said Friday. .. read more..
10 local election candidates fail eligibility review: CEC
Friday, October 16,2026,11:27
Taipei, Oct. 16 (CNA) A total of 10 candidates running for city and county council seats in Taiwan's upcoming local elections have been ruled ineligible, including New Party candidate You Zhi-bin (游智彬), the Central Election Commission (CEC) said Friday. .. read more..
Taiwan lawmakers pass health insurance premium subsidies for seniors
Friday, October 16,2026,11:24
Taipei, Oct. 16 (CNA) With only six weeks remaining until local elections, opposition lawmakers on Friday passed a legal amendment requiring the central government to fully subsidize National Health Insurance (NHI) premiums for certain seniors. .. read more..
Singapore targets 7 companies over wildfires in Indonesia as toxic haze worsens
Friday, October 16,2026,11:07
Singapore has identified seven companies it says were involved in wildfires in Indonesia that are choking the city state with haze, and plans to issue notices requiring them to take preventive measures, the Business Times reported. The companies will receive notices under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act requiring them to stop or refrain from burning and submit plans to prevent a recurrence, the newspaper reported, citing Sustainability and the Environment Minister Grace Fu at a Friday press... .. read more..
Taiwan should not rule out nuclear power as energy option: Lai
Friday, October 16,2026,10:59
Taipei, Oct. 16 (CNA) Taiwan should not rule out any energy source or abandon environmental sustainability in favor of ideology and short-term benefits, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said in a recent interview, calling for a "professional assessment" of whether nuclear power should be reintroduced into Taiwan's energy mix. .. read more..
Malaysia’s Negeri Sembilan ruler orders chief minister out of sight in rare p...
Friday, October 16,2026,10:58
A Malaysian ruler known for being reserved has publicly berated his chief minister over efforts to unseat him, telling the politician to “go away” and withdraw his claim that the monarch no longer holds the throne. Negeri Sembilan, south of Kuala Lumpur, has been caught in a dispute since April over who is its rightful ruler, bringing down one state government aligned with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition and leaving its newly appointed chief minister without... .. read more..
Indian Shares Close Higher As IT Stocks Extend Surge
Friday, October 16,2026,10:22
Indian shares eked out modest gains on Friday, adding to sharp gains in the previous session as information technology stocks extended recent gains following encouraging Q2 earnings from Wipro and Tech Mahindra. .. read more..
India’s proposed social media ban for under-18s wins parents’ backing
Friday, October 16,2026,10:00
Digangana Mukherjee, a mother of a six-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy, has banned television at her home in the Indian city of Mysore because she does not want her children to become addicted to watching content on screen. A year ago, when her son’s school started using a smart classroom board that streamed online content, she and her husband decided to enrol him in a school where teachers used chalk on a slate board, and the pace of lessons was slower. Now, she is happy that the Indian... .. read more..
Taichung city government signs deal for "Taiwan Dome"
Friday, October 16,2026,09:38
Taipei, Oct. 16 (CNA) The Taichung City Government signed a NT$60 billion (US$1.89 billion) contract on Friday and announced the name of the planned "Taiwan Dome" (台灣超巨蛋), set to become Taiwan's largest indoor baseball venue. .. read more..
Indonesia’s central bank insists it is independent. Investors want proof
Friday, October 16,2026,09:00
Indonesia has spent months trying to persuade investors that its economy is on the right course. A weakening rupiah, mounting budgetary pressures and a series of contentious policy decisions have made that task harder. Doubts about the management of Southeast Asia’s largest economy have now coalesced around its central bank, whose independence has come under intense scrutiny recently as President Prabowo Subianto seeks to steer economic policy. The appointment of Destry Damayanti – initially as... .. read more..
Discoverers name asteroid after Kinmen
Friday, October 16,2026,08:56
Taipei, Oct. 16 (CNA) An asteroid discovered by researchers in Taiwan and the United States has been named after Kinmen, the Kinmen National Park Administration said Friday. .. read more..
Asian Shares Surge After Warsh Comments
Friday, October 16,2026,08:41
Asian stocks advanced on Friday as tech shares bounced back following Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh's comments at the IMF-World Bank meetings in Bangkok that artificial intelligence is a major force in the global economy. .. read more..
Thai raid foils cross-border cable ruse powering Myanmar scam centre
Friday, October 16,2026,08:31
Authorities in Thailand have uncovered an audacious scheme involving hundreds of metres of internet cable sent over the Thai border to keep a suspected Myanmar scam compound online, after finding two ramshackle village homes using enough daily bandwidth to power an entire village. Officers raided the homes in Nong Lu, a Thai border village in Kanchanaburi province, which is the gateway to the Three Pagodas Pass in Myanmar – now a notorious hub for cyber scammers. Many scam centre leaders have... .. read more..
U.S. dollar closes higher on Taipei forex market
Friday, October 16,2026,08:17
Taipei, Oct. 16 (CNA) The U.S. dollar rose against the Taiwan dollar Friday, gaining NT$0.073 to close at NT$32.338. .. read more..
Taiwan plans U.S. industrial parks with private funding, government aid
Friday, October 16,2026,08:15
Taipei, Oct. 16 (CNA) Taiwan's government plans to develop industrial parks in the United States based on a model in which private businesses provide the funding while the government offers assistance, with each park costing US$2 billion to US$4 billion, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) said Friday. .. read more..