Indonesia

Prabowo orders tougher action on Indonesia fires; foreign offers to help tackle haze not discussed

JAKARTA: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has ordered more action to fight forest and land fires that have sent thick haze to Singapore and Malaysia, but offers of help from the two countries were not discussed at a meeting he chaired on Oct 12.

Thailand

A silent future? Bangkok debates banning motorised tuk-tuks

BANGKOK: Tuk-tuks are everywhere in Bangkok. The rattle of the iconic three-wheeled rickshaws dominates much of the Thai capital, and taking a ride in one of the colourful open-top vehicles is a must-do for any self-respecting tourist.

Markets

Profit-taking halts rebound on FBM KLCI

KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI is seeing some profit-taking pressure despite improved domestic sentiment following the tabling of Budget 2027.

Entertainment

Action star Jet Li denies abandoning first family, says he left past marriage with nothing

Li says he gave all his assets and properties to his ex-wife after their divorce to ensure she had financial security, while also shouldering the expenses of raising their two older daughters.

Economy

Japan's wholesale inflation remains elevated, keeps alive BOJ rate-hike view

TOKYO: Japan's wholesale prices rose 6.8% in the year to September, according to data released on Tuesday, slowing from the previous month but highlighting mounting inflationary pressure that keeps alive market expectations of a near-term interest rate hike.

Nation

Form 2 student struck, killed by lightning in Pasir Mas

PASIR MAS: A 14-year-old Form 2 student died on Monday afternoon (Oct 12) after being struck by lightning while returning from a fishing trip at a paddy field near Kampung Tasek Berangan, Repek, here.

Forex

Budget 2027 optimism lifts ringgit despite external headwinds

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit edged higher against the US dollar at the opening, buoyed by optimism surrounding Budget 2027.

Markets

Nasdaq ends lower as oil prices surge ahead of earnings, economic data

THE Nasdaq composite closed lower on Monday as oil prices jumped nearly $2 a barrelafter attacks on a Saudi airport, and investors waited for banks to kick off the third-quarter earnings season and for economic data this week.

Sabah & Sarawak

QuickCheck: Is it true that a beetle was named after Tun Dr Siti Hasmah?

PETALING JAYA: Whenever researchers or scientists discover a new species, they name the flora or fauna based on circumstances such as geographic location, behaviour or patterns.

Focus

Kim’s fun economy

COFFEE bars. Waterparks. Retail therapy. North Korea – a country few would associate with leisure or pleasure – is experiencing an unlikely outbreak of fun.

Nepal

Copters race to the rescue

Rescuers from Nepal's military reached an area hit by a flash flood the previous day.

South Korea

New crime agency targets critic of would-be chief

Just nine days after its launch, the nation's new Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (SCIA) is set to conduct its first internal inspection, targeting a regional office chief who has repeatedly criticised the nominee to lead the agency.

North Korea

Pyongyang fires ‘ballistic missiles’ into Sea of Japan

THE nation fired multiple ballistic missiles off its east coast, Seoul's military said, after weeks of mounting friction over a landmine explosion along their heavily fortified border.

India

Police abuses alleged during protests

Opposition leaders and journalists accused police of heavy-handed tactics during weekend demonstrations, as authorities locked down New Delhi ahead of a fresh rally against the election chief.

Economy

Budget 2027 – Goodies galore

IN the fourth year of administration, and as the Madani government presented its fifth, and likely final budget before the next general election, Budget 2027 was expansionary yet disciplined in its projections.

India

Disruption grinds Delhi to a halt

Authorities closed six metro train stations and warned of traffic disruptions in Delhi, as opposition parties planned to march to the Supreme Court in protest against a controversial revision of voter lists that has sparked days of unrest in the Indian capital.

Golf

Golf-European Tour will not allow membership to LIV players in 2027

LONDON, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Players ⁠who sign up for LIV Golf next season will ⁠not be allowed to become members of the European Tour, ‌DP World Tour Chief Executive Officer Guy Kinnings told the BBC on Monday.

World

UK PM Burnham says Iran's IRGC likely behind RAF Fairford incident

LONDON, Oct 12 (Reuters) - ⁠British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Monday ⁠that a suspected plot targeting the RAF ‌Fairford air base in Britain was "highly likely" to have been coordinated in Iran, and almost certainly directed by the Islamic Revolutionary ​Guard Corps.

Nation

Indonesia will not declare forest fires a national disaster for now

JAKARTA: Indonesia will not declare its prolonged forest and land fires a national disaster for now, saying it remains capable of handling the crisis.

AseanPlus News

Super El Nino could make 2026 the hottest year: climate monitor

An intensifying El Nino pattern set an all-time temperature high in a key Pacific zone in September and could help make this year the hottest globally on record, the director of the EU's climate monitor said Monday.