Singapore

Singapore to join international agreement on neutrality of the Panama Canal

SINGAPORE: Singapore will join an international agreement to observe and respect the permanent neutrality of the Panama Canal, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.

Philippines

Scientists discover new frog, resurrect two species in Philippines after 106 years

GENERAL SANTOS CITY: Filipino and foreign scientists have discovered a new frog species and "resurrected" two others in the southern and central Philippines, all of which were thought to have been the same species over the past 100 years.

South Korea

Pyeongtaek brawl involving about 10 foreign nationals leaves two arrested

PYEONGTAEK: South Korean police are investigating a brawl believed to have involved about 10 foreign nationals at a park in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, late Saturday night, authorities said Monday.

AseanPlus News

Flydubai co-pilot completed portion of his flight training in New Zealand: Police

WELLINGTON: The flydubai co-pilot who stabbed his captain in an alleged attempt to crash a plane last week was in New Zealand seven years ago to complete a portion of his flight training for a UK-based company, New Zealand police said in a statement on Tuesday (Oct 6).

China

Longer trips, richer experiences: China’s National Day holiday signals shifting tourism trends

BEIJING: Five days into China's week-long National Day holiday, millions are still immersed in the sights, sounds and flavours of the season -- travelling, dining, exploring and enjoying the break. Yet this year, the scenes are subtly different.

Indonesia

Medan to install 10,000 CCTV cameras to curb rising thefts

JAKARTA: The Medan administration in North Sumatra plans to install nearly 10,000 CCTV cameras across the city starting next year to curb a surge in local thefts following widespread public outcry.

Japan

Suzuki to launch Japan’s cheapest mini EV in November

TOKYO; Suzuki Motor Corp. announced Tuesday that it will launch the e-Sky, a mini passenger electric vehicle (EV), on November 16, with a starting price, including tax, of ¥2.12 million, making it the cheapest mini EV currently available in Japan.

Global

First non-stop New York to Sydney flight to take off in 2028

The first non-stop commercial flight between the two cities will take about 18 hours.

Singapore

Aerial activities banned in Singapore Grand Prix restricted area from Oct 8-12

SINGAPORE; Those planning to fly a drone or kite during F1 weekend should think twice, as aerial activity will be banned over some parts of the island for the Singapore Grand Prix from Oct 8 to 12.

Thailand

Thailand to offer free stopover tours for transit passengers

BANGKOK: Thailand is preparing to launch special tour packages for international transit passengers with long layovers, allowing them to leave the airport for short trips before continuing to their destinations.

Pakistan

Suspected robber killed, policeman injured in Islamabad encounter

ISLAMABAD: A suspected robber was killed while a policeman was injured in an encounter in the capital on Sunday night, police said. Another suspect, however, managed to escape

Cambodia

Cambodian PM urges Asean veterans’ groups to prioritise welfare

PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Manet has urged veterans' associations across Asean to place veterans' quality of life and wellbeing at the centre of regional cooperation, describing care for veterans and retirees as a "moral obligation and an expression of national gratitude".

Nation

F1 driver Bottas opts to cycle 350km through Malaysia to get to Singapore Grand Prix

KUALA LUMPUR: Formula 1 driver Valtteri Bottas is currently cycling over 350km through Malaysia to Singapore for the next grand prix.

Laos

Police seize 521kg of crystal meth allegedly to be transported out of Laos on board private aircraft from Malaysia

VIENTIANE: Police in Luang Prabang province have seized 521 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine that was allegedly about to be transported out of Laos aboard a private aircraft, with 13 people detained in connection with the case.

India

Hundreds of police guard Indian capital ahead of opposition protest

NEW DELHI: Hundreds of security personnel fanned out on Tuesday in the heart of the Indian capital, with barricades thrown up ahead of an opposition march to demand the resignation of the election chief over a controversial revision of voter lists.

Nepal

Nepal mutton prices hit record high ahead of major Hindu festival

KATHMANDU: The price of mutton has refused to come down after reaching an all-time high of Rs1,700 per kg in July, and traders expect it to rise further as Nepal heads into Dashain, the country's biggest meat-eating festival.

World

Indonesia's candidate for WHO chief calls on US to rejoin agency

JAKARTA, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Indonesia's pick ⁠to lead the World Health Organization, its health minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, told Reuters that the ⁠United States should rejoin the agency after its exit at the start of this year.

Indonesia

Two Vietnamese arrested in East Java over smuggling of 3,400 songbirds

SURABAYA: Authorities have arrested two Vietnamese citizens in East Java after they allegedly smuggled nearly 3,400 songbirds from Vietnam without the required health certificates or import documentation.

Nation

Malaysia should decide refugee status, not UNHCR, says Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia should decide for itself who qualifies as a refugee instead of leaving it to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

South Korea

Rise of older-woman, younger-man marriages in Korea

CHOSUN: Being four years older than her husband does not make Han Se-hee the more experienced one at home