After War of Words, China Says Relations With Philippines at ‘Critical Juncture’

The Philippines’ telco industry wants the country to become a regional digital hub anchored by stable underwater cables, but a leading executive and analysts warn that slow approvals for repairs, limited monitoring and fragmented official oversight could undermine the ambition. At a forum on archipelagic governance for subsea cables, PLDT, the Philippines’ largest telecommunications company, called for greater cooperation among government agencies and further reforms to expand the vital digital...

A Malaysian reform party led by two former cabinet ministers faces a new test ahead of a crucial state election after one of its founders was sidelined over an alleged religious morality offence, threatening its appeal to voters disillusioned with the country’s political establishment. The controversy surrounding former environment minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad could undercut Bersama’s promise of delivering a different kind of politics in next month’s Melaka poll, analysts say – although some...

Australian ⁠lawmaker Helen Haines was in a critical condition on Monday after being deliberately struck by a ‌car outside her office in Wangaratta, northeast of Melbourne, police and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. Victoria Police said a 43-year-old man had been arrested after the attack on independent MP Haines in Wangaratta, around three hours’ drive northeast ⁠of Melbourne. Haines, 65, was airlifted to hospital, Albanese ‌said. “All of our thoughts are with Helen, ⁠her family, her...

China’s export machine is accelerating as its domestic economy remains under strain. This comes amid growing trade friction as China’s partners question whether persistent surpluses can coexist with balanced and resilient regional growth. Last month, China’s exports rose 36.3 per cent year on year, while shipments to Southeast Asia jumped 52.3 per cent. The trade surplus reached US$133.5 billion, taking the nine-month total to US$938.1 billion. In contrast, retail sales grew just 0.4 per cent in...

A deputy mayor in western Japan died after being crushed under a giant float during a local parade, officials said on Monday, a week after two others were reportedly killed at separate traditional festivals. Akihiro Nabae, deputy mayor of the city of Saijo in the Ehime region, was carrying a giant float with other participants on Saturday before becoming trapped beneath it, city and police officials said. He was taken to hospital and later pronounced dead, local media said. The exact...

After more than half a century of political procrastination, environmental protests and funding shortfalls, Sydney finally has a second airport. But the new A$5.6 billion (US$4 billion) site’s commercial prospects are already in question. Western Sydney International, 50km (31 miles) inland from the city centre, will handle its first passenger flight on Sunday – a Jetstar service to the Gold Coast. But the facility has attracted only a handful of airlines and has half a dozen or fewer scheduled...

A prolonged housing crash, sluggish consumer spending and plunging investment have left China dependent on exports to keep the economy growing.

Is the Malaysian Indian Congress using Hindu identity politics to regain its political relevance ahead of the next general election?

Citing the lack of action on promised reforms, the global index provider has proposed demoting the country from "emerging market" to "standalone market" status.

India has a soaring ambition to modernise its air force, built around a fleet of domestically developed fighter jets. Yet production of these aircraft has been hampered by engine delays and other bottlenecks that defence analysts say could limit its ability to fight future air wars. On October 11 at an airbase in Jodhpur, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh strapped into a Tejas jet for the last time. It was his final fighter sortie before retiring later this month and he flew it in an Indian-built jet...

Chinese memory chip giant ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) saw its shares fall more than 8 per cent in early Monday trading, despite forecasts of strong profits and plans for a share buy-back amid a global sector-wide market rout. CXMT shares dropped 7.8 per cent on Monday to close at 41.52 yuan. The company’s stock surged to a peak of 61.8 yuan in August – up as much as 614 per cent from its initial public offering price of 8.66 yuan in July – before paring back gains. The market reaction...