US slams RT as 'de facto' arm of Russian intelligence

washington — The United States and some of its allies have launched a global campaign to undercut efforts by RT and other Russian state-backed media outlets, accusing them of operating on behalf of the Kremlin’s intelligence agencies

Indonesian leader spends final weeks of his term in unfinished new capital

Jakarta — Indonesian President Joko Widodo will from Thursday spend the final weeks of his term in the country's planned new capital, Nusantara, amid doubts about the continued pace of development of his flagship $32 billion megaproject

Pakistan police officer kills blasphemy suspect in custody

quetta/islamabad — A police officer in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province shot and killed a man Thursday who was being held in custody on blasphemy allegations

US presidential debate resonates across South Asia amid regional news 

washington — This week’s U

China ramping up transnational repression, Uyghur exiles in US say 

washington — Many exiled Uyghurs in the U

Philippines stands firm on Sabina Shoal but looks to ease tension with China

MANILA/BEIJING, — The Philippines will stick to its position on Sabina Shoal, it said on Thursday, even while exploring ways to ease tension in the area during frank and candid talks with China on managing disputes in the key waterway of the South C[..]

Vietnam death toll climbs to 199 as typhoon aftermath brings flash floods, landslides

HANOI, Vietnam — Nearly 200 people have died in Vietnam in the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi and 128 are missing as flash floods and landslides take their toll, state media reported Thursday

South Korea approves building two nuclear reactors

Seoul — South Korea approved the construction of two nuclear reactors on its east coast Thursday, reversing a previous administration's anti-nuclear policy as Seoul now works to expand its atomic energy capabilities

Pope Francis, in Singapore, urges fair wages for migrant workers

Singapore — Pope Francis on Thursday urged political leaders in Singapore, a leading global financial hub, to seek fair wages for the country's million-plus lower-paid foreign workers

Pope ends his longest trip in religiously diverse Singapore

Pope Francis is in Singapore for the final leg of his tour of Asia and Oceania

China tries to reshape Tibet, Xinjiang narratives with new propaganda efforts

Taipei, Taiwan — Chinese authorities have rolled out new propaganda efforts aimed at countering Western narratives about the human rights situation in the northwest Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and Tibet

US, China talk more as tensions simmer in Indo-Pacific region

American and Chinese diplomats and military officials are talking ahead of the U

US commander: Support for Somalia in the works as country readies for withdrawal of AU mission

Nairobi, Kenya — A U

Report: IS-Somalia becomes financial hub; leader could be top IS chief

Nairobi, Kenya — The International Crisis Group says Islamic State in Somalia has become an important financial influence for terrorism, and a report suggests the leader of the branch might become the new overall head of the militant group

Drought-stricken Zimbabwe proposes culling elephants to address food shortages

Harare, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwe's government said Thursday it is considering a proposal to cull its elephant population to address food shortages and reduce the effects of an El Nino-induced drought