AseanPlus News

New Zealand PM vows foreign aid cuts, free trade deals if re-elected

AUCKLAND, New Zealand: New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told AFP on Friday planned cuts to foreign aid would make sure the country spends less money on "nice-to-do" but frivolous projects abroad, and he vowed to push for new free trade deals from Brazil to Bangladesh if re-elected next week.

Motorsport

Motor racing-Verstappen and Lawson get grid drops after Mexico practice clash

MEXICO CITY, Oct 30 (Reuters) - ⁠Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson received one-place grid drops ⁠after they collided on track in Friday's Mexico City Grand Prix second practice ‌session.

Nation

Melaka polls: 79 candidates to contest 28 seats, says EC chairman

MELAKA: A total of 79 candidates representing various political parties, coalitions and independents have been confirmed eligible to contest in the 16th Melaka state election on Nov 14.

Japan

Japan, South Korea, US vow 'complete' North Korea denuclearisation

SEOUL: The United States, South Korea and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to the "complete denuclearisation" of North Korea on Saturday (Oct 31), as Pyongyang continues to reject disarmament ahead of possible talks with Washington.

South Korea

Incheon Airport check-in systems resume after 35 flights delayed

SEOUL: Ticketing and check-in services resumed at Incheon Airport on the evening of Oct 30, following a major network disruption that effectively halted operations for three Chinese carriers and caused significant passenger delays throughout the day.

Nation

Barisan parties must work together to win Melaka seats, says Zahid

TANJUNG BIDARA: Barisan Nasional component parties must work together to win the seats allocated to them in the Melaka state election, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Brunei

Brunei delegation makes educational visit to leading Malaysian Islamic Finance and social development institutions

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration in community development, Islamic social finance and sustainable economic empowerment, a delegation comprising representatives from Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD), Jabatan Urusan Zakat, Waqaf dan Baitulmal (JUZWAB) of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and Badan Tanmiah Harta Majlis Ugama Islam (BTHMUI), undertook an educational and courtesy visit to Kuala Lumpur and Kedah, Malaysia, in October.

Nation

INTERACTIVE: Melaka’s 28 seats - meet the candidates

Check out the full candidate list for the Melaka polls here, along with key facts and figures about the battle for the historic state.

Nation

AGC did not interfere in Mohd Shuhaily's return to the police force, says AG

KOTA BHARU: The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) did not interfere in the decision to return former Border Control and Protection Agency director-general Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain to the police.

Cambodia

Cambodia announces return of 18 looted Khmer antiquities from Britain

PHNOM PENH: Cambodia announced on Friday (Oct 30) the return of 18 Khmer cultural objects recovered in London, following a successful repatriation effort spearheaded by the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts (MCFA), reported Xinhua.

Laos

Lao health working group maps priorities for 2027 ahead of Least Developed Country graduation

VIENTIANE: Laos' Ministry of Health convened the 18th health sector working group policy-level meeting on Thursday (Oct 29) to review progress, address challenges, and set health sector priorities for 2027 as Laos prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in November.

Myanmar

Rampaging elephant that killed seven people shot dead in Myanmar

YANGON: A wild bull elephant that killed seven people during a period of musth in Tanai Township, Kachin State, was shot dead by a wildlife control team on the morning of October 28, according to local reports. (Musth is a period of heightened reproductive and aggressive behavior in male elephants.)

Nation

Zahid backs wider CSA, says pact can help address public concerns

TANJUNG BIDARA: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has backed the confidence and supply agreement (CSA) between the Federal Government and a group of opposition and independent MPs, describing it as a positive step that could be extended to other parties.

Nation

Zahid signals Rauf to stay as Melaka CM if BN retains state

TANJUNG BIDARA: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has signalled that Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh remains Barisan Nasional's (BN) top choice for Melaka Chief Minister if the coalition wins the upcoming state election.

Vietnam

Vietnam remains on FATF 'grey list' of increased monitoring for financial crimes; Myanmar remains on black list

PARIS: The world's top financial crime watchdog gave four countries a clean bill of health on Friday (Oct 30), taking Bulgaria, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo and Monaco off its "grey list" - even as it put Vietnam on notice for dragging its feet on reform.

Nation

Melaka polls: PM’s pol-sec in three-way fight for Paya Rumput seat

MELAKA: The Prime Minister's political secretary Datuk Azman Abidin (Pakatan Harapan) will face Rafie Ahmad from Perikatan Nasional and Abdul Rashid Abu Bakar of Parti Bersama Malaysia in a three-cornered contest for the Paya Rumput seat after the official announcement at Stadium Hang Jebat in Krubong.

Philippines

Marcos to Bangsamoro’s new MPs: Sustain the gains of peace

COTABATO CITY, Philippines: President Marcos urged the first elected leaders of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to be bearers of hope for the Moro people whose aspirations for self-governance took a historic turn on Friday (Oct 30) with the inaugural session of the 80-member regional parliament.

Nation

Melaka polls: Four-cornered fight takes shape in Kelebang

MELAKA: The Kelebang state seat will see a four-cornered fight involving

Nation

Melaka polls: Four-cornered fight for Bukit Katil as Adly seeks third term

MELAKA: A four-cornered fight is set for the Bukit Katil state seat in the Nov 14 Melaka election, with incumbent Datuk Seri Adly Zahari, 55, bracing for a tough battle as he seeks a third consecutive term.

Indonesia

'Rhizomatic' movements help Indonesian youth voice political messages

JAKARTA: While many young Indonesians have taken to the streets to press their concerns on the government, others are choosing decentralised movements, making their politics known through alternative spaces such as cultural outlets, amid a shrinking civic space.