https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/325321/feed en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Associated Press Associated Press An assailant with knives attacked a police officer from an elite unit guarding the Israeli embassy in Belgrade just after midnight on Wednesday, police said. The officer responded by fatally shooting the attacker. Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said that police were treating the incident as a “terrorist attack” and had raised the terror threat to the highest level and stepped up police presence at key locations. He said the attacker was a minor and had two knives. He attacked the member of the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3372460/assailant-outside-israeli-embassy-serbia-killed-after-attacking-police-officer https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3372460/assailant-outside-israeli-embassy-serbia-killed-after-attacking-police-officer Wed, 28 Oct 2026 11:06:41 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Adam Brody, who plays rabbi Noah Roklov in Netflix’s hit romcom Nobody Wants This, condemned the ongoing Israel-Gaza war during an interview with GQ magazine in September this year. “Put me down as thinking it’s a genocide,” Brody told the magazine. “Put me down as wanting a free Palestine.” The 46-year-old Jewish actor’s comments have drawn backlash from fans as well as some members of the Jewish community, including his Nobody Wants This co-star Tovah Feldshuh. In an interview with the New... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3372409/meet-tovah-feldshuh-bina-nobody-wants-who-slammed-co-star-adam-brody-over-his-gaza-remarks https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3372409/meet-tovah-feldshuh-bina-nobody-wants-who-slammed-co-star-adam-brody-over-his-gaza-remarks Wed, 28 Oct 2026 11:00:07 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Israelis voted on Tuesday in their highest turnout for decades, with exit polls showing the camp of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and that of his rival are neck and neck. Exit polls from the three mainstream Israeli television networks gave the two blocs around 51 seats each in the 120-member Knesset - well below the 61 needed to govern - after initially giving an edge to the opposition led by ex-army chief Gadi Eisenkot. Israeli Arab lists made strong gains, with exit polls showing them... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3372401/tight-vote-count-keeps-israel-suspense-what-happens-next https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3372401/tight-vote-count-keeps-israel-suspense-what-happens-next Wed, 28 Oct 2026 06:16:40 +0000 Han Li,Seong Hyeon Choi Han Li,Seong Hyeon Choi The 2027 US defence bill, covering more than US$1 trillion in proposed defence spending, will be one of the most closely watched pieces of legislation when Congress returns after the midterm elections, with efforts to counter China running through nearly every corner of the text. The US House of Representatives passed its version of the bill, known as the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA), in July. The bill faces a tougher path in the US Senate, where a July procedural vote to begin... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372355/5-things-watch-out-2027-us-defence-bill-aimed-countering-china https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372355/5-things-watch-out-2027-us-defence-bill-aimed-countering-china Tue, 27 Oct 2026 20:58:44 +0000 Teresa Elena Frontado Teresa Elena Frontado US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has defended Washington’s oil agreement in Venezuela as an alternative to Chinese and Russian involvement, pushing back against criticism from opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Rubio said most of the oilfields controlled by the company partnering with Washington had previously been held or operated by Chinese or Russian firms. He argued that the agreement would help revive production while securing US access to reserves in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372347/rubio-invokes-china-russia-defend-disputed-venezuela-oil-deal https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372347/rubio-invokes-china-russia-defend-disputed-venezuela-oil-deal Tue, 27 Oct 2026 16:18:20 +0000 Reuters Reuters Israel continued to commit genocide in Gaza after last ⁠October’s US-brokered ceasefire in the enclave, a ⁠UN commission said in a report published on Monday ⁠that Israel dismissed as part of a “misinformation campaign”. The report by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, examined violations against Palestinian civilians, including children, since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas on October... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3372344/israel-keeps-committing-genocide-gaza-after-truce-un-inquiry-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3372344/israel-keeps-committing-genocide-gaza-after-truce-un-inquiry-says Tue, 27 Oct 2026 14:48:59 +0000 Reuters Reuters ⁠Two men were charged ⁠on Tuesday under Britain’s National Security Act ⁠following last month’s security incident at the RAF Fairford military base, with prosecutors accusing one of them of trying to assist Iranian intelligence operations in Britain. RAF Fairford had been used by US bombers to carry out strikes on Iran, but they were withdrawn ‌on security grounds shortly after five British men were arrested outside the base in southwest England in the early hours of September 27. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3372342/2-men-charged-uk-helping-iran-over-air-force-base-incident https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3372342/2-men-charged-uk-helping-iran-over-air-force-base-incident Tue, 27 Oct 2026 14:02:48 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Finland’s president and Norway’s prime minister held a “frank and substantive” discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday about efforts to end the war in Ukraine, the Nordic leaders said. “The outcome of this war will have a direct impact on our and the broader European security. Ending the war requires direct discussions,” President Alexander Stubb said in a joint statement with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store. The statement noted that the phone call had been “held in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3372326/norway-finland-leaders-hold-frank-talk-putin-ending-ukraine-war https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3372326/norway-finland-leaders-hold-frank-talk-putin-ending-ukraine-war Tue, 27 Oct 2026 12:14:16 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Israelis are voting in a pivotal election Tuesday as their country is embroiled in unresolved wars, still reeling from Hamas’ 2023 attack and deeply divided over the character of the state and the right person to lead it. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing off against an array of parties seeking to oust the long-time leader from power. Opinion polls have suggested a tight race with his main rival, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot. Over 7 million people are eligible to vote. In... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3372273/israelis-vote-tense-election-testing-netanyahus-grip-power https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3372273/israelis-vote-tense-election-testing-netanyahus-grip-power Tue, 27 Oct 2026 07:00:49 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung has been urged by critics to play the latest instalment in the blockbuster Call of Duty video game franchise to better appreciate the need for defences against an invasion by the North. The call from opposition lawmakers follows the release on Friday of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, a first-person shooter depicting a full-scale surprise attack by North Korea on the South. Players fight North Korean troops as Park Hyun-jun, a private in the South Korean... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3372272/south-koreas-president-urged-play-call-duty-war-wake-call https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3372272/south-koreas-president-urged-play-call-duty-war-wake-call Tue, 27 Oct 2026 06:58:14 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A localised ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia took effect early Tuesday ahead of a humanitarian mission brokered by US first lady Melania Trump, as missile attacks resumed in Kyiv. The local pause in fighting started at 3am to allow an aid mission into the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in southern Ukraine later this week. According to her office, Melania Trump led talks with civilian negotiators from Russia and Ukraine after meeting with UN officials who briefed her on the situation in the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3372265/ceasefire-brokered-melania-trump-begins-russian-occupied-ukrainian-town https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3372265/ceasefire-brokered-melania-trump-begins-russian-occupied-ukrainian-town Tue, 27 Oct 2026 06:15:25 +0000 Reuters Reuters Jordan said on Monday its air force struck what it described as militant hideouts in southern Syria after determining that the suspects behind last week’s deadly church attack in ‌the kingdom were linked to “terrorist groups” operating there. The armed forces said the operation was conducted in coordination with Damascus. Syria’s government gave a contradictory account, saying it had launched an investigation into the Jordanian attacks, and stressed in a statement the importance of field and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3372253/jordan-strikes-targets-syria-after-deadly-church-attack https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3372253/jordan-strikes-targets-syria-after-deadly-church-attack Tue, 27 Oct 2026 05:22:48 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A Myanmar citizen living in Denmark on Monday filed a complaint with Danish authorities against the country’s ruling military junta for alleged war crimes committed against minorities. The complainant, Ngun Siang Dim, who is from the Chin minority, claims she saw 40 houses burn down in her village in Chin State, in western Myanmar, and that several members of her family and friends were killed or left permanently disabled by landmines laid by the junta. The military junta “has done so many... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3372230/myanmar-refugee-denmark-demands-justice-over-junta-war-crimes https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3372230/myanmar-refugee-denmark-demands-justice-over-junta-war-crimes Tue, 27 Oct 2026 03:03:05 +0000 Tom Hussain Tom Hussain A decision by Turkey, Pakistan, Qatar and Indonesia to jointly develop and produce weapons systems marks a major push to reduce reliance on Western armaments that come with political strings attached, observers say. Following the signing of the Badr memorandum of understanding in Doha on Wednesday, the four governments separately said they would work towards integrating their defence industries and supply chains to meet military needs. “By leveraging the capabilities of each country in the field... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3372228/why-are-turkey-pakistan-qatar-and-indonesia-joining-forces https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3372228/why-are-turkey-pakistan-qatar-and-indonesia-joining-forces Tue, 27 Oct 2026 02:23:17 +0000 Reuters Reuters Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu boasted of ⁠his endorsement from Donald Trump on the eve of Israel’s election, suggesting the two leaders could restart their war against Iran if he wins, after Trump said they should “finish the job”. “US President Donald Trump has come with a friendship that has never existed before between an Israeli prime minister and an American president. And it is doubtful we will ever have such a friendly president again,” Netanyahu said in a televised appearance... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3372222/netanyahu-touts-trump-endorsement-eve-vote-suggests-they-may-restart-war-iran https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3372222/netanyahu-touts-trump-endorsement-eve-vote-suggests-they-may-restart-war-iran Mon, 26 Oct 2026 22:29:05 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse US rapper Macklemore on Monday launched his new “Free Palestine Tour” in Dublin after being dropped as a supporting act by British pop star Ed Sheeran over pro-Palestinian comments. Standing in queues outside the venue for the first show in the Irish capital, which promoters said had sold out, excited fans praised the 43-year-old’s stance. “Macklemore’s support for Palestine is huge. He’s stood up and he’s put himself on the line instead of taking the easy way out,” said Michael Keating, a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3372221/us-rapper-macklemore-launches-free-palestine-tour-ireland-after-ed-sheeran-rift https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3372221/us-rapper-macklemore-launches-free-palestine-tour-ireland-after-ed-sheeran-rift Mon, 26 Oct 2026 22:00:02 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan held talks with Iran on Monday in an attempt to stop the Middle East war from reigniting, with Tehran saying the discussions were “very good”. Officials from the three Mecca pact countries flew to Iran as part of efforts to “de-escalate between the parties to the current crisis”, a Saudi foreign ministry statement said. The talks, which included heavyweight Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, followed warnings by the United... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3372218/mecca-pact-countries-iran-bid-stop-war-restarting https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3372218/mecca-pact-countries-iran-bid-stop-war-restarting Mon, 26 Oct 2026 19:47:10 +0000 Reuters Reuters Jordanian security forces arrested two brothers ‌and their brother-in-law after a shoot-out on Monday over a church attack that killed nine people, and the suspects appear to have no ties to other cells, senior government security officials said. “God willing, they only represent themselves,” Jordan’s Director of Public Security, Major-General Obeidallah al-Maaytah, said. Such violence is highly unusual in Jordan, a relatively stable US ally in the Middle East, and Friday’s attack on the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3372198/jordan-arrests-3-relatives-over-deadly-church-attack-after-shoot-out https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3372198/jordan-arrests-3-relatives-over-deadly-church-attack-after-shoot-out Mon, 26 Oct 2026 13:02:50 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The Saudi-led military coalition fighting Yemen’s Houthis struck several of the group’s missile launchers and storage facilities, a spokesman said on Monday, while the Iran-backed group claimed a new attack on Riyadh’s international airport. The coalition’s operation came a day after explosions rattled Saudi Arabia’s capital and authorities sent text messages to residents warning them of a “hostile aerial threat” to the city, which has been heavily targeted by the Houthis in recent weeks. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3372131/saudi-coalition-intercepts-missile-houthis-claim-new-attack-riyadh-airport https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3372131/saudi-coalition-intercepts-missile-houthis-claim-new-attack-riyadh-airport Mon, 26 Oct 2026 05:49:19 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Iran and its allies might try to disrupt Tuesday’s Israeli elections, warning the Islamic republic against any hostile acts. The remarks came as Israel’s Channel 12 reported, citing unnamed sources, that there had been a confrontation between Netanyahu and army chief Eyal Zamir over an unspecified new directive in the war with Iran, which the prime minister denied. Netanyahu has campaigned heavily on his security credentials, touting the war he... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3372091/netanyahu-warns-iran-may-try-disrupt-election-says-dont-test-us https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3372091/netanyahu-warns-iran-may-try-disrupt-election-says-dont-test-us Sun, 25 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Israel said on Sunday all land crossings with the West Bank will be closed on the day of next week’s election, as it pledged a harder line on militancy after Palestinian gunmen killed two soldiers in the territory. The announcement came a day after Israeli forces pushed into the occupied West Bank city of Hebron and displaced around 2,000 residents, with Defence Minister Israel Katz saying, “they will not be allowed to return … until we’ve finished dealing with all the Hamas issues in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3372058/israel-widens-west-bank-crackdown-displacing-hebron-families-after-attack https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3372058/israel-widens-west-bank-crackdown-displacing-hebron-families-after-attack Sun, 25 Oct 2026 06:23:07 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Elon Musk said on Saturday that his company SpaceX had throttled the Starlink satellite internet service in Ukraine, disrupting operations that the country relies on to defend itself against Russia. Musk’s admission on social media came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine’s access to Starlink and Starshield satellite links has been restored to the speeds it had before restrictions that disrupted frontline operations for more than a week. Questions have persisted since... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3372040/ukraines-starlink-speeds-restored-after-week-frontline-disruption https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3372040/ukraines-starlink-speeds-restored-after-week-frontline-disruption Sat, 24 Oct 2026 18:00:35 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Houthi media reported that Saudi strikes killed 11 people in Yemeni capital Sanaa on Saturday, shortly after the Saudi-led coalition fighting them said it had intercepted two missiles targeting Saudi cities. The Houthis’ Al-Masirah outlet reported a series of “Saudi enemy air strikes” targeting Sanaa, including one on a house that killed at least four people and wounded several others. A separate strike at a residence building for cement factory workers in the Sanaa governorate killed six women... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3372035/saudi-strikes-kill-11-yemen-houthi-missiles-target-saudi-cities https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3372035/saudi-strikes-kill-11-yemen-houthi-missiles-target-saudi-cities Sat, 24 Oct 2026 14:33:12 +0000 Reuters Reuters In a rare overnight vote, the Czech ruling coalition pushed public media funding changes through a first parliamentary hurdle despite criticism that they could weaken broadcaster independence. The populist government of billionaire Prime Minister Andrej Babis, backed by the far-right SPD party, ‌has frequently criticised public and private media coverage of its policies and accused some outlets of bias. Opposition parties have compared the proposed changes with reforms in Hungary under former... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3372018/populist-czech-government-pushes-through-media-funding-changes https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3372018/populist-czech-government-pushes-through-media-funding-changes Sat, 24 Oct 2026 08:43:40 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Israel’s military launched an operation in the occupied West Bank on Friday it said would last several days and include searches and building demolitions, after gunmen killed two soldiers days ahead of Israeli elections featuring security as a key focus. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is locked in a tight race to keep his job in Tuesday’s vote, having campaigned on promises to keep Israelis safe, and he and his right-wing allies visited the scene of the attack to pledge an even harder line on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3372010/israel-launches-major-operation-west-bank-after-soldiers-killed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3372010/israel-launches-major-operation-west-bank-after-soldiers-killed Sat, 24 Oct 2026 07:00:20 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Drinking water has been scarce for over a decade in Taiz, but the problem has reached crisis levels in recent weeks as Iran-backed Houthi rebels besiege Yemen’s third-largest city in their escalating conflict with government forces. The needs of Taiz’s more than 1 million residents are now barely being met, humanitarian groups say, as access to wells is limited, desalination plants run low on fuel and water delivery trucks are largely prevented from entering the city. Families are rationing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3372006/besieged-yemeni-city-drinking-water-supplies-hit-crisis-levels https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3372006/besieged-yemeni-city-drinking-water-supplies-hit-crisis-levels Sat, 24 Oct 2026 06:05:46 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that Beijing has “influence” over Moscow it should use to stop the war in Ukraine, and that a proposed summit meeting of the US, Chinese and Russian leaders must not lead to the division of his war-torn country. Speaking virtually at an event hosted by Washington-based Hudson Institute think tank, Zelensky said he did not know what would be discussed at the potential meeting between US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371987/zelensky-hopes-beijing-can-use-influence-over-moscow-help-stop-ukraine-war https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371987/zelensky-hopes-beijing-can-use-influence-over-moscow-help-stop-ukraine-war Fri, 23 Oct 2026 20:51:17 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Ukraine’s top negotiator involved in a humanitarian mission led by US first lady Melania Trump has said that a local ceasefire with Russia will start on Tuesday – two days before the mission begins – and last several days. Ukrainian, Russian and US negotiators reached a deal on Friday to provide humanitarian aid in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky, in the war-divided region of Kherson in southern Ukraine. Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian ombudsman and his country’s chief negotiator in the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3371983/melania-trump-brokers-ceasefire-russian-occupied-ukraine-city-white-house-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3371983/melania-trump-brokers-ceasefire-russian-occupied-ukraine-city-white-house-says Fri, 23 Oct 2026 16:26:41 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Ukrainian police said on Friday they had detained a 17-year-old girl suspected of helping Russia’s security services to poison Ukrainian soldiers and that two had died. Ukraine and Russia have throughout their war since 2022 accused each other of recruiting minors for sabotage acts including poisoning. The girl, who was not named, is suspected of having packaged deadly drugs and sending them to Ukrainian soldiers she contacted by Telegram, a police statement said. She was arrested by police in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3371930/girl-arrested-after-taking-us111-russia-poison-ukrainian-troops https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3371930/girl-arrested-after-taking-us111-russia-poison-ukrainian-troops Fri, 23 Oct 2026 09:24:30 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened a military operation in the occupied West Bank on a scale unseen in decades after Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers on Friday in an attack near Hebron days before the national election. A first step would see residents displaced, homes searched and “terrorist infrastructure” destroyed, said Netanyahu, who is in the midst of a tight race for a new term in Tuesday’s vote. Militant group Hamas, without claiming responsibility, praised the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3371912/netanyahu-orders-west-bank-closure-after-deadly-checkpoint-shoot-out https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3371912/netanyahu-orders-west-bank-closure-after-deadly-checkpoint-shoot-out Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:29:22 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press El Salvador deployed 100 special forces soldiers to Haiti on Thursday to help rescue four missing soldiers from the Central American country who recently came under attack by gangs, two officials told Associated Press. The special forces arrived a day after Salvadorean President Nayib Bukele announced a military operation to rescue the four aviation technicians, issuing an ultimatum directly to Haitian gang leaders in Creole. “We have a single objective: to bring our four compatriots back home... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/americas/article/3371862/el-salvador-deploys-special-forces-haiti-after-soldiers-seized-gangs https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/americas/article/3371862/el-salvador-deploys-special-forces-haiti-after-soldiers-seized-gangs Fri, 23 Oct 2026 03:44:01 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Moscow firing ballistic missiles at Ukraine shortly after talks between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Russia’s Vladimir Putin showed the Kremlin’s position on the war had not changed, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday. The Kremlin had said it was willing to restart trilateral talks with Kyiv and Washington next month, though dismissed new ideas brought by Witkoff – developed with European countries and Ukraine – as lacking substance. Russia hit a dozen Ukrainian regions overnight,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3371739/russia-and-ukraine-trade-major-attacks-trump-touts-progress https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3371739/russia-and-ukraine-trade-major-attacks-trump-touts-progress Thu, 22 Oct 2026 05:04:43 +0000 Reuters Reuters The US State Department has ordered some diplomats and family members to depart ‌from its missions in Saudi Arabia and plans to withdraw family members from a number of other US missions in the region, US officials said. The order came as attacks in Saudi Arabia killed at least one person and injured eight others at a civilian airport in Dammam, and two people were killed in a drone attack on an oilfield. US State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a post on social media ⁠that the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3371698/us-orders-diplomats-leave-saudi-arabia-amid-houthi-strikes https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3371698/us-orders-diplomats-leave-saudi-arabia-amid-houthi-strikes Wed, 21 Oct 2026 23:48:53 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick China on Wednesday condemned an arrest warrant issued in the US state of Florida for former Cuban president Raul Castro over the 1996 downing of two civilian planes, accusing the United States of using the courts to pressure Havana. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning was asked about the warrant by the state-run Global Times at a regular briefing in Beijing. She referred to the 95-year-old as “comrade Raul Castro”, a “venerated” leader held in high international esteem. Mao said China opposed... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371697/comrade-raul-beijing-defends-cubas-ex-leader-over-florida-murder-warrant https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371697/comrade-raul-beijing-defends-cubas-ex-leader-over-florida-murder-warrant Wed, 21 Oct 2026 23:02:27 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse US President Donald Trump’s pivot away from Ukraine has triggered fresh questions about his attachment to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, the man a top American envoy flattered on Wednesday as a “humanitarian”. Trump has cast his dealings with Putin as part of a mega-deal that has secured the release of American detainee Stephen Hubbard – and which Trump says will end Russia’s war on Ukraine. At the same time, he has repeatedly berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and called for him to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3371687/trump-faces-fresh-questions-over-ties-humanitarian-putin https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3371687/trump-faces-fresh-questions-over-ties-humanitarian-putin Wed, 21 Oct 2026 17:08:51 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez A flight-tested attack drone similar to Iran’s Shahed model that its Taiwanese maker says could reach military targets in mainland China is meant to swamp PLA air defences, analysts said. Drawing on battlefield lessons from Ukraine and the Middle East, military experts broadly agree on the utility of such low-cost systems, but differ on how the drone could be deployed in a conflict with Beijing should it enter service. While some see greater value in targeting People’s Liberation Army forces in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3371648/taiwans-iran-style-attack-drone-could-swamp-pla-air-defences-analysts https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3371648/taiwans-iran-style-attack-drone-could-swamp-pla-air-defences-analysts Wed, 21 Oct 2026 14:00:09 +0000 Reuters Reuters Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to resume US-mediated peace talks with Ukraine as soon as next month, the Kremlin said on Wednesday, after Putin met US envoy Steve Witkoff in Washington’s latest push to stop Europe’s bloodiest conflict since second world war. The talks in a grand imperial palace in St Petersburg, the ninth time that Witkoff has met Putin in person, began with a goodwill gesture from Russia – the release of Stephen Hubbard, a retired US teacher held in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3371659/putin-holds-ukraine-peace-talks-trumps-envoy-witkoff-frees-american-hubbard https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3371659/putin-holds-ukraine-peace-talks-trumps-envoy-witkoff-frees-american-hubbard Wed, 21 Oct 2026 10:17:27 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A drone strike on a market in Abyei, a border region disputed by Sudan and South Sudan, hit a nearby fuel depot, killing at least 153 people, a local official said on Tuesday. Yohanna Akol Ngor, the Abyei administration’s caretaker information minister, blamed Sudan’s military for Monday’s attack on Amiet Market, north of Abyei town. Ngor told Associated Press by phone that the death toll was continuing to rise as the fire burned. A senior Sudanese military officer said the army carried out a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/africa/article/3371608/drone-strike-market-disputed-sudan-border-region-kills-least-153 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/africa/article/3371608/drone-strike-market-disputed-sudan-border-region-kills-least-153 Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:16:28 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A Russian satellite moved within just 100 metres of a European commercial spacecraft that supports Ukraine’s military at the weekend, orbital tracking data showed, raising concerns about Moscow’s activities in space. Russia launched the Cosmos-2612 military satellite into low Earth orbit in April. It began changing course late September and eventually moved into the same orbit as ICEYE-X36, a satellite operated by Finland’s ICEYE under contract with the United States. The two spacecraft came... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3371575/russian-satellites-close-approach-european-spacecraft-highlights-orbital-risks https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3371575/russian-satellites-close-approach-european-spacecraft-highlights-orbital-risks Wed, 21 Oct 2026 02:58:04 +0000 Reuters Reuters US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday that decisions regarding Ukraine’s access to Starlink were up to SpaceX and Elon Musk, not the White House, comments that suggested ‌Musk may have restricted Kyiv’s access to the service. The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that Musk had ordered the slowdown of a military-grade version of Starlink that Ukraine relies on to defend itself against missile attacks from Russia. The Journal cited one source saying that Musk, President Donald... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3371563/musk-ordered-slowdown-starlink-service-ukraine-military-relies-report-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3371563/musk-ordered-slowdown-starlink-service-ukraine-military-relies-report-says Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:49:12 +0000 Lucy Quaggin,Zhang Tong Lucy Quaggin,Zhang Tong The United States is lulling itself into a “sense of false security” over its military rivalry with China, according to a Republican senator who called for more spending on modern warfare systems and closer cooperation with allies. Speaking at the Hudson Institute after a recent trip to Japan and South Korea, Dave McCormick, a Pennsylvania senator and West Point graduate, claimed up to 90 per cent of US defence spending funded decades-old equipment and technologies. “We convince ourselves; we... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371555/china-close-matching-us-spending-new-way-war-republican-senator-warns https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371555/china-close-matching-us-spending-new-way-war-republican-senator-warns Tue, 20 Oct 2026 16:12:30 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse British fighter planes will be deployed to help Saudi Arabia defend itself against increasing attacks from Yemen’s Houthi rebels, the UK government announced on Tuesday. The defence ministry said the deployment formed part of “additional defensive military support” to Riyadh. “The UK will fly defensive counter air missions to support the protection of Saudi cities and critical national infrastructure against aerial attack, using RAF Typhoon fighter jets,” the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3371539/uk-deploy-fighter-planes-help-saudi-arabias-defence-against-houthis https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3371539/uk-deploy-fighter-planes-help-saudi-arabias-defence-against-houthis Tue, 20 Oct 2026 12:04:05 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that Kyiv was once again receiving early warnings from its partners about incoming Russian missiles following recent strikes that he said occurred without enough notice, leaving civilians vulnerable. For at least a week, the Ukrainian leader has said that his country has not received early warnings about ballistic missiles aimed at the capital. Such intelligence, he said, saves lives by allowing the public to be alerted and giving military... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3371510/ukraine-us-hold-norway-peace-talks-amid-rising-zelensky-trump-tension https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3371510/ukraine-us-hold-norway-peace-talks-amid-rising-zelensky-trump-tension Tue, 20 Oct 2026 09:44:50 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran Filipino seafarer Jay was on lookout duty aboard a vessel passing through the Strait of Hormuz one evening in August when drones swarmed overhead, darting past his ship and two others it was following. Within seconds, an explosion rang out from a tanker ahead. “That was traumatic for me when I saw that the tanker ahead of our vessel had been hit,” said Jay, whose real name has been withheld to protect him from possible employer retribution. The 29-year-old and his fellow crew members made it... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371457/dire-straits-why-filipino-sailors-continue-brave-troubled-middle-east-waters https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371457/dire-straits-why-filipino-sailors-continue-brave-troubled-middle-east-waters Tue, 20 Oct 2026 05:00:05 +0000 Reuters Reuters Saudi Arabia has decided to postpone its flagship investment conference until next year, organisers confirmed in a statement on Monday, following deadly attacks which rocked ‌the kingdom in recent weeks as the Middle East conflict widens, disrupting business. The Future Investment Initiative, or FII, was planned for October 26 to 29, but will now take place in 2027, with a new date to be announced “very soon,” the organisers said. Reuters reported earlier Monday that the in-person event had been... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3371441/saudi-arabia-postpones-davos-desert-summit-2027-after-deadly-attacks https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3371441/saudi-arabia-postpones-davos-desert-summit-2027-after-deadly-attacks Tue, 20 Oct 2026 01:57:11 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi received a package from Britain’s King Charles on Monday, authorities said, releasing the first pictures of the detained Nobel laureate in two months and describing her as a “special female prisoner”. It is the first time Myanmar authorities have used the term to describe Suu Kyi, who was deposed in a military coup in 2021, triggering a civil war that has killed more than 100,000 people, according to monitor ACLED. The coup leader and former junta chief Min Aung Hlaing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3371436/detained-suu-kyi-receives-royal-package-uks-king-charles-myanmar-government https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3371436/detained-suu-kyi-receives-royal-package-uks-king-charles-myanmar-government Mon, 19 Oct 2026 23:46:39 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the United States on Monday of deliberately delaying the delivery of interceptor missiles to his country, as tensions between Kyiv and Washington escalated over military aid and intelligence sharing. Kyiv said it had no early warning of powerful Russian missile strikes, echoing similar claims made last week. Speaking to US senators on Monday, Zelensky said “the Pentagon is delaying the delivery of missiles” already paid for by European countries and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3371432/zelensky-should-get-somebody-else-negotiate-end-ukraine-war-trump-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3371432/zelensky-should-get-somebody-else-negotiate-end-ukraine-war-trump-says Mon, 19 Oct 2026 21:52:33 +0000 Reuters Reuters Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil on Monday asked the US Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that opened the door for US President Donald Trump’s administration to rearrest and deport the Palestinian activist. Khalil’s lawyers asked the justices to take up his case after the Philadelphia-based 3rd US Circuit ‌Court of Appeals ruled that federal immigration law barred a lower-court judge from ordering his release from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. Khalil was among... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3371429/palestinian-activist-mahmoud-khalil-asks-us-supreme-court-review-deportation-case https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3371429/palestinian-activist-mahmoud-khalil-asks-us-supreme-court-review-deportation-case Mon, 19 Oct 2026 20:52:34 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Saudi Arabia has executed two Bangladeshi nationals, a man and a woman, after they were convicted of committing “indecent acts” in a mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca. Bangladesh said it was not informed before the sentences were carried out and has sought information from Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Interior Ministry said the Bangladeshis were executed because of “the gravity and seriousness of their actions in violating the sanctity of both time and place”. It did not elaborate. https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3371424/saudi-arabia-executes-2-bangladeshis-over-indecent-acts-holy-city-mecca https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3371424/saudi-arabia-executes-2-bangladeshis-over-indecent-acts-holy-city-mecca Mon, 19 Oct 2026 19:13:26 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The US Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal by accused September 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two alleged accomplices that sought to revive plea deals which were later revoked. Mohammed and two others charged with involvement in the 2001 September 11 attacks – Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi – struck pre-trial agreements to avoid the death penalty in 2024, during the administration of president Joe Biden. After criticism by some victims’ families, Biden’s defence... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3371419/us-supreme-court-denies-bid-accused-9/11-mastermind-revive-plea-deal https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3371419/us-supreme-court-denies-bid-accused-9/11-mastermind-revive-plea-deal Mon, 19 Oct 2026 16:48:40 +0000