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October 9: Haze from fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan shut schools across much of Peninsular Malaysia on Friday and pushed Singapore’s air into the unhealthy range. In The Hague, judges ruled that former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is fit to stand trial. A Saudia airliner was damaged by fire during a Houthi missile attack on Riyadh’s airport, and Indian airlines halted their Riyadh flights. Here is what matters in Asia this morning.
Key highlights
- Haze: 38 of Malaysia’s 68 monitoring stations were unhealthy at 8:30 am and none was “good”; Anwar Ibrahim says Prabowo Subianto agreed to act. Full story.
- Philippines: The ICC says Duterte, 81, can take part in his trial on crimes against humanity charges, due to open on November 30. Full story.
- Saudi Arabia: Nearly 300 flights were cancelled at Riyadh after the attack; Air India, IndiGo and Akasa Air suspended services. Full story.
- Pakistan: The PTI long march reached Peshawar; the high court asked the KP chief minister to answer a petition on state resources. Full story.
- India: The GST Council recommended removing arrest powers and raising the prosecution threshold from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore. Full story in Hindi.
Southeast Asia
- Thailand: Opposition parties led by the People’s Party filed a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and 17 ministers on Thursday, accusing them of ethical breaches, corruption and economic mismanagement, The Nation reported. The allegations are untested; no debate date had been set.
- Malaysia–Myanmar: Min Aung Hlaing left Malaysia after his two-day visit, during which Myanmar agreed to take back a large number of its nationals, according to The Star’s regional round-up. Our report on the talks.
- Singapore: The Singapore Grand Prix weekend begins in haze. Formula 1 says there is no risk to the event.
East Asia
- Japan and China: Japan’s foreign ministry spokesman Toshihiro Kitamura said “it is only natural to show appropriate respect to the leader of another country”, after a Chinese spokesman referred to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi by name only, AFP reported via Malay Mail.
- China and the EU: Two days of trade talks between EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and Commerce Minister Wang Wentao are due to end in Beijing today. EU leaders will review the outcome on October 15 and 16, Modern Diplomacy reported. Background.
South Asia
- Pakistan: PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan said the party is still ready for talks and warned that an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would not be a solution, The Express Tribune reported. The march heads to Charsadda today and plans to reach Swabi on Sunday.
- India: Delhi Police have registered three more FIRs against Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra over Wednesday’s protest. Our report (in Hindi).
West Asia
- Saudi Arabia: The Saudi-led coalition said two missiles aimed at Riyadh and one at Khamis Mushait were intercepted. On October 7, attacks on Abha and Riyadh airports killed three people, according to the civil aviation authority, AeroCorner reported. Lufthansa Group suspended Riyadh flights until October 16.
Asia at a glance
| Country | What happened | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia | Haze from fires shuts schools; Singapore PSI unhealthy | Health risk across the region; ASEAN ministers may meet |
| Philippines | ICC rules Duterte fit to stand trial | First former Asian leader arrested by the ICC heads to trial on November 30 |
| Saudi Arabia | Saudia jet damaged at Riyadh airport in Houthi attack | Nearly 300 flights cancelled; Indian airlines suspend services |
| Pakistan | PTI march reaches Peshawar; court notice to Afridi | Standoff with Islamabad continues; talks back channel open |
| India | GST Council recommends removing arrest powers | Lower legal risk for small businesses once laws are amended |
| Thailand | No-confidence motion against Anutin and 17 ministers | Censure debate ahead in the House |
| Japan, China | Tokyo asks Beijing to show “respect” to its leader | Another sign of strained ties |
What to watch today
- The Nobel Peace Prize, announced in Oslo at 11 am local time (2:30 pm IST).
- The outcome of the EU–China trade talks in Beijing.
- Haze readings in Malaysia and Singapore, and any ASEAN environment ministers’ meeting.
- The INDIA bloc’s planned protest in Delhi.
- Afridi’s announcement in Charsadda.
Sources
- Malay Mail: No haze respite: Seven spots exceed API of 180
- Bernama: Haze: Prabowo agrees to take necessary steps, says Anwar
- Al Jazeera: Philippines ex-President Duterte fit to stand trial, ICC rules
- AeroCorner: Saudia jet fire at Riyadh airport, flights cut
- The Express Tribune: PTI still ready for negotiations, says Gohar
- LiveLaw: GST Council recommends dropping arrest powers
- The Nation (Thailand): Anutin and 17 ministers face sweeping opposition accusations
- Malay Mail (AFP): Japan tells China to show respect after PM Takaichi addressed by name only
- Modern Diplomacy: Make or Break in Beijing
- The Star: Asean news headlines, October 8, 2026
Written by
International DeskThe International Desk covers world and Asian affairs, diplomacy and conflict, with a focus on what they mean for India. Stories are checked against at least two credible sources before publication.
