Islamic State has unleashed suicide bombers and left a trail of booby traps as Iraqi forces upped the ante with a third front in the offensive to take back Mosul. In our in-depth coverage of the fight against ISIS, we also report on an international manhunt for an Indian man who is said to be one of its key recruiters in Afghanistan.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-American outbursts have made US businesses in the country increasingly worried about their future. For Swedish companies, the outlook seems different. In early November, a business delegation led by Sweden’s Minister of Enterprise and Innovation Mikael Damberg will arrive to coincide with the opening of the country’s new embassy in the capital, Manila.
Narendra Modi’s “big nation” complex is generating multiple problems for India in terms of its international relations, writes Kadayam Subramanian for Asia Times. He says that the Indian premier’s posturing has pushed China away and destabilized the security scenario in South Asia, and that the people of Kashmir are paying the price.
Hong Kong was brought to a standstill on Friday as Typhoon Haima hit southern China. Businesses, schools and the stock market all closed and flights were canceled. The storm was estimated to be about 180 kilometers north-northeast of Hong Kong as of 6pm local time and was forecast to move north at about 25km/h into inland Guangdong, weakening gradually.
Singapore’s manufacturing output in September is forecast to have declined 2.6% from the previous month on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to a Reuters survey. In August, output was flat on a month-on-month basis, having contracted for three straight months.