Reports of suspected enforced disappearances have resurfaced across multiple districts in Balochistan, leading families to hold protests and urge authorities to bring back their missing loved ones, according to The Balochistan Post. The outlet reported that Pakistani security forces allegedly conducted a midnight raid in the Menaz area of Tehsil Buleda, district Kech, detaining two brothers who have not been seen since. The men, identified as Zaheer and Waseem, sons of Rahim Jan, were described by relatives as farmers with no political ties. Their family has demanded their immediate release.

In another incident, Brahui-language poet Ata Anjum was reportedly taken from his home in Mastung by Pakistani personnel, after which his location remains unknown. The Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) condemned the incident as a violation of constitutional rights and called for government action.

A separate case emerged in Turbat, where Changaiz Imam, a warder at Central Jail Turbat, has been missing for three days. His family said he left home on November 11 around 1 pm to report for duty but never reached the facility. His motorcycle has also not been found, and the family has appealed to the public for help.

Protests also intensified in Khuzdar. Relatives of Huzayfa Ghaffar—reportedly taken from Naal on November 5—blocked the Naal CPEC road for several hours, causing major traffic disruptions. Demonstrators called for his safe return, while the Baloch Yakjehti Committee expressed solidarity, as reported by The Balochistan Post.

Another disappearance was reported in Buleda, where Pazeer Nasir Plizai, Vice Chairman of Union Council Killi Kocha Buleda, went missing for the second time on November 8 after dropping his son at a madrassa. He had previously been detained on February 4 and released months later following widespread protests, including a sit-in by the Haq Do Tehreek Balochistan. Families across the province continue to call on authorities to investigate these cases, locate the missing individuals, and ensure their safe return, The Balochistan Post added.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

At least five Chinese tourists lost their lives and eight others sustained minor injuries on Friday (Nov 14) after a rented minibus they were travelling in fell into a shallow ravine on the Indonesian island of Bali, authorities reported. According to officials, the group of thirteen Chinese nationals had been on their way to Buleleng, a district located in northern Bali, after departing from Denpasar, the island’s capital, when the tragic incident occurred.

Local police chief Widwan Sutadi informed Reuters that the crash happened when the driver appeared to lose control of the vehicle. Realising the danger of an imminent collision with another car, the driver attempted to swerve left, aiming to crash into a tree to minimise the impact. However, the manoeuvre was unsuccessful. Instead of stopping, the minibus veered off the road and tumbled into a nearby ravine, resulting in the fatal accident.

Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene and transported all the victims to the closest hospital for treatment. Despite their efforts, five passengers were declared dead shortly after arrival due to the severity of their injuries. The remaining eight passengers, who suffered only light injuries, received medical care and were reported to be in stable condition. The driver, who survived the crash, was also injured and taken to the hospital for treatment. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident, including whether mechanical failure, road conditions, or driver error played a role in the tragedy.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Sina Weibo.

A tragic accident occurred in South Korea on Thursday (Nov 13) when a light truck crashed into a busy outdoor market in Bucheon, a city located about 20 kilometres west of Seoul. According to emergency officials and media reports, the truck travelled approximately 150 metres through a passageway lined with stalls before coming to a stop, killing two people and injuring 18 others.

A fire department official said during a televised briefing that two victims who had gone into cardiac arrest were later pronounced dead, as confirmed by the Yonhap News Agency. The driver reportedly reversed about 28 metres before the vehicle suddenly accelerated toward the market. He told authorities that the crash was caused by an unexpected surge of acceleration. Police tested the driver for alcohol and confirmed he was not intoxicated at the time of the accident. Investigators have taken possession of the vehicle to determine the technical or mechanical reasons behind the sudden acceleration.

CCTV footage broadcast on Korean television captured the terrifying moment when shoppers were seen going about their daily routines before a blue truck sped down the narrow market lane and slammed into one of the stalls. The driver, a man in his 60s, was arrested at the scene and is currently being questioned by police. Authorities are conducting a detailed investigation to uncover the exact cause of the crash and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from X.

Indonesia has bestowed the title of national hero on its former president, Suharto, a move that has sparked outrage and reopened old wounds from one of the country’s darkest chapters. The honor was announced on Monday (Nov 9) during a ceremony led by President Prabowo Subianto — Suharto’s former son-in-law — despite widespread protests from pro-democracy groups and families of victims who suffered under his authoritarian regime. Suharto, who ruled Indonesia for more than three decades before being forced from power in 1998, was accused of widespread human rights abuses, corruption, and nepotism.

During the ceremony at the state palace in Jakarta, Prabowo presented the award to Suharto’s daughter and son. “A prominent figure from Central Java and a hero of the independence struggle, General Suharto stood out since the early days of Indonesia’s freedom,” the announcer declared. The award, which recognizes citizens who have made major contributions to the country since its independence in 1945, was given to ten Indonesians this year, including Suharto, who died in 2008.

Suharto, a military officer, rose to power in 1967 after seizing control from Indonesia’s first president, Sukarno. His rule brought economic growth and relative stability, but it was also defined by political repression and a culture of corruption that benefited his family and close allies. His leadership ended abruptly in 1998 after violent protests during the Asian financial crisis forced him to resign, leaving behind a country in economic and social turmoil. Before the ceremony, Suharto’s portrait — showing him in military uniform — was displayed among the other honorees at the state palace. His picture stood between those of former president Abdurrahman Wahid and labor activist Marsinah, who had been kidnapped and killed during Suharto’s rule.

The decision to honor Suharto has divided the nation. Activists and survivors of his regime see it as an attempt to rewrite history and erase the suffering of those who opposed him. Demonstrations took place in Jakarta ahead of the announcement, with protesters holding banners condemning what they described as “historical whitewashing.” Among them was Tadius Priyo Utomo, a 47-year-old activist who flew from East Timor to join the protest. “Our past struggles are being ignored,” he said. “We fought against Suharto’s dictatorship, and now he’s being celebrated as a hero.”

Under Suharto’s rule, Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975 and annexed it soon after, maintaining a harsh military occupation that lasted until his downfall. East Timor eventually gained independence in 2002. Suharto’s government also used the military to suppress dissent across Indonesia, silencing critics and jailing opponents. Despite repeated allegations of massive corruption and human rights violations, he was never prosecuted, as he remained shielded by his political connections and poor health in his later years.

For many Indonesians, the decision to award Suharto the title of national hero reflects the growing influence of his former allies within the current administration. President Prabowo, once married to Suharto’s daughter and a former special forces commander under his rule, has himself faced accusations of human rights abuses in East Timor — allegations he has consistently denied. Critics like Marzuki Darusman, a former attorney general and head of the 1998 riots investigation, warn that the move could signal a return to military dominance in politics. “Prabowo can do everything Suharto did because he is now protected by his heroism,” Darusman said, referring to the increasing role of the military since Prabowo took office.

Suharto’s political legacy continues to shape modern Indonesia. His former party, Golkar, remains one of the country’s most powerful political forces and is a key supporter of Prabowo’s government, holding several influential cabinet positions. Political analyst Kevin O’Rourke, author of Reformasi: The Struggle for Power in Post-Soeharto Indonesia, said naming Suharto a national hero risks sanitizing history and undermining Indonesia’s democratic progress. “It’s not easy to put democracy back in the box once people have lived with it,” he said, noting that half of Indonesia’s population is too young to remember Suharto’s era but still lives with its consequences.

For those who remember, the pain remains fresh. Every Thursday for nearly two decades, members of a group known as Aksi Kamisan have gathered silently outside the presidential palace, dressed in black, demanding justice for those who disappeared or were killed during Suharto’s rule. Many still have no answers about what happened to their loved ones. Government officials have defended the decision to honor Suharto. Culture Minister Fadli Zon stated that thorough research was conducted before granting the title and that Suharto met all the necessary criteria. He also dismissed claims that Suharto was responsible for the mass killings of 1965, in which an estimated half a million people were killed during the anti-communist purges that brought him to power. Indonesia has never formally investigated those killings, leaving one of the country’s darkest periods officially unresolved.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

On November 11, Thailand’s government announced it would suspend the implementation of an enhanced ceasefire agreement with Cambodia, which had been signed in October in the presence of US President Donald Trump. The government also stated it would brief Washington on its decision. The move comes after a landmine explosion the previous day injured four Thai soldiers. Andrea Heng and Hairianto discuss the potential impact of this suspension on the ongoing conflict with Dr. Panitan Wattanayagorn, an independent expert on international relations and security affairs and former chairman of the Prime Minister's Security Advisory Committee.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

Utt, one of MTV Asia’s most beloved VJs during the 1990s and 2000s, hosted Mediacorp’s cult-classic horror docuseries Incredible Tales for eight seasons between 2004 and 2017. Now 51, he has returned to Singapore to join the video podcast series Tales From Incredible Tales, currently in its third season. The vodcast revisits some of the most iconic episodes from the original show. Hairianto Diman speaks with Utt Panichkul about his experience as host and how the show’s success has influenced his career.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

Sanae Takaichi has become Japan's first female prime minister, yet she immediately faces significant challenges. Taking office amid a slow-growing economy and rising living costs, she must address public frustration over inflation and the burden of daily expenses. Genevieve Woo talks with CNA’s Michiyo Ishida to explore the implications of Takaichi’s victory for Japan’s future, as she manages both domestic pressures and complex international relations.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

Singaporean students keep choosing the US for higher education, remaining undeterred by uncertainties from the Trump administration. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin explore this topic further with Dr. Chan Khai Leok, Managing Director of theRightU.

Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.