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MILITARYOct 2Taiwan receives first F-16V fighter planes made by USTAITUNG, Taiwan — Taiwan received its first F-16V fighter jets made by the United States on Friday as the democratic island upgrades its military capabilities to deter a potential Chinese attack. The warplanes are part of an $8-billion deal for 66 F-16Vs approved during US President Donald Trump’s first term and scheduled for delivery this year. The arrival of the aircraft comes as Taiwan awaits Washington’s approval of a separate $14-billion arms package that Trump paused after Chinese objections. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened to use force to seize it. The two F-16Vs, made by US defense contractor Lockheed Martin, touched down under a clear sky at Taiwan’s air force base in Taitung, on the island’s southeastern coast. Leader Lai Ching-te hailed “a major milestone in elevating Taiwan’s air defense capabilities,” and thanked the US for its “longstanding support.” The jets had been expected in early September after making refueling stops in Hawaii and Guam. Local media reported that the planes had turned back to Hawaii shortly after taking off for Guam. No official explanation was given. Dozens of locals, some equipped with binoculars and long-lensed cameras, gathered near the air base’s perimeter fence on Friday to watch the highly anticipated arrival of the jets. Kimi Chi, a salesman from the central city of Taichung, had traveled through the night to be able to photograph the aircraft landing in Taitung. He was philosophical about the delays, saying “good things take time.” “In terms of hardware capabilities, there will definitely be an improvement,” the 37-year-old told Agence France-Presse (AFP). “But what we are actually lacking the most right now is pilots. Of course, I hope the government can provide better additional allowances for these military pilots,” he said. Former Air Force serviceman Eric Chan, 57, marveled at the improvements made to the F-16 over the past 30 years and said the fighter jets based in Taitung will “play a very important defensive role” against China. “The threat from the CCP has always been there so we definitely need to strengthen our defense capabilities,” Chan told AFP, referring to the Chinese Communist Party. The F-16V is a fourth-generation multirole fighter and a significantly upgraded version of Taiwan’s aging F-16 A/B jets. Equipped with more advanced combat, detection and engine capabilities, the F-16V will be “a valuable addition to Taiwan’s air force in countering China’s military threat,” said Su Tzu-yun, a military expert at the Taipei-based Institute for National Defense and Security Research. ‘Negotiating chip’ The US is Taiwan’s most important security backer and biggest arms supplier. But bottlenecks have slowed delivery of critical weapons. Taiwan’s Defense Minister Wellington Koo said previously it would be “challenging” for all the F-16Vs to be delivered this year, despite Lockheed Martin ramping up production. On Friday, Koo said more F-16Vs would be delivered to Taiwan “before the end of the year,” but did not say how many. “At present, I think aircraft are gradually moving through the production line, and there are also aircraft that have passed the tests,” Koo said. “As for when they will fly back, we will coordinate further with the US side.” Trump has stalled signing off on the record $14-billion weapons purchase by Taipei, calling it in May a “very good negotiating chip” in dealings with China, which raised fears that Taiwan’s security could be traded away. Experts believe approval for the package is unlikely before the Group of 20 summit in the US in December, where Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Trump are expected to meet for the fourth time this year. A US official said recently it was increasingly likely the $14-billion worth of arms, which include the Patriot air defense system, would be broken up into smaller amounts to temper China’s response.manilatimes · philippines

POLITICSOct 2PNP backs resumption of NCAP in Metro ManilaTHE Philippine National Police (PNP) reaffirmed its commitment to help authorities maintain road discipline and public order as several Metro Manila local government units prepare to resume the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) next week. PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the organization supports lawful efforts aimed at improving traffic safety and compliance with road regulations. “The Philippine National Police respects the decision allowing the resumption of NCAP and supports lawful measures that promote road discipline, traffic safety, and efficient enforcement. We encourage all motorists to comply with traffic regulations and remain informed of local ordinances,” Nartatez said in a statement on Friday. Manila, Quezon City, Valenzuela, Parañaque, Muntinlupa, and San Juan prepare to resume NCAP implementation on Oct. 5. The system uses CCTV cameras, digital cameras, and other technologies to document traffic violations without requiring traffic enforcers to stop motorists. The resumption follows the Supreme Court’s June 3, 2026 decision that dismissed consolidated petitions challenging NCAP ordinances in Manila, Quezon City, Valenzuela, Parañaque, and Muntinlupa. The decision, made public on July 9, also lifted the remaining temporary restraining order against the local ordinances. While the PNP is not the primary implementing agency for NCAP, Nartatez said police units have been instructed to assist the concerned local governments in its implementation as needed. As the policy returns to participating cities, Nartatez urged motorists to remain informed and use available legal remedies for any concerns involving reported violations. “We urge motorists to view NCAP as a tool for promoting safer roads and responsible driving. Those with concerns should make use of the proper channels provided by local governments to verify, contest, or clarify reported violations,” he said.manilatimes · philippines

SCI & TECHOct 2Fossil mammal with reptile-like teeth changes picture of our evolutionUnlike most modern mammals, which get just two sets of teeth in their lifetime, an ancient species from the Cretaceous, found in China, appears to have had the ability to replace its teeth throughout its lifeNew Scientist

BUSINESSOct 2Volvo Cars pulls sales guidance as China, US markets weakenVolvo Cars has withdrawn its sales guidance due to weakening markets in China and the United States. This indicates financial challenges for the company in key regions.Seeking Alpha Tech

BUSINESSOct 2Pandora's lab-grown diamonds; Vietnam facility to drive growthPandora is focusing on lab-grown diamonds, with a new facility in Vietnam expected to contribute to growth. This indicates a strategic business move and investment.Seeking Alpha Tech

POLITICSOct 2Republican calls Starbucks ‘morally bankrupt’ for doing business in China’s Xinjiang and demands store closuresChina's Foreign Ministry called allegations of repression in the region ‘naked lies’The Independent World

POLITICSOct 22 Hongkongers held in Philippines for months after prison terms endThe Chinese embassy in Manila has expressed concern over the cases of two Hongkongers who have remained in custody in the Philippines for months despite being discharged from prison, according to the Immigration Department. The department confirmed on Friday night that it was handling the two cases following an appeal from a former lawmaker and a Hong Kong man who returned to the city on Tuesday after serving 26 years in a Philippine prison for drug offences. The returned Hongkonger, Tang...South China Morning Post

BUSINESSOct 2Hong Kong could overtake London as top arbitration hub in decade: Bar Association headHong Kong could dethrone London as the top choice for arbitration within the next decade given the Asian city’s status as a global fundraising capital for businesses in mainland China and beyond, the head of the Bar Association has said. Jose-Antonio Maurellet, chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, told the South China Morning Post on Friday that the city had enjoyed rapid growth in arbitration work, with high-stakes cases attracting elite international legal talent. Hong Kong tied with...South China Morning Post

POLITICSOct 2Donald Trump is planning trip to the Philippines for Asean summitUS President Donald Trump is planning to attend the Asean summit next month, the South China Morning Post understands, as Washington vies with Beijing for influence in the region. If the trip happens, Trump’s appearance at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting, expected to run from November 16-18 in Manila, will be his second consecutive appearance at the gathering during this term. Trump was in Kuala Lumpur for Asean last year and in Manila for the meeting in 2017. Sources told the...South China Morning Post

WORLDOct 2Police report lodged against motivational speaker over alleged child sexual harassmentKANGAR: Police have received a report regarding an allegation of sexual harassment of a child by a motivational speaker.thestar_my · malaysia

MILITARYOct 2Taiwan’s first two F-16V fighter jets arrive to bolster defenses against ChinaThe first two of a batch of 66 new F-16V Block 70 fighter jets ordered in 2019 arrived in Taiwan on Friday after months of delays.Defense News

WORLDOct 2Beyond K-pop and cinema: Major Korean exhibition brings centuries of art and belief to LondonThe exhibition includes 10 national treasures and official Korean designations recognising their cultural importance, with most exhibits drawn from the collection of late Samsung billionaire Lee Kun-Hee.EuroNews [en]

WORLDOct 2How China Managed the Oil ShockBeijing concentrated the impact on refiners, not the public.Foreign Policy

POLITICSOct 2Šefčovič: Negotiations with China still without resultsDer EU-Handelskommissar erklärt gegenüber POLITICO, China habe verstanden, dass eine Einigung dringend notwendig ist. Er hofft auf Ergebnisse zu drei Hauptthemen.Politico Europe

POLITICSOct 2If young US people accept Xi’s invitation to China, what will Beijing show them?China is ramping up its efforts to bring young Americans to China, and ready to be seen as a country concerned with environmental protection, lifting people out of poverty, protecting minority cultures and building the technology of the future. During his trip to the United States last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping said his country aimed to welcome 100,000 young Americans on exchange or study trips over the next five years. That builds on an earlier target announced in 2023 that set the...South China Morning Post

WORLDOct 2‘America is back’, AI ‘conspiracy’, China’s Laos deal: 7 global relations readsWe have selected seven of the most interesting and important news stories covering global relations from the past few weeks. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Trump condemns ‘sick conspiracy’ against AI, says he is only guardrail needed US President Donald Trump downplayed growing concerns about artificial intelligence, claiming America already has guardrails to regulate the industry and warning that casting doubt on development only benefits...South China Morning Post

SCI & TECHOct 25,000 drones create giant shapes over Nanchang in ChinaA fleet of 5,000 drones forms fighter jets, robots, planes and horses over Nanchang as China marks National Day with a spectacular night show.EuroNews [en]

BUSINESSOct 2Running to stand still: Nike's performance business still can't outrun Jordan, China, SportswearNike's core performance business faces challenges in growth, as it struggles to outperform the strong performance of its Jordan brand, its operations in China, and its Sportswear division.Seeking Alpha Tech

WORLDOct 2Shark remains stranded in South Korean canal after second rescue attemptA second attempt to guide a shark stranded in a canal in the South Korean port city of Busan back to the open sea ended without success on Friday, with the animal staying in the waterway into its third week. Rescuers, who had been using a net to try to coax it out, had to end the operation after a two-hour chase due to ‌the risk of their huge net getting caught on rocks. They now hope that the shark will eventually swim out to the open sea on its own, after leaving the net in place to limit how...South China Morning Post

MILITARYOct 2Taiwan’s New F-16s: Why They Still MatterThe Republic of China Air Force waited 20 years for these aircraft. What are they for?The Diplomat

BUSINESSOct 2China’s C919 jet faces further delivery delays amid US export chill: analystsA reported move by the United States to restrict exports of aircraft parts to China would place another speed bump on production of the C919 – a Chinese passenger jet designed to compete with Airbus and Boeing – as alternative sources of critical components for the plane are not readily available, according to analysts. The US Commerce Department has slowed export licensing for civilian aeroplane parts to China in recent weeks to strengthen Washington’s position in trade talks with Beijing,...South China Morning Post

CYBEROct 2Malicious Linux Implants Mimic Asian Mail Security ProductsA trio of newly discovered backdoors walk and quack like legitimate edge solutions, so it's hard to tell they're not.Dark Reading

DISASTEROct 2Sea off Thai island turns greenThe water off Thailand's Ko Lan island has turned a vibrant shade of green thanks to a plankton bloom.Al Jazeera [en]

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