The Philippines' northernmost province, with about 20,000 residents, sits around 100 miles south of Taiwan, along the Luzon Strait, a strategic corridor on the frontline of the great power competition between the US and China for dominance in the Asia-Pacific region. 

The Pentagon announced the 5,000-troop reduction on Friday, but Trump told reporters Saturday "we're going to cut way down, and we're cutting a lot further than 5,000." He did not elaborate.  

Across Bangkok, aromas of garlic, chili and grilled meat drift from roadside stalls and carts, but tighter controls on vendors threaten livelihoods and the street food culture that defines the Thai capital.

The bank’s loan issuance dropped 1.7 percent year-on-year (yoy) to Rp 26.9 trillion (US$1.55 billion) last year, according to its financial report.  

Head of Batam Police narcotics directorate Comr. Arsyad Riyandi said authorities are encountering a rising trend in the use of e-cigarettes, or vaporizers, as a medium for drug abuse and distribution.

Surabaya Zoo in East Java is set to receive four animal species from Japan’s largest reptile park, iZoo, under a breeding loan agreement that will see the Indonesian zoo exchange its Komodo dragons.

The teen defendant had a large amount of drugs in his possession to justify the demand for the death penalty, a prosecutor said.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged on Saturday to deepen ties with Vietnam, highlighting energy and critical minerals in talks with Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, and later urged Southeast Asian nations to bolster regional supply chains.

Trump's Republican Party faces the risk of a voter backlash over higher prices when the country votes in midterm congressional elections in November.

The Pentagon's announcement of the troop withdrawal follows a spat between US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said on Monday that Iran was "humiliating" Washington at the negotiating table.

Bankrupt discount carrier Spirit Airlines ceased operations on Saturday, the industry's first casualty linked to the Iran war, after failing to secure creditor support for a US government bailout plan. All flights have been canceled, the statement said, asking passengers not to go to the airport.

The use of artificial intelligence remains one of the most sensitive issues in the entertainment industry and was central to the 2023 strikes that shut down Hollywood, as actors and writers warned that unchecked technology threatened their livelihoods.

Trump and the pontiff have been at odds over US immigration enforcement and the US-Israeli war against Iran.

At the heart of the dispute is the status of Dutch-born players who have switched allegiance to countries such as Indonesia, Suriname and Cape Verde, as it face the Dutch law that stipulates people who voluntarily take another nationality generally lose their Dutch citizenship as the Netherlands prohibits dual nationality.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, many women commuters now face a painful dilemma, as the space intended to protect them has also become associated with fear and vulnerability.

Wealthy countries and developing nations are at loggerheads over how the pandemic treaty, which was adopted last year, will work in practice.

More than 50 vessels had set sail from ports in France, Spain and Italy with the aim of breaking the blockade of Gaza and bringing humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory.

Following a mandatory facial age estimation provided by the platform, Roblox will transition 23 million accounts owned by under-16 users to either a Kids account with no chat feature or a Select one that is allowed to communicate with approved family members and friends.

One full-time job, two freelance gigs and the gnawing feeling that it still might not be enough. This is what stability looks like now.

The trip is Takaichi's first to Vietnam since becoming prime minister in October.

Though the US and Iran have suspended hostilities since an April 8 ceasefire, the two countries remain at odds over a range of issues, including Iran's nuclear ambitions and control over the Strait of Hormuz.

The driver of the car involved in the collision in Grobogan did not see the oncoming train on a level crossing due to thick fog, according to the police.

Kopi Kamu in South Jakarta creates jobs for people with Down syndrome, showing how inclusive workplaces can open pathways beyond stigma.

People deemed fulfilling criteria to be called human rights activists according to assessment by a government-sanctioned team will become eligible to legal protection while getting involved in a case, Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai says.

Experts say curbs on criticism risk undermining democratic legitimacy as political consolidation limits opposition.

Jusuf Kalla has been among the top trending news in recent weeks, reflecting the enduring relevance of one of Indonesia’s most seasoned statesmen. Kalla, who served as vice president a decade apart in 2004-2009 and 2014-2019, is still highly revered but now aged 83, it is unlikely that he will seek elected office again in 2029.

Attending the Labor Day event in Jakarta, President Prabowo Subianto announced several measures to protect workers, including a task force mitigating mass layoffs, higher income shares for ride-hailing drivers and the construction of affordable housing units for laborers.