ASIA

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China is holding military drills around Taiwan simulating the seizure and blockade of the island's key areas, as a warning against "separatist forces".

The army, navy, air force and rocket force have been dispatched for the drills which include live-fire exercises, the Chinese military said.

Codenamed "Justice Mission 2025", the drills are taking place days after the US announced the sale of one of its largest weapons packages to Taiwan worth $11bn (£8.2bn). That move drew sharp protest from Beijing which in turn sanctioned US defence firms.

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Amid ongoing diplomatic talks to quell hostilities, Thailand executed air strikes on a disputed border area with Cambodia on Friday, leading to conflicting accounts from both sides. While the Thai Air Force asserted it targeted a Cambodian "fortified military position" after ensuring civilian evacuation, Cambodia's defence ministry strongly condemned the action, alleging "indiscriminate attacks" on civilian homes that left several people injured.

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The massive multibillion-dollar 1MDB corruption scandal saw its most significant development yet on Friday, as jailed former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was found guilty of abuse of power. The verdict underlines claims by Malaysian and US investigators that a staggering $4.5 billion was stolen from 1Malaysia Development Berhad, the state fund Najib helped establish in 2009, with allegations that over $1 billion of these illicit funds were connected to accounts belonging to Razak, despite his consistent pleas of innocence.

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A series of sudden concert cancellations in Shanghai has stirred frustration among fans and highlighted the growing strain between China and Japan. The most dramatic moment came when Maki Otsuki, known for performing the beloved theme from the long running anime One Piece, was stopped halfway through her song. The lights shut off, the music died, and two crew members rushed her off stage. The interruption was abrupt and confusing, and clips of the moment spread fast across social media.

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Hundreds of products, particularly those from China, will face new tariffs after Mexican lawmakers approved a comprehensive package in the Senate on Wednesday. Designed to boost domestic production, according to President Claudia Sheinbaum, these measures are set for implementation on January 1, 2026. The levies will cover goods ranging from metals to automobiles and clothing, impacting dozens of countries globally that do not hold a free trade agreement with Mexico, including key economies like Thailand, India, and Indonesia.

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India's economy grew far faster than expected in the July, September quarter, expanding at an annual rate of 8.2%, a performance driven by strong domestic demand and a rebound in manufacturing and services even as steep U.S. tariffs weighed on exports.