The National University of Singapore (NUS) and the telecom group Singtel has launched a joint cyber security laboratory, with the aim of protecting consumers against security threats, data leaks and other online attacks.

The battle for control of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo intensified on October 23 with air strikes, ground offensives and shelling, the morning after a resurgence in fighting ended a Russian ceasefire, a monitor and rebel groups said.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton called Donald Trump a "sore loser" on October 23 because of his refusal at their debate last week to commit to accepting the results of the Nov. 8 election.

The most senior US diplomat for Asia has arrived in the Philippines and will meet the country's foreign minister on October 24 amid confusion over the status of ties between the two long-time allies, said the US Embassy in Manila.

VOV.VN - The 72-hour ceasefire in Yemen brokered by the UN has collapsed due to continuous fighting between Arab coalition and the Houthi forces. The impoverished country of the Arabian Peninsula is getting bogged down in months-long political crisis. 

Kurdish fighters said they had taken the town of Bashiqa near Mosul from Islamic State on October 23 as coalition forces pressed their offensive against the jihadists' last stronghold in Iraq.

The United States remains the "closest friend" of the Philippines but Manila wants to break away from a "mindset of dependency and subservience" and forge closer ties with other nations, the Philippine foreign minister said on October 22.

US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump promised on October 22 to foil a proposed deal for AT&T to buy Time Warner if he wins the Nov. 8 election, arguing it was an example of a "power structure" rigged against both him and voters.

Fierce fighting and air strikes broke the third day of a four-day unilateral Russian ceasefire in the divided Syrian city of Aleppo on October 22, a monitor said.

Syria's army and Russia's air force halted their bombardment of rebel-held eastern Aleppo on October 21, a monitoring group said, on the second of four consecutive daytime unilateral ceasefires in the city that have been rejected by insurgents.

VOV.VN - Relations among China, Japan, and  Republic of Korea have been tense recently after a group of 85 Japanese lawmakers visited the Yasukuni Shrine in downtown Tokyo during the annual autumn festival. Like many previous visits, this one angered China and the RoK.

VOV.VN - A year ago today, Vietnam was elected to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), one of the UN’s six main agencies, in recognition of its socio-economic achievements, and its contributions to the UN and to the creation of a better world.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gained on his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton among American voters this week, cutting her lead nearly in half, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling released on October 21. 

Armed men believed to be members of the Abu Sayyaf group have hijacked a Republic of Korean (RoK) vessel off the island of Tawi-Tawi in the southern Philippines, seizing its two crew members. 

The Thai Government, on October 20, called on its people to stand side by side in grief following the death of their beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The Philippines will maintain its trade and economic ties with the US, Minister of Trade Ramon Lopez confirmed on October 21.

The Myanmar Government on October 21 announced that it will launch an investigation into a ferry capsize incident on October 15 and take legal actions against those responsible for the tragedy.

Representatives of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathered in Vientiane, Laos, on October 20 to discuss the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced his "separation" from the United States on October 20, declaring he had realigned with China as the two agreed to resolve their South China Sea dispute through talks.

The Syrian military said on October 20 a unilateral ceasefire backed by Russia had come into force to allow people to leave besieged eastern Aleppo, a move rejected by rebels who say they are preparing a counter-offensive to break the blockade.

A 72-hour truce in Yemen came under pressure on October 20 when missiles fired from Yemen killed two civilians in Saudi Arabia, the United States said, while a Saudi-led coalition launched air strikes that Iran-allied Houthi fighters said killed three people.

The US partnership with Turkey in countering Islamic State is "very strong," US Defense Secretary Ash Carter said at a news conference on October 20.

VOV.VN - 85 Japanese lawmakers visited the Yasukuni Shrine in downtown Tokyo during a four-day autumn festival. Like many previous visits, it has angered China and the Republic of Korea (ROK).

The ASEAN adopted a Work Plan on Securing Communities against Illicit Drugs for the 2016-2025 period during the fifth Ministerial Meeting on Drug Matters that concluded in Singapore on October 20. 

The Supreme Court of Cambodia will open an interrogation session on Interim Chairman of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) Kem Sokha on October 28. 

China and the Philippines signed 13 deals worth US$13.5 billion covering trade, culture, tourism, drug combat and maritime transport in Beijing on October 20.

A suspected supporter of the self-claimed Islamic State (IS) attacked police with a knife in Tangerang city, Indonesia’s Banten province on October 20, injuring five officers, reported by local police. 

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton go head to head on October 19 night in a third and final debate as Trump tries to reverse momentum in a US election that opinion polls show is tilting away from him.

US Secretary of State John Kerry played down expectations of a new Syrian ceasefire deal with Russia after talks in Geneva aimed at agreeing on how to separate al Qaeda-linked militants from opposition fighters in the besieged city of Aleppo.

Myanmar's Union Election Commission (UEC) on October 19 announced that a parliament by-election will be held on April 1 next year.