Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob dissolved the country's Parliament, he announced in a special television address on October 10, giving way for snap polls almost a year ahead of a deadline for an election.

Later, the Royal palace issued a statement expressing Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah's "disappointment at current political developments" that left "His Majesty with no choice but to assent" to Parliament's dissolution so that the mandate can be returned to the public to "elect a stable government". 

"Therefore, His Majesty expresses his hope that the Election Commission conducts the 15th General Election soonest taking into consideration the northeastern monsoon that is forecast to begin in mid-November 2022," said the statement. Also, one of the world's oldest politicians, at 97, and former prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, says he will run for parliament in the election. He said he will defend his Langkawi Parliament seat.

Japan opened its borders to foreign independent tourists after almost three years on October 11, with airports across the country welcoming arrivals. Visa-free arrivals from dozens of countries have been allowed. However, based on the day's evidence, it may be some time until the level of tourism returns to its pre-pandemic peak.

With the yen touching a 32-year low, the country is in desperate need of income from tourists. The country's Japan Times said: "Crucially, it remains uncertain when Chinese visitors — the largest source of tourist revenue before the COVID-19 outbreak — will be able to freely visit Japan due to the 'COVID zero' policy in China."

China livestreamed the first science class from the Wentian lab module of its space station on October 12.

It's the third lecture of the "Tiangong Class," a series of educational sessions given by taikonauts from China's space station. This time, the class was delivered by the Shenzhou-14 crew members – Chen Dong, Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe, who were sent to the space station on June 5 for a six-month mission. 

The Shenzhou-14 crew has been growing plants in the lab module, including lettuce, rice and Arabidopsis. 

Thailand has promised stricter gun and drug control after last week's nursery killings. The country will require psychological evaluations for anyone trying to buy a gun and will launch an anti-drugs drive, the nation's prime minister said on October 12, in response to a massacre at a nursery on October 6.  The new measures were introduced by the government after a former policeman who was discharged for drug use went on a killing spree taking the lives of 37 people, including 24 children and himself.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) fired additional artillery shells off its east and west coasts, Yonhap news agency reported on Friday. Reuters added that: "South Korea's military said, the latest military activity by the nuclear-armed country amid heightened tensions...and North Korea fired some 560 rounds of artillery into 'sea buffer zones' on multiple occasions, the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said."

(Cover: Customers of a restaurant watch the announcement made by Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob dissolving the parliament and calling for general elections at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, October 10, 2022. /Reuters)