Dog in Malaysia freed after hours with head stuck in tyre rim

The dog is believed to have had its head stuck inside a tyre rim while chasing rats or sniffing around.

China’s record surplus makes a mockery of Trump’s tariffs

The numbers are in, and they paint a picture that defies the conventional wisdom of Washington’s trade hawks. In 2025, China’s trade surplus surged to a record high of US$1.2 trillion. In December alone, the surplus reached $114 billion, driven by a higher-than-expected 6.6%

Weak domestic demand continues to blight China’s economy as growth slows in Q4

The nation's GDP growth of 5 per cent for 2025 meets its official target but this is expected to slow in 2026.

Singapore holds keys to deterring a China-Taiwan war

No other foreign nation maintains a larger military presence in Taiwan than Singapore. Approximately 3,000 Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel are rotationally stationed on the island each year under Project Starlight, a bilateral defense agreement signed in 1975 between the

Several killed in hotel blast in Kabul, officials say

KABUL, Jan 19 - Several people were killed or injured in a blast at a hotel in a heavily guarded part of central Kabul on Monday, officials said.

Over 400 Indonesians ‘released’ by Cambodian scam networks: Ambassador

Between Jan 1 and 18, 440 Indonesians came to the embassy in Phnom Penh, said the ambassador.

Indonesia’s chairing of UN human rights council for first time: Milestone or empty symbol?

Critics say there is nothing to celebrate, given the country's worsening human rights record.

Greenland crisis is Asia’s crisis, too

Asia should pay close attention to what markets are signaling on the Greenland crisis. Distance offers no protection in a global system where trade, capital and confidence remain tightly interlinked. Moves this week across asset classes show investors are treating this episode

Impeachment bid against Marcos unlikely to succeed but could still hurt him, say analysts

The Philippine President faces an impeachment complaint over Rodrigo Duterte’s ICC arrest, as well as alleged corruption.

Malaysia king to MPs: National interests over state rights, anti-corruption fight continues

In a wide-ranging speech as he opened the fifth session of the 15th Parliament, the king alluded to topics that have generated controversy in recent months and slammed corruption in the military and public service.

BHP refused permission to appeal UK judgment over 2015 Brazil dam collapse

LONDON, Jan 19 - BHP was on Monday refused permission to appeal against a ruling that it is liable for the 2015 collapse of a dam in southeastern Brazil, in a London lawsuit potentially worth tens of billions of pounds.

Over 400 Indonesians 'released' by Cambodian scam networks: Ambassador

Hundreds of foreign nationals have left suspected scam compounds across Cambodia this month amid a crackdown following the arrest of accused scam boss Chen Zhi.

Kremlin says Trump would go down in world history if US took Greenland

MOSCOW, Jan 19 - The Kremlin said on Monday that it was hard to disagree with experts who said that U.S. President Donald Trump would go down in the history of the United States and the world if he took control of Greenland.

Kurdish autonomy falls, redrawing Syria’s geopolitical map

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a US-backed umbrella group dominated by armed Syrian Kurds from the YPG and linked to the PKK which Turkey designates a terrorist organization, rapidly collapsed over the weekend due to the coordinated defection of their Arab tribal junior

TikTok bans politicians from paying for ads before Thai vote

TikTok will partner with fact-checking organisations to validate political claims.

Japan PM Takaichi to dissolve parliament Friday and call national election

TOKYO, Jan 19 - Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said she will dissolve parliament Friday and call a national election to seek voter backing for increased spending and a new security strategy expected to accelerate Japan's defence build up.

What a post-US world order might look like

Ibn Khaldun, the 14th-century giant of political philosophy, argued that every great power passes through a natural civilizational cycle lasting five generations—roughly 125 years—before decline becomes unmistakable. If we place the United States within this framework, its

Japan PM Sanae Takaichi will dissolve Parliament on Jan 23, with election on Feb 8

Her Cabinet is riding high in the polls despite her party’s flagging popularity.

Tablets with no internet connection, no phones at Vietnam’s Communist Party congress: Sources

Delegates will also have to stay in designated accommodation as part of tighter security for the event.

No phones, pre-set tablets for delegates at Vietnam's Communist Party congress

HANOI, Jan 19 - Delegates at Vietnam's Communist Party congress that started on Monday were given Samsung tablet computers without an internet connection, had no access to the mobile phone network and will have to stay in designated accommodation, two people briefed on the

Trump’s Greenland bid heralds new era of economic coercion

When Donald Trump announced that beginning February 1, 2026, eight of America’s closest allies would face a blanket 10% tariff on all goods entering the United States, the shock was not merely economic. Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the

Woman arrested in South Korea after allegedly stabbing man she met via dating app

The woman allegedly stabbed a man in his 40s multiple times with a knife.

Dozens missing after massive Karachi mall fire, 19 killed

The fire started late on Jan 17 in Gul Plaza, which houses 1,200 shops.

Dozens missing after massive Karachi mall fire, 14 killed

KARACHI, Jan 19 - Pakistani firefighters began searching the smouldering remains of a sprawling Karachi shopping mall on Monday for more than 60 people still missing after a massive fire that killed at least 14 people.

Malaysia’s Bersatu, PAS open to UMNO’s 'grand collaboration' pitch but question its role in unity government

Bersatu said it will only consider the proposal once full details are provided, while PAS said the collaboration “will only confuse the people” if UMNO continues to support the Pakatan Harapan-led government.

Knife-wielding woman nabbed after chasing people on Bangkok's Sukhumvit Road to get psychiatric help

In an earlier incident in December 2025, the woman allegedly threatened passengers on a public bus with a knife before she was restrained and removed from the bus.

President of Kazakhstan to join Donald Trump's 'Board of Peace,' spokesperson says

ASTANA, Jan 19 - Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will join the \"Board of Peace\" proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump after accepting an invitation to do so and wants to contribute to bringing about a stable Middle East peace, his spokesperson said on Monday.

Kazakhstan says Trump invited Tokayev to join the Gaza 'Board of Peace', Tengri news outlet reports

MOSCOW, Jan 19 - Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has been invited to join the Gaza \"Board of Peace\" proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump and Tokayev has agreed, the Tengri news outlet on Monday quoted the Kazakh president's press secretary as saying.

China's birth rate hits record low as population continues to shrink

Beijing has been trying hard to encourage more young people to marry and have children.

Australian gold miner Perseus confirms second fatality in Ivory Coast mine accident

Jan 19 - Australia's Perseus Mining said on Monday that a second employee of a contractor firm passed away in a hospital, days after an accident near the gold producer's Bagoe mine in Cote d'Ivoire.

Japan PM Takaichi calls snap election three months after taking office

Sanae Takaichi, who took office office last October, hopes the vote will give her a stronger mandate.

Japan PM Takaichi to dissolve parliament; snap election set for Feb 8

Sanae Takaichi is banking on her high poll numbers to lead the unpopular ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to victory.

China punishes 69 senior officials, as anti-corruption drive deepens

Some 983,000 individuals were disciplined in 2025, up more than 10 per cent from a year earlier, according to China’s top anti-graft watchdog.

Indonesia’s Prabowo nominates nephew as central bank deputy governor

The US-educated Thomas Djiwandono will soon face a fit-and-proper test by Parliament for the new job.

Indonesia's Prabowo nominates nephew as central bank deputy governor, sources say

JAKARTA, Jan 19 - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has nominated his nephew to join the central bank's board of governors, two sources told Reuters, amid growing concern about its independence as the government seeks more support for ambitious economic targets.

Death toll in Karachi mall fire jumps to 11

KARACHI, Jan 19 - Firefighters in Karachi began searching on Monday for more than 60 missing people after a massive fire destroyed a shopping mall in Pakistan's most populous city, while the death toll from the disaster rose to 11.

Why China’s university triumph isn’t America’s defeat

For decades, global university rankings told a predictable story: American institutions dominated, with Harvard, Stanford and MIT as immutable peaks. That story is changing. In the latest Leiden Rankings, which measure research output, Harvard has slipped to third place behind

Lawyer files impeachment complaint against Philippine President Marcos

MANILA, Jan 19 - A lawyer filed an impeachment complaint against Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Monday, accusing him of betraying public trust by allowing his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte to be arrested and taken to The Hague to face trial.

Press freedom in Indonesia under strain as journalists face more threats

At least 89 cases of violence against journalists were recorded throughout 2025.

Gas discovery provides boost to Philippines fast-dwindling reserves

Recent studies suggest South Korean students are rethinking Seoul universities, STEM and medicine

Applications to medical schools began declining steadily from the 2022 academic year.

Malaysian rapper Namewee claims trial for possessing ED drug, meth

The court has set the case for mention on March 5, 2026.

Architect behind Singapore's public housing system dies aged 87

Liu helped shape the landscape of modern Singapore with its distinctive public housing blocks.

Seoul proposes mandating licence check for e-scooter rentals

Unlicensed riding and youth-related accidents have risen in the country.

Over 3 million South Koreans opt out of life-sustaining treatment

People aged 65 or older accounted for more than two-thirds of all registrants.

China’s wedding dress sellers pin hopes on rise in marriages

The rise in marriages in the first nine months of 2025 is a bright spot in China’s otherwise grim population landscape.

Ties between New Zealand and Kiribati warm with partnership agreement

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the relationship was warm and longstanding.

New Zealand and Kiribati relationship warms with partnership agreement

WELLINGTON, Jan 19 - New Zealand and the Pacific nation of Kiribati signed a new partnership agreement on Monday, signalling a warming of ties that had cooled last year with New Zealand announcing a review of its development programme there.

China's wedding dress sellers pin hopes on rise in marriages

SUZHOU, China, Jan 19 - Wedding vendors at Huqiu Bridal City in Suzhou, one of China's largest wedding dress markets, are hopeful the country's positive marriage trends will continue this year.