Pakistan sends helicopters, drones to end desert standoff; 58 dead

The aim was to wrest control of a south-western town from separatist insurgents after a three-day battle.

Xi’s military purge is not really about corruption

Zhang Youxia, a top military general and vice-chairman of the body in overall command of China’s military forces, was removed from office on January 23. His departure means all but one of the seven members of the central military commission (CMC), which is chaired by Chinese

10,000-year-old porcupine fossil at Ipoh geological heritage site goes missing

The fossil was a rare find because it had the teeth and jawbones of the mammal.

Petronas signs 20-year LNG supply deal with QatarEnergy

‘Loneliness the hardest’: South Korean’s videos on caring for bedridden mum goes viral online

Mr Cho Bum-hee has been his mother's main caregiver since she suffered a brain haemorrhage in 2015.

Rights group condemns detention of Chinese journalists after corruption report

BEIJING, Feb 4 - Reporters Without Borders (RSF) late on Tuesday condemned the detention of two independent Chinese journalists, one a prominent investigative reporter, after they published a story alleging corruption by a local official in southwestern China.

What the US-India trade deal really means

Although United States-India cooperation remains a fundamentally positive-sum enterprise, advancing both economic and strategic interests, the manner of the new bilateral trade deal’s announcement was as striking as its substance. President Donald Trump framed the deal as a

Japan ex-PM Abe's killer appeals sentence

Tetsuya Yamagami was jailed for life for using a homemade gun to assassinate former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022.

Rights groups say China detained two journalists over corruption report

Liu Hu and Wu Yingjiao have been reportedly detained after exposing corruption by a senior official in Sichuan.

Riau braces itself for more forest fires as rainy season nears end

Fires have scorched 59.38ha of land across 10 of Riau’s 12 regencies and cities since the start of 2026.

Short Japan election raises social media campaigning stakes

Japan's Sanae Takaichi has demonstrated a level of social media savvy rare among Japanese premiers.

Japan’s green tea exports hit record high in 2025 amid growing demand

Growing health consciousness and a boom in Japanese food are fueling the popularity of matcha.

Malaysian eatery ordered to close after viral clip of worker ‘washing’ unsold food for re-use

A worker was seen "washing" some leftovers to be recooked the next day.

Australia’s PM walks a diplomatic tightrope in dispute over Chinese-controlled port

Analysts say neither Canberra nor Beijing wants to abruptly end their improving relations.

CK Hutchison unit launches arbitration against Panama over port ruling

Feb 4 - Hong Kong's CK Hutchison said on Wednesday its Panama Ports Company unit has started international arbitration proceedings against Panama after a court there annulled its licences to operate two Panama Canal ports.

Malaysia to enforce ‘second driver’ rule for long-distance express buses

Enforcement operations will also focus on drivers’ licences and compliance with driving hour limits over CNY.

How Japan’s first female leader won over disillusioned young voters

Some supporters have even coined a new term for their fandom: Sanakatsu.

Shooter of ex-Japan PM Abe appeals against life sentence

Tetsuya Yamagami was given the life term as sought by prosecutors.

Thailand’s ex-PM Abhisit returns to political fray in boost for his party

Despite the goodwill, Abhisit is unlikely to get enough support to become prime minister, surveys show.

Thailand's ex-PM Abhisit returns to political fray in boost for his party

BANGKOK, Feb 4 - Passersby stopped Thailand's former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva every now and again to ask for selfies as the salt-and-pepper-haired leader walked through a bustling market in Bangkok, campaigning for general elections on February 8.

Who are the contenders to be Thailand's next prime minister?

BANGKOK, Feb 4 - Thailand will hold a general election on February 8, in a three-way contest of major parties to decide the leader of the Southeast Asian nation over the next four years.

'Never imagined this': Indian village grapples with interfaith couple's killing

Police say they were beaten to death, allegedly by the woman's three brothers, who have been arrested.

Malaysian boy with autism wants someone to play chess with him

He dreams of playing against grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura from the US.

The Chinese planemaker taking on Boeing and Airbus

Comac's passenger jet is attracting customers in South East Asia where demand for affordable aircraft is growing.

UK, US agree Chagos air base is of strategic importance after Trump criticism of deal

Feb 3 - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Donald Trump recognised the \"strategic importance\" of the U.S.-UK air base in the Chagos Archipelago and will work closely to guarantee its operation, Downing Street said on Tuesday.

Thailand Election 2026: Can Anutin ride nationalism wave and lead Bhumjaithai to victory?

CNA visits the crucial electoral battleground of Thailand’s northeast region to gauge the mood ahead of Sunday’s (Feb 8) vote and speaks to PM Anutin Charnvirakul on the campaign trail.

Commentary: China’s US$1.2 trillion trade surplus is a sign of risk, not strength

China’s challenge is no longer about exporting more efficiently, but about changing its role in the global economy, says Enodo Economics’ Diana Choyleva.

Commentary: Modi got a nice US deal. But what did he give away?

The trade deal slashes US tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent, but further details on the agreement will be key, says Andy Mukherjee for Bloomberg Opinion.

Rebirth of the madman theory in foreign policy?

Tariffs are on, until they are not. Military force is an option … and then it’s off the table. Erratic behavior and unpredictability are having a moment in foreign policy circles. In the White House and elsewhere, such behavior is seemingly being viewed as a strategic asset

Beijing’s hands may be tied as US scores win in Panama Canal ports ruling

Analysts say China's options to wrest back CK Hutchison’s control of the Panamian ports are limited.

The strategic awakening of middle powers

This article, originally published by Pacific Forum, is republished with permission. “The powerful have their power. But we have something, too – the capacity to stop pretending, to name realities, to build our strength at home and to act together.” With those words during a

Syrian security deploy in key Kurdish city under US-backed deal

QAMISHLI, Syria, Feb 3 - Syrian government security forces entered the Kurdish-controlled northeastern city of Qamishli on Tuesday, security sources and witnesses said, implementing a U.S.-backed deal to bring Kurdish-run regions back under central government control.

Iran demands changes in venue and scope of talks with US, source says

DUBAI/WASHINGTON, Feb 3 - Iran is demanding that talks with the U.S. this week be held in Oman not Turkey, and that the scope be narrowed to two-way talks on nuclear issues only, a regional source said on Tuesday, casting doubt on whether the meeting will go ahead as planned.

China warns Panama of ‘heavy prices’ to pay after CK Hutchison contract quashed

A Jan 29 court ruling annulled Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison’s contract to operate two Panama Canal ports.

China warns Panama of 'heavy prices' to pay after CK Hutchison contract quashed

BEIJING, Feb 3 - China warned Panama on Tuesday there would be \"heavy prices\" to pay after a court ruling there annulled Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison's contract to operate two ports at the Panama Canal.

Pakistan plans Benghazi consulate, lending legitimacy to Libya's eastern authorities

KARACHI/BENGHAZI, Feb 3 - Pakistan is in talks to open a consulate in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, three sources with knowledge of the matter said, as the leader of the Libyan National Army met Pakistan's prime minister in Islamabad.

Iran, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and sovereignty’s price

In a landmark interview during the Cold War, Pakistan’s then-president and military chief General Muhammed Zia-ul-Haq defended his country’s refusal to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) with a succinct assertion: “Freedom has no price.” For Zia and for other

Organisers of food and sales expo in Kelantan fined over uncontrolled mingling of men and women

The audience were seen dancing and jumping during the festival’s closing concert on Jan 31.

Indian exporters welcome tariff reprieve, but deal with US stirs unease for others

Analysts predict that the deal would not substantially alter India’s strategic ties with Russia.

Fake Singapore neighbourhood police centre found in Cambodian scam compound

A set-up mimicking the facade of Woodlands East Neighbourhood Police Centre was discovered.

Poland to probe possible links between Epstein and Russia, PM Tusk says

WARSAW, Feb 3 - Poland will launch an investigation into possible links between the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Russian intelligence, as well as any impact on Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Tuesday.

'I don't think I am a hero': Boy, 13, describes 'superhuman' swim to save family

Austin Applebee recounts his 'superhuman' swim which saved the lives of his mother and siblings in Australia.

Rights group decries detention of China investigative journalist

Mr Liu Hu has been reporting on graft among high-profile figures in the Communist Party of China.

Top EU diplomat to visit Kyrgyzstan for talks on sanctions

BISHKEK, Feb 3 - Kyrgyzstan said on Tuesday the European Union's sanctions envoy would visit on February 26 after a report that the EU was planning to ban some exports to the Central Asian country for allegedly facilitating Russian sanctions evasion.

Myanmar and Russia agree to new military alliance

Ukraine to adjust peace negotiators' work after Russia's strike, Zelenskiy says

KYIV, Feb 3 - The work of Ukraine's negotiating team will be adjusted after Russia's overnight attack on Ukrainian energy facilities, which involved a record number of ballistic missiles, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday.

Armed boats attempt to intercept vessel in Strait of Hormuz, UKMTO says

DUBAI, Feb 3 - A group of armed boats attempted to intercept a vessel 16 nautical miles (29.6 km) north of Oman, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said on Tuesday.

China to ban 'hidden' car door handles to address safety fears

BEIJING, Feb 3 - China will ban 'hidden' car door handles from 2027, becoming the first country to phase out a design pioneered by Tesla and adopted by Chinese competitors including Xiaomi.

Australia needs to get real about Trump’s America

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Davos speech should unsettle Australian strategic thinkers, who have been raised in the belief the US alliance is the unshakeable foundation of Australia’s regional security. Carney’s point – that American leadership is no longer a reliable