Worried families in India urge return of crew on ship seized by Iran

Iran seized the oil tanker with 18 crew members, including 16 Indians, in December alleging it had illegal diesel.

Panama voids Hong Kong-based firm's canal port contracts

The move follows Donald Trump's previous claim the US was taking the crucial Panama canal "back" from China.

Visit by Britain’s PM Starmer shows drawbacks of ‘China pivot’ in countering Trump

It is unclear what tangible long-term benefits such overture will yield, experts say.

Visit by Britain's Starmer shows drawbacks of 'China pivot' in countering Trump

HONG KONG/BEIJING, Jan 30 - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit to China is the latest win Beijing can tout in its rivalry with Washington, but the deals he brings back to London also show the limits of the balancing act that middle powers may try to play.

Malaysia major-general charged with misappropriating US$1.27 million of Armed Forces Welfare Fund

Mohamed Fauzi Kamis is the third high-ranking military officer to be charged in just over a week, following the former armed forces chief and former army chief.

Malaysian court allows Rosmah Mansor temporary release of passport for trip to Singapore

She will return to Kuala Lumpur to attend an appeal hearing scheduled for Feb 25.

Malaysian influencer fined $12,800 for video of teens giving homeless man leftover chicken bones

Tang Sie Luk has since uploaded an apology video on his Instagram account.

Between justice and error: Why Taiwan remains divided over the death penalty

The island’s Constitutional Court ruled in 2024 that while the death penalty remains constitutional, it must be reserved only for the most serious crimes, among other conditions.

Philippine President Marcos rejects calls to declare Chinese envoy persona non grata, says palace

The Chinese Embassy criticised Philippine officials for speaking out against harassment of Philippine ships and fishermen.

Court ruling in Indonesia fuels competing claims for throne in Central Java’s Surakarta Palace

A court ruling allowing one claimant to legally adopt the royal title Pakubuwono XIV has intensified a bitter succession feud at Indonesia’s historic Surakarta Palace.

Did US ‘give back’ Greenland to Denmark, as Trump claims?

When Nazi Germany began its occupation of Denmark in April 1940, Greenland suddenly found itself cut off from its colonial power and thrust into the center of North Atlantic wartime strategy. The US temporarily took control of Greenland, establishing bases and defense

Syrian government, Kurdish forces announce integration deal

DAMASCUS, Jan 30 - The Syrian government and the Kurdish-led group the Syrian Democratic Forces said on Friday they had agreed to a comprehensive ceasefire and a phased integration of military and administrative bodies into the Syrian state under a broad deal.

India’s top court weighs rules on stray dogs as bite cases surge

The country’s Supreme Court has reserved its verdict on petitions challenging its stray dog directives, as a debate intensifies over public safety risks and animal welfare.

Pakistan’s sharply shrinking economic sovereignty

Pakistan has stepped back from the edge of immediate default, yet it remains far from building an economy capable of generating durable power. On January 7, Islamabad signaled just how exposed its flagship geoeconomic strategy has become by announcing plans for a dedicated

Coupang CEO questioned in first police appearance over data breach

The appearance followed two earlier summonses that he declined after leaving South Korea.

‘Overpriced’ sanitary pads spark dialogue in S. Korea; groups call for manufacturing overhaul

In a Cabinet meeting on Jan 20, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung mentioned pad prices.

China renews call for citizens to avoid travel to Japan after robbery in Tokyo

The call comes after a group of two Chinese and three Japanese nationals were allegedly robbed.

What did UK and China get out of Starmer's reset visit?

Sir Keir Starmer's visit to China brought agreements on visas, services, healthcare, green tech and finance.

Investigators launch probe into S. Korean church over election allegations

The church founder is accused of forcing members to join the People Power Party to support it.

Zelenskiy says date or location of next round of US-brokered peace talks could change

KYIV, Jan 30 - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that the date or location of the next round of U.S.-mediated talks between Ukraine and Russia on how to end the war could change.

South Korea, Japan defence ministers agree to upgrade cooperation

The two countries have in recent months drawn closer in political ties under new leaders.

US war with Iran would be an expensive mistake

Reports of a growing US naval presence in the Gulf have prompted speculation that the US could be preparing for another Middle East war, this time with Iran. US President Donald Trump has warned of “serious consequences” if Iran does not comply with his demands to permanently

Sword of loyalty: decoding Xi Jinping’s perpetual military purge

The recent announcement by China’s Ministry of Defense regarding the investigation of General Zhang Youxia, a vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), has sent ripples through the global geopolitical landscape. For over a decade, President Xi Jinping has wielded

Did Trump really give Nicki Minaj a US$1m ‘gold card’ visa?

“Gold Trump card free of charge,” the rapper wrote on social media.

Bank of Japan’s silence on US Fed threat should worry us all

TOKYO — Earlier this month, central bankers around the globe rushed to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s defense. The burst of monetary solidarity was in response to news on Jan. 11 that Powell was under critical investigation. Ostensibly, it’s related to alleged cost

Malaysia targets March launch for Johor-Singapore SEZ blueprint, masterplan

Malaysia is confident the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone will deliver tangible outcomes for businesses, workers and communities in Malaysia and Singapore, said a statement from Malaysia's Economy Ministry.

Indonesia’s future capital Nusantara ‘not a ghost town’, expected to house 4,000 civil servants in 2026: VP Gibran

Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka said he has instructed his office to begin operating from the future capital, and facilities for his secretariat are nearing completion.

Indonesian couple caned 140 times for sex and alcohol offences

Caning is a common but controversial punishment for violating Islamic law in Aceh province.

China coast guard patrolled Japan-held islands almost daily last year as tensions flare

BEIJING, Jan 30 - China's coast guard patrolled Japan-administered islands in the East China Sea almost daily last year, it said on Friday, aiming to secure its sovereignty over the remote, rocky outpost and to deter Taiwan from taking steps toward independence.

China coast guard patrolled Japan-held islands almost daily in 2025 amid tensions

The patrols could add to tensions as China and Japan are embroiled in a diplomatic dispute.

Board of Peace could complement, not replace, UN Security Council

The Board of Peace, established under UN Security Council Resolution 2803, represents a novel—and contentious—experiment in international peacemaking that goes far beyond stabilizing and rebuilding Gaza. Its membership, which includes the United Arab Emirates, Hungary,

Power outage again disrupts Tokyo area train services

Stranded passengers had to alight on railway tracks between stations.

Myanmar election delivers victory for military-backed party amid civil war

Myanmar’s military government insists the polls were free and fair, and supported by the public.

Barring last-minute nuclear deal, US and Russia teeter on brink of new arms race

LONDON/WASHINGTON, Jan 30 - The United States and Russia could embark on an unrestrained nuclear arms race for the first time since the Cold War, unless they reach an eleventh-hour deal before their last remaining arms control treaty expires in less than a week.

Suspects flee with suitcases containing $3.4m in cash after robbing victims in downtown Tokyo

The victims were robbed as they were loading three suitcases containing the money into a passenger car.

Trilateral Russia-Ukraine-US talks signal shift in war diplomacy

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the second round of trilateral Russian-Ukrainian-US talks in Abu Dhabi will be held on February 1. There have been few leaks from the first round, leaving observers to speculate about the subject and significance of this new

Netizens push back on Trump's claims that China doesn't use wind power with photos of turbines

US President Donald Trump claimed on Jan 21 at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that China does not use wind power despite producing most of the world’s turbines, prompting China to defend its renewable energy record while netizens shared images of wind farms

Street robbers steal US$2.7 million in cash in rare Tokyo heist

The thieves used pepper spray and grabbed luggage containing the money near Ueno station.

Myanmar monk accused of fuelling genocide backs junta-led vote

He rose to international prominence during waves of anti-Muslim unrest in the 2010s.

From failure to filler: Why US Navy can’t quit its flawed LCS

Facing a shrinking fleet and a widening naval gap with China, USNI reported this month that the US Navy is giving its troubled Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) a second look—not as a triumph of design, but as a stopgap born of strategic necessity. The US Navy has decided to retain

Explainer: Why Thailand will vote to decide a new Constitution

Critics say the 2017 Constitution concentrated power in undemocratic institutions.

Explainer-Why Thailand will vote to decide a new constitution

BANGKOK, Jan 30 - Voters in Thailand's general elections on February 8 will also be asked to decide if a new constitution should replace a 2017 charter.

European strategic independence? Don’t hold your breath

The question of European strategic autonomy has become fashionable again in Brussels and various European capitals. Between Donald Trump’s return to the White House, ongoing concerns about American commitment to NATO and the grinding war in Ukraine, European leaders are once

Sumo diplomacy: Japan’s heavyweight ‘soft power’ ambassadors

Using the hulking wrestlers as ambassadors is a long-established practice in Japan.

Panama court voids CK Hutchison port contracts, clouding sales plan

The lawsuit to cancel the contracts was brought before the Panamanian high court last year on allegations that it was based on unconstitutional laws and that the Hong Kong business was not paying taxes.

Indonesia stock exchange CEO resigns after US$80 billion market rout

Vietnam to sell tycoon's Hermès Birkin bags to offset fraud losses

Lan had tried to hold on the bags, saying she wanted to leave them as "keepsakes" for her children.

Thailand's reformist Natthaphong is frontrunner ahead of February vote, polls show

BANGKOK, Jan 30 - Thailand's progressive People's Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut continued to lead opinion polls on Friday, highlighting the stiff challenge facing Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's bid to stay in power ahead of elections on February 8.