In a fractured world, Prabowo pitches Indonesia as a calm investment bet at WEF

Indonesia ready to grow and co-invest with partners, but investment must rest on respect for the rule of law.

French navy intercepts sanctioned Russian tanker in Mediterranean, Macron says

PARIS, Jan 22 - The French navy intercepted a sanctioned Russian tanker in the Mediterranean on Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron said on X.

ASEAN faces a tougher world but its diversity and resilience offer an edge: WEF panel

It should capitalise on its diversity, neutrality and growing resilience, the panel said.

Iraq says it will prosecute Islamic State detainees transferred from Syria

Jan 22 - Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council said on Thursday it would begin legal proceedings against Islamic State detainees transferred from Syria after the rapid collapse of Kurdish-led forces in northeast Syria triggered concerns over prison security.

Malaysia's 'aggressive' move to double minimum expatriate salaries sends 'strong' signal to hire local

Some employers are considering a “thorough review” of salary structures for current and future expatriates and, if necessary, the relocation of certain roles or workers to other countries.

Russia-China cooperation in Arctic is a concern for NATO, top general says

Jan 22 - Increased cooperation between China and Russia is a source of concern for NATO, the top commander of the trans-Atlantic alliance Alexus Grynkewich said on Thursday.

The winners and losers so far from Trump’s tariffs

During the 2024 presidential campaign, Donald Trump promised to ease economic pressures on households and restore US economic strength. Central to that promise was the claim that tariffs would revive manufacturing and rebalance trade in America’s favor. Once in office, the

Australia PM Albanese ‘profoundly sorry’ for failing to prevent Bondi Beach attack

The prime minister had issued an apology in December, which some relatives said was insufficient.

Cambodia to pay tuition fees for students on accused scam boss’ cancelled scholarship

It would allow 418 students who had been awarded the scholarship to complete their degrees.

Why is China renewing a push for its digital currency?

The technology allows the authorities to not only track where money is going, but also programme how it flows.

Gaza's Rafah crossing with Egypt to open next week, Palestinian official says

DAVOS, Jan 22 - Gaza's border crossing with Egypt will reopen next week after largely being shut during the Israel-Hamas war, the Palestinian technocrat leader backed by Washington to administer the enclave announced on Thursday.

Minor highway crash in Malaysia turns fatal after Mercedes ploughs into crash site, killing two

In the initial collision, a Honda rear-ended a Proton, prompting the drivers to exit their vehicles to inspect the damage.

In Indonesia, faith and fun collide after sexy dangdut show at Islamic event

After the sermons and prayer, a dangdut singer in a skin-tight tube dress took the stage.

Indian woman arrested after suicide of man she accused of sexual misconduct

Deepak U's family alleged that he faced online harassment after the woman posted a video that went viral.

Trump’s new order and Germany’s comeback opportunity

Donald Trump is changing the world. Foreign policy is no longer hiding behind legal masquerade, it is becoming real. It is no longer based on “values”, be they left-liberal-woke or neo-con, and it no longer acts universalistically in multilateral structures, but through

Pact with Trump calls for allies to step up fast on Arctic security, says NATO's Rutte

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 22 - The framework deal on Greenland agreed with U.S. President Donald Trump would require NATO allies to step up on Arctic security and the first results of this will be seen this year, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told Reuters on Thursday.

2 immigration officers in Malaysia nabbed for masterminding online passport renewal syndicate

The syndicate allegedly offered passport renewal service online to Malaysians residing overseas.

Rutte says Greenland framework deal means NATO allies must step up on Arctic security

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 22 - The framework deal on Greenland agreed with U.S. President Donald Trump would require NATO allies to step up on Arctic security and the first results of this will be seen this year, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told Reuters on Thursday.

South Korean law to regulate AI takes effect

The law requires companies to give users advance notice when services or products use generative AI and requires them to clearly label content, including deepfakes, that cannot readily be differentiated from reality.

China defends wind power strategy, says Trump is wrong

China’s installed capacity of wind power has ranked first in the world for 15 consecutive years.

Germany's Merz: Europe must not rush to write off transatlantic ties

BERLIN, Jan 22 - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed on Thursday U.S. President Donald Trump's shift in rhetoric on Greenland and urged Europeans not to be too quick to write off the transatlantic partnership.

Philippines to insist that South China Sea code be based on international law

The Philippines, as ASEAN chair, will propose a set of strategies, including stepping up negotiations.

Trump to launch Board of Peace that some fear rivals UN

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 22 - U.S. President Donald Trump will on Thursday launch his Board of Peace, originally envisaged to help end the Gaza war but which he now sees having a wider role that Europe and some others fear will rival or undermine the United Nations.

Japan braced for disruption amid warnings of heavy snowfall

Tokyo is expected to see an overnight low of -2 deg C on Jan 23, thought snowfall is not forecast.

Two dead and several missing in New Zealand landslides

Heavy rains have ravaged the country's North Island, with a minister comparing it to a "war zone".

Ukraine's Zelenskiy arrives for Davos talks with Trump

KYIV, Jan 22 - U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff on Thursday said \"a lot of progress\" had been made in Ukraine peace talks and that negotiations were down to one last issue, as Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived in Switzerland for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump.

China seeks deeper maritime ties with Malta in Central Mediterranean

BEIJING, Jan 22 - China is keen to deepen cooperation with Malta in shipping and port logistics, the Chinese Commerce Ministry said on Thursday, eager to leverage the island's strategic location in the Central Mediterranean.

Czech police detain person suspected of working with Chinese intelligence

PRAGUE, Jan 22 - Czech police on Thursday said they have detained a person suspected of working with Chinese intelligence services, though they did not provide additional details.

Japan suspends world's largest nuclear plant hours after restart

The operator says reactor remains "stable" and has no "radioactive impact outside".

Indonesia accepts Trump’s invitation to join ‘Board of Peace’ as experts warn of risks, potential domestic fallout

Besides Indonesia, fellow Southeast Asian nation Vietnam has also agreed to be a member of the Board of Peace.

3 people shot dead in eastern Australia, town in lockdown

The shooting comes one month after two gunmen opened fire at an event on Bondi Beach.

AI stock surge an unlikely boon for Japan toilet maker Toto

It’s not just Nvidia and other heavyweights of the AI stocks boom who are feeling flush.

From ancient Rome to now, war-makers constantly talk about peace

In a week filled with news about President Donald Trump’s aggressive moves to take control of Greenland, the world got a window into his thinking about the concept of “peace.” “Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS,

TEPCO’s just-restarted nuclear plant to suspend operations after alarm was set off

Japan’s nuclear regulator says the reactor is stable, and that there are no safety problems.

NATO's Rutte says Arctic talks with Trump will focus on keeping Russia, China out

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 22 - NATO Secretary Mark Rutte said on Thursday that he and U.S. President Trump had discussed in Davos how the transatlantic alliance should best defend the Arctic against Russia and China.

US envoy Witkoff says Ukraine peace talks down to one issue

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 22 - U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff on Thursday said \"a lot of progress\" had been made in Ukraine peace talks and that negotiations were down to one last issue.

Three dead in shooting in Australia's New South Wales

Residents have been told to stay indoors and avoid the area of the shooting.

Bangladesh launches campaigns for first post-Hasina elections

The South Asian nation of 170 million votes on Feb 12 to elect 350 lawmakers, in the first election since a 2024 uprising.

Malaysia weighs social media rule change after Grok AI uproar

Malaysia has previously said it would take legal action against X, which hosts Grok, for failing to protect users.

Trump, the deep state and America at war with itself

The current global disorder—marked by the war in Ukraine, the devastation in Gaza, renewed instability across the Middle East, rising great-power rivalry and now unilateral US actions in Venezuela alongside strategic pressure on Greenland—cannot be explained merely by regional

Cold wave tightens grip in South Korea as temperatures hit minus 24 deg C

Seoul saw a morning low of minus 13.2 deg C, while Incheon recorded minus 12.5 deg C.

Outrage after Indian man drowns in open pit after begging for help for hours

Yuvraj Mehta drowned after his car fell into an unmarked construction pit in Noida last week.

Culinary Class Wars chef’s drink driving record resurfaces, apology video removed

Lim Seung-geun admitted to drink driving three times over a decade.

Weight-loss shots pile up in Seoul while high-risk regions go without

Obesity is widely regarded as a major risk factor for other chronic diseases.

73 South Koreans linked to scam networks in Cambodia to be repatriated

The suspects are accused of defrauding 869 victims of approximately 48.6 billion won (S$42.4 million).

Love scams expose deep Indonesia-China trust issues

The recent bust of a transnational “love scamming” syndicate operating in Indonesia run by Chinese nationals should serve as a wake-up call—not only for Indonesian law enforcement, but also for Beijing. The case, revealed this month by Indonesia’s Directorate General of

Putin to discuss Ukraine peace with U.S. envoys after Trump says a deal is reasonably close

MOSCOW, Jan 22 - Russian President Vladimir Putin will on Thursday discuss a possible peace plan for Ukraine with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow after President Donald Trump said a deal to end the war was \"reasonably close\".

Japan’s Takaichi fast headed for a Liz Truss moment

TOKYO – Since Japanese leader Sanae Takaichi called a snap election for February 8, currency and debt traders have gotten busy registering “no” votes. It’s rarely flattering when expectations that your party will win a contest send the currency lower and bond yields to

Death toll in Pakistan mall fire rises to at least 55

Two top Hong Kong ministers to step down: Report

They are Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho and Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang.