Malaysia makes Malay and history compulsory for Chinese independent school route to public unis

The new education blueprint to also plans to lower school entry age and reintroduce standardised tests from 2027.

Newly lower tariffs on Chinese EVs could diversify Canada’s trade

Canada has announced an agreement to reduce its 100%tariff on electric vehicle (EV) imports from China to 6.1%. The tariffs will be replaced by an annual import quota of 49,000 EVs in 2026, rising gradually to 70,000 by 2030. This phased opening is designed to help Canada

Pacific beckons deep sea mining, the next geopolitical frontline

When the United States recently escalated its confrontation with Venezuela – carrying out strikes in Caracas and capturing President Nicolás Maduro – the moves were framed as political intervention. But the raid also reflected a deeper contest over oil and critical mineral

Lithuania president says joint security deal could end Greenland row

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 20 - An agreement on sharing responsibility for the security of the Arctic and the North Atlantic could provide a way out of the stand-off between the United States and Europe over Greenland, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on Tuesday.

Russia Using STARLINK and AI to Knock Out HIMARS

Near the village of Novobakhmetevo, almost 60 km (37 miles) from the front line in Ukraine, a Russian Geran 2 specially modified drone destroyed a mobile HIMARS launcher. Modern drone warfare is fast evolving, and Russia is keeping up with technology changes, although it lacks

Canada PM Carney strongly opposes US tariffs over Greenland

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 20 - Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Tuesday that the country strongly opposed any tariffs being imposed by the U.S. to further President Donald Trump's aim of acquiring Greenland.

Lukashenko joins Trump's 'Board of Peace' as US eases his isolation

MOSCOW, Jan 20 - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko signed an agreement on Tuesday to join U.S. President Donald Trump's Board of Peace, the latest step in a rapprochement with Washington after years of international isolation.

Turkey probing flag burning at protests along Syrian border

NUSAYBIN, Turkey, Jan 20 - Turkey said on Tuesday it was investigating the burning of its flag during protests along its border with Syria by pro-Kurdish groups, coinciding with clashes there between the Damascus government army and Kurdish-led forces.

Peru's president embroiled in scandal over failure to disclose meetings with Chinese businessman

LIMA, Jan 20 - Peruvian President Jose Jeri is facing a preliminary investigation by the country's prosecutor as Congress looks to begin impeachment proceedings, after his recent meetings with a Chinese businessman outside of his official agenda erupted into a fresh political

Indonesia revokes permits of 28 firms after deadly floods

South Korea’s reputation abroad reaches new peak, powered by cultural content: Survey

The 2025 Korea National Image Survey surveyed 13,000 people across 26 countries.

UAE becomes early supporter of Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ with formal acceptance

DUBAI, Jan 20 - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) accepted an invitation to join U.S. President Donald Trump's newly proposed “Board of Peace,” the UAE foreign ministry said on Tuesday, placing Abu Dhabi among the first governments to publicly endorse the initiative.

5-year-old boy dies in Malaysia after choking on rambutan seed

The boy was eating rambutan with his six-year-old sister.

Saudi state TV says King Salman chairs cabinet days after leaving hospital

DUBAI, Jan 20 - Saudi Arabia's 90-year-old King Salman chaired in person a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Saudi state TV reported, days after he left hospital where he was undergoing medical tests.

Greece, Israel to cooperate on anti-drone systems, cybersecurity, Greek minister says

ATHENS, Jan 20 - Greece will cooperate with Israel on anti-drone systems and cybersecurity, Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias said on Tuesday after meeting his Israeli counterpart in Athens.

Chinese drill sparks talk of ‘decapitation’ strike on Taipei

Analysts say the drill was a show of intimidation towards the administration of President Lai Ching-te.

Thai forces razed Cambodian homes on border: Rights group

The demolitions had occurred in disputed areas claimed by both countries.

Russia's Far East buried in snow, transport disrupted in China and Japan

Jan 20 - Russia's Far East was buried under metres of snow by its heaviest snowfall in 60 years on Tuesday as a winter blast swept across Asia, dusting Shanghai white and grounding flights in Japan's northwest.

Caught littering in Malaysia? This is what community service punishment will look like

Litterbugs could be made to sweep streets, clean drains and public toilets and trim trees.

EU Commission working on package to support Arctic security, von der Leyen says

DAVOS, Jan 20 - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday that the bloc's executive arm is working on a package to support Arctic security and warned that tariffs proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump over Greenland are a mistake.

UK considers Australia-style social media ban for children

LONDON, Jan 20 - Britain is considering an Australian-style ban on social media to better protect children online, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer warning on Tuesday they risk being pulled into \"a world of endless scrolling, anxiety and comparison\".

Man running HK marathon while carrying baby gets booted, banned from race and roasted online

He was disqualified for violating competition rules.

UK approves China plan for its largest embassy in Europe despite espionage fears

LONDON, Jan 20 - Britain's government gave approval on Tuesday for China to build its largest embassy in Europe in London, hoping to improve ties with Beijing despite British and U.S. politicians' warnings that it could be used as a base for spying.

Sapporo man held on suspicion of creating sexual deepfakes of female celebrities

The police suspect the man earned about 11 million yen (S$89,400) with the generated images.

Russia's Lavrov says Greenland is not a 'natural part' of Denmark

MOSCOW, Jan 20 - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Greenland was not \"a natural part\" of Denmark and that the problem of former colonial territories was becoming more acute.

UK and US can work through differences, says House Speaker Johnson

LONDON, Jan 20 - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday said he was confident that Britain and the United States maintain their so-called 'special relationship' and work through differences on Greenland that threaten to upend bilateral ties.

Man in South Korea kills mentally ill brother, attacks mother with dementia ‘due to financial hardship’

The police found the suspect with serious self-inflicted injuries.

Nepal’s rapper-turned-mayor challenges ousted prime minister

Nepal will hold general elections on March 5, the first since mass anti-corruption protests in 2025.

‘Survival tactic’: UMNO’s proposed ‘grand collaboration’ of Malay-Islamic parties is a hedging strategy, but will it work?

The recent general assembly of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) saw it pitching a grand Malay-Muslim alliance while pledging to stay anchored in Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government.

Hong Kong court to call 18 witnesses over Baltic Sea cable damage case against ship's captain

HONG KONG, Jan 20 - A lawyer for a Chinese captain of a Hong Kong-registered ship alleged to have damaged undersea cables in the Baltic Sea said on Tuesday 18 witnesses would be called to testify in the case.

Trump’s Augustan moment

This is the first of a two-part series. Even the very last person has finally understood it: The world order is changing. This transformation is not random or accidental—it is deliberate, planned and it is Donald Trump’s plan, along with his allies, that is now being carried

US hoping sea drones can narrow China’s naval edge

As the US Navy races to field a hybrid manned–unmanned fleet built around swarms of robotic surface vessels, the effort underscores both an ambitious attempt to reshape naval warfare and a sobering response to China’s growing numerical and industrial advantage at sea. This

Thailand seizes over 330 million methamphetamine tablets in 4-month crackdown

The authorities also arrested more than 88,000 suspects and froze over $140 million in assets.

India braces for a rocky year ahead in ties with Trump’s America

A year after early optimism following Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s White House visit, relations between the two countries have become increasingly strained.

Key facts about Chagos Islands deal signed by UK and Mauritius

LONDON, Jan 20 - U.S. President Donald Trump has called Britain's deal to cede sovereignty of the island of Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands to Mauritius an \"act of total weakness\", putting the agreement back into the spotlight eight months after it was signed.

28 foreign litterbugs nabbed in Johor since Jan 1; immigration department to take action against those who miss court dates

Foreigners make up over half of the littering offenders caught in Johor since tougher penalties kicked in.

Ukraine war gives rise to an exorcism economy in Russia

“Please tell me where to go? A 14-year-old teenager has been possessed by a demon … we tried healers, but they couldn’t help … has anyone encountered this? Moscow region.” This is one of many similar pleas that have been circulating in Russia’s online communities in recent

South Asia’s risky gamble as it engages with the Taliban

The regime’s extremist influence over Islamic movements in the region is an emerging concern for South Asia.

India PM Modi’s party elects youngest-ever president with eye on youth vote

Mr Nitin Nabin, 45, takes over from outgoing president J.P. Nadda.

India PM Modi's party elects youngest-ever president with eye to youth vote

MUMBAI, Jan 20 - Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chose a little-known legislator from India's poorest state as the party's youngest president on Tuesday, a generational shift in the effort to retain young voters.

India’s demand quietly rewriting Asia’s electronics playbook

For much of the past three decades, Asia’s electronics industry has been organized around a simple premise: Demand was external, scale was the advantage and speed was the differentiator. Component makers that mastered this formula dominated global markets. That premise is now

Doctors satisfied with Mahathir’s recovery, as former Malaysian PM continues physiotherapy

Mahathir and his family expressed their gratitude to all who inquired about his health.

China’s trade with North Korea recovers to near pre-pandemic levels

China is North Korea's biggest trade partner and a vital economic and political ally.

Pakistan's 'combat tested' jets boost weapons sales

ISLAMABAD, Jan 20 - Pakistan's defence manufacturing industry is running red hot since its jets, drones and missiles earned the coveted 'combat tested' tag in a conflict with India last year, attracting a slew of interested buyers.

China invited to join Trump’s Board of Peace

Beijing stopped short of saying whether it would accept or decline the invitation.

Rescue workers clearing Karachi inferno ruins, 63 missing feared dead

The police said three of the mall's 16 exits were locked at the time of the fire.

America is done apologizing under the Donroe Doctrine

Whether friend or foe, you’d better be prepared amid the unexpected resurgence in US foreign policy in 2026. Buddhism’s three core characteristics – permanence, suffering, and non-self – are finding echoes in Trump 2.0’s America First policy: alliances are treated as

China invited to join Trump's 'Board of Peace'

BEIJING, Jan 20 - China on Tuesday confirmed that it had been asked to join U.S. President Donald Trump's \"Board of Peace,\" an invitation that Washington had extended to dozens of countries in his bid to launch a global initiative aimed at resolving conflicts.