China bans hidden car door handles over safety concerns

It makes China the first country to outlaw designs first popularised by Elon Musk's Tesla.

Why Bhutan’s plastic ban isn’t working

Bhutan's plastic policy has failed to evolve with changing patterns of consumption.

Japan finance minister defends PM Takaichi’s comments on the benefits of a weak yen

The PM's message was at odds with her finance ministry that has worked to stem the currency’s decline.

China fails to curb the ‘secret filming betrayal’ of women and girls

In China, vast trade in secretly filmed footage of Chinese women and girls has flourished.

Malaysia students’ festive CNY rap gets ‘Nonstop’ views

The music video has garnered more than 1.4 million views and over 55,000 likes as of noon on Feb 2.

China coal plant building surges despite record renewable energy additions

In total, 291GW of coal power capacity remained in the development pipeline by the end of 2025.

AI’s next race is energy-efficient architectures, top scientist says

The next phase of global AI competition will hinge less on who can scale today’s transformer models the fastest but more on who can reinvent the architecture to deliver comparable capability at a fraction of the power cost, according to a top United States scientist. In simple

Thailand Election 2026: Pheu Thai and Shinawatra family face test to recapture populist power

For more than two decades, the Shinawatra family has defined Thai electoral politics. Will their Pheu Thai Party continue to hold sway as voters cast their ballots on Sunday (Feb 8)?

Indonesia’s US$80 billion stock market rout: What hopes, fears do retail investors and experts have?

Experts warn that the episode marks a critical test of Indonesia’s ability to restore investor trust amid growing scrutiny of transparency, enforcement, and political influence in its financial markets.

Commentary: Why US tech firms are investing billions in India

American firms have an early advantage in shaping how Indian consumers use AI tools, says Amit Joshi of IMD Business School.

Can Fed chair nominee Kevin Warsh avoid becoming Arthur Burns?

In the end, the US president chose the man many on Wall Street favored to chair the Federal Reserve Board. Kevin Warsh, who served as a Fed governor from 2006 to 2011, is well-connected on Wall Street and in international banking circles. Warsh put those connections to good use

Chaos in Iran would open the door to the worst IS terrorists

Suspicion is building that the United States could soon launch another round of strikes on Iran, this time with the intention of toppling the Ayatollah and the country’s repressive theocratic regime. This comes as US President Donald Trump continues to use his social media

US and India reach trade deal, Trump says after Modi call

Tariffs will drop from 50% to 18% on Indian goods, while India has agreed to stop buying Russian oil.

The bus left in 2014: why Modi’s 2026 Budget can’t overtake China

India’s central government budget for fiscal year 2026-27, known as the Union Budget, was presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to Parliament on February 1, 2026. It marks Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s latest effort to steer India toward technological and economic

US cuts tariffs on India to 18%, India agrees to end Russian oil purchases

WASHINGTON/NEW DELHI, Feb 2 - U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said he had agreed on a trade deal with India that slashes U.S. tariffs on Indian goods to 18% from 50% in exchange for India lowering trade barriers, stopping its purchases of Russian oil and buying oil

Iran fears US strike may reignite protests, imperil rule, sources say

DUBAI, Feb 2 - Iran’s leadership is increasingly worried a U.S. strike could break its grip on power by driving an already enraged public back onto the streets, following a bloody crackdown on anti-government protests, according to six current and former officials.

Cambodian scam compound yields trove of fraud evidence, Thai military says

CHONG CHOM, Thailand/ODDAR MEANCHEY, Cambodia, Feb 2 - The Thai military said on Monday it had recovered a trove of evidence of transnational fraud from a Cambodian scam compound seized during clashes last year between the two countries along their disputed border.

Witkoff, Iran's Araqchi to discuss possible nuclear deal on Friday, US official says

WASHINGTON, Feb 2 - U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi plan to meet on Friday in Istanbul to discuss a possible nuclear deal and other issues, a U.S. official said on Monday.

Hindu gym instructor becomes a hero after standing up for bullied Muslim shopkeeper in India

The altercation has become a major controversy pitting right-wing Hindus against Deepak Kumar and his supporters.

Kyrgyzstan seeks talks with EU over report that bloc considers sanctions over Russia trade

ALMATY, Feb 2 - Kyrgyzstan's government said on Monday that it is seeking talks with the European Union, after Bloomberg reported last week that the bloc is planning the first-ever use of  its anti-sanctions circumvention tool against the Central Asian country.

China bans hidden car door handles in world-first safety policy

There were accidents where users could not open car doors after accidents due to power failures.

Victim in Haneda robbery attempt in Japan had $779k stolen in 2025

The victim had been targeted twice by robbers before the incident at Tokyo's Haneda Airport.

'Superhuman' teen swims hours to save family stranded off Australian coast

The 13-year-old swam 4km in rough water after his mother and siblings were swept out to sea off the coast of Western Australia.

Prabowo cites Tharman’s Indonesia honeymoon experience to call for national unity and service

He cites President Tharman's 1990s honeymoon story while urging elites to serve the poor better.

China's top general probe to 'remove obstacles' in military: State media

Europe’s sixth-generation fighter ambitions in a fatal tailspin

Europe’s flagship bid for sixth-generation air power is stalling, forcing the continent to confront hard choices between strategic autonomy, US dependence and deeper defense integration with Indo-Pacific partners. Last month, the Financial Times (FT) reported that Germany has

Indonesia, faced with Prabowo policies, ‘stock frying’, left behind in rush to emerging markets

Investors have been avoiding Indonesia, and souring on President Prabowo Subianto’s economic agenda.

Former Chinese justice minister handed life sentence for corruption

Beijing criticises Dalai Lama Grammy win as 'manipulation'

The Buddhist spiritual leader is recognised in the audiobook category for his meditations.

Elephant kills tourist at Thai national park

This is the third fatality linked to the same animal.

Elephant kills tourist at Thai national park; third fatality linked to same animal

The wild bull elephant could have been responsible for several more deaths that remain unsolved, said the Khao Yai National Park chief.

Syrian state forces deploy into Kurdish-run city under ceasefire deal

HASAKAH, Syria, Feb 2 - Syrian government security forces deployed into a Kurdish-controlled city in the northeast on Monday under a U.S.-backed ceasefire deal that foresees the Kurdish-run regions being merged with Damascus.

No new targeted Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, Zelenskiy says

KYIV, Feb 2 - Russia has not carried out any targeted missile or drone strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure in the last 24 hours although energy facilities in frontline areas have come under fire, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday.

Russia’s Syria interests go well beyond air and naval bases

Syrian President Ahmed “Jolani” al-Sharaa’s second trip to Moscow in several months was widely interpreted as relating to the future of Russia’s air and naval bases there. That may be true, especially since they play a practically irreplaceable logistical role for Russia’s

Australian woman dies after becoming snagged in ski lift in Japan

The 22-year-old became caught in a chairlift and was suspended in midair before having a heart attack, officials say.

Australian woman dies after caught in Japan ski lift

China hands life sentence to former justice minister over bribery

He was convicted over accepting property worth more than 137 million yuan (S$25 million).

The myth of an emerging Islamic NATO

In recent months, sections of the media and strategic commentary have been abuzz with claims that countries such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey are moving toward the creation of an “Islamic NATO.” This narrative suggests that amid a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape

Pakistan exporters race to meet Malaysia’s US$200m halal meat deal

Industry leaders warn that without significant upgrades to infrastructure and efforts to lower livestock costs, Pakistan risks losing out to regional competitors.

Germany arrests five for supplying Russian defence firms

BERLIN, Feb 2 - German federal prosecutors said on Monday they had detained five individuals accused of operating a network that exported goods to Russian defence companies, contravening European Union sanctions imposed following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Bail denied for 4 suspects in $400k Hong Kong cash heist

The suspects are three Japanese men and one woman from China.

Pakistani security forces hunt militants behind weekend attacks

QUETTA, Feb 2 - Pakistani soldiers were hunting down separatist militants on Monday who stormed schools, banks, and security installations, killing nearly 50 people, in a series of coordinated attacks across southwestern Balochistan province, the military said.

Malaysia’s KLIA aerotrain system functioning as intended, according to independent assessment

Malaysia Airports Holdings on Feb 2 said assessors found the disruptions did not pose a safety risk.

Japan duty-free sales fall further as China tensions linger

Arrivals from China plunged 45 per cent to 330,000 people in December.

$549,000 for a ticket to space? Chinese firms play catch-up in space tourism

There has been national push to catch up with the US as the geopolitical rivals jockey over tech leadership.

‘Draco Malfoy brings good luck’: Harry Potter character becomes lucky symbol in Year of the Horse

Draco Malfoy has become an unexpected symbol of good fortune this Chinese New Year.