Taiwan president vows to strengthen island’s defences in Lunar New Year message

He wanted to thank the armed forces for protecting Taiwan around the clock.

Bangladesh’s Islamist-led coalition submits poll complaints

Police records show that political clashes during the campaign period left five people dead and more than 600 injured.

Malaysia’s Bersatu reclaims social media page after alleged sabotage by admins

Four administrators suspected of being behind the sabotage had been removed.

Philippine authorities caution against spread of marijuana-laced vapes

They allegedly came from neighbouring Asian countries where cannabis use is allowed or loosely regulated.

Prison inmate dies of mpox in Thailand; authorities urge calm

The patient had multiple underlying conditions and was severely immunodeficient.

China wants to work with Canada to 'eliminate interference'

China's foreign minister Wang Yi, who met a slew of Western leaders during the Munich Security Conference, has been eager to paint Beijing as a more stable partner compared to the increasingly unpredictable United States.

Russia's Taman port damaged by Ukrainian drone strike

MOSCOW, Feb 15 - Russia's Black Sea port of Taman, which handles oil products, grain, coal and commodities, has been damaged by a Ukrainian drone attack, the governor of Russia's Krasnodar region said on Sunday.

SpaceX's Starlink gets nod for satellite internet in Vietnam

The approval comes ahead of an expected visit next week by Vietnam's top leader, To Lam, to the United States to attend the first meeting of US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace initiative on global conflicts.

India plans AI ‘data city’ on staggering scale

The world’s most populous country has seen a surge of investment as generative AI players seek inroads.

BNP landslide a breakthrough and test for Bangladesh

In winning the 13th national parliamentary election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) capitalized on a rare convergence of public exhaustion and strategic patience. Its 212-seat landslide was harvested through moments it had spent nearly two decades preparing for. At the

China’s Xi emphasises stability at start of new policy cycle

China will also seek to maintain social harmony and stability, Chinese President Xi Jinping said.

Japan’s ‘godless’ lake warns of creeping climate change

The phenomenon, called "God’s Crossing", has not appeared since 2018.

Plagiarised videos reposted with false subtitles to stoke anti-Japan sentiment in China

This comes amid deteriorating Japan-China relations.

High school in Japan plans petting zoo to attract more students

After its opening, the zoo will be open to the public once a month.

China is the real threat, Taiwan says in rebuff to Munich speech

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned at the Munich Security Conference that some countries were "trying to split Taiwan from China".

Sabah body parts murder: Son tells of alleged heartbreak, money dispute that led to mum’s death

She was laid to rest on Feb 13.

To recognise or not? Behind ASEAN’s lack of consensus on the Myanmar polls

Impasse threatens ASEAN's unity and relevance as members prioritise national interests over a collective response.

India plans vast AI 'data city' in major digital push

"The AI revolution is here," said Andhra Pradesh's information technology minister, as the state positions Visakhapatnam as a cornerstone of India's AI ambitions.

China is the real threat, Taiwan says in rebuff to Wang Yi’s Munich speech

In his speech, China's Foreign Minister blamed Japan for tensions over the island.

503 new TB cases reported in Malaysia

The latest detections brought the cumulative number of TB cases to 2,571 across the country.

3 teenagers stabbed in Osaka entertainment district, 1 killed

Police said they were informed that the 20-year-old suspect who was arrested knew the three victims.

1 dead, 2 injured in stabbing in Osaka, suspect arrested

A man in his 20s was arrested on Feb 15 on suspicion of murder after fleeing the scene on foot.

Muhyiddin is my No. 1 enemy, says sacked Bersatu deputy president Hamzah

Hamzah said he was unaware of the reasons for his sacking from Bersatu.

Holiday exodus sees congestion at hot spots in Malaysia

Police say at least 30% more vehicles are expected to enter Johor this Chinese New Year.

China seeks to take ties with Germany to 'new level': Wang Yi

China's top diplomat met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

Australia pledges $3.5 billion to progress nuclear submarine shipyard build

The investment is critical to delivering Australia’s conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.

Australia pledges $2.7 billion to progress nuclear submarine shipyard build

SYDNEY, Feb 15 - Australia said on Sunday it would spend A$3.9 billion ($2.76 billion) to progress construction of a shipyard that will help deliver nuclear-powered submarines under the trilateral AUKUS defence pact with the U.S. and Britain.

Malaysia’s front-line cops now equipped with body-worn cameras

The usage of these body cameras will limit the opportunity for misconduct, said the police.

China starts 9-day Chinese New Year holidays with travellers shunning Japan amid bilateral spat

South Korea is expected to become a top overseas destination with about 250,000 Chinese visitors.

New research absolves the woman blamed for a Chinese dynasty’s ruin

Before its collapse, the dynasty of Western Zhou was exalted throughout Chinese history as the acme of good governance.

New Zealand braces itself for more flooding after road collapses and one death

A total of 2,452 properties remained without power on the North Island.

New Zealand braces for more heavy rain, severe gales after floods kill one person

SYDNEY, Feb 15 - New Zealand's weather forecaster on Sunday warned of intensifying heavy rain and severe gales for the country's North Island, a day after floods linked to the death of one person caused power outages, road collapses and home evacuations.

Is this a 'very Chinese time in your life'? The trend boosting China's soft power

Chinamaxxing is adding more gloss to the recent flourish of Chinese soft power.

No more rust: Prabowo wants Indonesia’s zinc roofs to be replaced, but experts question the urgency

President Prabowo Subianto has set the target to replace zinc roofs on homes throughout Indonesia in the next three years.

Trump, Netanyahu agreed US should press Iran to cut oil sales to China, Axios reports

Feb 14 - President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed at a White House meeting on Wednesday that the U.S. would work to reduce Iran's oil exports to China, Axios reported, citing two U.S. officials briefed on the issue.

How will Takaichi navigate between right-wing ideals and reality?

In her short term as prime minister, Sanae Takaichi has shown that she has the same kind of reality distortion field that other singular political talents have. Her status as Japan’s first female prime minister, her middle-class (read: non-hereditary) background and her blunt,

Taiwanese are boycotting a film about an unresolved part of history. Can any good come out of this?

The release of Taiwanese film The Century Bloodshed, originally set for 2027, has been postponed indefinitely.

How one Sarawak farm became Singapore’s sole live pig supplier after 18-year trade ban

Disease control, modern farming methods and distance from dense urban centres give Sarawak an edge.

Zelenskyy says US too often asks Ukraine, not Russia, for concessions

Israeli FM Saar to attend Trump's first Board of Peace meeting on Thursday, officials say

Feb 14 - Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar will attend U.S. President Donald Trump's first formal Board of Peace meeting on February 19, two Israeli officials said on Saturday.

Rubio casts US, the 'child of Europe', as critical friend to allies

MUNICH, Feb 14 - Secretary of State Marco Rubio cast the United States as the \"child of Europe\" in a message of unity on Saturday, offering some reassurance as well as levelling more criticism at allies after a year of turmoil in transatlantic relations.

Zelenskiy says US too often asks Ukraine, not Russia, for concessions

KYIV, Feb 14 - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy voiced hope on Saturday that U.S.-brokered peace talks next week in Geneva would be serious and substantive, but said Ukraine was being asked \"too often\" to make concessions in the negotiations.

Bangladesh’s incoming prime minister puts restoring economy and governance first

Mr Tarique Rahman said he would encourage business and create more jobs.

Bangladesh's incoming prime minister puts restoring economy and governance first

DHAKA, Feb 14 - Bangladesh's next prime minister, Tarique Rahman's priorities include improving the economy, law and order and governance, he said on Saturday, in his first public comments after his party's convincing parliamentary election victory.

Wang Yi warns against 'knee-jerk' calls for US-China decoupling

China's top diplomat met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday in what a US official described as a "positive and constructive" meeting.

Bangladesh's PM-in-waiting dedicates win to those who 'sacrificed for democracy'

"Our paths and opinions may differ, but in the interest of the country, we must remain united," Tarique Rahman said in his first speech since the election.