Myanmar junta plans ‘super-body’ to tighten grip on military, new government

Experts say the move will allow Senior Gen Min Aung Hlaing to become president while ensuring he retains control over the military.

US hosts countries for talks to weaken China's grip on critical minerals

WASHINGTON, Feb 4 - The United States will host more than 50 countries on Wednesday for talks aimed at boosting their access to critical minerals, in a bid to loosen China's grip over vital industrial inputs that has allowed it to control global supply chains.

Pope Leo urges Russia and US to renew last nuclear arms treaty

VATICAN CITY, Feb 4 - Pope Leo on Wednesday urged leaders in Russia and the United States to renew their last nuclear arms control treaty, New START, which caps the number of strategic nuclear weapons deployed by each country.

Two brothers charged with murder in Johor skeletal remains case

No plea was recorded from the duo.

Philippine lawmakers throw out Marcos impeachment bid

A new nuclear age beckons as clock ticks down on last Russia-US arms deal

MOSCOW, Feb 4 - The last nuclear treaty between Russia and the United States is due to expire within hours, raising the risk of a new arms race in which China will also play a key role.

Malaysia’s new armed forces chief promises ‘total clean-up’ of military

Malaysia's Defence Ministry has stepped up corruption probe in recent weeks.

The US-India trade deal that isn’t

When Donald Trump announces a “historic deal,” the room usually vibrates with superlatives. When Narendra Modi responds, the quiet is more telling than the words. Their latest exchange—a claimed swap of ending Russian oil purchases for a US tariff cut—was a masterclass in

South Korea parliament to finalise bill on US investment fund by March 9

SEOUL, Feb 4 - South Korea's National Assembly has agreed to finalise a bill to make investments in the United States by March 9 under a trade deal between the countries, the ruling and main opposition parties said on Wednesday.

Zhang Youxia: Veteran princeling caught in China’s military purge

His abrupt sidelining was largely unexpected, due to his long military tenure and perceived closeness with President Xi.

Markets losing faith in Prabowo’s grasp of economic reality

As economic bookmarks go, Indonesia’s stock market enduring its worst rout since the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis is as ominous as they come. Jakarta stocks are cratering as Southeast Asia’s biggest economy gets caught skinny dipping, in the Warren Buffett sense. The famed

Can Indonesian businesses thrive amid global uncertainties, changing consumer tastes?

As market pressures, digital disruption and global uncertainties intensify, Indonesian businesses must adapt and target impact-driven innovation, say analysts. These issues will be on the agenda at the CNA Summit in Jakarta on Thursday (Feb 5).

2 Malaysian brothers charged with murder after 6 bodies found in burnt Johor house

The deceased - including five from a family - were discovered in January in a burnt house at an oil palm plantation in Kangkar Pulai. Three of them were children aged two to nine.

Myanmar junta’s proxy party named winner of criticised election

Some 13.1 million of 24.2 million eligible voters cast their ballots, a junta spokesman said.

US and Iran to hold nuclear talks in Oman amid heightened tensions, diplomat says

DUBAI, Feb 4 - Nuclear talks between the United States and Iran are expected to take place in Oman on Friday, a regional diplomat said, with a possible confrontation looming as U.S. President Donald Trump builds up forces in the Middle East.

Hong Kong’s bus seat belt saga has all the makings of a good comedy

The government’s policy U-turn features tension, deja vu, a big misunderstanding and a surprise plot twist.

Iran’s drones giving Russia a critical edge in Ukraine war

With Russian ground troops bogged down in a grinding war of attrition, Moscow is striving to press home its advantage in the skies – through an ever-evolving army of drones, courtesy of Iran. In early January, wreckage of a drone found in Ukraine hinted at a new high-speed

Japan warns of avalanches as number of snow deaths rises to 35

The warning comes after the mercury suddenly rose after two weeks of extreme snowfall.

Japan warns of avalanches as snow deaths rise to 35

Sustained snow since late January has left residents struggling to leave home and forced schools and businesses to close.

Taiwan must pass defence spending to avoid giving wrong impression, President says

Pressure from US politicians has grown on Parliament not to hold up defence spending.

Hong Kong signals caution in stablecoin license rollout

Hong Kong authorities are moving toward issuing the city’s first stablecoin licenses, with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority targeting March for an initial round. Market expectations, however, have been carefully managed. Based on regulatory signals and industry briefings, the

Chinese journalist Liu Hu detained in Sichuan after report scrutinising local officials

Liu, a veteran investigative journalist, and his assistant are reportedly in custody for "illegal business operations" and "false accusations".

Taiwan must pass defence spending to avoid giving wrong impression, president says

TAIPEI, Feb 4 - If Taiwan's opposition-controlled parliament continues to block $40 billion in proposed extra defence spending the international community could misunderstand the island's determination to defend itself, President Lai Ching-te said on Wednesday.

Bomb disposal officer injured after explosion at petrol station in Thai province of Pattani

The blast was reported in the accessible toilet of the petrol station.

Pakistan sends helicopters, drones to end desert standoff; 58 dead

Philippine House panel finds bid to impeach President Marcos lacks substance

The President, who is midway through his term in office, had denied wrongdoing.

South Korea to regulate e-cigarettes by classifying them as tobacco products

The revision to the Tobacco Business Act is set to take effect on April 24.

Handbags and hashtags: Japan’s Takaichi rides youth-led craze into election

Her personal approval ratings are almost double that of her party's – the Liberal Democratic Party.

New START renewal must have China at the table

There is much concern about a new nuclear arms race after the New START treaty between the United States and Russia expires on February 5. A two-prong approach to nuclear negotiations is highly advisable. One prong would work to extend New START, though how to do so is a matter

Handbags and hashtags: Japan's Takaichi rides youth-led craze into election

TOKYO, Feb 4 - The handbag she carries is sold out, her pink pen has gone viral and even her favourite snacks are in hot demand: Japan's 64-year-old leader Sanae Takaichi has sparked an unlikely youth-led craze that could propel her to a big election win.

Foreigners sit down at Thai funeral thinking it's a street food place. Family of deceased responds

A similar misunderstanding happened the next day when three other foreigners walked into the same venue.

Transnational wildlife smuggling ring foiled in Bangkok at Suvarnabhumi Airport

A Thai man was detained after live protected animals were discovered hidden inside his suitcases.

Vietnam willing to boost US purchases, trade minister says, as new round of tariff talks begins

HANOI, Feb 4 - Vietnam is willing to increase purchases of U.S. goods, especially machinery and high‑tech products, its trade minister said on Wednesday, as the Southeast Asian nation began a sixth round of tariff negotiations in Washington this week.

Johor police seize US$303,000 after nabbing Singaporean, another man in raids on drug-laced vapes

Local authorities have described the seizure of drugs and assets as the biggest recorded in Johor.

Wild elephant in Thailand dies en route to sanctuary

Initial assessments suggest the elephant may have suffocated after choking on food.

Nearly 2,000 students in Indonesia got food poisoning from free meal programme in January 2026

Nearly 100 students required hospitalisation, and two remained under treatment as at Feb 4.

In South Korea, questions about cram schools, success and happiness

Extracurricular education is omnipresent in South Korea.

Pakistan sends helicopters, drones to end desert town stand-off; 58 dead

The aim was to wrest control of a south-western town from separatist insurgents after a three-day battle.

Xi’s military purge is not really about corruption

Zhang Youxia, a top military general and vice-chairman of the body in overall command of China’s military forces, was removed from office on January 23. His departure means all but one of the seven members of the central military commission (CMC), which is chaired by Chinese

10,000-year-old porcupine fossil at Ipoh geological heritage site goes missing

The fossil was a rare find because it had the teeth and jawbones of the mammal.

Petronas signs 20-year LNG supply deal with QatarEnergy

‘Loneliness the hardest’: South Korean’s videos on caring for bedridden mum goes viral online

Mr Cho Bum-hee has been his mother's main caregiver since she suffered a brain haemorrhage in 2015.

Rights group condemns detention of Chinese journalists after corruption report

BEIJING, Feb 4 - Reporters Without Borders (RSF) late on Tuesday condemned the detention of two independent Chinese journalists, one a prominent investigative reporter, after they published a story alleging corruption by a local official in southwestern China.

What the US-India trade deal really means

Although United States-India cooperation remains a fundamentally positive-sum enterprise, advancing both economic and strategic interests, the manner of the new bilateral trade deal’s announcement was as striking as its substance. President Donald Trump framed the deal as a

Japan ex-PM Abe's killer appeals sentence

Tetsuya Yamagami was jailed for life for using a homemade gun to assassinate former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022.

Rights groups say China detained two journalists over corruption report

Liu Hu and Wu Yingjiao have been reportedly detained after exposing corruption by a senior official in Sichuan.

Riau braces itself for more forest fires as rainy season nears end

Fires have scorched 59.38ha of land across 10 of Riau’s 12 regencies and cities since the start of 2026.

Short Japan election raises social media campaigning stakes

Japan's Sanae Takaichi has demonstrated a level of social media savvy rare among Japanese premiers.

Japan’s green tea exports hit record high in 2025 amid growing demand

Growing health consciousness and a boom in Japanese food are fueling the popularity of matcha.