3 movie masterpieces buried on HBO Max right now: Misery, 65, and Blood Simple

If you're already seen Sinners and One Battle After Another, check out these hidden gems on HBO Max instead

Et Tu, South Africa?

Christina Sharpe and Rinaldo Walcott lambast the country's culture minister for canceling a show about Palestinian grief for the Venice Biennale.

Malaysia police launch manhunt for duo who allegedly shot man at Penang car wash

The victim was sent to Taiping Hospital and was pronounced dead during treatment.

'My nightmare': Iranians recount crackdown under internet blackout

One move in the wrong direction and Kiarash would have been dead, he said, as a shooter opened fire on him and other protesters in the Iranian capital during a wave of demonstrations met by a deadly crackdown. Blood stained the street after a person dressed in a full chador

Taiwan says Chinese drone made 'provocative' flight over South China Sea island

Taiwan's defence ministry said the Chinese reconnaissance drone was detected around dawn on Saturday approaching the Pratas Islands and flew in its airspace for eight minutes at an altitude outside the range of anti-aircraft weapons.

China’s condom tax no way to pump up low birth rates

Once the world’s most populous nation, China is now among the many Asian countries struggling with anemic fertility rates. In an attempt to double the country’s rate of 1.0 children per woman, Beijing is reaching for a new tool: taxes on condoms, birth control pills and other

U.S. lawmakers visit Denmark in bid to sooth tensions over Greenland threats

Leaders of the bipartisan delegation said most Americans don’t want to acquire Greenland, and that Russia and China don’t pose imminent security risks to the territory.

White House releases names of board members tasked with temporary governance of Gaza

The White House has released the names of some of members of various boards who will play a role in guiding Gaza through the next steps of the ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel, brokered by Trump in October.

New Tashkent: Building a sustainable city from scratch

From green corridors and solar power to cultural hubs and 15-minute mobility, New Tashkent is shaping a sustainable future for Uzbekistan’s rapidly growing capital.

The sorting

Until you look at the system. Kevin Wilson wrote a great short story about the workers who have to sort the tiles that go into a Scrabble box. The hero is responsible for searching through the pile for the letter ‘q’. All day. On commission. At this absurd level, it’s clear

Egypt's Sisi says he values offer by Trump to mediate Egypt-Ethiopia dispute on Nile River waters

CAIRO, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said he valued an offer by U.S. President Donald Trump to mediate a dispute over Nile River waters between Egypt and Ethiopia. In a post on X, Sisi said on Saturday that he addressed Trump's letter by affirming

Thousands prayed for a new Venezuela. One mother pleaded for her son’s release.

A visual tap story of the Divina Pastora procession in Venezuela, highlighting a mother’s who is waiting for her son, a political prisoner, to be released.

E.U., spurred by Trump, to sign mega free-trade deal with South America

The pact with Mercosur, a bloc including Brazil and Argentina, is aimed at showing the E.U. can help maintain open global markets despite U.S. protectionism.

Luciano Benavides wins Dakar bike title by two seconds

Argentina's Luciano Benavides won the Dakar Rally bike title by a mere two seconds in Saudi Arabia on Saturday. Second in the 13th and closing stage was enough for the 30-year-old KTM rider to deny Honda's American two-time champion Ricky Brabec and secure his debut Dakar

Travel industry insiders name Laos among top destinations to watch in 2026

Laos is known for its mountainous landscapes and ancient Buddhist monasteries, among other things.

Costco launches tasty new treat at bakery locations nationwide: ‘Can’t wait to try these!

The new cookie launch comes as Costco Wholesale recently unveiled a string of record-breaking sales during the holiday season.

Poor nutrition during pregnancy causing ‘brain stunting’ in Filipino children: Health Secretary

A 2023 national survey showed that 23.6 per cent of children under five are stunted.

US paralysis on Iran crisis owes to Navy capacity gaps

The ongoing Iranian protests and the Islamic Republic’s brutal repression have led to widespread massacres nationwide, with far-reaching regional and geopolitical implications. Amid the crackdown, both the US and Israeli governments have prepared numerous contingencies should

An endocrinologist tried a new weight loss approach and it worked

A simple change in how primary care clinics approach weight management is delivering big public health wins. PATHWEIGH lets patients openly request help and gives doctors the tools to focus entire visits on weight care. In a massive real-world trial, the program halted

Aloka, the stray dog in India who walked 100 days for peace

According to monks who walked beside the dog, it showed no signs of fears or restlessness.

Smog alert: Nearly 1,200 brick kilns in Nepal start firing

Brick kilns in the country are required to begin operations by Jan 15.

Police deny claims Uganda opposition leader abducted by helicopter

President Yoweri Museveni has a commanding lead with most votes counted as his main rival Bobi Wine decries "fake results".

Hanoi uses AI cameras to spot offenders, including illegal street vendors and litterbugs

In the first two days of enforcement, police processed 48 cases, with total fines exceeding $2,840.

Taiwan says Chinese drone made ‘provocative’ flight over South China Sea island

It flew in Taiwan's airspace at an altitude outside the range of anti-aircraft weapons.

Javan hawk-eagle under pressure as forests in Indonesia disappear

The bird is listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.

Trump taps Tony Blair, US military head for Gaza

US President Donald Trump on Friday gave a key role in post-war Gaza to former British prime minister Tony Blair and appointed a US officer to lead a nascent security force. Trump named members of a board to help supervise Gaza that was dominated by Americans, as he promotes a

Syrian president declares Kurdish a national language

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a decree on Friday declaring Kurdish a "national language", in an apparent gesture of good will towards the minority following clashes in recent days. The decree is the first formal recognition of Kurdish national rights since Syria's

French publisher recalls dictionary over 'Jewish settler' reference

French publisher Hachette on Friday said it had recalled a dictionary that described the Israeli victims of the October 7, 2023 attacks as "Jewish settlers" and promised to review all its textbooks and educational materials. The Larousse dictionary for 11- to 15-year-old

'Nothing's changed' in Gaza as US peace deal enters second phase

From his tent in Gaza City, Mahmoud Abdel Aal said residents were frustrated and worried because nothing had changed in the Palestinian territory since the start of the US-brokered ceasefire's second phase. In a post-apocalyptic landscape of bombed-out buildings and makeshift

The one measure that can tell us a lot about the state of the UK economy

Consumer confidence levels are rebounding for some in the UK, but older generations look to be immune, writes Faisal Islam.

Australian coroner refers Filipino worker’s death to police after employer’s ‘deplorable’ conduct

Jerwin Royupa, 21, voluntarily exited a moving vehicle in March 2019 after his employer threatened him.

Foreign maids under South Korea’s pilot project overworked, underpaid: Poll

Respondents said they received an average of 1.92 million won (S$1,673) in monthly wages.

JB police seeking public’s help on child dangerously crossing busy road

The incident is believed to have occurred at Jalan Tun Razak Susur 5 towards Jalan Datin Halimah at 6.18am on Jan 14.

Japanese mayor apologises after calling staff 'human scum'

Yokohama mayor Takeharu Yamanaka admits using the terms "idiot" and "human scum" to disparage staff.

Another horse getaway: Pony captured after making short-lived escape from shrine near Tokyo

The pony was on the loose for about 10 minutes until it was corralled on the road nearby.

Japan’s ‘rabbit island’ considers introducing tourist tax following increased littering

According to the city’s industrial promotion division, about 195,000 people visited the island in 2024.

Private rooms to be back on Tokyo-Hakata shinkansen bullet trains from October

The operator also plans to add semi-private rooms to the service in the business year ending March 2028.

Cafe offers free breakfasts for vulnerable people

Hummingbird Cafe wants to support people who may not be able to afford a hot meal.

Why Thailand's deadly construction accidents are sparking outrage and scrutiny

Public outrage has centered on Italian-Thai Development, the contractor responsible for both sites where the past week's accidents occurred.

Trump says he may punish countries opposed to US control of Greenland with tariffs

US President Donald Trump says he may implement tariffs on countries opposing Washington’s controlling of Greenland as he remains stern in his stance to take over the Arctic island by “any means necessary”.

Where to go in Europe in 2026, according to 10 major travel publications

While every list is different, we’ve rounded up the places that have been mentioned again and again.

Not just a young man’s game: Male sexual desire soars until middle age, research reveals

A new study contradicts long-held beliefs that male sexual desire declines in their twenties, highlighting the influence of individual variants over pure biology statistics.

Guterres warns of ‘powerful forces’ undermining ‘global cooperation’

In historic speech to mark UN’s 80th anniversary, secretary general makes impassioned plea for multilateralism and international law amid drastic US funding cuts The United Nations secretary general, António Guterres, will warn on Saturday of the peril posed by “powerful forces

South Korea says US chip tariff to have limited immediate impact

On Jan 14, US President Donald Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on imports of some AI chips.

Watch: Armed group robs Pokémon store in New York City

Multiple hooded and masked people ransacked Pokémon merchandise and smashed glass card displays at the Manhattan shop.

Berkshire Hathaway Is Still Not Undervalued, But Relative Valuation Has Improved

Thai ruling party vows to resolve Cambodia row as election nears

It also wants to clean up its image as a transit hub for trafficked scam victims.

NASA rolls out Artemis II rocket for historic Moon mission

This will be the first crewed mission to travel around the Moon since the Apollo era, with astronauts flying past the far side of the Moon to test life support and navigation systems.