Fall of top Chinese general Zhang stirs US uncertainty about China’s military

For Washington, Zhang's surprising demise removes a respected and well-known figure within China's military.

India wants a seat at the global chip table - what’s standing in its way?

India wants to reduce its dependence on foreign chips as geopolitics reshape supply chains. In the first of a two-part series on India’s AI push, CNA examines the execution gaps behind years of failed fabs.

Commentary: India-EU’s ‘mother of all deals’ is much more than just a trade pact

The sprawling trade deal sends a positive message in support of rules-based global trade at a time when that appears to be increasingly under strain, says Amitendu Palit from the National University of Singapore.

India says it has contained a Nipah outbreak after two healthcare workers infected

A total of 196 contacts linked to the two confirmed cases were traced; they tested negative for the disease.

EU set to add Iran's Guards to terror list after France U-turn

PARIS, Jan 28 - The European Union is poised to include Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on its list of terrorist organisations after France said on Wednesday it would now support the move.

In U-turn, France backs move to put Iran's Guards on EU terrorism list

PARIS, Jan 28 - France will now support the inclusion of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the European list of terrorist organisations, a move that Paris has always been hesitant to back for fear that it could cut ties with Iran.

‘Dry and strong winds may reignite peat fire’: After almost a week, firefighting continues in haze-hit Johor

The fire has also caused light haze in parts of Singapore.

India could order more home-grown reactors amid nuclear push

A new law passed in December opened up India's nuclear sector to private companies.

Small island states rate China as top development partner as West cuts aid

LONDON, Jan 28 - A survey of small island developing nations such as Mauritius and the Maldives showed China rated as the top bilateral development assistance partner amid U.S. aid cuts and Washington's pivot away from climate change, a report by ODI Global found.

‘Hope peace will prevail’: Singapore urges dialogue on Thailand-Cambodia border tensions

Vivian Balakrishnan posted on Facebook his two meetings on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in central Philippines.

Malaysia to ban the purchase of RON95 petrol for foreign-registered vehicles from April 1

Currently, only petrol station operators are penalised for selling the petrol for such vehicles.

Who will lead Malaysia’s opposition bloc? Impasse continues as PAS and Bersatu can’t seem to agree

Analysts say the continued uncertainty over the coalition’s leadership does not reflect well on the bloc.

Nepal says election preparations on track for Mar 5

Jamaat-e-Islami sets theocratic trap for Bangladesh democracy

Political movements do not become dangerous when they speak the language of faith; they become dangerous when they claim a monopoly over virtue. This observation, adapted from British philosopher Isaiah Berlin, has rarely been more relevant than in today’s Bangladesh. Following

Explainer-What to know about Nipah virus after cases emerge in India

LONDON, Jan 28 - Two cases of the deadly Nipah virus in India have prompted authorities in Thailand and Malaysia to step up airport screening to prevent the spread of the infection. But what is Nipah virus, and how worried should people be?

Ukraine summons Hungary ambassador over election meddling allegations

KYIV, Jan 28 - Ukraine's foreign ministry said it summoned Hungary's ambassador to Kyiv on Thursday to protest over Budapest's allegations of Ukrainian meddling in the upcoming Hungarian parliamentary election.

Russian-Uzbek billionaire Usmanov wins lawsuit against German newspaper, documents show

MOSCOW, Jan 28 - Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov has won a legal complaint against German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung over an article it published about him, court documents obtained by Reuters show.

Thanks, but no thanks? Parsing China’s response to Trump’s Board of Peace invitation

Beijing said the country is committed to safeguarding an international system with the UN at its core.

Japan’s top university apologises over bribery scandal

The bribes happened from February 2023 to September 2024.

Pope Leo calls for end to antisemitism worldwide

VATICAN CITY, Jan 28 - Pope Leo called on Wednesday for an end to antisemitism worldwide, marking the annual commemoration of the Holocaust with a prayer for a world without prejudice or racism.

Budget slashed for Indonesia’s rescue agency despite disaster surge

Ministries and agencies were ordered to cut budgets to make room for areas prioritised by the President.

Budget slashed for Indonesia's rescue agency despite disaster surge

JAKARTA, Jan 28 - Indonesia's main rescue agency had its funding cut by a parliamentary panel on Wednesday as part of a plan to divert government expenditure to other programmes, despite concerns over the number of disasters the agency has to deal with.

Reading the tea leaves on Xi’s latest military purge

Last weekend, China’s Ministry of National Defense announced that the country’s two most senior generals – Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli – would be removed from office and placed under investigation for serious disciplinary violations. Zhang had been the People’s Liberation

Trump says 'we'll work something out with South Korea' after tariff threat

WASHINGTON/SEOUL, Jan 28 - President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the United States and South Korea would work out a solution, in response to a query about his surprise threat a day earlier to step up tariffs to 25% on imports from the Asian ally.

Hong Kong scientists launch AI model to better predict extreme weather

The system may predict thunderstorms and heavy downpours up to four hours ahead.

Chinese-language crime networks now drive 20% of crypto laundering

The illicit on-chain money laundering ecosystem has grown dramatically in recent years, increasing from US$10 billion in 2020 to over $82 billion in 2025. [1] This substantial topline growth reflects the growing accessibility and liquidity of cryptocurrencies, as well as a

Shoppers clash over furniture at Ikea amid China store closures

Ikea will close seven stores in China from Feb 2 as it moves from broad expansion to more focused growth and online sales.

Debased dollar and soaring gold hand China a rare opening

TOKYO — As if US Treasury Security Scott Bessent didn’t have enough stuff with which to deal, gold is literally exploding higher on his watch. In any discussion of the global “debasement trade” gaining momentum in real time, the dollar is written between the lines in bold font.

Malaysians lampoon minister over stress-gay link: ‘They never work hard in parliament?’

Malaysian Religious Affairs Minister Zulkifli Hasan has come under fire for claiming in parliament that work stress turns people gay.

Malaysia football officials quit over foreign-born players scandal

Fifa had accused Malaysia's football association of doctoring citizenship documents.

Turkey urges US to resolve Iran disputes one by one, says Iran ready for nuclear talks

ANKARA, Jan 28 - Turkey's foreign minister on Wednesday urged the U.S. to resolve its disputes with Iran \"one by one\" instead of through a sweeping deal, saying this would avoid humiliating Iranian officials, and added that Tehran was ready for talks on its nuclear programme.

Thailand uses contraceptive vaccine to control wild elephant population

Wildlife authorities and a veterinary team administered the shots to three female elephants.

Australia committed to retaking ownership of Darwin port, Albanese says

SYDNEY, Jan 28 - Australia was committed to returning a key northern port leased for 99 years to a Chinese company to Australian ownership, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday after Beijing's envoy to Canberra warned of trade reprisals.

Britain's Starmer arrives in China as Western alliances face strain

Davos highlights execution behind India’s electronics Second Wave

At Davos this year, India projected confidence. Semiconductors, manufacturing expansion, supply-chain resilience and artificial intelligence featured prominently in conversations and policy statements. The message was clear: India intends to be a serious player in the next

Japan-born pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei arrive in China as bilateral ties freeze

Japan-born Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei have "made a positive contribution to promoting friendship between the peoples of the two countries", said China's panda research base.

India confirms two Nipah virus cases in West Bengal, but situation contained

Fruit bats have been identified as the most likely cause of subsequent outbreaks.

Record-breaking Australia heatwave fuels bush fires, cuts power to thousands

A record-breaking heatwave baked Australia's south-east for a fifth straight day.

A year into Trump presidency, 'pivot to China' gathers pace

BEIJING/HONG KONG, Jan 28 - When U.S. President Donald Trump took office a year ago with an \"America First\" agenda, many saw trouble for China's sluggish economy, but Beijing has thawed frosty relationships with other trade partners to post a record trade surplus.

South Korea court sentences former first lady to jail term for bribery

SEOUL, Jan 28 - A South Korean court sentenced former first lady Kim Keon Hee on Wednesday to one year and eight months in jail after finding her guilty of accepting Chanel bags and a diamond pendant from Unification Church officials in return for political favours.

One in three parental leave users in South Korea is now a dad

Use of reduced working hour programmes rose as well, with 39,407 employees benefiting from shorter hours.

Record-breaking Australia heatwave fuels bushfires, cuts power to thousands

SYDNEY, Jan 28 - A record-breaking heatwave baked Australia's southeast for a fifth straight day on Wednesday, fanning bushfires and straining the power grid, leaving thousands of properties without electricity.

Democrats now half-right, half-blind on Israel and Gaza

The recent Rhodes-Shapiro clash has hit the Democratic inbox like a delayed grenade. In a December 1 New York Times piece, Ben Rhodes, a former deputy national security adviser, criticized the party for moral cowardice for hugging Benjamin Netanyahu so close after October 7

Ex-PM Muhyiddin says Malaysia’s opposition pact PN to abolish chairman post, introduce new ‘councils’

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) will head the presidential council while coalition partner Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) is set to lead the bloc’s executive council.

What’s on the agenda at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat in Cebu?

On their plate are unresolved challenges including the Myanmar crisis, alongside new uncertainties reshaping the global order.

6.0-magnitude earthquake strikes Mindanao, Philippines, GFZ says

The quake was at a depth of 10 km, said the German Research Centre for Geosciences.

EU, Vietnam to agree to boost work on minerals, chips and ‘trusted’ 5G, says draft document

The document includes indirect criticism of the strategies of the US, China and Russia.

Britain’s Starmer arrives in China, encourages firms to seize opportunities

He will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang on Jan 29.

Britain's Starmer heads to China as Western alliances face strain

EN ROUTE TO BEIJING, Jan 28 - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will arrive in Beijing on Wednesday evening for a visit aimed at strengthening political and business ties with China as relations between Western countries and the U.S. become more volatile.