Philippines' Duterte fit to stand trial, ICC judges say

The 80-year-old is accused of crimes of humanity over his bloody war on drugs that left thousands killed.

India, EU finalise landmark trade deal, PM Modi says

NEW DELHI, Jan 27 - India and the European Union have finalised a long pending landmark trade deal, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday, as the two sides seek to hedge against fickle ties with the U.S.

Voters air adulation, anger at PM Takaichi as Japan election officially starts

Ms Sanae Takaichi called the snap election amid high poll ratings for her months-old government.

New centrist opposition a wild card in Japan PM’s election gambit

Its success hinges on whether it can counter criticism that it is a marriage of convenience for polls.

Xi says China, Finland should uphold international system, advance multipolar order

BEIJING, Jan 27 - China's President Xi Jinping told Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo on Tuesday that Beijing was ready to work with Helsinki to uphold a U.N.-centred international system and advance a multipolar world based on economic globalisation, according to state

India and EU set to announce landmark trade deal

The long-awaited deal comes as both Delhi and Brussels contend with economic and geopolitical pressure from the US.

Hong Kong constitutional and mainland affairs minister Erick Tsang resigns, reveals he has cancer

Beijing made the announcement on Tuesday (Jan 27), ending days of speculation about the departure of the 62-year-old from the cabinet.

23 soldiers died in Indonesia’s West Java landslides, official says

The 23 Marines were caught in the landslide during training exercises on Jan 24

Israel to seek new security deal with the US, FT reports

Jan 27 - Israel is preparing for talks with the Trump administration on a new 10-year security deal, seeking to extend U.S. military support even as Israeli leaders signal they are planning for a future with reduced American cash grants, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday.

Leader of sex worker scouting syndicate arrested in Japan after a year-long manhunt

Police allege he illegally paid a yakuza gang member for access to operate in an area of Tokyo.

US links security guarantees for Ukraine to peace deal ceding Donbas, FT reports

Jan 27 - The Trump administration has signalled to Ukraine that U.S. security guarantees depend on Kyiv agreeing to a peace deal likely requiring it to cede the Donbas region to Russia, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday, citing eight people familiar with the talks.

Twenty-three soldiers died in Indonesia's West Java landslides, official says

JAKARTA, Jan 27 - Twenty-three soldiers trapped by landslides in Indonesia's West Java have been confirmed dead, a navy spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Davos made clear Trump offers scant hope for Ukraine

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said a security agreement with the United States has been finalized following his most recent meeting with Donald Trump. Taken at face value, Zelensky’s repeated assertions that the document is ready to sign look like a major win for

India, EU agree upon ‘mother of all deals’ FTA, deepening ties in the age of Trump

The trade pact is expected to open up new opportunities in areas like automobiles.

Japan's beloved last pandas leave for China as ties fray

The distinctive black-and-white animals, loaned out as part of China's "panda diplomacy", have symbolised friendship between Beijing and Tokyo since they normalised diplomatic ties in 1972.

Man charged with throwing ‘explosive device’ into Australia Day rally

The man was charged with an attempt to cause harm and with making or possessing explosives.

Who really holds all the cards: Trump or the bond market?

When a Danish pension fund recently announced it would sell its US$100 million holding of US government bonds, the move was tiny in financial terms – just a drop in a $30 trillion ocean. But it touched on a much bigger issue. Foreign investors now hold around one-third of all

Mahathir enjoys quick coffee outing in KL in first public appearance since hip fracture

The former Malaysian premier fractured his hip on Jan 6 in his home.

India’s strategic autonomy has become a liability

India’s long-cherished doctrine of strategic autonomy, once a badge of post-colonial independence, is steadily mutating from a source of flexibility into a condition of strategic drift. What was designed to preserve room for maneuver is now generating accumulating

Indonesian parliament appoints president's nephew as central bank board member

On Monday, a parliamentary commission overseeing finance had endorsed Thomas Djiwandono as the new deputy governor, eliminating two other career central bankers.

Indonesian parliament appoints president’s nephew as central bank board member

The decision was unanimously agreed during the House’s plenary session on Jan 27.

Explainer: Why has Trump threatened to raise US tariffs on South Korea again?

Seoul pledged billions of investments into US industries in return for a 15 per cent cap on tariffs.

Explainer-Why has President Trump threatened to raise US tariffs on South Korea again?

SEOUL, Jan 27 - U.S. President Donald Trump said he was hiking tariffs on autos and other goods imported from South Korea to 25%, citing Seoul's failure to legislate a trade deal agreed last year that capped U.S. levies on the items at 15%.

Chinese tourists flock to South Korea over Japan for Lunar Holiday amid visa ease

China-Japan diplomatic friction and Seoul’s easing of visas for Chinese tour groups among factors.

Malaysia’s health ministry assessing situation after reports of Nipah virus infections in India

The ministry is actively verifying the reports through official channels.

Philippines grounds ferry operator’s fleet after deadly sinking

The ferry’s caption, eight crew members and a safety marshal remain are among those still missing.

Snow leopard lunges at tourist in Xinjiang ski area after she gets close for a photo

The incident occurred after the woman was said to have ignored repeated warnings from fellow tourists.

Severe haze blankets Bangkok as PM2.5 reaches orange-level health risk

Orange PM2.5 levels mean air quality is starting to affect health.

Philippines grounds ferry operator's fleet after deadly sinking

Zumwalt’s hypersonic reboot adds punch but not parity with China

The US Navy’s troubled Zumwalt-class destroyer is being recast as a long-range hypersonic strike asset as the US adapts its naval strategy to intensifying competition with China. This month, multiple media outlets reported that the US Navy’s stealth destroyer USS Zumwalt

China makes strides in extreme weather forecasts to help citizens stay safe

This additional time is crucial for people to take necessary safety measures, the authorities said.

S. Korean teacher died ‘in line of duty’ after parent dispute, review committee decides

A team concluded that the school’s complaint response system failed to function properly.

New Zealand government plans inquiry into landslide tragedy

The local council has come under pressure for leaving campers exposed to the risk.

China’s global leadership would be different

China is described as seeking to project global leadership and to fill a leadership vacuum left by the US under Donald Trump. This view, however, originates largely from Western sources. Chinese official discourse has remained markedly cautious on global leadership. Rather than

Philippines, U.S. hold joint sail in disputed South China Sea shoal

MANILA, Jan 27 - The Philippine and U.S. militaries sailed together at a disputed South China Sea shoal this week, Manila's armed forces said on Tuesday, performing joint exercises to boost interoperability between the two treaty allies.

Philippine, US hold joint military drill at disputed South China Sea shoal

The Philippines has pivoted closer to Washington under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Tributes pour in for Mark Tully, BBC's 'voice of India' who died at 90

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the tributes to Tully, saying "his connect with India and the people of our nation was reflected in his works".

Japan-US alliance would crumble if Tokyo ignored Taiwan crisis, says PM Sanae Takaichi

Ties between Japan and China have sunk to the worst level in years after her comments in November.

Japan-US alliance would crumble if Tokyo ignored Taiwan crisis, PM Takaichi says

TOKYO, Jan 27 - Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Japan's strategic alliance with the U.S. would collapse if Tokyo were to turn away from a conflict in Taiwan, but distanced herself from previous comments that suggested a possible military response in such an event.

Hong Kong constitutional minister Erick Tsang resigns for health reasons

He said he is being treated for prostate cancer.

Fearing China clash, Japan asks fishermen to avoid flashpoint islands

The requests signal an abrupt shift after years in which Tokyo tacitly accepted such trips.

First accessible pub in China fosters community of people with disabilities and the able-bodied

'We support their needs, but we do not make it something special,' owner Xia Yujie said.

FIFA ban on Malaysia’s seven naturalised footballers put on hold pending final appeal

More than 40,000ha of mangrove forests lost in Malaysia since 2017, says ministry

This was caused by natural and human factors, said the Natural Resources and Environment Sustainability Ministry.

Seoul’s first street-level tram in 58 years to hit the rails in February

Seoul plans to introduce 10 tram sets in stages through May.

Craftsmen in Sarawak determined to preserve the art of making lion heads

Customers from Malaysia and as far away as China, US come to buy Sarawakian Ronny Chin's lion heads.

Japan court orders compensation for migrants lured to North Korea

The plaintiffs said North Korea was marketed to them as "paradise on Earth".