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

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

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 standoff; 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.

Malaysian eatery ordered to close after viral clip of worker ‘washing’ unsold food for re-use

A worker was seen "washing" some leftovers to be recooked the next day.

Australia’s PM walks a diplomatic tightrope in dispute over Chinese-controlled port

Analysts say neither Canberra nor Beijing wants to abruptly end their improving relations.

CK Hutchison unit launches arbitration against Panama over port ruling

Feb 4 - Hong Kong's CK Hutchison said on Wednesday its Panama Ports Company unit has started international arbitration proceedings against Panama after a court there annulled its licences to operate two Panama Canal ports.

Malaysia to enforce ‘second driver’ rule for long-distance express buses

Enforcement operations will also focus on drivers’ licences and compliance with driving hour limits over CNY.

How Japan’s first female leader won over disillusioned young voters

Some supporters have even coined a new term for their fandom: Sanakatsu.

Shooter of ex-Japan PM Abe appeals against life sentence

Tetsuya Yamagami was given the life term as sought by prosecutors.

Thailand’s ex-PM Abhisit returns to political fray in boost for his party

Despite the goodwill, Abhisit is unlikely to get enough support to become prime minister, surveys show.

Thailand's ex-PM Abhisit returns to political fray in boost for his party

BANGKOK, Feb 4 - Passersby stopped Thailand's former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva every now and again to ask for selfies as the salt-and-pepper-haired leader walked through a bustling market in Bangkok, campaigning for general elections on February 8.

Who are the contenders to be Thailand's next prime minister?

BANGKOK, Feb 4 - Thailand will hold a general election on February 8, in a three-way contest of major parties to decide the leader of the Southeast Asian nation over the next four years.

'Never imagined this': Indian village grapples with interfaith couple's killing

Police say they were beaten to death, allegedly by the woman's three brothers, who have been arrested.

Malaysian boy with autism wants someone to play chess with him

He dreams of playing against grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura from the US.

The Chinese planemaker taking on Boeing and Airbus

Comac's passenger jet is attracting customers in South East Asia where demand for affordable aircraft is growing.

UK, US agree Chagos air base is of strategic importance after Trump criticism of deal

Feb 3 - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Donald Trump recognised the \"strategic importance\" of the U.S.-UK air base in the Chagos Archipelago and will work closely to guarantee its operation, Downing Street said on Tuesday.

Thailand Election 2026: Can Anutin ride nationalism wave and lead Bhumjaithai to victory?

CNA visits the crucial electoral battleground of Thailand’s northeast region to gauge the mood ahead of Sunday’s (Feb 8) vote and speaks to PM Anutin Charnvirakul on the campaign trail.

Commentary: China’s US$1.2 trillion trade surplus is a sign of risk, not strength

China’s challenge is no longer about exporting more efficiently, but about changing its role in the global economy, says Enodo Economics’ Diana Choyleva.

Commentary: Modi got a nice US deal. But what did he give away?

The trade deal slashes US tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent, but further details on the agreement will be key, says Andy Mukherjee for Bloomberg Opinion.

Rebirth of the madman theory in foreign policy?

Tariffs are on, until they are not. Military force is an option … and then it’s off the table. Erratic behavior and unpredictability are having a moment in foreign policy circles. In the White House and elsewhere, such behavior is seemingly being viewed as a strategic asset

Beijing’s hands may be tied as US scores win in Panama Canal ports ruling

Analysts say China's options to wrest back CK Hutchison’s control of the Panamian ports are limited.

The strategic awakening of middle powers

This article, originally published by Pacific Forum, is republished with permission. “The powerful have their power. But we have something, too – the capacity to stop pretending, to name realities, to build our strength at home and to act together.” With those words during a

Syrian security deploy in key Kurdish city under US-backed deal

QAMISHLI, Syria, Feb 3 - Syrian government security forces entered the Kurdish-controlled northeastern city of Qamishli on Tuesday, security sources and witnesses said, implementing a U.S.-backed deal to bring Kurdish-run regions back under central government control.

Iran demands changes in venue and scope of talks with US, source says

DUBAI/WASHINGTON, Feb 3 - Iran is demanding that talks with the U.S. this week be held in Oman not Turkey, and that the scope be narrowed to two-way talks on nuclear issues only, a regional source said on Tuesday, casting doubt on whether the meeting will go ahead as planned.

China warns Panama of ‘heavy prices’ to pay after CK Hutchison contract quashed

A Jan 29 court ruling annulled Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison’s contract to operate two Panama Canal ports.

China warns Panama of 'heavy prices' to pay after CK Hutchison contract quashed

BEIJING, Feb 3 - China warned Panama on Tuesday there would be \"heavy prices\" to pay after a court ruling there annulled Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison's contract to operate two ports at the Panama Canal.

Pakistan plans Benghazi consulate, lending legitimacy to Libya's eastern authorities

KARACHI/BENGHAZI, Feb 3 - Pakistan is in talks to open a consulate in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, three sources with knowledge of the matter said, as the leader of the Libyan National Army met Pakistan's prime minister in Islamabad.

Iran, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and sovereignty’s price

In a landmark interview during the Cold War, Pakistan’s then-president and military chief General Muhammed Zia-ul-Haq defended his country’s refusal to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) with a succinct assertion: “Freedom has no price.” For Zia and for other

Organisers of food and sales expo in Kelantan fined over uncontrolled mingling of men and women

The audience were seen dancing and jumping during the festival’s closing concert on Jan 31.

Indian exporters welcome tariff reprieve, but deal with US stirs unease for others

Analysts predict that the deal would not substantially alter India’s strategic ties with Russia.