‘Good-looking’ babies smuggled via Jakarta into Singapore, where adoptive parents paid over $20k

The syndicate paid mothers up to $1,700, but charged adoptive parents over $20,000.

Japan PM Takaichi to mull suspension of food sales tax, Mainichi reports

She is expected to call for an election soon.

Kishi-Moon tie still afflicts Japan as Abe assassin faces verdict

“Coming events cast their shadows before.” This remark is attributed to the Roman statesman and philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero. Essentially it says that historical events, while occurring with no advance notice, are actually foreshadowed by auguries. With the passing of

China curbs high-frequency trading to de-risk markets

Chinese stock markets have come under renewed pressure in recent days as Beijing intensifies its clampdown on high-frequency trading, a move that has rattled sentiment but reflects a deeper regulatory shift toward control and stability. The Shanghai Composite Index fell about

Syria's Sharaa grants Kurdish Syrians citizenship, language rights for first time, SANA says

Jan 16 - Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a decree affirming the rights of the Kurdish Syrians, formally recognising their language and restoring citizenship to all Kurdish Syrians, state news agency SANA reported on Friday.

Fewer scallops but more pinot noir: Hokkaido is changing in a warmer world

Japan’s outdoor playground is switching to new foods and ramping up green energy and industries.

Where Trump thinks his semi-warpath leads

An aggressive President Donald Trump is moving to cripple and remove adversarial governments in Venezuela and Iran, a campaign that is also aimed at damaging efforts by China and Russia to build and maintain anti-Western alliances globally. In a meticulously planned military

The hollow resurrection of US international broadcasting

Deserving of scrutiny is the boasting this week by the self-proclaimed acting chief executive officer of the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), Kari Lake, that audiences in Iran and Venezuela are being effectively served amid the current geo-political crises. Lake and DOGE,

Myanmar begins defence in landmark genocide case at UN court

Myanmar says The Gambia has failed to provide enough evidence of genocide against the Muslim-minority people.

Carney moves to ease Canada-China trade frictions under US shadow

Canada will allow imports of up to 49,000 Chinese EVs, while China may lift steep tariffs on Canadian produce.

Malaysian actress Nadia Kesuma reported missing after arriving in Jeddah

She was missing from the group of pilgrims gathered to board a flight to London.

Trade deal with US unlikely to weaken Taiwan’s ‘silicon shield’

US officials have framed the deal as part of a broader push to rebuild domestic chip manufacturing capacity.

Alibaba: the AI kingmaker

A doctor anywhere likely loves using AI as a second opinion on her lawyers’ legal advice, to prepare for a meeting or to fact-check his claims. However, she perhaps still has only scorn, when she is wearing the other shoe. She has a list of reasons why AI should not be trusted

Myanmar tells ICJ Rohingya genocide claims 'unsubstantiated'

Myanmar tells World Court Gambia has not proven Rohingya genocide case

THE HAGUE, Jan 16 - Myanmar told the United Nations' top court on Friday that Gambia had not proven its accusation that the Myanmar government had committed genocide against the minority Muslim Rohingya, part of a hearing on the landmark case.

Iran protests abate after deadly crackdown, residents and rights group say

Dubai, Jan 16 - Iran's deadly crackdown appears to have broadly quelled protests for now, according to a rights group and residents, as state media reported more arrests on Friday in the shadow of U.S. threats to intervene if killing continues.

S. Korea’s ‘Thor’ Speaker pushing for constitutional reforms to avoid another martial law debacle

Mr Woo Won-shik will be in Singapore at the invitation of Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng.

China and Canada announce tariffs relief after a high-stakes meeting between Carney and Xi

Canola oil and electric cars are at the centre of the deal agreed by Mark Carney and Xi Jinping after years of strained ties.

Myanmar tells ICJ Rohingya genocide claims are ‘unsubstantiated’

Gambia said that Myanmar’s actions against the Rohingya breached the 1948 UN Genocide Convention.

Trump’s Venezuela strike: The good, bad and the ugly

We dissect the abduction of a sitting president and predict what might come next.

She asked the internet for help with slaughtering two pigs. Thousands turned up in support

Responding to a social media post, thousands turned up at a village home in Chongqing to help an elderly man tasked with slaughtering the family pigs for Chinese New Year.

As Tamil film star Vijay’s legal troubles mount, some see a political conspiracy at play

The ruling BJP is said to be pressuring the actor to join a political alliance for the Tamil Nadu polls.

Thailand orders construction halt for firm Italian-Thai after fatal accidents

It is to allow expert teams to conduct detailed inspections to ensure safety standards were being met.

Trump’s Azerbaijan-Armenia peace pact paying trade-link gains

As discussions progress between Armenia and the United States on the technical design and cooperative implementation of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), Iran has said that it views the project as the functional successor to the earlier “Zangezur

Indonesia sues firms over environmental harm in flood zone

The $366 million sum represents both fines for damage and the proposed monetary value of recovery efforts.

Explainer: What to know about trials faced by South Korea’s former president Yoon

A South Korean court on Jan 16 sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison.

Politics in place of policy

Subscribe now with a one-month trial for only $1, then enjoy the first year at an exclusive rate of just $99. Germany’s authoritarian drift: political control replaces economic strategy Diego Faßnacht argues Germany’s governing coalition is compensating for economic stagnation

South Korea to streamline procedures for entry of North Korean food products

The move is aimed at avoiding last-minute delays or conflicting assessments.

Malaysia freezes army and police procurement decisions linked to corruption, PM Anwar says

The suspension comes following allegations of bribery linked to army procurement projects, with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission raiding several firms suspected of involvement in a bribery scheme and freezing bank accounts belonging to a suspect and their family members.

Greek court acquits aid workers of migrant-smuggling charges

LESBOS, Greece, Jan 16 - Over two dozen aid workers involved in refugee rescues in Greece were acquitted of migrant smuggling charges in a multi-year case that rights groups said was a baseless attempt to ban aid for refugees heading to Europe.

UMNO president issues plea to king for Najib pardon; says party seeks to bring ‘home’ defectors, rivals

Giving an analogy, the deputy prime minister said that past attempts to create a “big umbrella” for Malays without the party had failed because it was not “attached to its original home”.

Why Cambodia deported scam boss Chen Zhi to China, not the US

On January 7, Cambodian authorities announced they had detained and deported Chen Zhi, founder and former chairman of Prince Group, a multinational conglomerate accused of fronting a global multibillion-dollar fraud operation. Chen, a former advisor to ex-Prime Minister Hun

Fraudsters flee Cambodia's 'scam city' after accused boss Chen Zhi taken down

Similar scenes played out at alleged scam compounds across Cambodia this week as the government said it was cracking down on the multibillion-dollar industry.

Malaysia freezes army and police procurement decisions linked to corruption, PM says

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 - The procurement decisions of the Malaysian armed forces and the police linked to a corruption probed will be temporarily frozen until they fully comply with related rules, state media reported, citing Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

KL university air-con explosion: One victim still in coma with fractured skull, bleeding in brain

One man died and nine others were injured by the air conditioning gas explosion at HELP University.

Top Australia arts festival apologises for barring Palestinian writer

SYDNEY, Jan 16 - A major Australian arts festival has apologised to a Palestinian Australian writer after disinviting her over her remarks about Israel, sparking a controversy that forced the cancellation of this year's Adelaide Writers' Week.

Investigation after Air India jet engine sucks in cargo container at Delhi airport

No-one was hurt, but the aircraft's engine was damaged and it has been grounded for repairs.

Australia warns of floods, fires after cars washed away

A local record of 186mm fell in the 24 hours to the morning of Jan 16 in one spot.

South Korea's impeached leader Yoon sentenced to 5 years' jail in first martial law verdict

This comes days after prosecutors in a separate case demanded Yoon be sentenced to death for his role as the "ringleader of an insurrection".

Fraudsters flee Cambodia’s ‘scam city’ after extradition of accused boss Chen Zhi to China

The Cambodian government said it was cracking down on the multibillion-dollar industry.

Afghan mothers seek hospital help for malnourished children

There are relatively few medical centres in Afghanistan that can help treat malnutrition.

S Korea's ex-president Yoon to be jailed for five years over martial law bid

This is the first of the verdicts in the four trials linked to Yoon's shock decree in 2024.

South Korea’s ex-president Yoon given 5-year jail term in first ruling over martial law

One of Yoon’s lawyers said the former president would appeal against the ruling.

South Korea court sentences ex-President Yoon to 5 years in prison for obstruction

SEOUL, Jan 16 - A South Korean court on Friday sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison for charges including obstructing attempts to arrest him following his failed bid to impose martial law.

HSBC to review Singapore insurance business as it slims down globally

Pakistan aiming for a big bang military export boom

Pakistan’s emerging US$13 billion defense export pipeline marks a decisive break from its historical role as a marginal arms exporter. If even partially realized, the shift would reposition Pakistan as a credible midtier defense supplier. That, in turn, would have implications

China protests over Philippine coast guard’s Xi images

The Chinese embassy said it was a “blatant political provocation, which has crossed the red line”.