Prosperity plants grow in demand in Malaysia as Chinese New Year gets closer
Among the most popular prosperity plants is the Lucky Bamboo.
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Trump endorses Japan's Takaichi ahead of snap election
It is rare for US presidents to publicly back candidates in foreign elections.
Cancer cases rising among children and young people in Nepal
Doctors blame changing lifestyles, unhealthy diets and sedentary habits for the surge.
Soaring food bills pose risk to Japan PM Takaichi’s election prospects
It is a big issue for her ahead of the election on Feb 8 that will make or break her govt.
Kyoto’s famed Ginkakuji temple to raise admission fees for first time in 32 years
Money generated through the hike will be used to maintain the temple’s cultural properties and gardens.
Japan PM’s push for counter-espionage law splits parties in snap election
The LDP has pledged to “comprehensively strengthen” the country’s intelligence services.
We had sex in a Chinese hotel, then found we had been broadcast to thousands
A couple who stayed in Shenzhen discovered their intimate moments were filmed as spy-cam porn.
Explainer: How will Thailand’s election play out?
Thailand is holding a general election on Feb 8 in a three-way contest.
Thai PM Anutin’s gamble on nationalism to be tested in close election
Polls show the electoral contest remains a three-way tussle among Bhumjaithai, the People's Party and Pheu Thai.
Thai PM Anutin's gamble on nationalism to be tested in close election
BANGKOK, Feb 6 - When Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul dissolved parliament on Dec. 12, he did so hoping a surge of nationalism fuelled by last year's deadly border clashes with Cambodia would help him consolidate power in a general election.
A tumultuous two decades in Thailand’s politics
Thailand has seen five prime ministers brought down in the past two decades.
Who are the contenders to be Thailand’s next prime minister?
More than 90 eligible names have been submitted as potential candidates for prime minister.
New Zealand celebrates national day with call to support Maori and preserve unity
SYDNEY, Feb 6 - New Zealand must continue to evolve in a way that empowers its Indigenous Maori while preserving national unity, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said, as the country on Friday marked the anniversary of the signing of its founding document.
For Thailand's popular progressives, winning the vote is only the first hurdle
The country votes again this weekend after three years of political turmoil.
Takaichi: the Japanese prime minister America has been waiting for
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s ruling coalition is likely to win big in Japan’s lower house election on February 8. Hopefully, Washington recognizes what it has with Takaichi. Among major US allies, Japan is the only one that is taking its defense seriously and not cozying
China economic rebalancing to test Koreans before benefiting them
China is paradoxical. Two incredibly different narratives can be correct at the same time: its economy is slowing sharply, and its exporters are becoming an even bigger competitive force. But this contradiction is not really a contradiction. A development model that helped turn
Thailand Election 2026: A look at the 3 key parties contesting the polls
Thailand’s Feb 8 snap election is shaping up as a three-way contest, with voters weighing stability against reform and political legacy against change.
From 50% to 18%: US tariff cut brings relief - but challenges remain for India’s exporters
After almost a year of fear, policy uncertainty and lost orders, India’s exporters tell CNA the latest US tariff cut offers relief - but not clarity.
Commentary: Southeast Asia cannot afford to just lay low until the end of Trump’s presidency
Key US strategy documents indicate that Southeast Asia is not high on the list of priorities, but the region cannot disengage, says Kevin Chen from the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies.
Gongxi Gongxi so passe: How Malaysia became a powerhouse in producing CNY songs
Many made-in-Malaysia CNY tunes are jaunty, with lyrics in a mix of Mandarin, Chinese dialects, English and even Malay.
Global cricket tournament gets embroiled in South Asian hostilities
Pakistan has said it will boycott its match with India scheduled in Colombo on Feb 15.
How Japan can function as Taiwan deterrence logistics hub
Originally published by Pacific Forum, this article is republished with permission. In the early 1990s, President Lech Wałęsa envisioned Poland becoming a “second Japan” – an advanced economy with cutting-edge technology. Today, Polish observers note with irony that Japan may
US, China opt out of joint declaration on AI use in military
A CORUNA, Spain, Feb 5 - Around a third of countries attending a military AI summit agreed on Thursday to a a declaration on how to govern deployment of the technology in warfare, but military heavyweights China and the U.S. opted out.
Trump says retains right to 'militarily' secure Chagos airbase
Feb 5 - U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday said he retained the right to \"militarily secure\" a joint US-UK airbase in the Chagos Archipelago following \"productive\" discussions with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Trump endorses Japanese PM Takaichi ahead of Feb 8 election
Mr Trump added in his Truth Social post that they will meet on March 19 at the White House.
Trump endorses Japanese PM Takaichi ahead of Sunday election
Feb 5 - U.S President Donald Trump on Thursday said Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi had his \"total endorsement\" ahead of a legislative election in the east Asian country on Sunday, adding that they would meet March 19 at the White House.
Pakistan military says it concludes week-long fight against Baloch separatists
QUETTA, Feb 5 - Pakistan's military said on Thursday it had concluded a week-long operation against separatists in Balochistan who stormed more than a dozen locations, taking hostages, setting off explosives and waging gun battles with security forces.
Taiwan risks becoming numb to China drills, but threat is real: Defence minister
China has been sending warplanes and warships into the skies and waters around the island daily.
India seeks Singapore capital to fuel its ambitious private space sector
This is part of New Delhi’s plan to grow its space economy into a US$44b industry by 2033, from the current valuation of around US$8.4b.
Sixteen people killed in blast at illegal mine in northeastern India
Feb 5 - At least 16 people were killed and more were feared trapped after an explosion at an unauthorised coal mine in India's northeastern state of Meghalaya, an official said, the latest in a series of similar incidents in the region in recent years.
16 people killed in blast at illegal mine in north-eastern India
The blast was at a "rat-hole" mine, where tunnels are just big enough for workers to get through.
German ‘Mr Spray’ arrested in Bangkok over Koh Phangan graffiti spree
Residents and business owners documented red spray-painted messages at more than 40 locations.
20 million illicit cigarettes seized in Hat Yai raid
The operation targeted the illegal sale of cigarettes in central Hat Yai.
Birthday balloon explosion in India leaves 2 with burn injuries
CCTV footage of the incident shows the small lift engulfed in flames for a split second.
6 students among 33 people who test positive for tuberculosis in Johor’s Kota Tinggi outbreak
Malaysia's health ministry detected the TB cluster in the area on Jan 25.
Positive outlook aside, Xi-Trump call points to Taiwan, critical minerals as thorny issues
The two issues have previously emerged as key choke points in China-US relations.
India’s R&D crisis isn’t a money problem
The Union Budget 2026-27 has allocated 200 billion rupees (US$2.2 billion) to the Research, Development and Innovation fund, signaling a possible renewed commitment to scientific development. However, only 30 billion rupees ($331 million) of the previous budget’s allocation has
Azerbaijan hands long prison terms to former Karabakh officials
BAKU, Feb 5 - An Azerbaijani military court issued long prison sentences on Thursday to 13 former officials of Nagorno-Karabakh, where ethnic Armenians maintained an unrecognised breakaway statelet for three decades until Baku restored military control in 2023.
Russia expels German diplomat in tit-for-tat move
MOSCOW, Feb 5 - Russia's foreign ministry said on Thursday that it had expelled a German diplomat in response to what it said was Berlin's unfounded expulsion of a Russian diplomat accused of espionage in January.
Ukraine, Russia end second day of peace talks, agree prisoner swap
KYIV, Feb 5 - Ukraine and Russia concluded a second day of U.S.-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi on Thursday to end Europe's most destructive conflict since World War Two, agreeing to a major prisoner swap, the first such exchange in five months, officials said.
Starlink used by Russian forces deactivated on battlefield, Ukraine says
KYIV, Feb 5 - Starlink internet terminals used by the Russian military on the battlefield in Ukraine have been deactivated, Ukraine said on Thursday, in what one official described as a \"disaster\" for Moscow that had disrupted its assault operations in many areas.
Russian captain jailed over crew member's death in U.S. tanker crash
LONDON, Feb 5 - The captain of a container ship that crashed into a U.S. tanker off Britain's east coast last year was jailed for six years on Thursday for causing the death of a crew member through gross negligence.
Hong Kong students dissolve pro-democracy group under ‘severe’ pressure
Student unions at Hong Kong universities were once hotbeds of political activism in 2019.
Pentagon asked to probe SpaceX for potential Chinese ownership
Feb 5 - Democratic U.S. senators on Thursday urged the Pentagon to conduct an immediate review of SpaceX amid allegations that Chinese investors have secretly acquired stakes in the closely held rocket maker, citing potential national security risks, according to a letter seen
Malaysian eatery washes cooked food to offer for sale again next day, gets shut down for 2 weeks
A restaurant in Seremban, Malaysia, has been ordered to close for two weeks after a viral video allegedly showed a staff member rinsing cooked food, including chicken and tofu, to be offered for sale again the next day.
Envisioning US Forces Korea’s role in a Taiwan war
United States Forces Korea (USFK), established in 1957, maintains deterrence and strengthens the US-South Korea alliance on the Korean Peninsula. Through continuous training, intelligence sharing and capability development with South Korea’s military, the Republic of Korea