Commentary: Thailand must reckon with reform or face irrelevance
Thailand’s urgent challenge is to lift the country out of economic stagnation and dwindling geopolitical relevance, says former foreign correspondent Nirmal Ghosh.
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Commentary: Trump’s aggression abroad undermines traditional US partnerships in Asia
The more the US aspires to a sphere of influence in the West, the more China will feel entitled to demand the same in the East, says Pusan National University’s Robert Kelly.
Commentary: Indonesia’s gamble on mega merger of ride-hailing firms
Jakarta's golden share in a Southeast Asian superapp would set a dangerous precedent for state power, say researchers.
From Instagram fame to political fall: Indonesia’s ‘Internet governor’ in the spotlight
Former West Java governor Ridwan Kamil's divorce and alleged graft links upended his carefully crafted image.
Fear, suspicion, and destroyed scam compounds at Cambodian border town weeks after Thai air strikes
Eerie quiet lingers in Cambodian frontier town weeks after border clashes with Thailand leave scam compounds destroyed.
South Africa's Kruger National Park shuts after severe floods
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, South Africa, Jan 15 - South African authorities shut Kruger National Park on Thursday to day visitors, after several rivers that run through it burst their banks as the result of days of heavy rains, they said.
Russia says the West should stop claiming Moscow wants to occupy Greenland
MOSCOW, Jan 15 - Russia said on Thursday that its was unacceptable for the West to keep claiming that Russia and China threatened Greenland, and said the crisis over the territory showed the double-standards of Western powers which claimed moral superiority.
Back from Iran, Pakistani students say they heard gunshots while confined to campus
ISLAMABAD, Jan 15 - Pakistani students returning from Iran on Thursday said they heard gunshots and stories of rioting and violence while being confined to campus and not allowed out of their dormitories in the evening.
China offers leniency if cronies of accused scam boss Chen Zhi surrender
Criminal associates of Chen Zhi who surrender before Feb 15 and "truthfully confess their crimes" could be eligible for "lighter or reduced sentences", China's Ministry of Public Security said.
Pakistan-Saudi-Turkey defence deal in pipeline, Pakistani minister says
ISLAMABAD/ISTANBUL, Jan 15 - Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey have prepared a draft defence agreement after nearly a year of talks, Pakistan's Minister for Defence Production said, a signal they could be seeking a bulwark against a flare-up of regional violence in the last two
Singapore to face defending champions Vietnam in 2026 ASEAN football championship
The Lions will also play against Indonesia and Cambodia in Group A of the upcoming ASEAN Hyundai Cup, as well as the winner of a playoff between Brunei and Timor-Leste.
Greece warns shipping fleet of risks after Black Sea drone attacks
ATHENS, Jan 15 - Greece has warned its shipping fleet to review their security measures when sailing to Russian Black Sea ports after drone attacks on two Greek-operated tankers this week, according to shipping ministry advisories.
Doctor to be charged with murder of wife and son in JB on New Year’s Eve
Checks showed the doctor had no prior criminal record and tested negative for drugs.
Final death toll from Hong Kong fire put at 168
The names of the deceased will not be released at this stage to respect their grieving families’ wishes.
Chinese-linked hackers target US entities with Venezuelan-themed malware
The hackers referenced the US seizure of former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
UK presses on with Grok deepfake probe despite Musk's climbdown
LONDON, Jan 15 - Britain welcomed a U-turn by xAI to stop its Grok AI chatbot making non-consensual sexually explicit deepfakes, but said its investigation into how Elon Musk's company ever allowed it to happen would continue.
Phone makers in India not mandated to share source code, say industry body and government
The denials follow a Reuters report that India is proposing to require smartphone makers to give authorities access to source code, the programming instructions that make phones work.
UMNO embraces exiled leaders with former minister Khairy’s appearance at Youth wing meet
The open-door policy is aimed at capitalising on the former leaders’ popularity ahead of the 16th General Election.
Syria's use of force against Kurdish-led SDF seems an option, Turkey says
ISTANBUL, Jan 15 - Turkey's foreign minister said on Thursday he hopes problems in neighbouring Syria can be resolved peacefully but the use of force by the government in Damascus could be an option after recent clashes with Kurdish fighters.
Australia social media ban hits 4.7 million teen accounts in first month
SYDNEY, Jan 15 - Social media companies have collectively deactivated nearly five million accounts belonging to Australian teenagers just a month after a world-first ban on under‑16s took effect, the country's internet regulator said, a sign the measure has had a swift and
Who is Pritam Singh, Singapore's former Leader of the Opposition?
Singh, the leader of the Workers' Party, was stripped of his title after being convicted of lying to MPs.
Philippines waives visas for Chinese visitors to boost tourism
The visa-free privilege for a stay of up to two weeks will take effect on June 16.
Air India warns of possible disruptions to A350 routes after jet suffers engine damage
The possible disruptions are the result of engine damage sustained by one of its long-haul aircraft after encountering "a foreign object" on Thursday (Jan 15).
Kremlin says Trump is right about Zelenskiy holding up a peace deal in Ukraine
MOSCOW, Jan 15 - The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russia agreed with U.S. President Donald Trump that it was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, not Russia, who was holding up a potential peace deal to end the war in Ukraine.
Thaksin eligible for parole in May, says Corrections Department official
Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been serving a one-year sentence since Sept 9.
Philippines to ban Musk’s Grok AI on Jan 15 over sexualised deepfakes
Malaysia and Indonesia had already barred access to the chatbot.
Why global central bankers had to decry Trump’s Fed attacks
Central bankers from around the world have issued a joint statement of support for US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, as he faces a criminal probe on top of mounting pressure from US President Donald Trump to resign early. It is very unusual for the world’s central bank
Malaysia graft busters seize over US$12.8 million in cash, luxury goods and funds linked to army contracts
To date, a total of 23 people, including armed forces personnel and civilians, have been arrested.
How Venezuela turned massive oil wealth into economic ruin
Following the dramatic seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on January 3, 2026, Trump’s comments about taking control of Venezuela’s oil industry quickly triggered accusations of “neo-imperialism.” Critics argued that pledges to share profits with Venezuela were
$3.6 million in assets seized in probe involving former Malaysian army chief
The items included cash, luxury watches, jewellery, gold and a luxury vehicle.
Philippines says it plans to to ban Grok over deepfakes
X's pledge to limit access to Grok would have no effect on the Philippine government's plans, says the acting executive director of the country's cybercrime centre.
3 Johor autogate glitches in 13 months: Experts raise concerns ahead of RTS Link launch
Immigration clearance has improved at the land borders, but more can be done to boost the system’s resilience and contingency plans, say commuters and experts.
Death penalty bid against ex-President Yoon puts South Korea’s democracy and human rights on trial
The court is scheduled to deliver its verdict on Feb 19, bringing to a close one of the most consequential trials in South Korea’s modern political history.
Yen’s plunge a rational response to Japan’s election drama
TOKYO – Japan’s Sanae Takaichi is trying to drum up a better political environment to implement her vision for Asia’s No 2 economy. Takaichi is doing so both literally and figuratively. This week, Japan’s first female prime minister went viral for demonstrating her drumming
Russia-India ‘win-win’ labour deal sparks concerns over migrant workers’ rights and safety
There are concerns over inadequate safeguards to protect blue-collar Indian workers who go overseas.
Japan opposition parties CDP, Komeito to form new ‘centrist’ political party
It was an attempt to present a united front against a ruling camp that was seen as too right-leaning.
Villagers shiver in China’s north as government gas subsidies shrink
Impoverished governments and energy market reforms are forcing many to make hard choices about heating.
Japan opposition parties CDP, Komeito to form new 'centrist' political party
The leaders of both parties are attempting to present a united front against Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's ruling party, which they see as too right-leaning.
US trade demands jeopardize Indonesia’s strategic balance
Recent reports that the United States has offered to lower tariffs on Indonesian goods — from a threatened 32% to 19% — only if Jakarta agrees to purchase US-made maritime surveillance drones and “readjust” its South China Sea policy mark a troubling escalation in economic
Singapore's opposition leader stripped of title after conviction for lying
Singh, who was convicted for lying to MPs, has always maintained his innocence.
Cold snap to test Asia weather records as temperatures dive
The cold shift is expected to reach north-eastern China first, before South Korea and Japan.
Japan, Philippines refine security pact with eye on China
MANILA – The foreign ministers of security allies the Philippines and Japan on Thursday agreed to further refine provisions of a military pact to allow smoother exchanges of troops and equipment as China’s harassment in the South China Sea has shown no signs of easing. Japan
Trump sees Iranian crackdown easing, Tehran denies man to be executed
DUBAI/WASHINGTON, Jan 15 - U.S. President Donald Trump said he had been told that killings in Iran’s crackdown on protests were easing and that he believed there was no current plan for large-scale executions, adopting a wait‑and‑see posture after earlier threatening
Johor-Singapore SEZ draws firms seeking space, lower costs amid global uncertainty
Rising US-China tensions are pushing companies to diversify, with the new economic zone attracting high-tech investments and cost-conscious Singapore firms.
Taiwan says more US arms sales are in the pipeline
Vice Defence Minister Hsu Szu-chien said that four additional packages for Taiwan had yet to be formally notified to the US Congress.
