China’s Xi welcomes stream of leaders shaken by Trump’s new world order
Foreign leaders have another reason to visit Beijing in 2026: rare earths.
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From behind bars, Aung San Suu Kyi casts a long shadow over Myanmar
The democracy campaigner has spent 20 years in total in detention, five of them since being overthrown by a coup.
Trump administration accused of 'slow-walking' help to Pacific island veterans
WASHINGTON, Jan 14 - The Trump administration was accused on Wednesday of dragging its feet in delivering congressionally agreed benefits to Pacific island nations being courted by China to try to woo them away from the U.S. strategic orbit.
China’s huge trade surplus brings limited boost to forex reserves
China’s trade surplus surged to a record in 2025, even as United States President Donald Trump launched a new round of tariff wars against the country last April. China’s total exports rose 5.5% year-on-year to US$3.77 trillion in 2025, while imports were flat at US$2.58
PM Mark Carney’s trip a chance to stabilize Canadian-Chinese ties
It has been more than three years since China’s Xi Jinping told Canada’s Justin Trudeau to “create the conditions first” before the two countries could work together constructively during their awkward private exchange at the 2022 G20 summit. Despite occasional diplomatic
Commentary: I was struck by climate fatigue until I listened to this Oscar-winning filmmaker
The string of recent disasters should not be written off as just routine bad weather, says CNA's Charles Phang.
Commentary: Can Japan's leader beat the heat with a snap election?
While Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is popular, the idea of an election is not, says Gearoid Reidy for Bloomberg Opinion.
Can Malaysia's military move beyond words to clean its 'dirt'?
Analysts call for tougher punishment for misconduct and parliamentary oversight for large arms purchases following recent scandals in the armed forces.
Taiwan signals tariff deal with US could come soon
The semiconductor powerhouse aims to cut tariffs on its exports to the US to 15 per cent.
Better know the players as Iran unrest extends to minority groups
When Iran’s ongoing protests began in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar on December 28, 2025, the government initially treated them as manageable and temporary. Bazaar merchants have historically been among the most conservative social groups in Iran, deeply embedded in the state’s
Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign tests country’s upgrade from ageing border control system
Can Malaysia handle more tourists while migrating its immigration system without disruption?
A massive Arctic military buildup will center on Greenland
Donald Trump is clearly in a hurry to dominate the political narrative in his second term of office. He began 2026 with strikes in Syria against Islamic State groups, the kidnapping of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, threats to intervene in Iran and the declaration that
Taiwan envoys head to Washington for trade, investment talks, source says
WASHINGTON, Jan 14 - Senior Taiwanese officials are traveling to Washington to advance talks on reducing U.S. tariffs on the island's exports and a possible investment deal, a person familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.
Some saved, some not: Rescuers face Thai train crash havoc
At least 32 people died when a crane collapsed onto a passenger train below, causing it to derail.
Azerbaijan releases four Armenian prisoners in sign of deepening peace
TBILISI/BAKU, Jan 14 - Azerbaijan has released four Armenian prisoners arrested during wars between the two countries in 2020 and 2023, Armenia said on Wednesday, in a further sign of normalising ties between the long-standing foes.
US Supreme Court does not issue ruling on Trump's tariffs
WASHINGTON, Jan 14 - The U.S. Supreme Court issued three decisions on Wednesday but did not decide the closely watched dispute over the legality of President Donald Trump's global tariffs.
US to suspend visa processing for 75 nations next week, Fox News reports
WASHINGTON, Jan 14 - The Trump administration is suspending all visa processing for visitors from 75 countries starting January 21, Fox News reported on Wednesday, citing a memo from the U.S. State Department.
More than 1 in 7 newborns in South Korea conceived through infertility treatment
The number of government supported treatment cases grew by 142.6 per cent from 2020 to 2024.
Canada's Carney arrives in China for state visit
Mark Carney is the first Canadian leader to visit China in eight years.
Captain tried to change course before fatal tanker crash, UK jury told
LONDON, Jan 14 - The captain of a container ship that crashed into a U.S. tanker off Britain's east coast last year tried to change course to avoid the fatal collision, his lawyer told a London court trial over a crew member's death on Wednesday.
Will Manila pave the way for the Myanmar junta to return to ASEAN?
A visit to the country by the Philippines’ Foreign Secretary has caught many observers by surprise.
'Grim scene': BBC on site after crane collapses on train in Thailand
Correspondent Jonathan Head says the 'devastating' accident is an enormous setback for Thailand's efforts to modernise its infrastructure.
Major construction-linked accidents in Thailand
BANGKOK, Jan 14 - Dozens of people were killed on Wednesday after a crane collapsed onto a moving train in northeastern Thailand, in the latest in a series of construction accidents in recent years.
Kazakhstan urges US and Europe to help secure oil transport after tanker attacks in Black Sea
MOSCOW, Jan 14 - Kazakhstan on Wednesday urged the U.S. and Europe to help secure the transport of oil following drone attacks on tankers heading to a Black Sea terminal on the Russian coast which handles one percent of global supply.
Iran protest sparks, China vs India and Russia’s real economy
It’s a new year, so I’ve decided to change how I name these roundup posts. I’m retiring the name “At least five interesting things”, which is cumbersome and felt a little repetitive. Instead I’ll just call it “roundup.” I’m keeping the numbers for now, so people who want to
Where are the main US military bases in the Middle East?
Jan 14 - Following are the significant military bases in the Middle East. Iran has threatened to strike U.S. bases in the region if attacked by Washington, after U.S. President Donald Trump told Iranians to keep protesting and declared \"help is on the way\".
Russia's Lavrov says the U.S. is smashing the world around with its raid on Venezuela and threats to Iran
MOSCOW, Jan 14 - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that the United States was fragmenting the very international system which Washington helped to create by undertaking what he said was an illegal operation to topple Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and
CNA Explains: The impeachment bid against Taiwan’s Lai – and why it’s unlikely to succeed
The proceedings stem from a political standoff over amendments to a local government spending law passed by Taiwan’s opposition-controlled legislature last November.
Explainer: Why Japan's Takaichi is gambling on an early election
TOKYO, Jan 14 - Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to dissolve parliament's lower house next week, triggering a national election to decide all 465 seats in her first major election test since taking office in October.
Malaysia’s state utility signs deal to transmit energy from Laos to S’pore
This revives a cross-border project that stalled in 2024.
At least 31 killed after crane falls on train in Thailand
SIKHIO DISTRICT, Thailand, Jan 14 - A train derailed in northeastern Thailand on Wednesday after a construction crane fell on two of its carriages, killing at least 31 people and injuring 64, the Health Ministry said.
Economic confrontation replaces armed conflict as top risk in WEF survey
LONDON, Jan 14 - Economic confrontation between nations and its consequences topped the World Economic Forum's (WEF) annual risks perception survey released on Wednesday, replacing armed conflict as the number one concern of 1,300-plus experts surveyed worldwide.
China probes largest online travel agency Trip.com over suspected monopoly
Trip.com is suspected of abusing its dominant market position, said China's State Administration for Market Regulation without elaborating on the allegations.
Mixed views in South Korea over death sentence request for Yoon
Some experts say a death sentence would be symbolically rich.
Japan PM Takaichi readies snap election and sources say she’s considering Feb 8 ballot
She will be looking to ride a surge in public support since coming to office, despite triggering a diplomatic row with China.
Indonesia asked to buy US-made drones for surveillance in waters near South China Sea
The demand, among others, is a condition for lowering reciprocal tariffs, ST has learnt.
Malaysia police rule out foul play in fatal KL university air-con explosion
One person was killed in the incident, while nine others, including four students, were injured.
Indonesian ride-hailing industry set for shake-up under draft presidential decree, sources say
The decree under consideration would slash caps on commissions - the amount ride-hailing companies take from drivers for each trip - to 10 per cent from the current 20 per cent.
At least 32 killed after crane collapses on train in Thailand
Sixty-four people were left injured, including a one-year-old and an 85-year-old.
China’s J-20 upgrades to anchor networked air war over Taiwan
China’s decision to upgrade the J-20 with advanced radar, engines and AI signals a shift from platform competition to system-level air warfare as it prepares for a Taiwan contingency. This month, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that China plans to upgrade its J-20
A Chinese path to peace on the Korean Peninsula
South Korea and China have designated each other as their first summit counterparts of 2026. Media outlets in both countries have interpreted the meeting as a foregone conclusion that the decade-long chill in bilateral relations is nearing its end. Amid escalating tensions
South Korea vows legal action over drone incursion into North
Seoul has denied any involvement in the recent incursion but has left open the possibility that civilians may have flown the drone, a position reiterated by its national security adviser.
Cambodia to keep up crackdown on scam centres after arrest of alleged mastermind
Alleged scam centre kingpin Chen Zhi's arrest and extradition to China reflect the "firm commitment of Cambodia to combat the crime," said Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn.
Japan regulator to pause review of Chubu Electric nuclear plant, seeks report
It set a March 31 deadline for the utility to provide findings on the cause of misconduct.
AI changing the face, surging the profits of crypto scams
In 2025, cryptocurrency scams received at least US$14 billion on-chain, a significant increase from the $9.9 billion we first reported in 2024, which reached $12 billion at our recalculation as of this writing – a number that was broadly in line with our projected $12.4 billion
Jamming to the same beat: Japan, S. Korea leaders signal unity amid shared challenges
The two countries’ shared economic and security concerns necessitate both leaders putting national interests first.
Radioactive zinc shipment stranded for months now in ‘safe’ location in Philippines
Indonesian authorities “re-exported” the 23 containers after discovering traces of radioactive Caesium-137.
Man arrested over son’s death in washing machine in Japan
Police believe the boy was in the washing machine for around 20 minutes.