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

Japan election: What to look for in Sunday vote

TOKYO, Feb 6 -

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

US President Donald 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.

Coupang confirms more data leaks which South Korean aide says has 'shaken' US ties

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.

Air India probes if crew followed protocols in Boeing fuel-switch incident

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

Ukraine hit infrastructure at Russian missile launch site, military says

Feb 5 - Ukraine's military said on Thursday it had carried out a series of \"successful\" strikes in January on a launch site for Russian intermediate-range ballistic missiles.

Heavy snowfall forecast in Japan on weekend, election day, could reach warning levels on Feb 8

Heavy snowfall will continue in some parts of northern and western areas through the weekend.

Indian police investigate suspected games-related suicide of three young sisters

The sisters were “denied access” to K-Pop music and Korean games and movies.

Coupang confirms more users hit by data leak that South Korean official says has ‘shaken’ US ties

The US-listed e-commerce firm has been under a government probe over the 2025 personal data breach.

China backs Cuba against 'external interference' as foreign minister visits Beijing

BEIJING, Feb 5 - China firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding national sovereignty and security and \"opposes unwarranted interference by external forces\", China's foreign minister told his Cuban counterpart on Thursday, as the U.S. tightens the screws on the island nation.

Kremlin says Russia will stay a responsible nuclear power despite New START's expiry

MOSCOW, Feb 5 - The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russia would continue taking a responsible approach to strategic nuclear stability, despite the expiry of the last nuclear arms control treaty between Moscow and Washington.

Will DDP survive? Seoul’s landmark turns into political battlefield

Officials said DDP attracted 17.1 million people last year alone.

JB e-hailing driver remanded in probe of sexual harassment viral video

He already had his public service licence cancelled.

UN rights chief appeals for $400 million as crises mount and funding shrinks

GENEVA, Feb 5 - U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk appealed for $400 million on Thursday to address mounting human rights needs in countries such as Sudan and Myanmar, after donor funding cuts drastically reduced the work of his office and left it in \"survival mode\".

Malaysia to ban heavy vehicles on roads before and after Chinese New Year to ease traffic flow

The bans will be on Feb 14 and 15, and Feb 21 and 22, 2026.

‘Money being thrown around to buy votes’: Voters in Thailand want more than just handouts

Nearly 53 million eligible voters across Thailand will choose their preferred member of Parliament and the party they like best.

Indonesia on ‘right track’ to hit GDP, investment goals; Danantara keen to work with Temasek, Khazanah: Minister

At the CNA Summit held in Jakarta on Thursday (Feb 5), Indonesia’s Investment and Downstream Industry Minister Rosan Perkasa Roeslani called for more collaboration between the government, private sector and foreign investors.

India to sign trade deal with United States in March, minister says

NEW DELHI, Feb 5 - India and the United States expect to sign a long-awaited formal trade deal in March, after which New Delhi will reduce tariffs on U.S. goods, Trade Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday.

India to sign trade deal with US in March, minister says

Washington is expected to cut duties on Indian exports to 18 per cent from 50 per cent.