Japan seizes Chinese fishing vessel, arrests captain

It was the first time since 2022 that the agency has seized a Chinese fishing boat.

Bangladesh's BNP wins historic parliamentary election

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party easily secured 185 seats in Bangladesh's 300-member parliament, easily crossing the halfway mark for a simple majority.

Bangladesh's BNP wins sweeping election majority, promise of stability

Latest vote counts gave the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its allies at least 212 of the 299 seats up for grabs, an overwhelming two-thirds majority.

Bangladesh's BNP wins big in historic parliamentary election

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party easily secured 185 seats in Bangladesh's 300-member parliament, easily crossing the halfway mark for a simple majority.

Australia’s main opposition party ousts leader Sussan Ley as polls drop

Liberal Party lawmakers elected former defence spokesman Angus Taylor as the party’s new leader.

Australia opposition elects former energy minister Taylor as new leader, ABC reports

SYDNEY, Feb 13 - Australia's opposition Liberal Party on Friday elected former Energy and Emissions Minister Angus Taylor as its new leader, media reported, replacing Sussan Ley less than a year after the conservative party's heavy defeat at the national election.

Beijing upset as Dutch court blocks Wingtech bid to recontrol Nexperia

The Chinese government has urged its counterpart in the Netherlands to take the initiative to resolve the dispute surrounding Nexperia after a Dutch court ordered an investigation into the auto chipmaker’s mismanagement by China’s Wingtech Technology. “The root cause of the

North Korea warns of ‘terrible response’ if South Korea sends more drones

North Korea’s Kim Yo Jong warned Seoul that such incidents would not be tolerated.

North Korea says South Korea should take steps to prevent violation of its sovereignty

SEOUL, Feb 13 - North Korea's Kim Yo Jong said in a statement on Friday that South Korean authorities should take steps to prevent \"reoccurrence of provocative sovereignty violation,\" state media KCNA reported, referring to a drone flown into its airspace recently.

What is behind 60% spike in Malaysia court cases and can judges keep up?

Lawyers and experts weigh in on why both civil and criminal court cases have shot up - and the implications for Malaysia’s justice system.

Commentary: India and Malaysia show what middle powers can do amid a rupture in world order

Most middle powers are now at their most open period to work with others to diversify outside of the US and China, says political analyst James Chai.

Commentary: Chinese electric vehicles made in the US - is that possible?

The fortress built by Washington to keep Chinese electric vehicles out is no longer looking so impregnable, says an analyst.

‘Fated to be lovers across eras’: Singapore couples go to China for time-travelling wedding shoots

The wedding photos and videos are often inspired by popular Chinese drama and films.

BNP sweeps Bangladesh election, Tarique Rahman set to become PM

It is the first election since the 2024 Gen Z-driven uprising that toppled long-time prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

America’s security bargains in Northeast Asia are being redrawn

The stability of Northeast Asia has long rested on two strategic bargains with South Korea and Japan, forged out of the Korean War and formalized in security treaties. South Korea was compelled to accept the de facto division of the country in exchange for a treaty commitment,

Bangladesh’s Tarique Rahman: From exile to winning power

Mr Rahman has pledged to recalibrate Bangladesh’s international partnerships to attract investment.

Loud expats unrepresentative of opinion back in Iran, other lands

As protest and military action raised the prospect of regime change in Iran and Venezuela, the voices of both countries’ diasporas were heard loud and clear through the media of their host nations. Venezuelan exiles in the US were, according to the popular narrative, broadly

Israel's Netanyahu says Trump may be creating conditions for Iran deal

JERUSALEM, Feb 12 - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said he hoped that U.S. President Donald Trump was creating the conditions to reach a deal with Iran that would avoid military action.

Six more children reunited with Russian, Ukrainian families, US and Russia say

WASHINGTON/MOSCOW, Feb 12 - Six more Russian and Ukrainian children are being reunited with their families, Washington and Moscow said on Thursday, crediting efforts by U.S. first lady Melania Trump.

Putin's children's commissioner says six kids to reunite with families in Russia and Ukraine, thanks Melania Trump

MOSCOW, Feb 12 - Russia's presidential commissioner for children's rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, said on Thursday that six more children were being reunited with their families in Russia and Ukraine and credited U.S. First Lady Melania Trump.

US House, again defiant, votes to end Trump tariffs on Canada

WASHINGTON — In a notable break from President Donald Trump’s signature trade policy, several House Republicans joined Democrats in passing a resolution to terminate the president’s national emergency at the northern border that triggered tariffs on Canada just over one year

CIA makes new push to recruit Chinese military officers as informants

The US spy agency rolls out a video depicting a disillusioned mid-level Chinese military officer.

Saudi Arabia appoints new investment minister in diversification plan pivot

DUBAI, Feb 12 - Saudi Arabia appointed Fahd bin Abduljalil bin Ali al Saif as the new investment minister, it said on Thursday, replacing Khalid Al-Falih who oversaw the kingdom's opening to foreign investment amid massive economic diversification plans.

Pakistan PM to attend Trump peace board's first meeting, says foreign office

ISLAMABAD, Feb 12 - Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend the first meeting of U.S. President Donald Trump's \"Board of Peace\" next week in Washington, the country's foreign office said on Thursday.

Movies can change the world, but not politically, says Berlin Film Festival juror Wim Wenders

BERLIN, Feb 12 - German director Wim Wenders said on Thursday filmmakers must stay out of politics and focus on changing how people think, at the start of the Berlin Film Festival.

Malaysia’s top graft buster under fire over allegations of agency misconduct, rules breach

Anti-graft chief Azam held 17.7 million shares in a financial services company worth about $258,000.

Malaysia's top graft buster under fire over allegations of agency misconduct, rules breach

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 12 - Malaysia's top graft investigator faced fresh calls to step down on Thursday, after multiple media reports this week alleged misconduct involving him and other senior officials at the country's anti-corruption commission.

Ukrainian arms producers receive first wartime export licences, Kyiv says

KYIV, Feb 12 - Ukrainian arms producers have received the first wartime licences to export their goods abroad, the secretary of Kyiv's national security and defence council said on Thursday.

McDonald’s India outlet gets regulatory warning over rotten tomatoes, reused oil

Food adulteration is often reported across India, but safety lapses at high-profile brands are rare.

New lottery scheme, discount packs: China makes $374m push to boost Chinese New Year spending

The new campaign is the latest bid by China to boost flagging domestic consumption.

Polls close, counting begins in Bangladesh election after high turnout

Kyrgyzstan moves to purge allies of ousted security chief

BISHKEK, Feb 12 - The speaker of Kyrgyzstan's parliament resigned on Thursday and several allies of the country's ousted security chief Kamchybek Tashiev were detained, as President Sadyr Japarov moved to purge supporters of the one-time close ally he dismissed on Tuesday.

Syria says it has taken over al-Tanf base vacated by US troops

Feb 12 - Syria's Defence Ministry said on Thursday that Syrian army units had taken control of the al-Tanf military base vacated by U.S. troops, following coordination between Syrian and U.S. authorities.

Severed arm found at Sabah disposal site leads to discovery of more body parts

The victim was believed to have been dismembered into at least seven parts using a sharp tool.

India farmers protest US trade deal

Farmer unions called the deal announced last week a "total surrender" to US agricultural giants.

Polls close in first election since Gen Z protests ousted Bangladesh leader

Voters are hoping for a return to democracy after 15 years of authoritarian rule under Sheikh Hasina.

Face of China’s Year of the Fire Horse? Draco Malfoy, of course

The Chinese Year of the Fire Horse has a new, unexpected mascot: Draco Malfoy. Associating the Harry Potter antagonist with China’s Year of the Fire Horse might seem odd or whimsical. But it has much to teach us about the complexities of Chinese Mandarin wordplay, online

China lowers EU dairy tariffs in final ruling after 18-month probe

China will impose tariffs ranging from 7.4 per cent to 11.7 per cent on dairy imports from the EU.

Kim Jong Un chooses teen daughter as heir, says Seoul

South Korea's spy agency says Ki Ju Ae's prominent public presence indicates she is the chosen heir.

China’s demographic crisis has moved from theory to fact

China’s demographic crisis is no longer a distant projection buried in academic journals or UN forecasts. It has become an observable fact, confirmed by official statistics and increasingly felt across Chinese society. In January 2026, China’s National Bureau of Statistics

Ukrainian drone strike causes fire at refinery in Russia's Komi region, governor says

MOSCOW, Feb 12 - A Ukrainian drone attack has caused a fire at an oil refinery owned by Lukoil near Ukhta in Russia's northwestern Komi Republic, the head of the region, Rostislav Goldshtein, said on Thursday.

South Korea’s culture minister says lifting of China’s Hallyu ban remains fragile

Mr Chae said there has been little tangible advancement in lifting of restrictions.

China calls Taiwan’s President Lai a ‘war instigator’

Lai had called for greater defence and artificial intelligence cooperation between Taiwan and Europe.

Principal dies after Thailand school shooting

School director Sasiphat Sinsamosorn died in hospital early on Thursday (Feb 12) after being admitted with gunshot wounds and undergoing surgery.

South Korea's ex-interior minister jailed for role in martial law crisis

Lee Sang-min was found to have instructed authorities to cut power to media outlets deemed critical of former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

US pushes AI funding, fisheries tech at APEC amid China rivalry

GUANGZHOU, Feb 12 - The Trump administration is promoting artificial intelligence exports and maritime surveillance technology at Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in southern China this week, as Washington seeks to counter Beijing’s technological and maritime

Indonesia to pay Whoosh HSR debt to China from state funds: Minister

State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi said technical discussions on the repayment mechanism are still underway, with negotiations led by the CEO of Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund Danantara.

Will China power or pollute Indonesia’s EV battery dream?

Indonesia has announced a US$7-8 billion partnership to build a large-scale electric vehicle battery ecosystem. The project, called Titan, involves state-owned companies Antam and Industri Baterai Indonesia, together with a Chinese consortium led by Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt. The