How Australian festival imploded after axing Palestinian author

Some 180 writers, including former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, have withdrawn from the event.

Australia’s ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd to step down early

The move follows criticism from President Trump, whom the former PM had criticised earlier.

Australia's US ambassador Rudd to step down early

SYDNEY, Jan 13 - Australia's ambassador to the United States Kevin Rudd is stepping down, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday, a year earlier than expected following criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump. Rudd, a former Australian prime minister, is

Myanmar made Rohingya lives a nightmare, Gambia tells UN court in genocide case

Myanmar denies genocide, says offensive was counter-terrorism campaign.

Beijing to approve Nvidia H200 imports, flagging overreliance

Beijing is reportedly set to give the green light for Chinese technology firms to import Nvidia’s H200 artificial intelligence (AI) chips, even as an industry heavyweight warns companies not to become overly dependent on foreign semiconductors. Both Alibaba Group Holding and

Two Canadian members of parliament end Taiwan trip ahead of Carney's China visit

TORONTO, Jan 12 - Two Canadian Members of Parliament are ending a trip to Taiwan early this week ahead of Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to China, they said in a statement on Monday.

Supertankers sailing to pick up Venezuelan oil for China make u-turn, ship data shows

HOUSTON, Jan 12 - Two China-flagged supertankers that were sailing to Venezuela to pick up debt-paying crude cargoes amid the U.S. oil embargo on the OPEC country have made u-turn and are now heading back to Asia, LSEG shipping data showed on Monday.

Landmark Rohingya genocide case against Myanmar heard at top UN court

The Gambia accuses Myanmar's leadership of carrying out "brutal and vicious violations" against the Muslim minority group.

Indian rocket hits snag during launch

Pakistan and Indonesia closing in on jets and drones defence deal, sources say

The talks come as Pakistan's defence industry moves forward with a series of defence procurement negotiations.

Seven Pakistani police officers killed in targeted bomb attack

The Islamist militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack.

Co-founder of Malaysian streetwear brand Stoned & Co suspended after road rage incident

Dashcam footage shows him behaving aggressively after chasing after a car down in his Ferrari.

Johor autogate glitch: Malaysia border agency apologises, says system still under other agencies

The director-general of Malaysia's border agency publicly apologised for the disruption.

Sri Lanka seeks Chinese aid to rebuild after deadly cyclone

Sri Lanka's request for Chinese assistance came three weeks after India pledged US$450 million in humanitarian aid for cyclone recovery.

UK regulator launches investigation into X over Grok sexualised imagery

LONDON, Jan 12 - Britain's media regulator launched an investigation into Elon Musk's X on Monday to determine whether sexually intimate deepfakes produced by its Grok AI chatbot violated its duty to protect people in the UK from content that could be illegal.

India and Germany eye defence industry boost to ties

Thai official links petrol-station bomb attacks to gold heist network

The earlier heist involved stolen gold worth more than 35 million baht (S$1.4 million).

Nepal’s unemployed youth scramble for election jobs

Nearly 15,000 people lost their jobs after protests toppled the government in September 2025.

Nepal's unemployed youth scramble for election jobs

More than 27,000 people applied for the temporary police jobs on the first two days of applications, Nepal police spokesman Abinarayan Kafle said.

Are You Dead?: The viral Chinese app for young people living alone

A new bleak-sounding app has been downloaded in droves by many youth who live by themselves - and fear dying alone.

Finnish police release Russia-linked ship held in cable sabotage case

COPENHAGEN, Jan 12 - Finnish police said on Monday they had lifted the seizure of a ship which had been held on suspicion of sabotaging an undersea telecoms cable running from Helsinki to Estonia across the Gulf of Finland, although the investigation continues.

Trump Greenland threat triggers search for shelter beyond gold, defence

LONDON/NEW YORK, Jan 12 - Investors have piled fresh bets on gold and European defence stocks in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to take control of Greenland, fearing a geopolitical rift that could end NATO, shatter the global order and damage the dollar.

Landmark Myanmar Rohingya genocide case opens at UN's top court

The hearings at the International Court of Justice will mark the first time that Rohingya victims of the alleged atrocities will be heard by an international court.

After Maduro’s ouster, tough new truths about US foreign policy

The Maduro regime was always likely to end abruptly. Reports that US forces encountered little resistance—and that Venezuela’s president had come to rely on Cuban security rather than his own military—say less about American might than about how completely Nicolas Maduro had

Ramyeon powers South Korea’s K-food exports to record high of $17.5 billion

China was the largest market, followed by the US.

Bangladesh detains 53 Rohingya militants, issues Myanmar border ‘high alert’

Dhaka says it has deployed its law enforcement agencies in villages close to the border.

Trump’s latest assault on Fed is a gift to China

TOKYO — Investors betting against a MAGA-fied Federal Reserve are rapidly getting used to disappointment. On Friday (January 9), as Fed Chair Jerome Powell has since detailed in a video message, US President Donald Trump’s administration threatened a criminal indictment via

Indonesia’s Greater Jakarta grapples with waste crisis amid mounting rubbish and landfill leaks

Garbage has been piling up at several landfills in the region.

Malaysia vows clean-up of military procurement amid graft probe

Defence Minister Khaled Nordin said they will review and improve tender and procurement processes.

Thailand's liberal opposition tops polls as election looms

Ai, Japanese chimpanzee who counted and painted, dies at 49

Ai's cognitive abilities had been studied extensively since she was brought to a Japanese institute in 1977.

Myanmar pro-military party claims Aung San Suu Kyi's seat in junta-run poll

China, India and the cosmology of civilizational renewal

“India’s journey today is not merely about development; it is also a journey of psychological renaissance.” — Narendra Modi “Realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is the greatest dream of the Chinese nation in modern times.” — Xi Jinping India and China — the

Thailand’s liberal opposition tops polls as election looms

Opposition leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut was the top choice for PM among 32% of 2,682 people polled.

One killed, several injured after air-con compressor explodes at private university in KL

The injured people were taken to several nearby hospitals for further treatment.

One killed, at least nine injured after air-con compressor explodes at private university in KL

Twenty people were reportedly involved in the explosion.

South Korean researchers find way to remove nanoplastics from water in 10 minutes

The team said its process eliminated over 95 per cent of micro and nanoplastics within 10 minutes.

India and US 'actively engaged' in trade negotiations, says new ambassador

Sergio Gor tells reporters in Delhi "real friends can disagree but will always resolve differences".

Heavy snow hits Japan, leading major airlines like ANA to cancel flights

Thousands of travellers were affected by the flight cancellations.

Australia recalls Parliament early to pass hate speech, gun laws

The sitting has been moved from Feb 3 to Jan 19 and 20.

Explainer-What is at stake in Uganda's presidential election?

Jan 12 - Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni will seek to extend his four-decade rule on Thursday in an election that has renewed questions about the 81-year-old leader's eventual succession.

Myanmar’s pro-military party claims Suu Kyi’s seat in junta-run poll

The elections are being derided as a ploy to prolong junta rule.

Veteran Ugandan leader eyes new term in election amid succession talk

KAMPALA, Jan 12 - Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is widely expected to extend his four-decade rule in an election on Thursday after a campaign marred by violence and clouded by questions about who might eventually succeed him.

China focuses anti-corruption drive on misconduct, highlighting former minister’s conviction

President Xi Jinping in 2025 called corruption “the biggest threat” to China’s Communist Party.

China focuses anti-corruption drive on misconduct, highlighting former minister's conviction

BEIJING, Jan 12 - China will focus its corruption crackdown on preventing misconduct from escalating into graft, according to a state broadcaster documentary series that highlighted the crimes of a disgraced former minister.

China taps export controls veteran for senior trade post ahead of Trump visit

Mr Jiang Chenghua is a veteran negotiator with experience in managing the country’s investment ties with the US.

Hong Kong high-speed rail to expand mainland China links with 16 new destinations

The new destinations will connect Hong Kong with popular tourist cities, including Nanjing.

‘Erosion of credibility’: Malaysia defence minister slams recent scandals and warns against corruption ‘cancer’

Defence Minister Khaled Nordin says accusations of corruption and immorality in the Malaysian Armed Forces have embroiled it in “ugly and distorted” public debate.