Three Johor pupils recover from TB, four more still being treated

No schools in Johor have been instructed to close for now.

Why Malaysia’s latest judicial commissioner picks are reviving worries about court independence

The appointments come just months after Malaysia narrowly avoided a judicial crisis in July last year.

China's Xi Jinping makes rare reference to recent military purge

Zhang Youxia, widely seen as Xi's closest military ally, was in January removed from his post.

US wields nuclear test claim to press China on arms control

A disputed Chinese nuclear test has become the latest stress test for a global arms control system already coming apart. At the Conference on Disarmament, the US accused China this month of carrying out a covert nuclear explosive test in June 2020. The allegation came just a

More seniors in China growing addicted to the internet; loneliness, boredom cited as key reasons

One senior spent 10,000 yuan (S$1,820) tipping streamers within a month.

Cambodia floats new law in crackdown on gangs running scam farms

Cambodia does not have a comprehensive set of laws to address crimes related to scams.

Nearly 3,000 bullying cases recorded in Malaysia’s govt schools in 2025: Education Minister

As at Nov 19, 2025, safety audits had been carried out at 1,758 schools .

Protests expected on Israeli President Herzog’s last day in Australia

Police and protesters clashed in Sydney on the evening of Feb 9, with 27 arrested.

Protests expected on Israeli President Herzog's last day in Australia

SYDNEY, Feb 12 - Pro-Palestine protesters will rally in Melbourne on Thursday on the final day of Israeli President Isaac Herzog's trip to Australia, following protests in the capital Canberra and violent clashes between protesters and police in Sydney.

Japan’s main opposition begins two-horse leadership race after election defeat

A new leader is set to be chosen on Feb 13 between Mr Junya Ogawa and Mr Takeshi Shina.

Fire breaks out in Orang Asli village in Johor, damaging 30 houses

The operation to contain the fire is ongoing.

UN aid relief a potential opening for Trump-Kim talks, say analysts

No tangible progress has been made between the US and North Korea since a 2019 summit collapsed.

Thailand's election commission faces pressure over vote transparency

Members of the public raised concerns on social media about possible irregularities in the vote count and small protests erupted nationwide, with a trending Thai hashtag #RecountForTheWholeCountry.

Woman dies in school shooting in southern Thailand

Police shot and arrested the suspect, whom local media identified as an 18-year-old man.

Teacher dies after Thailand school shooting

BANGKOK, Feb 12 - A female teacher died on Thursday in southern Thailand's Hat Yai district after a gunman opened fire at a school where she worked, the provincial administration said on social media.

Taiwan leader wants more defence cooperation with Europe

The island supports its semiconductor companies investing overseas, including in Europe.

President Lai warns countries in region could be ‘next’ if China seizes Taiwan

He insisted on the need for Taiwan to dramatically shore up its defences.

Israel president says anti-Semitism in Australia ‘frightening’

He said he had brought a “message of goodwill to the people of Australia”.

Hyundai, BMW Korea, Kia to recall nearly 180,000 vehicles over software defects: S. Korean ministry

A total of 51 models across the three companies will be affected by the recall.

China carbon emissions ‘flat or falling’ in 2025: Analysis

However, progress remains fragile and it is not yet clear that emissions have peaked.

South Koreans are shunning dangerous shipbuilding jobs envied by Trump

The sector is reliant on low-paid migrants and plagued by a high accident rate.

New landmine blast tests Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire

A Thai soldier was seriously injured in the blast.

Bangladesh votes in landmark election after Gen Z revolution

The contest pits two coalitions led by former allies, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Islamist Jamaat‑e‑Islami.

Australia’s opposition leader Sussan Ley faces leadership challenge as senior lawmaker quits

Mr Angus Taylor quit as shadow defence minister on the evening of Feb 11.

Australia's opposition leader faces leadership challenge as senior lawmaker quits

SYDNEY, Feb 12 - Australia's opposition leader Sussan Ley is facing a possible leadership challenge less than a year into the role, after a senior figure in her shadow cabinet resigned saying she was not the right person to lead the conservative Liberal Party.

US pays Afghans stranded in Qatar to repatriate, plan labeled 'betrayal'

WASHINGTON, Feb 11 - The U.S. State Department has begun paying Afghans to repatriate as it attempts to close a camp in Qatar where they have been stranded for years, the top State Department official for South and Central Asia told lawmakers on Wednesday.

Malaysian property giant Sunway’s US$2.8 billion bid for construction firm IJM stirs controversy in business, political realms

The bid by Sunway for IJM is also presenting a policy challenge for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who has expressed reservations about the proposed takeover in private sessions, his close associates told CNA.

Commentary: They escaped appalling conditions in scam factories. Now, they are living on the streets in Cambodia

Scam groups are continuing to recruit former workers trapped inside the country, say researchers.

Finding Trump-Beijing balance may prove Takaichi’s big challenge

This article originally published by Pacific Forum is republished with permission. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi notched a historic election win last weekend. The first woman to head a party ticket in national elections in Japan led her ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to

India, China and the regret of Gyalo Thondup

Gyalo Thondup, who died on February 8, 2026, at 97 at the Indian hill station Kalimpong, carried with him secrets of a vanished era — and a warning for the present one. As the elder brother of the 14th Dalai Lama and a principal architect of the Tibetan resistance, Thondup

Signs US-China ties warmer after Trump-Xi call as tech curbs loom

The current United States-China relationship is described by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as “productive” and “in a very comfortable place” after last week’s two-hour phone call between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. “The US relationship with

Nobel committee calls on Iran to free Peace Prize laureate Mohammadi

OSLO, Feb 11 - The Norwegian Nobel Committee said on Wednesday that it had called on Iran to immediately free activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi from prison.

China charges former AstraZeneca regional head Leon Wang

Wang was detained by authorities in the country more than a year ago in relation to probes into the drugmaker’s business.

UK pledges $205 million to send US weapons to Ukraine

LONDON, Feb 11 - Defence minister John Healey said on Wednesday Britain had committed 150 million pounds ($205 million) to the so-called Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative to supply Ukraine with U.S. weapons.

Militants kill five police in attack in northwest Pakistan

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan, Feb 11 - Militants killed five police officers in northwest Pakistan on Wednesday, police said, as the South Asian nation grapples with a rising wave of Islamist violence.

Indonesia’s Prabowo to join first meeting of Trump ‘Board of Peace’

The first meeting is scheduled to take place on Feb 19 in Washington.

Thai police arrest gunman after two injured in school siege

The suspect has been detained and all hostages freed after a two-hour standoff at a school in southern Thailand, police said.

Kazakhstan calls March 15 referendum on new constitution

ALMATY, Feb 11 - Kazakhstan on Wednesday announced a March 15 referendum on a new constitution that could allow President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, currently barred from ruling beyond 2029, to remain at the helm of Central Asia's largest economy.

In rebuke of Trump, US House opens the door to votes against tariffs

WASHINGTON — A handful of House Republicans tanked a procedural vote Tuesday night that would have kept intact a ban on congressional action against President Donald Trump’s emergency tariffs. Republican Reps. Don Bacon of Nebraska, Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Kevin Kiley of

China's Xi hails 'fight against corruption' after top general's fall

Russia to fly its tourists out of Cuba and then suspend airline operations due to fuel crisis

MOSCOW, Feb 11 - Two Russian airlines plan to fly Russian tourists out of Cuba in the coming days and then suspend operations until a jet fuel shortage eases, aviation regulator Rosaviatsia said on Wednesday.

Malaysia boy dies, two brothers in critical condition after mother allegedly gave them drugs

The mother gave her sons a liquid form of methadone.

Malaysia’s PM Anwar pushed to suspend, investigate anti-graft chief

Members of both the ruling coalition and the opposition have raised questions about Mr Azam’s assets.

China’s grip slips as Trump squeezes Latin America

Panama’s supreme court invalidated a contract in late January that had allowed Panama Ports Company, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based firm CK Hutchison, to operate two ports on the Panama canal since 1997. The decision, which ruled that the laws allowing the firm to operate the

Gunman detained after entering southern Thai school, hostages freed, police official says

The suspect entered the school demanding to see a specific teacher and upon not being able to find the person, the suspect shot a school staff member, according to an official.

Indonesia to send up to 4,000 peacekeeping troops to Gaza in support of BOP, says official

Indonesia is preparing to deploy up to 4,000 troops to Gaza, a senior official told ST.

Malaysian police appeal for help, information on Singaporean man, 76, missing in Kuala Lumpur

He was last seen at an apartment in Kuala Lumpur on Feb 7.