Shark bites surfer in Australian state’s fourth attack in 48 hours

All of Sydney's beached have been closed until further notice.

Malaysia wins appeal in lawsuit by family of murdered Mongolian woman Altantuya

The decision means a lawsuit may go all the way to Malaysia’s highest court.

South Korea’s Lee calls for improved drone detection to avoid provoking North Korea

Mr Lee warned such incidents risked inflaming tensions.

South Korea's Lee calls for improved drone detection to avoid provoking North Korea

SEOUL, Jan 20 - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Tuesday that there appeared to be a loophole in his country's monitoring system to detect drones operated by civilians flying into North Korea, warning that such incidents risked inflaming tensions.

Tjen first Indonesian to win a match at Australian Open in 28 years

Tourists hit record in Japan, despite plunge from China

Japan has set an ambitious target of reaching 60 million tourists annually by 2030.

Why Trump’s zero-sum economics keep failing

The biblical story called the Judgement of Solomon isn’t just meant to illustrate what a wise king Solomon was. It’s also supposed to demonstrate a central principle of economics, and of society in general — that the world isn’t a fixed lump of resources waiting to be divided

South Korea kicks off ‘AI Squid Game’ in bid to compete with US, China

The tournament aims to identify the leaders in South Korea's bid to become an AI powerhouse.

Crashed surveillance plane was airworthy, says Indonesian official

The plane had passed multiple inspections and regular maintenance checks, with the latest in November.

Vietnam's Lam pledges growth above 10% despite global disruptions

Vietnam’s To Lam pledges growth above 10% despite global challenges

He said Vietnam was also determined to cut red tape and expand global trade.

Vietnam's Lam pledges growth above 10% despite global challenges

HANOI, Jan 20 - Vietnam's top leader To Lam pledged annual economic growth of more than 10% for the remainder of the decade despite global disruptions, as he addressed delegates at the Communist Party congress on Tuesday.

Karachi mall fire death toll rises to 23 as rescuers search for dozens missing

Pakistani authorities fear the death toll will increase as they look for 46 more people.

Thai ex-PM Abhisit seeks return as anti-scammer kingmaker

He's pitching an agenda of “clean politics” to tackle systemic corruption and dismantle cyber scam operations.

Rare purple star sapphire weighing 3,563 carats unveiled in Sri Lanka

A gemologist said the value of the stone has been estimated at US$300 million to US$400 million by international valuers.

Australia's lower house passes tougher gun control laws in response to Bondi mass shooting

SYDNEY, Jan 20 - Australia’s lower house of Parliament on Tuesday passed laws to enable a national gun buyback and tighten background checks for gun licences in response to the country’s worst mass shooting in decades at a Jewish festival last month.

Australia set to pass tougher gun control laws in response to Bondi mass shooting

The laws enable a national gun buyback and tighten background checks for gun licences.

Surfer injured in fourth shark attack in Australian state in 48 hours

Authorities are warning people to stay out of the Australian state's waterways after recent rainfall.

AI will reshape work and improve living standards in India, says Salesforce India CEO

Speaking to CNA, Arundhati Bhattacharya stressed that AI adoption must be approached carefully, with proper guardrails to ensure it is used appropriately.

'Content to die': Afghanistan's hunger crisis worsened by winter, aid cuts

KABUL, Jan 20 - In the dull glow of a single bulb lighting their tent on the outskirts of Kabul, Samiullah and his wife Bibi Rehana sit down to dry bread and tea, their only meal of the day, accompanied by their five children and three-month-old grandchild.

Penang International Airport e-gate to be fully launched in February

Foreign passport holders are still required to use manned counters for the time being.

Syria says 120 Islamic State detainees escaped prison; Kurdish website said 1,500 escaped

CAIRO, Jan 20 - Syria's Interior Ministry said on Tuesday that about 120 Islamic State detainees escaped from Shaddadi prison, after the Kurdish website Rudaw reported that a spokesperson for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, Farhad Shami, said around 1,500 Islamic

North Korea's Kim sacks senior official, slams 'incompetence'

China’s population falls for fourth year amid economic woes

China’s population declined for a fourth consecutive year in 2025, extending a downturn that has coincided with weaker economic conditions and falling birth rates. The continued contraction comes as job prospects remain uncertain for many young people and marriage rates stay

North Korea’s Kim sacks vice-premier, rails against ‘incompetence’

Mr Yang Sung Ho was “unfit to be entrusted with heavy duties”, Mr Kim said.

Sydney beaches stay closed after three shark attacks in two days

Two of the victims are children, with a 12-year-old boy fighting for his life.

Sydney beaches close after three shark attacks in two days

SYDNEY, Jan 20 - Beaches in the north of Sydney remained closed on Tuesday after a shark bit a man in his 20s, the city's third shark attack in two days.

'Not rocket science': Why Malaysia groups are again pushing to ban asbestos in construction work

Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring minerals resistant to fire and water, and is commonly found in older buildings and homes including in Malaysia. But it is also known to cause cancer.

Commentary: Are China’s ‘youth retirement homes’ a fad or an emerging industry?

Youth retirement homes in China and, more recently, Malaysia, provide insights into the predicaments faced by young people in the two countries, says an academic.

Commentary: Why India has a private investment problem

Despite blistering growth numbers, India's future feels uncertain with private investment being persistently low, says Mihir Sharma for Bloomberg Opinion.

Vietnam leader To Lam seeks China-style powers at party conclave

Mr Lam will remain the party’s top leader, according to sources, but he is seeking the presidency as well.

China’s top trade negotiator He Lifeng slated to meet global CEOs in Davos

Mr Donald Trump’s trade truce with China has given world leaders and CEOs opportunities to boost ties with the country.

Turkey's Kurdish party says Syria deal leaves Ankara 'no excuses' on peace process

ANKARA, Jan 19 - Turkey's pro-Kurdish DEM Party said on Monday that the Turkish government had no more \"excuses\" to delay a peace process with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) now that a landmark integration deal was achieved in neighbouring Syria.

Islamic State claims responsibility for attack on Chinese-run restaurant in Afghanistan

The explosion tore through a restaurant in a commercial neighbourhood, killing a Chinese national and six Afghans.

Rising smoke, locked exits: How Karachi mall inferno trapped victims

KARACHI, Jan 19 - When smoke began seeping from ducts at the sprawling Gul Plaza shopping complex in Karachi late on Saturday, those inside thought a small fire had broken out in a corner of the mall.

At least seven killed in Kabul hotel blast

KABUL, Jan 19 - An explosion tore through a hotel in a heavily guarded part of central Kabul on Monday, killing seven people and injuring several others, authorities in the Afghan capital said.

Indonesia President Prabowo nominates nephew as central bank deputy governor

Prabowo's nephew Thomas Djiwandono, currently a deputy finance minister, is one of three nominees whose names have been submitted to parliament, presidential spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi told reporters.

Dog in Malaysia freed after hours with head stuck in tyre rim

The dog is believed to have had its head stuck inside a tyre rim while chasing rats or sniffing around.

China’s record surplus makes a mockery of Trump’s tariffs

The numbers are in, and they paint a picture that defies the conventional wisdom of Washington’s trade hawks. In 2025, China’s trade surplus surged to a record high of US$1.2 trillion. In December alone, the surplus reached $114 billion, driven by a higher-than-expected 6.6%

Weak domestic demand continues to blight China’s economy as growth slows in Q4

The nation's GDP growth of 5 per cent for 2025 meets its official target but this is expected to slow in 2026.

Singapore holds keys to deterring a China-Taiwan war

No other foreign nation maintains a larger military presence in Taiwan than Singapore. Approximately 3,000 Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel are rotationally stationed on the island each year under Project Starlight, a bilateral defense agreement signed in 1975 between the

Several killed in hotel blast in Kabul, officials say

KABUL, Jan 19 - Several people were killed or injured in a blast at a hotel in a heavily guarded part of central Kabul on Monday, officials said.

Over 400 Indonesians ‘released’ by Cambodian scam networks: Ambassador

Between Jan 1 and 18, 440 Indonesians came to the embassy in Phnom Penh, said the ambassador.

Indonesia’s chairing of UN human rights council for first time: Milestone or empty symbol?

Critics say there is nothing to celebrate, given the country's worsening human rights record.

Greenland crisis is Asia’s crisis, too

Asia should pay close attention to what markets are signaling on the Greenland crisis. Distance offers no protection in a global system where trade, capital and confidence remain tightly interlinked. Moves this week across asset classes show investors are treating this episode

Impeachment bid against Marcos unlikely to succeed but could still hurt him, say analysts

The Philippine President faces an impeachment complaint over Rodrigo Duterte’s ICC arrest, as well as alleged corruption.

Malaysia king to MPs: National interests over state rights, anti-corruption fight continues

In a wide-ranging speech as he opened the fifth session of the 15th Parliament, the king alluded to topics that have generated controversy in recent months and slammed corruption in the military and public service.

BHP refused permission to appeal UK judgment over 2015 Brazil dam collapse

LONDON, Jan 19 - BHP was on Monday refused permission to appeal against a ruling that it is liable for the 2015 collapse of a dam in southeastern Brazil, in a London lawsuit potentially worth tens of billions of pounds.

Over 400 Indonesians 'released' by Cambodian scam networks: Ambassador

Hundreds of foreign nationals have left suspected scam compounds across Cambodia this month amid a crackdown following the arrest of accused scam boss Chen Zhi.