News Headlines

US President Donald Trump has told Cuba to "make a deal" or pay a price similar to Venezuela.

The government had proposed the test to assess the readiness of children for Year One after it lowered the age of enrolment in primary schools by a year, from seven years old to six.

Online reactions to the copycat attempts were mixed, with some users making jokes while others highlighted the risks and warned of potentially fatal consequences.

This includes 113 affected flights between Beijing and Osaka, as well as 13 flights between Shenzhen and Hokkaido.

Japan's pacifist constitution prohibits direct military action but allows it to exercise the right of collective self-defence, or defending a friendly country that comes under attack.

Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday (Jan 27) that the recent strengthening of the ringgit has had positive effects on the country's economy, even as he acknowledged potential concerns.

Beijing made the announcement on Tuesday (Jan 27), ending days of speculation about the departure of the 62-year-old from the cabinet.

The trade deal is expected to be implemented within a year, said an Indian government official.

The distinctive black-and-white animals, loaned out as part of China's "panda diplomacy", have symbolised friendship between Beijing and Tokyo since they normalised diplomatic ties in 1972.

On Monday, a parliamentary commission overseeing finance had endorsed Thomas Djiwandono as the new deputy governor, eliminating two other career central bankers.

The incident occurred after the woman was said to have ignored repeated warnings from fellow tourists.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the tributes to Tully, saying "his connect with India and the people of our nation was reflected in his works".

The increase for goods such as autos and pharmaceuticals would bring tariff levels from 15 per cent to 25 per cent.

As remittances from overseas Filipinos slow down amid global uncertainties, the Philippines needs to develop new growth drivers, says an academic.

A stinging editorial published by the People’s Liberation Army Daily on Sunday (Jan 25) against Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli used wording that goes beyond how previous senior military purges have been framed, say analysts.

The number of Chinese visitors to Japan plummeted by 45 per cent last month from a year earlier, to around 330,000.

The military-backed USDP has claimed a landslide in Myanmar’s post-coup election, but observers say the vote is unlikely to ease conflict or revive the economy.

To Lam was unanimously re-elected as the General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam on Jan 23, and will serve as Vietnam's leader for the next five years.

"China advocates that nations should approach state-to-state relations with a win-win rather than zero-sum mindset, and through cooperation rather than confrontation," said China's foreign ministry.

The Chinese Embassy and officials in Manila have stepped up their rhetoric in recent weeks, with the former criticising the Philippines' coast guard spokesperson and its lawmakers.

A nuclear-powered submarine would strengthen South Korea's ability to lead the defence of the peninsula, said Seoul.

Taiwan will use a range of joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance methods, as well as intelligence-sharing, to "grasp" China's possible intentions, says its defence minister.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said recent global developments have injected fresh urgency into the process.

"We are in the position to form a new government," said a senior official from the Union Solidarity and Development Party, after the vote's third and final phase took place on Sunday.

The Singapore dollar hit an 11-year high against the US dollar.

Indonesian influencer Lula Lahfah was found dead in an apartment on Jan 23 evening.

The ferry was sailing from Zamboanga City to Jolo Island when it sank on Monday (Jan 26) morning.

"We can't let Canada become an opening that the Chinese pour their cheap goods into the US," says US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

From gym workouts and fashion tips to reflections on ageing, China’s “silver-haired bloggers” are gaining loyal followings with candid, unpolished glimpses of later life.

Bangladesh's ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled to neighbouring India in 2024 after a student-led uprising ended her iron-fisted 15-year rule.

The election's third and final phase closed after voting took place in dozens of constituencies across Myanmar, just a week shy of the fifth anniversary of the country's 2021 military coup.

The departure of four-year-old twins Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei leaves Japan panda-less for the first time since 1972, prompting thousands to apply for lottery-assigned tickets to say goodbye.

At least 11 people have died and around 80 are missing after a landslide buried homes in Java's West Bandung region, forcing villagers to flee.

India's solar factories are running around the clock to meet surging power demand and cut reliance on China, even as oversupply, higher costs and US tariffs cloud the outlook.

Honnold is known for his legendary ropeless climb up Yosemite National Park’s El Capitan, documented in Free Solo.

Despite widespread criticism that the polls are a sham to perpetuate the military's hold, the ruling junta has vowed it will transfer power to a new government, likely in April. 

Steep terrain has turned elevation into a fact of everyday life in Chongqing. Beyond the viral images of its dizzying cityscape, CNA traces a quieter human story of adaptation, loss and resilience across generations.

China said on Saturday (Jan 24) that Zhang Youxia, top-ranked vice-chair of the Central Military Commission, is under investigation alongside fellow member Liu Zhenli. Analysts say it underscores how no one is immune in President Xi Jinping’s remaking of the military.