News Headlines

For the first time in Thailand’s history, a national referendum will be held alongside the general election on Sunday (Feb 8). Voters will not only elect 500 Members of Parliament, but also decide whether a new constitution should be created.

Immigration screening "has already become a little stricter, so that terrorists, and also industrial spies, cannot enter easily", Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said during a rally.

Panama's Supreme Court had earlier annulled Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison's contract to operate two ports at the Panama Canal.

Thai forces took control of several patches of disputed land along the Thai-Cambodian border during fighting last year, which could amount to several square kilometres in total.

The patient had a history of consuming raw date palm sap, which can be contaminated by infected bats.

Gold, long seen as a safe-haven asset to hedge against political and economic risks, saw a wild run in a speculative buying spree in January that took it to a record near US$5,600 per ounce.

Bithumb had planned to distribute small cash rewards of 2,000 Korean won (US$1.37) to each user as part of a promotional event, but winners received at least 2,000 bitcoins each instead. 

Most of Johor Bahru’s Chinese shops and eateries will shutter during CNY, but you’ll find life in the major malls and then some.

Some experts believe Thailand is still paying the price of past military coups and grappling with a legitimacy deficit on the world stage.

The three major parties hoping to lead Thailand’s next government made their final pitches to large crowds of supporters in Bangkok on Friday (Feb 6), as the country prepares to head to the polls this weekend.

During Friday prayers, a suicide bomber targeted a Shiite mosque in Pakistan where 31 people were killed.

The student had just arrived in Mumbai to visit a relative when the balloons were being delivered for a birthday celebration in the same building.

Indonesia Foreign Minister Sugiono made the remarks after accompanying President Prabowo Subianto to a meeting with more than 40 Islamic leaders and representatives from Islamic organisations.

Analysts say the rare same-day calls on Wednesday (Feb 4) were a calculated move by Beijing to assert its centrality and maximise leverage as great-power politics hardens.

The code has been under discussion for years, but the talks have stalled repeatedly over disagreements on its scope, enforcement and legal status.

The driver apparently lost control while reversing the Perodua Viva car just after 8am on Feb 3. Security camera footage of the incident circulating online sparked safety concerns.

The action star is reportedly receiving treatment for gallbladder cancer. A source close to him shared that he was diagnosed in 2024 and has been undergoing chemotherapy.

Media reports of psychiatric institutes locking up patients - including people without mental illness - as part of an insurance scam triggered a nationwide review.

Jimmy Lai will be sentenced alongside eight co-defendants on Monday (Feb 9), including six executives of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper.

Key US strategy documents indicate that Southeast Asia is not high on the list of priorities, but the region cannot disengage, says Kevin Chen from the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

Thailand’s Feb 8 snap election is shaping up as a three-way contest, with voters weighing stability against reform and political legacy against change.

After almost a year of fear, policy uncertainty and lost orders, India’s exporters tell CNA the latest US tariff cut offers relief - but not clarity.

A restaurant in Seremban, Malaysia, has been ordered to close for two weeks after a viral video allegedly showed a staff member rinsing cooked food, including chicken and tofu, to be offered for sale again the next day.

At the CNA Summit held in Jakarta on Thursday (Feb 5), Indonesia’s Investment and Downstream Industry Minister Rosan Perkasa Roeslani called for more collaboration between the government, private sector and foreign investors.

South Korea will also cooperate with other countries, including the United States, Vietnam and Laos, to diversify its sourcing of critical minerals, Seoul's trade ministry said.

Padel in Indonesia has enjoyed a strong start but the real test is turning today’s excitement into lasting impact, said observers.

US President Donald Trump threatened last week to hike tariffs on imports from South Korea, blaming a delay in enacting a trade deal in which the Asian ally promised to invest US$350 billion in the United States.

Indonesia’s Presidential Special Envoy for International Trade and Multilateral Cooperation Mari Pangestu told CNA the deal reflects a more balanced approach to trade and investment ties. 

United States President Donald Trump recently warned of imposing a 100 per cent tariff on Canadian imports if Ottawa deepens trade engagement with Beijing.

Today’s leaders face shifting geopolitics, faster AI adoption and rising expectations for inclusive growth. Tune into the CNA Summit 2026 as senior decision-makers discuss how to turn capital into delivery confidence, scale innovation across diverse markets, and build resilient partnerships.

Both leaders publicly affirmed their personal stakes in strong relations after the call, their first since November.

Proponents say it is a practical way to improve governance in the capital city, but critics argue it would sideline vulnerable groups. Analysts say central to the issue is race.

Discussions about the need for independent nuclear capabilities are no longer seen as fringe ideas in some parts of Asia, says Patricia M Kim from Brookings Institution.

With Thai households under financial strain, economists say debt and global trade risks could hugely impact who voters pick on Sunday (Feb 8).

Beijing-based Kuaishou has spent the past year recasting itself as an AI video contender with global ambitions and it is succeeding, says Catherine Thorbecke for Bloomberg Opinion.

The Xi-Putin call, which a Kremlin aide said lasted nearly 1.5 hours, came ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia's military campaign this month.

“Air travel is a socio-economic necessity in the region. That’s why the demand is so strong," AAPA chief Subhas Menon told CNA’s Yasmin Jonkers at the Singapore Airshow.

As market pressures, digital disruption and global uncertainties intensify, Indonesian businesses must adapt and target impact-driven innovation, say analysts. These issues will be on the agenda at the CNA Summit in Jakarta on Thursday (Feb 5).