News Headlines

Ikea will close seven stores in China from Feb 2 as it moves from broad expansion to more focused growth and online sales.

Malaysian Religious Affairs Minister Zulkifli Hasan has come under fire for claiming in parliament that work stress turns people gay.

Japan-born Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei have "made a positive contribution to promoting friendship between the peoples of the two countries", said China's panda research base.

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) will head the presidential council while coalition partner Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) is set to lead the bloc’s executive council.

On their plate are unresolved challenges including the Myanmar crisis, alongside new uncertainties reshaping the global order.

Over half of about 100 hectares affected has been brought under control.

Ajit Pawar, the deputy chief minister of India's ⁠wealthiest state of Maharashtra, was en route to his home region ⁠to canvass in local body elections, media said.

The Football Association of Malaysia was fined US$400,000 by FIFA for submitting false documents claiming that seven foreign-born players had Malaysian ancestry.

The court cleared Kim Keon Hee on charges of ‍stock price manipulation and ⁠violating the political funds act.

Some countries in Asia have stepped up airport screening measures after Nipah virus cases emerged in India's West Bengal.

Almost 200 contacts linked to the Nipah virus cases were traced and found negative, India’s health ministry said on Tuesday (Jan 27). 

West Java's governor Dedi Mulyadi blamed the landslide on the sprawling plantations around the mountain village where it occurred.

Beijing is wary of AI startups getting the wrong idea from Meta’s deal to buy a Chinese-founded, Singapore-headquartered AI company, says Wang Shengyu from the Asia Society Policy Institute.

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.