News Headlines

As voters in Bangladesh back reforms in a referendum, the return of a familiar political force raises questions about whether real change is coming, say analysts.

Analysts tell CNA the latest move shows Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin still runs the show and could be eyeing a return as chairman of the opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional.

More Chinese tourists are expected to travel overseas during this year's nine-day Spring Festival holiday starting on Feb 15, one day longer than usual, as they usher in the Year of the Horse.

There's currently a huge online battle between Southeast Asian users and South Korean netizens, with racial comments coming from both camps. And it all started from a K-pop concert in Malaysia.

No casualties have been reported so far and official investigations are ongoing. 

The support of Pheu Thai - which came in third in the election - will give Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul a clear parliamentary majority.

A Bloomberg report claimed that Malaysia's Anti-Corruption Commission chief Azam Baki held 17.7 million shares in a financial services company worth about RM800,000 (US$205,000), above the RM100,000 limit allowed for public servants. Azam had reportedly called the report malicious and misleading.

Tarique Rahman's rise marks a remarkable turnaround for a man who only returned to Bangladesh in December 2025 after 17 years in exile in Britain.

Since the programme's launch in January last year, at least 15,000 children across the country have fallen ill as a result of food poisoning.

Mohamed Nuh Qurasaini Kayat, 25, was among four who carried out the public cleaning service in Kuala Lumpur on Friday (Feb 13), with 11 others doing likewise in other parts of Malaysia.

Seoul initially denied any official involvement in a January drone incursion, with officials suggesting it was the work of civilians.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party easily secured 185 seats in Bangladesh's 300-member parliament, easily crossing the halfway mark for a simple majority.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party easily secured 185 seats in Bangladesh's 300-member parliament, easily crossing the halfway mark for a simple majority.

The official vote count gave the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its allies at least 212 of the 299 seats up for grabs.

Lawyers and experts weigh in on why both civil and criminal court cases have shot up - and the implications for Malaysia’s justice system.

Most middle powers are now at their most open period to work with others to diversify outside of the US and China, says political analyst James Chai.

The fortress built by Washington to keep Chinese electric vehicles out is no longer looking so impregnable, says an analyst.

School director Sasiphat Sinsamosorn died in hospital early on Thursday (Feb 12) after being admitted with gunshot wounds and undergoing surgery.

Lee Sang-min was found to have instructed authorities to cut power to media outlets deemed critical of former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi said technical discussions on the repayment mechanism are still underway, with negotiations led by the CEO of Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund Danantara.

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.

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

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.  

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

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. 

Maninder Sidhu tells CNA’s Yasmin Jonkers that Canada aims to be a stable trade partner for Asian economies as Ottawa aims to increase non-US exports by C$300 billion (US$222 billion). 

Chinese courts now expect a higher threshold of human creativity as AI tools become more powerful and easier to use.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also expressed appreciation towards Malaysians' “vigilance” in reporting attempts by drivers of foreign-registered vehicles to purchase subsidised RON95.

The proposed reforms come against the backdrop of years of political polarisation in Bangladesh, where power has traditionally been concentrated in the office of the prime minister.

Observers say India’s strongest bargaining chip remains its economic size and growth potential – a powerful draw even for a more protectionist America.

The donated artwork was illegally transferred and sold, prompting an investigation that implicated 29 people and exposed museum mismanagement.

More than 50 people died when a triple-decker vessel went down off the coast of southwestern Mindanao on Jan 26.

A revived speech and a shifting global backdrop. Beijing is signalling new urgency in its push to elevate the yuan - but the trade-offs remain unresolved, analysts say.  

New tuberculosis cases were also detected in six other states, according to Malaysia Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad.

More than 55 million voters – about 44 per cent of the electorate – are aged between 18 and 37, underscoring the growing political weight of young people.

The pair are accused of spying on a Buddhist group in Australia at the behest of Chinese police.

“The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is proud to welcome actress Michelle Yeoh to the Hollywood Walk of Fame,” said Walk of Fame producer Ana Martinez.

"The important value of rare earths in developing advanced manufacturing and promoting green and low-carbon transformation is becoming increasingly prominent," Chinese Premier Li Qiang was quoted as saying.

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te earlier warned that the island could be a "rupture in Indo-Pacific peace and stability" if the special defence budget was not passed.

Louis Vuitton’s 130 Monogram Anniversary Hotel pop-up opened on Wednesday (Feb 11) in the historic Yaowarat quarter in Bangkok.