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Philippines

Philippines to restore access to Grok after developer commits to safety fixes

MANILA: The Philippines will restore access to Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok following commitments from its developer to remove image-manipulation tools that previously raised child safety concerns, its cybercrime investigation unit said on Wednesday (Jan 21).

Technology

Philippines to restore access to Grok after developer commits to safety fixes

MANILA, Jan 21 (Reuters) - ‌The Philippines will restore access to ‌Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok following ‌commitments from its developer to remove image-manipulation tools that previously raised child safety concerns, its cybercrime ‍investigation unit said on Wednesday.

Technology

OpenAI to unveil chatbot ads to its advertisers, The Information reports

Jan ‌20 (Reuters) - ‌OpenAI plans ‌to unveil its chatbot ‍ads in ‍February ‌to dozens of ‍its ​advertisers, ⁠The Information reported on ‌Tuesday, ⁠citing ‍people familiar ‍with the matter.

Nation

Dr Wee in hospital for lung infection

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam) has been hospitalised since Jan 19 and will be on medical leave for a week, the Dewan Rakyat was informed.

Thailand

Hotspots in Thailand hit 316, increasing cross-border haze risk

BANGKOK: The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Public Organisation), or Gistda, reported that Thailand's hotspot count has climbed to 316, with agricultural land remaining the most concerning area.

Commodities

CPO prices to stay range-bound at RM4,000-RM4,300 per tonne in Feb - MPOC

KUALA LUMPUR: Crude palm oil prices (CPO) are expected to remain range-bound between RM4,000 per tonne and RM4,300 per tonne in February due to seasonal declines in production and stocks, according to the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC).

China

Nvidia CEO Huang plans to visit China as he seeks to reopen market, Bloomberg reports

NEW YORK: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang (pic) plans to travel to China in late January as he seeks to reopen a critical market for the company's artificial intelligence chips, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday (Jan 20), citing a person familiar with the matter.

Nation

Cops find motorcycle used in Nilai jewellery store robbery

NILAI: Police have found a motorcycle used by two male suspects during an armed robbery at a jewellery store in a shopping mall in Bandar Baru Nilai here.

AseanPlus News

Severe weather in New Zealand's North Island prompts evacuations

WELLINGTON: Authorities urged evacuations in some low-lying areas of New Zealand's North Island on Wednesday (Jan 21) and police searched for a missing man who was swept away in a river after continued heavy rain and strong winds triggered flooding, swollen rivers and landslides.

Japan

Ice hotel, chapel in Hokkaido resort open for season in Japan

ASAHIKAWA, Japan: A hotel and a chapel housed in dome-shaped structures made from single, seamless pieces of ice opened Tuesday (Jan 20) for the winter season in the Tomamu ski resort area in Hokkaido, Kyodo News Agency reported.

Stock on the Move

Maybank shares up following launch of new five-year strategy

KUALA LUMPUR: Malayan Banking Bhd's (Maybank) shares were up in early trade, following its newly-launched ROAR30 five-year strategy plan (2026-2030), targeting to deliver a stronger return on equity (ROE) of 13 per cent-14 per cent by 2030.

Vietnam

Artistic programme celebrates Vietnam's 14th National Party Congress

HANOI: A special artistic programme celebrating the 14th National Party Congress and the 96th anniversary of the Party's founding will take place at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi on January 23.

True Or Not

QuickCheck: Is Sungai Lipis badly polluted?

A VIDEO showing murky, discoloured water flowing through a river in Pahang has been making rounds on social media since Tuesday (Jan 20).

Technology

OpenAI unveils plan to keep data-center energy costs in check

Jan 20 (Reuters) - OpenAI unveiled ‌a Stargate Community plan on Tuesday, aimed ‌at "paying its way on energy" and ensuring that its ‌operations do not raise electricity costs for local communities.

South Korea

North produces enough nuclear material a year for 10-20 weapons, says S. Korea president

SEOUL: North Korea is producing enough nuclear material a year for up to 20 weapons, South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung said on Wednesday (Jan 21).

Asia & Oceania

Where to go for 'rail thrill' if/when Hanoi's Train Street closes for good

Here are a few (less risky) alternatives to Vietnam's popular rail attraction, including one right here in Malaysia.

Children

Cancer survivor creates children's book to offer comfort and companionship

Written by a Malaysian cancer survivor, this children's book in BM and Chinese, with an English summary, offers comfort and understanding during trying times.

Internet

Chinese-owned Temu catches up with Amazon in global cross-border e-commerce

Shein, another Chinese-founded retail giant, stabilised its market share at 9% in 2025, while AliExpress held 8%.

Nation

Smart lanes are safer for motorists, says Nanta

KUALA LUMPUR: Accident rates in smart lane zones on highways are extremely low when compared to the number of vehicles that use the lane, says Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.

Cambodia

Frontline soldiers, displaced families receive support through ‘Vegetables of Love’

PHNOM PENH: The "Together for the Nation" movement, led by First Lady Pich Chanmony, is mobilising students, communities, and institutions across Cambodia to grow and deliver vegetables to frontline soldiers, police and displaced families, highlighting a nationwide effort driven by the spirit of "Khmer helping Khmer".