Cycling

Motorcycling-MotoGP takes over downtown Kuala Lumpur in glitzy season launch

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7 (Reuters) - MotoGP launched ‌its new season in a glittery showcase in Malaysia on Saturday, with riders parading their bikes in front of ‌thousands of fans outside the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur.

World

Farmers report 'catastrophic' damage to crops as Storm Marta hits Spain and Portugal

CORDOBA, ‌Feb 7 (Reuters) - Farmers in Spain warned on Saturday that torrential rains and high winds ‌had left fields submerged and caused millions of euros worth of damage to crops, ‌as Spain and Portugal braced for more extreme weather.

Other Sports

Olympics-Alpine skiing-Goggia and Brignone fired up by 'dream come true' opening ceremony

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy, ‌Feb 7 (Reuters) - Italy's Sofia Goggia and Federica Brignone said they barely slept ‌on Friday night and were still buzzing after taking part in ‌the Milano Cortina Winter Games opening ceremony in Cortina.

Singapore

RMAF participation at Singapore airshow earns recognition from PM Lawrence Wong

SINGAPORE: Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Saturday (Feb 7) expressed appreciation for the participation of regional air forces, including the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), at the Singapore Airshow 2026.

Hockey

Olympics-Ice hockey-Underdog Italy hope to beat some 'big guys', says forward Purdeller

MILAN, Feb 7 (Reuters) - ‌Italy's men's ice hockey team will leverage their underdog status to try ‌and surprise more illustrious opponents at the Winter Olympics for even just ‌one win for a potential quarter-final berth, forward Tommy Purdeller said on Saturday.

Hockey

Olympics-Ice hockey-Germany beat Japan, Canada to begin women's title defence

MILAN, ‌Feb 7 (Reuters) - Nicola Hadraschek scored twice as ‌Germany secured their first win of the ‌women's Olympic ice hockey tournament, beating Japan 5-2 on Saturday, while defending champions Canada prepared for their delayed Milano ‍Cortina opener against Switzerland.

Rugby

Rugby-France call up nine uncapped players with Ntamack still out for Wales clash

PARIS, Feb 7 (Reuters) - ‌France coach Fabien Galthie named nine ‌uncapped players in a 42-man squad on ‌Saturday ahead of their second Six Nations encounter against Wales next week, while flyhalf Romain Ntamack and ‍Damian Penaud remained out for ‍different reasons.

Indonesia

Indonesia arrests dozens of Indian nationals in Bali gambling crackdown

JAKARTA: Indonesian authorities have arrested dozens of Indian nationals in a crackdown on online gambling operations on the popular tourist island of Bali, police said Saturday (Feb 7)

Nation

Malaysia, Saudi Arabia to sign defence cooperation agreement

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Saudi Arabia are set to sign a defence cooperation agreement during Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin's working visit to the kingdom beginning on Saturday (Feb 7).

Vietnam

Smoke-dried mummies in Vietnam – discovery of world scale

HANOI: The discovery of mummies preserved through the smoke-drying method in Vietnam and some other South-east Asian countries was a finding recognised as one of the world's top 10 archaeological discoveries of 2025.

Cricket

Cricket–Shepherd hat-trick fashions Windies win in T20 World Cup

KOLKATA, Feb 7 (Reuters) - West ‌Indies fast bowler Romario Shepherd claimed four wickets ‌in five balls, including a hat-trick, as the ‌twice champions thumped Scotland by 35 runs in a Group C match of the Twenty20 World Cup in Kolkata on Saturday.

World

France opens probe against ex-culture minister lang after Epstein file dump

PARIS, Feb 7 (Reuters) - The French Financial ‌Prosecutor's Office said on Saturday it had opened an investigation into former culture ‌minister Jack Lang and his daughter Caroline on suspicion of 'aggravated tax fraud ‌laundering', a move that follows the release of files linked to late convicted U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Other Sports

Olympics-Snowboard-Australian James keeps plans under wraps as he chases first gold

LIVIGNO, Italy, Feb ‌7 (Reuters) - Australia snowboarder Scotty James is keeping details of his halfpipe plans ‌to himself at the Milano Cortina Games as he chases the gold ‌medal that has eluded him in four Olympics.

Nation

Public service to go paper-free on Feb 9, says govt chief sec

BANGI: The public service will begin implementing a paperless approach for simple administrative matters starting Monday (Feb 9), in line with efforts to accelerate digitalisation in government administration, says Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.

Other Sports

Olympics-Alpine skiing-Swiss upstart Von Allmen stuns Odermatt to win downhill gold

BORMIO, Italy, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Swiss young gun Franjo ‌von Allmen produced a stunning descent of the fearsome Stelvio slope to win the Olympic Alpine skiing men's downhill on Saturday as illustrious ‌teammate and race favourite Marco Odermatt missed the podium.

Nation

Scoring of 14 ministries that failed to meet targets set for March 2026

BANGI: The process of assigning scores to 14 ministries identified as having failed to meet targets in implementing physical development projects will be carried out next month, said Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.

Japan

Takaichi talks tough on immigration on eve of vote

TOKYO: Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged Saturday (Feb 7) to make Japan "more prosperous and safer", including through tougher immigration screening, in a final appeal to voters on the eve of snap elections.

Other Sports

Olympics-Cross-country-Karlsson leads Sweden 1-2 in women's skiathlon

TESERO, ‌Italy, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Sweden dominated the women's skiathlon in the first cross-country skiing race ‌of the Milano Cortina Games, as Frida Karlsson took gold and compatriot Ebba Andersson ‌clinched the silver medal on Saturday.

Other Sports

Olympics-Biathlon-Don't underestimate Norway, says Dale-Skjevdal on eve of biathlon relay

ANTERSELVA, Italy, Feb 7 (Reuters) - ‌Norway's Johannes Dale-Skjevdal says the team's rivals should not underestimate the traditional superpower when the ‌Olympic biathlon competitions get under way on Sunday, despite fans and media talking up the ‌chances of France, Italy and Sweden.

Thailand

Thailand is wracked by floods and quakes. But what’s holding it back is far harder to tackle

Rural voters express frustration, seeking effective policy implementation and technological advancements, while southern Thailand becomes a key election battleground.