Rugby

Rugby-Wales call up uncapped duo as Reffell, Dyer omitted from Six Nations squad

Jan 20 (Reuters) - Leicester Tigers wing Gabriel ‌Hamer-Webb and Bath centre Louie Hennessey are two uncapped players in Wales' squad for ‌the 2026 Six Nations Championship as coach Steve Tandy named his 38-player selection on ‌Tuesday.

Thailand

Thailand seizes over 330 million methamphetamine tablets in four-month crackdown; more than RM442mil of assets frozen

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Jan 20 detailed the seizure of over 330 million methamphetamine tablets and the dismantling of several major criminal syndicates.

World

Prince Harry targeted for standing up to UK newspaper, his lawyer says

LONDON, Jan 20 (Reuters) - ‌Prince Harry suffered a sustained campaign of attacks for standing up to Britain's powerful Daily Mail over intrusion into ‌his private life, his lawyer told a court on Tuesday where he and others are suing the paper's ‌publisher.

AseanPlus News

Man running HK marathon while carrying baby gets booted, banned from race and roasted online

In the latest edition of "What was he thinking?", a man ran the Standard Chartered marathon in Hong Kong on Sunday (Jan 18) with his baby in a carrier strapped to his chest.

Economy

Matrade: Malaysia’s trade breaks RM3 trillion mark despite challenging global conditions

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's total trade in 2025 reached its highest value on record, surpassing the RM3 trillion mark at RM3.06 trillion, a 6.3 per cent year-on-year increase, with exports exceeding imports to generate a RM151.80 billion trade surplus.

Tennis

Tennis-Osaka opens 'jellyfish season' with stylish win at Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Jan ‌20 (Reuters) - Twice Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka floated onto ‌Rod Laver Arena in a jellyfish-inspired outfit and claimed a ‌see-sawing 6-3 3-6 6-4 win over Croatian battler Antonia Ruzic to reach the second round at Melbourne Park on Tuesday.  

World

Saudi state TV says King Salman chairs cabinet days after leaving hospital

DUBAI, Jan ‌20 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's 90-year-old King Salman ‌chaired in person a cabinet ‌meeting on Tuesday, Saudi state TV reported, days after he left hospital where he was ‍undergoing medical tests.

Entertainment

HK superstar Chow Yun Fat, 70, finishes 10km marathon in 2hrs 23 seconds

He hopes his participation in the marathon will inspire more older people to stay active and take part in sports.

Nation

Boy dies choking on rambutan seed

PETALING JAYA: A five-year-old boy has died after choking on a rambutan seed at a house in Kemaman, Terengganu on Monday (Jan 19).

AseanPlus News

Two young first-time drug users in Singapore died after using Ice at home in 2025; police rule out foul play

A young man and woman died after consuming methamphetamine (Ice) at his three-storey home on Jan 31, 2025; both were reportedly first-time users.

Technology

US IT hardware stocks fall as Morgan Stanley turns cautious on sector

Jan 20 (Reuters) - U.S. IT ‌hardware stocks fell on Tuesday after Morgan Stanley downgraded ‌its view on the industry, warning that companies could ‌drastically reduce their spending budgets as enterprise demand slows and component costs rise.

Technology

Sequoia, Accel-backed Ethos Technologies eyes $1.3 billion valuation in US IPO

Jan 20 (Reuters) - Ethos Technologies, ‌backed by venture capital firms Accel and Sequoia, said on ‌Tuesday it was targeting a valuation of up to $1.26 ‌billion in its U.S. initial public offering, as the insurance IPO momentum extends into 2026.

Nation

Female cop and brother remanded over alleged RM30,000 bribery

KUANTAN: The Pahang Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has secured a remand order for a female police officer who holds the rank of Inspector and her younger brother for allegedly soliciting and receiving bribes totalling about RM30,000.

Philippines

5.1-magnitude quake hits Mindanao, Philippines, confirms GFZ

An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.1 jolted Mindanao, Philippines, at 1853 GMT on Monday, the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences said.

Nation

IJM Corporation denies scrutiny from UK fraud office

PETALING JAYA: IJM Corporation Berhad has dismissed reports suggesting it is linked to an investigation by the United Kingdom's Serious Fraud Office (SFO), describing such claims as inaccurate.

Vietnam

Vietnam leader pledges graft fight as he eyes China-style powers

Vietnam's top leader promised to fight corruption in an address Tuesday to a twice-a-decade congress of the Communist Party, where he is seeking expanded powers similar to China's political structure.

Indonesia

Special investigation announced - Indonesia probes ATR 42 crash on Mount Bulusaraung

Indonesia has opened an investigation into the crash of an Indonesia Air Transport ATR 42-500 on Mount Bulusaraung in South Sulawesi, as search teams continue recovery efforts.

Thailand

Thailand to speed up reforms and boost SMEs to strengthen industrial competitiveness

The Thai government has acknowledged the Senate's proposal to "unlock obstacles facing Thai industry" and will move to accelerate legal reforms, strengthen support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Corporate News

Swift Energy Tech subsidiary bags contracts worth RM18mil

PETALING JAYA: Swift Energy Technology Bhd has secured multiple purchase orders with a combined value of about RM18mil, strengthening its order book and earnings visibility for the financial year ending Sept 30, 2026.

Sabah & Sarawak

Early voter turnout of 93% for Kinabatangan, Lamag by-elections, says EC

KINABATANGAN: A total of 93% or 176 police personnel have fulfilled their responsibilities as early voters for the Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag state by-elections.