South Korea

Soaring gold prices reshape Korea’s rituals

From baby rings to wedding bands, Koreans scale back as gold prices jump fivefold in a decade

Nation

Sales executive cheated of RM50,750 in fake tender scam

KUALA TERENGGANU: A sales executive lost RM50,750 after falling victim to a fake tender scam.

AseanPlus News

‘It’s not going to be me’: Despite risks of shark attacks, Sydney beachgoers still catch the waves

SYDNEY, (Australia): On a sun-drenched day in Sydney, it is no surprise to see crowds heading breezily into the water at Coogee Beach, one of the city's most popular beaches

Philippines

Filipino-American who shot ex-partner in front of children found guilty of murder

DALY CITY, California (US): Nearly three years after Frances Lucero was shot and killed at her parents' home here, a jury found her ex-partner guilty of all charges in the ensuing two-week murder trial.

India

India adopted Constitution because of Hindu nature: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

NEW DELHI: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat (pic) on Saturday (Feb 7) said that while Pakistan became a Muslim nation after partition in 1947, India remained a secular country because of Hindus.

Nation

AI strengthens journalism rather than replaces it, says Lanang MP

SIBU: Artificial intelligence should be seen as a tool to strengthen journalism rather than replace it, Lanang MP Alice Lau said, as she highlighted the evolving role of technology in the media industry.

Squash

Windy City Open ends for Eain Yow, Aira

PETALING JAYA: National squash player Ng Eain Yow's hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the Windy City Open ended after he lost to New Zealand's Paul Coll on Saturday (Feb 7).

Indonesia

Jakarta’s stock plunge shines light on ‘pump and dump’ schemes that victimise retail investors

JAKARTA: Influenced by social media, retail investor Qolbi bought into a soaring stock on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX), only to become the victim of a classic "pump and dump" scheme.

China

She teaches women in China to flirt. What could go wrong?

BEIJING: A woman turns her torso one way, flings her gaze the other, and says in a sultry voice: "Gan ma?" – what do you want?

North Korea

North Korea to hold party congress in February, first since 2021

SEOUL: North Korea's leadership will hold a party congress later this month, state media announced Sunday (Feb 8), in what will be the first such major gathering since 2021.

Nation

Woman told to leave RXZ motorcycling event in Kelantan over ‘revealing attire’

PETALING JAYA: A woman was told to leave after turning up in a skirt and a low-cut top at the RXZ Forever Legend motorcycling gathering in Kota Baru, Kelantan.

Japan

Japan votes in test for PM Takaichi as snow weighs on turnout

TOKYO: (Reuters) Japanese voters were casting ballots on Sunday (Feb 8) in an election expected to hand Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi a resounding win, although record snowfall in parts of the country could keep many voters at home.

Nation

India PM Modi accorded official welcome at Perdana Putra

PUTRAJAYA: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived at the Seri Perdana Complex on Sunday (Feb 8) for a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Thailand

Thailand votes in early election with three main parties vying for power

BANGKOK: (AP) Voters in Thailand went to the polls Sunday (Feb 8) in an early general election seen as a three-way race among competing visions of progressive, populist and old-fashioned patronage politics.

Bangladesh

Woman dies after contracting Nipah virus

THE World Health Orga­nization (WHO) said a woman had died in northern Bangladesh in January after contracting the deadly Nipah virus.

Bangladesh

No country for women leaders

For more than three decades, Bangladesh was one of the few countries in the world to be led by women, yet there are almost none on the Feb 12 ballots.

Pakistan

IS affiliate claims Islamabad attack

An affiliate of the Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for a deadly suicide bombing inside a Syiah mosque on the outskirts of Pakistan's capital that killed 31 people and wounded 169 others, as mourners gathered under tight security at the same mosque for funerals for the victims.

Indonesia

Comedian summoned over Netflix show

A COMEDIAN who has beco­me the first Indonesian to air a special on Netflix was called in for questioning after police said they had received complaints that some of the material in the show was insulting and blasphemous.

AseanPlus News

Kites and victory cries fill the sky

COLOURFUL kites duelled above Lahore and cries of victory rang out from rooftops, as the city celebrated the lifting of an 18-year ban on a spectacular three-day traditional Punjabi kite-flying festival.

Thailand

Anutin bets big on nationalism

THE country's main political parties have held their final campaign events, rallying supporters just before a general election that caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul triggered early to capitalise on a wave of nationa­lism.