Thailand

Bangkok PM2.5: Chatuchak highest as pollution levels raise health concerns

BANGKOK: Bangkok's Air Quality Information Centre reported PM2.5 (fine particulate matter of 2.5 microns or less) in the capital at 7am on Monday (Jan 19).

Nation

Housewife loses nearly RM240,000 to bogus investment scheme

BATU PAHAT: A Chinese national lost RM239,000 after falling prey to an investment scam here.

Vietnam

Foreign tourist wraps bananas around body to feed wild monkeys in Danang, Vietnam

HANOI: A foreign tourist wrapped ripe bananas around his body to approach wild monkeys on Son Tra Peninsula in Danang, Vietnam. Authorities intervened, warning the visitor and ordering an immediate halt to the feeding.

Nation

BM must be given priority, decrees King

KUALA LUMPUR: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, decreed that the national language Bahasa Malaysia must continue to be given priority.

SEARCH Scholar Series

Artificial Intelligence Malaysia (AIM): A Digital Silk Road for All Malaysians

In the grand tradition of Malaysian ambition, from the Petronas Twin Towers to our world-class highways, the Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, announced in Budget 2026 a new, quiet giant: a groundbreaking RM2bil commitment to build a Sovereign AI Cloud.

Indonesia

Missing Indonesian hiker found dead on Mt Slamet

JAKARTA: Search and rescue (SAR) workers finally found Syafiq Ridhan Ali Razan, who went missing while hiking on Mount Slamet on Wednesday (Jan 14). Ali was reported missing on Dec 30 and was found after a 16-day search.

Nation

King wants corruption stamped out

KUALA LUMPUR: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, has stressed the importance of tracking down those who enable corruption in the nation, and expressed disappointment over the recent graft cases involving the Armed Forces.

Nation

Cops nab 72 in raid on Klang cockfighting den

PETALING JAYA: A cockfighting den in Klang has been busted in a police raid.

Asia & Oceania

Jepun Untukmu: A Muslim-friendly travel guide to Japan

JNTO KL's campaign highlights popular attractions, lesser-known spots and Muslim-friendly amenities across Japan.

AI

Does AI create new ideas, or just repeat old ones?

Systems like OpenAI's GPT-5 are accelerating research in math, biology and chemistry. But there is a debate over whether it can do that work on its own.

India

Electronics and shrimp: Analysts cautious despite India’s export growth to China

NEW DELHI: India is selling more goods to China, buoyed by increased trade in mobile phone components and other products.

Tennis

Tennis-Gauff crushes Rakhimova to reach Australian Open second round

MELBOURNE, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Coco Gauff ‌started her quest for a maiden ‌Australian Open title with a 6-2 6-3 win over Kamilla Rakhimova at Rod Laver ‍Arena to reach the ‍second round on ‌Monday.

World

Australian boy in critical condition after Sydney Harbour shark attack

SYDNEY, Jan ‌19 (Reuters) - An Australian boy was in critical condition after ‌being bitten by a shark in Sydney, authorities ‌said on Monday, after heavy rain created ideal conditions for sharks to enter the city's harbour.

AseanPlus News

Australia parliament returns with moment of silence for Bondi mass shooting victims

SYDNEY: Australia's parliament returned early on Monday (Jan 19) with speeches and a moment of silence for those killed in the Bondi Beach mass shooting, as victims' families watched from the public gallery.

Markets

World markets jolted, dollar dips as Trump vows tariffs on Europe over Greenland

LONDON: Global markets are facing volatility after President Donald Trump vowed to slap tariffs on eight European nations until the U.S. is allowed to buy Greenland, injecting fresh trade uncertainty as stocks slid and the dollar broadly weakened.

Commodities

Oil prices steady as ebbing Iranian protests lower chance of US attack

BEIJING: Oil prices were little changed on Monday, after rising in the previous session, as Iran's deadly crackdown on protests quelled the civil unrest in the country, reducing the chance of a U.S. attack on the major Middle Eastern producer that could disrupt supplies.

Nation

Sultan Ibrahim opens fifth session of 15th Parliament

KUALA LUMPUR: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, graced the opening of the First Meeting Of The Fifth Session of the 15th Parliament on Monday(Jan 19).

Philippines

Gas discovery provides boost to Philippines fast-dwindling reserves

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos said Monday (Jan 19) that a "significant" discovery of natural gas had been made near the country's sole producing offshore site.

Thailand

Chiang Mai puts on show of genuine Japanese sakura in full bloom

BANGKOK: A reporter described the atmosphere on Friday (Jan 16) at Doi Ang Khang in Fang district, Chiang Mai, where this winter has been particularly lively, as genuine Japanese sakura trees inside the Ang Khang Royal Agricultural Station are now in full bloom in the cold weather.

Nation

MetMalaysia issues advisory on tropical storm Nokaen

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued an advisory on tropical storm Nokaen