Technology

Taiwan says it will lead 'democratic' high-tech supply chain with US

TAIPEI, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Taiwan aims ‌to build a "democratic" high-tech supply chain with the United States and form a strategic ‌AI partnership under the new tariffs deal it sealed with Washington last ‌week, Taipei's top negotiator in the talks said on Tuesday.

Singapore

Eurasian hoopoe in Tanjong Katong excites Singapore birdwatchers

SINGAPORE: Keen birdwatcher Andy Chew spent two hours in the morning of Monday (Jan 19), zipping around Tanjong Katong on his bicycle in search of a rare sighting.

Nation

Malaysia's GDP grew by 4.9% in 2025, trade surpassed RM3 trillion, says PM

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia recorded a 4.9% Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth and total trade surpassed RM3 trillion for the first time last year, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Comment

Brain circulation or brain drain: Malaysia needs better metrics

In recent months, the language around Malaysia's talent outflows has shifted.

Malaysia

Winter wonderlands that you can visit across Malaysia

From Penang to Sabah, you can 'chill' with friends and family at these snow attractions.

Myanmar

Yangon air quality at unhealthy red level for four consecutive days

YANGON: Yangon's air quality has remained at the red level for four consecutive days, according to Environment, Health, and Safety Myanmar (EHS Myanmar), a non-profit organisation.

Sabah & Sarawak

Sabah govt sets up task force to engage industry stakeholders

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's development arm - the Sabah Maju Jaya Secretariat, has set up a dedicated task force serving as a coordinated platform to prioritise key business and industry concerns as well as engage with industry representatives among other things.

Tennis

Tennis-Defending champion Keys battles past plucky Oliynykova

MELBOURNE, ‌Jan 20 (Reuters) - Madison Keys launched ‌her Australian Open title defence with ‌a 7-6(6) 6-1 win over Ukrainian Grand Slam debutant Oleksandra Oliynykova to reach the second round ‍at Melbourne Park on ‍Tuesday.

Thailand

Thai ex-Premier Abhisit seeks return as anti-scammer kingmaker

BANGKOK: Former Thai leader Abhisit Vejjajiva expects to play a kingmaker's role in any coalition that seeks to rule the South-East Asian nation after next month's election, pitching an agenda of "clean politics" to tackle systemic corruption and dismantle cyber scam operations.

Markets

Stocks slide, dollar struggles as Trump's Greenland gambit rattles markets

SINGAPORE: Asian stocks fell on Tuesday, while the dollar remained under pressure and the U.S. Treasury yields climbed to their highest level in more than four months, as a resurgence of trade-war concerns hit risk sentiment and sparked selling in U.S. assets.

Sabah & Sarawak

Kinabatangan, Lamag polls: Early voting begins smoothly

KINABATANGAN: Early voting for the Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag state by-elections began smoothly on Tuesday (Jan 20), involving police personnel scheduled for duty on polling day.

Education

Higher Education Ministry to introduce Academic Bank Credits platform

PUTRAJAYA: The Academic Bank Credits (ABC) platform will be introduced to students, says Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir.

Laos

Search for missing persons in Laos sinkhole tragedy called off

VIENTIANE: The government has announced the termination of search operations for four people still missing after a large sinkhole suddenly opened up in Thongmang village, Xaythany district, Vientiane, on Jan 3, citing safety risks and geological instability.

Nation

Court of Appeal reduces damages in Altantuya lawsuit to RM1.38mil

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal has reduced the quantum of damages awarded to the family of Mongolian interpreter Altantuya Shaariibuu from RM5mil to RM1.4mil in a lawsuit against political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, two policemen and the Government.

North Korea

North Korea's Kim sacks senior official, slams 'incompetence'

SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has fired a senior official tasked with economic policy and condemned "incompetent" apparatchiks for delays in the opening of an important factory, state media said Tuesday (Jan 20).

South Korea

Seoul proposes mandating licence check for e-scooter rentals

SEOUL: The Seoul Metropolitan Government is moving to require electric scooter rental companies to verify users' driver's licences, tightening enforcement as unlicensed riding and youth-related accidents continue to surge.

Entertainment

'I do not want to reconcile with my family', says Brooklyn Peltz Beckham

LONDON: Brooklyn Peltz Beckham, son of the British celebrity couple David and Victoria Beckham, said he did not want to reconcile with his parents after a family rift he described in a lengthy post on social media on Monday (Jan 19).

Nation

Five million to receive STR starting today, says PM Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR: Phase 1 of the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) for 2026 will be rolled out from Tuesday (Jan 20) to five million recipients, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Vietnam

Vietnam's Lam pledges growth above 10% despite global disruptions

HANOI: Vietnam's top leader To Lam pledged annual economic growth above 10 per cent for the remainder of the decade despite global disruptions as he addressed delegates at the Communist Party congress on Tuesday (Jan 20).

The Doctor Says

Understanding GLP-1 drugs, those popular weight-loss medications

The class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists have become renowned for their effects in helping weight loss.