Nation

Influencer claims trial to assault on disabled person

PETALING JAYA: A social media influencer pleaded not guilty at the Magistrate's Court here to a charge of hitting a fast food restaurant worker.

Nation

Anwar conferred Turkiye’s highest state honour

ANKARA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was conferred the Order of the Republic, Turkiye's highest state honour, in recognition of his role in strengthening bilateral ties between Malaysia and the republic.

Economy

Top oil firms turn to Beijing for guidance

Leading Chinese oil companies with interests in Venezuela have asked Beijing for guidance on how to protect their investments as Washington cranks up pressure on the Latin American country.

Focus

From tea wars to chicken bargains

THE economic relationship between the United States and China is as strained as it has been in years. Yet, that has not stop­ped a wave of Chinese food and beverage chains from pushing into the United States for the first time.

Economy

Singapore interest rates likely to bottom out

Interest rates in Singapore could bottom out in the second quarter of 2026 as the US Federal Reserve (Fed) cuts rates, shortening the wait for hedging opportunities.

Vietnam

Govt warns of nuclear power delays, seeks Russia deal

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh wants talks with Russia to build a nuclear power plant to wrap up this month and urged government officials to find new partners after Japan pulled out from a second project.

Corporate News

Globaltec unit inks deal for Sumatra gas project

Globaltec Formation Bhd's 70%-owned subsidiary NuEnergy Gas Ltd is collaborating with PT Beijing Energy Linking (PT BJEL) to develop coalbed methane production sharing contracts (PSCs) in South Sumatra, Indonesia.

South Korea

President turns to penguins in bid to meet Kim

President Lee Jae-myung has portrayed himself and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as a pair of affectionate penguins in a social media post urging the ­despot to meet him.

Commodities

Jakarta’s biodiesel policy to bolster CPO this year

Crude palm oil (CPO) prices could reach RM4,400 per tonne this year, representing a modest increase from last year's average of RM4,332, analysts say.

Economy

Australia central banker says inflation rate still too high

A top Australian central banker says that a slowdown in consumer price inflation for November was "helpful", but largely as expected and inflation is still too high.

Corporate News

Firms face delisting risks

Several billion-dollar companies in Vietnam are facing the imminent risk of losing public company status and being delisted from stock exchanges.

Nation

Ex-Army chief remanded

PUTRAJAYA: Former Army chief Jeneral Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan and his two wives have been remanded in connection with the graft probe into the cartel linked with procurement tenders for the Army.

Cambodia

Scam kingpin extradited to China

The government said it had arrested and extradited to China a tycoon who has been accused of running a huge online scam operation.

Japan

Wild monkeys take on Japan’s Northern Alps

In the foothills of Japan's Northern Alps, people are chasing monkeys.

World

Some whales restrand at New Zealand's Farewell Spit, six die

AUCKLAND, ‌Jan 9 (Reuters) - Fifteen whales restranded and ‌six have died after a mass stranding ‌at Farewell Spit on the coast of New Zealand's South Island, conservation group Project Jonah said on Friday, ‍as volunteers prepared to attempt ‍to refloat them.

Nation

Anwar receives courtesy call from ex-Gunners star Ozil, Erdogan's son in Istanbul

ISTANBUL: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday (Jan 8) received a courtesy call from former renowned international footballer Mesut Ozil and Necmeddin Bilal Erdogan, the son of the Turkish President, on the final day of his official visit to Turkiye.

Brunei

‘Prosecutors vital in upholding justice’

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Prosecutors play a central role in upholding justice, said Attorney General and Public Prosecutor Datin Seri Paduka Nor Hashimah Muhammed Taib.

AseanPlus News

Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Thursday (Jan 8, 2026)

Here's a look at the news highlights from Asean countries in the Star-AseanPlus section for Thursday (Jan 8, 2026)

Nation

Malaysia, Turkiye aim for synergy in defence, energy, high-tech industries, says Anwar

ISTANBUL: Malaysia and Turkiye have agreed to strengthen cooperation in strategic industries by leveraging their respective strengths in the defence, energy and high-technology sectors, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

AseanPlus News

Meow or never: China’s pudgy pets spark race for weight-loss drugs

Fosun and Huadong biotech labs eye feline obesity drugs as owners weigh cuteness against health risks