Tennis

Tennis-Swiatek leads Poland to victory over Australia in United Cup quarters

SYDNEY, Jan 9 (Reuters) - ‌Iga Swiatek brushed aside Maya Joint ‌and Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski won ‌the mixed doubles as Poland beat hosts Australia 2-1 in the United Cup quarter-finals on Friday, setting ‍up a last-four clash with ‍defending champions the ‌United States.

Thailand

Thailand tightens controls on agricultural burning to curb PM2.5 pollution

The Thai government has tightened controls on agricultural burning as part of broader efforts to tackle PM2.5 pollution, setting a nationwide target to reduce burned farmland by at least 15 per cent.

AseanPlus News

Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Friday (Jan 9, 2025)

Here's a look at the news highlights from Asean countries in the Star-AseanPlus section for Friday (Jan 9, 2025.

Entertainment

Malaysian actor Hero Tai likens living with sister-in-law to 'an incurable tumour'

Tai lamented that despite covering his sister-in-law's living expenses, she was always unwilling to help with chores.

Badminton

M'sian coaches Choong Hann, Jeremy behind Hkg's win against Tang Jie-Ee Wei

KUALA LUMPUR: Hong Kong's mixed doubles shuttler Tse Ying Suet may be 35-years-old but she remains a dangerous opponent.

South Korea

Exports of K-beauty products hit an all-time high in 2025, according to data

South Korea's cosmetics exports hit a record high last year, driven by the global popularity of Korean culture and the country's efforts to diversify export markets, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing data released on Friday.

China

China TV shows alleged 'scam centre' kingpin handcuffed and hooded after surprise arrest

Chen Zhi indicted in US for financial crimes related to scam centres; South-East Asia scam compounds generating billions from online fraud, UN says as Cambodia orders liquidation of bank founded by Chen.

Singapore

Singapore: Pre-school teacher and childcare worker allegedly abused three kids, including a baby, in separate cases

A pre-school teacher and a childcare centre worker allegedly ill-treated three young children, including a baby, in unrelated cases.

Indonesia

Indonesia ends search for Spanish boy missing since boat sinking

Indonesian authorities ended the search on Friday for the final passenger missing from a tourist boat that sank in rough seas two weeks ago, officials said.

AseanPlus News

Vietnam shrugs off Trump tariffs as US exports surge to whopping numbers

Over the whine of buzzsaws and the steady whir of sanders, hundreds of Vietnamese workers in a factory outside Ho Chi Minh City hustle to fill orders for high-end furniture.

Philippines

One dead and dozens of people missing after Philippine dump site collapse

Rescue workers searched on Friday for dozens of people buried under a mountain of garbage that collapsed at a landfill in the central Philippines, killing at least one.

Cambodia

Cambodia pushes back on Thai scam strikes, seeks to cool the border issues

Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol said his country wants to "lower the temperature" in its dispute with Thailand to protect a fragile ceasefire.

AseanPlus News

Tokyo police investigating deadly stabbing of audio equipment company president as murder case

A man was found collapsed and bleeding inside a locked apartment in Ota Ward, Tokyo, at about 10.40am local time on Jan 8, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Japan

Japan insecticide firm holds memorial service to honour bugs killed during product testing

Unusual 40-year-old tradition sees monk chant and employees pray for dead cockroaches, mites and fleas; critics find ceremony 'ironic'

Badminton

Home hopes gone as Tang Jie-Ee Wei bow out in quarters

KUALA LUMPUR: Reigning world champions Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei's run in the Malaysian Open ended after the mixed pair went down to Hong Kong's Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet in the quarter-finals.

China

China and South Korea sign US$44mil in trade deals after years of friction

High-level summit strengthens bilateral ties after years of strained relations, as China shores up regional relationships amid row with Japan

Nation

Anti-party hopping law should be reviewed, says Kiandee after Federal Court ruling on Bersatu's application

PETALING JAYA: Anti-party hopping laws in Malaysia should be reviewed, urges Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee after the Federal Court dismissed the party's attempt to declare four Sabah parliamentary seats as vacant.

Forex

Ringgit ends lower against US dollar ahead of US jobs data, tariff ruling

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit ended lower against the US dollar on Friday, as markets moved into a cautious holding pattern ahead of tonight's US non-farm payrolls release and a possible Supreme Court ruling on US President Donald Trump-era tariffs, an analyst said.

Singapore

Alleged Indonesian trafficking ring sending babies into Singapore being investigated, says authorities

The Singapore and Indonesian governments are working together to review allegations of babies being trafficked into Singapore for adoption.

Nation

US to provide US$45mil assistance to support Thai-Cambodia peace efforts

PETALING JAYA: The United States will provide US$45mil in assistance to Cambodia and Thailand to support peace efforts between both countries, says Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Michael G. DeSombre.