Cambodia

China accuses extradited billionaire Chen Zhi of running a crime network from Cambodia

Beijing says mainland police will put core members of his crime ring on a wanted list and fugitives should 'turn themselves in'

AseanPlus News

Nestle Hong Kong recalls 21 batches of baby milk formula over toxin fears

Consuming contaminated products may cause vomiting and diarrhoea, Centre for Food Safety warns

Nation

Royal pardon for Najib to be the main war-cry at Umno AGM

KUALA LUMPUR: Calls for a royal pardon for former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will dominate the Umno annual general assembly to be held next week, says party secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.

Nation

Monthly Sara aid credited today, offers much-needed support to recipients

KUALA LUMPUR: Recipients of the monthly Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) assistance, which continues this year, began receiving their payments on Friday (Jan 9), providing relief to more low-income households amid rising living costs.

AseanPlus News

New Zealand's rare flightless parrot begins breeding again

WELLINGTON: New Zealand's critically endangered flightless parrot, the kakapo, started breeding last week for the first time in four years, the government conservation department said.

Indonesia

Prabowo awards Indonesian SEA Games medallists with huge bonuses

JAKARTA: The Indonesian government presented its SEA Games 2025 medallists with a bonus payment during a ceremony at the official presidential palace, Istana Negara, on Thursday (Jan 8).

Energy

Oil advances on concerns about supply disruptions in Venezuela, Iran

SINGAPORE: Oil prices rose for a second day on Friday, up more than 1% and set for their third weekly gain, on uncertainty about the future of supply from Venezuela and as Iranian unrest increases concerns about output there.

Japan

Japanese man arrested under 1889 law after deadly 'duel'

TOKYO: Japanese authorities applied an 1889 anti-duelling law to arrest a man over a fight that resulted in his opponent's death in Tokyo's red light and entertainment district, police said Friday (Jan 9)

Singapore

Keeping the kampung game of gasing alive in Geylang, Singapore

SINGAPORE: Hidden in plain sight in the Geylang Baru heartland is a sheltered, caged structure, with passers-by barely noticing its existence.

Philippines

Taal gas emissions rise slightly but volcano stays seismically calm

LUCENA CITY, Quezon: Taal Volcano in Batangas showed a slight increase in sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions, while seismic activity remained generally low, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said on Friday (Jan 9)

Corporate News

Disney CEO meets top Chinese official as 'House of Mouse' navigates US‑China tensions

BEIJING: One of China's top officials met with Disney CEO Bob Iger in Beijing on Friday, state media reported, as the "House of Mouse" seeks to strengthen its foothold in the world's second-largest economy amid fraught U.S.-China tensions.

China

China's top court reaffirms ban on betrothal gifts

BEIJING: China's top court has reiterated the ban on demanding betrothal gifts or any form of property under the pretext of marriage, pledging firm judicial action to crack down on illegal practices, including marriage fraud.

Brunei

New Brunei hub adds excitement for gamers

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Netcom Computer House announced the expansion of its gaming outlet, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to serving Brunei's growing gaming community. It officially opened its doors with a grand opening ceremony Thursday (Jan 8).

Commodities

Gold falls as commodity index adjustments weigh ahead of US jobs data

GOLD fell on Friday as commodity index readjustments and a firm dollar kept the pressure on prices, with investors positioning ahead of crucial U.S. non-farm payrolls data due later ‌in the day.

South Korea

S. Korea police investigate two men suspected of firing arrow at pedestrian

SEOUL: Two men in their 20s have been booked without detention after an arrow was fired near a pedestrian in a plaza in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, police said Friday (Jan 9).

Laos

Laos forges ahead with rail expansion

VIENTIANE: The government will undertake a feasibility study on the construction of a railway between Vientiane and Pakse city, while also planning to build a rail link between Laos and Vietnam.

Myanmar

Myanmar's Shwedagon Pagoda draws over 6.95 million visitors in 2025

YANGON: Myanmar's Shwedagon Pagoda, also known as the Golden Pagoda, attracted over 6.95 million visitors in 2025, Boe Thin, a member of the Shwedagon Pagoda Board of Trustees, told Xinhua on Friday (Jan 9)

Singapore

Fowl play detected: Chicken becomes Singapore’s latest football sensation

SINGAPORE: The FIFA World Cup starts only in June, but football fever has already begun for many in Singapore – including one chicken.

Cambodia

New sub-decree will see property owners in Cambodia fined for hosting illegal foreign guests

PHNOM PENH: Property owners or managers of "collective residential premises", like guesthouses or apartment buildings, will face stiff financial penalties for hosting foreigners who dwell in the Kingdom illegally. A new sub-decree made Wednesday (Jan 7), will see them fined four million riel (US$1,000) for each illegal resident, in addition to existing legal penalties.

Badminton

Pearly shares unwell Insta story after Open exit, Rexy explains

BUKIT JALIL: National women's doubles shuttler Pearly Tan revealed she had been unwell a week before the Malaysian Open after uploading a photo of herself receiving treatment in hospital on her Instagram story on Friday (Jan 9).