Why solo travellers are feeling safest in these cities right now
Dubai: Abu Dhabi and Dubai have been named the safest cities in the world for solo travellers, according to a new global study by long-haul travel specialists Travelbag. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The research analysed 36 international destinations using daytime a»»»
Giant pandas emblematic of Malaysia-China ties official
Kuala Lumpur: Cooperation on the conservation of giant pandas is a hallmark of the close diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Arthur Joseph Kurup said on Thursday. Following a site visit to the Giant Panda Conservation Center (»»»
Turkiye, Malaysia strengthen joint cooperation
Ankara: Turkiye and Malaysia signed several agreements on Wednesday aimed at strengthening strategic cooperation between the two countries in various fields. This came after the first meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council between the two countries, held in Ankara, with the partici»»»
Roblox now requires age checks for all users to access chat worldwide
Roblox, the immersive online gaming and creation platform with tens of millions of users worldwide, has introduced a global policy requiring all users to complete an age check before they can access chat features on the service. The change, which began rolling out in early January 2026, marks the f»»»
Thailand says Cambodia violated 10-day-old ceasefire after cross-border 'accident'
Thailand accused Cambodia on Tuesday of cross-border fire that it said wounded a soldier and violated the fragile 10-day-old ceasefire between the bordering Southeast Asian nations. A truce was reached on December 27, ending three weeks of clashes that killed dozens of people and dis»»»
Malaysia ex-PM Mahathir's hip injury 'serious but not dangerous': daughter
Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia's 100-year-old former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad is being treated for a hip fracture after falling on Tuesday, with his daughter saying the injury was serious but "not dangerous". The political veteran has suffered health problems in recent years and was previously hospi»»»
Thailand Says Cambodia Violated Truce with Cross-Border ‘Accident’
Thailand accused Cambodia of violating a 10-day-old truce on Tuesday, saying cross-border mortar fire wounded a soldier, while Phnom Penh said a "pile of garbage" exploded, injuring two of its own troops. A decades-old border dispute between the Southeast Asian nations erupted into military clashes»»»
Netflix pulls Chinese drama after Vietnam's outcry over disputed map
Netflix has pulled a Chinese drama series from its Vietnam platform after Hanoi objected to an episode featuring a map with contested territorial claims in the South China Sea. The 27-episode romance drama Shine on Me includes images of the so-called nine-dash line which Vietnam has condemned as "i»»»
Malaysia to introduce 10-year term limit for prime minister
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim said Monday he would introduce legislation this year to limit the prime minister's term to a maximum 10 years, fulfilling one of his campaign promises. Speaking to ministers and civil servants after a cabinet meeting, Anwar cautioned against clinging»»»
COMMENT: What the capture of Venezuela's Maduro teaches Iran's leadership
The dramatic events currently unfolding in Caracas, where US elite forces have captured Nicolás Maduro & his wife following military strikes, are being hailed by some as a "liberation." The American administration parading the former South American strongman in handcuffs on television has sent »»»
US eyes Venezuelan oil reserves amid tensions: Key questions explored
After a US military operation that seized Nicolas Maduro, President Donald Trump said he wants to allow American oil companies to head back into Venezuela to tap its massive crude reserves. Here are some of the key questions around US interest in Venezuelan oil: What are Venezuela's reserves?The co»»»
Pakistan, Malaysia Reaffirm Commitment to Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation
Islamabad: Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, discussed bilateral relations and regional developments during a phone call on Sunday with Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad bin Haji Hasan. According to the Pakistan news agency, both sides reaffirmed their shar»»»
Leasehold or freehold? Philippine law unlocks 99-year land leases for foreign investors: Why RA 12252 matters
Manila: The Philippines has unlocked 99-year land leases to foreign investors with Republic Act No. 12252, signed in September. It's deemed a "game-changer". For one, it creates certainty for capital-intensive projects spanning decades, thus giving investors — and jobs — more predictability. Also I»»»
AeroMexico named world’s ‘most on-time’ airline - UPI.com
AeroMexico topped the world's global airlines with an on-time rate of 90.02% in 2025, global airlines analyst Cirium announced on Friday, marking the second straight year the Mexican airline finished at the top. Photo by Jose Mendez/EPA Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Mexico-based AeroMexico won Cirium's On-Time P»»»
Storm to quench southeast U.S. drought, with a wintry twist for parts of Virginia - UPI.com
A quick-developing storm will spread rain over part of the lower Mississippi Valley and the central Gulf coast into Friday night before moving off the southern Atlantic coast on Saturday night. On the northern edge of the rain, there will be some snow or a mix of snow, sleet and rain. Much of the s»»»
Malaysia forms online safety committee to guide policy
Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia has formed an online safety committee as the highest strategic advisory body to steer the direction of the nation's online safety, Azalina Othman Said, minister in the prime minister's department for law and institutional reform, said on Friday. This is in line with the enfor»»»
Thailand and Cambodia Sign Ceasefire to End Border Fighting
Thailand and Cambodia on Saturday signed a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending weeks of armed clashes along their disputed border, following a renewed escalation in early December. The ceasefire came into force around noon local time, calling for an immediate halt to military movements by both side»»»
Thailand releases 18 Cambodian soldiers held prisoner since July border clashes
Thailand released 18 Cambodian soldiers held prisoner since border clashes broke out between the two countries in July as part of a renewed ceasefire signed Saturday. Dozens of people have been killed and more than a million more driven from their homes after renewed fighting erupted in December. T»»»
Thailand Releases 18 Cambodian Prisoners of War as Part of Ceasefire Agreement
Thailand on Wednesday released 18 Cambodian prisoners of war held for five months, fulfilling the terms of a ceasefire agreement the two countries signed to end bitter fighting along their border. The release was stipulated in the ceasefire agreement signed Saturday by the defense ministers of the »»»
MH370 search resumes in Indian Ocean nearly 12 years after plane's disappearance
Nearly 12 years after Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 vanished with 239 people on board, a renewed search has begun in the remote southern Indian Ocean, as investigators deploy advanced deep-sea technology in a fresh bid to solve one of aviation’s most enduring mysteries. Nearly 12 years after Malay»»»
Drones dive into aviation's deepest enigma as MH370 hunt restarts
Washington: Nearly 12 years after Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 vanished with 239 people on board, the search for answers to one of aviation's most haunting riddles resumed Tuesday in the remote southern Indian Ocean. Armed with cutting-edge deep-sea robots and smarter data, US investigators are s»»»
Ocean Infinity resumes search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 - UPI.com
Deep-sea search specialist Ocean Infinity resumed its search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 nearly a dozen years after it disappeared over the Indian Ocean with 239 passengers and crew aboard. File Photo by Fazry Ismail/EPA Dec. 30 (UPI) -- The deep-sea search specialists at Ocean Infinity resume»»»
BRICS in 2025: Building a New Multipolar World Order Brick by Brick
2025 was a banner year for BRICS – the group of emerging economies aiming to counterbalance Western-dominated economic and financial institutions and geopolitical hegemony. In the outgoing year, the bloc grew to include Indonesia, the massive, $1.5T Southeast Asian economy in the top ten of countri»»»
Malaysia records 13.33 bln USD digital investment in 3rd quarter
Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia recorded 54.13 billion ringgit (13.33 billion U.S. dollars) in approved Malaysia Digital investments in the third quarter of 2025, generating 21,815 high-value jobs across 402 digital companies. The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation said in a statement on Monday that the i»»»
Top Diplomats of China, Cambodia and Thailand Meet as Beijing Seeks to Strengthen Role in Dispute
Foreign ministers from Cambodia and Thailand convened with their Chinese counterpart on Monday as the Beijing government, building on its expanding presence in the world diplomatic arena, sought to play a stronger mediating role in the violent border dispute between the two Southeast Asian countrie»»»
'Acoustic Hazard': Noise Complaints Spark Vietnam Pickleball Wars
The piercing pop-pop of pickleball paddles starts before sunrise and ends after midnight at dozens of newly built courts across Hanoi, as residents relish one of Vietnam's fastest-growing sports -- or rage at the noise it makes. The initial craze saw more people in Vietnam pick up a paddle per capi»»»
'Acoustic hazard': Noise complaints spark Vietnam pickleball wars
Hanoi, Vietnam: The piercing pop-pop of pickleball paddles starts before sunrise and ends after midnight at dozens of newly built courts across Hanoi, as residents relish one of Vietnam's fastest-growing sports -- or rage at the noise it makes. The initial craze saw more people in Vietnam pick up a»»»
COMMENT: Myanmar’s 2025 vote - an election with the ending already written
Myanmar’s generals have finally produced the ballot box they have been promising since their 2021 coup. After five years of civil war, mass displacement of entire towns and villages and systematic repression across the country, the junta has staged the first part of what it calls a return to democr»»»
COMMENT: Myanmar’s 2025 vote - an election with the ending already written
Myanmar’s generals have finally produced the ballot box they have been promising since their 2021 coup. After five years of civil war, mass displacement of entire towns and villages and systematic repression across the country, the junta has staged the first part of what it calls a return to democr»»»
COMMENT: Myanmar’s 2025 vote - an election with the ending already written
Myanmar’s generals have finally produced the ballot box they have been promising since their 2021 coup. After five years of civil war, mass displacement of entire towns and villages and systematic repression across the country, the junta has staged the first part of what it calls a return to democr»»»
COMMENT: Myanmar’s 2025 vote - an election with the ending already written
Myanmar’s generals have finally produced the ballot box they have been promising since their 2021 coup. After five years of civil war, mass displacement of entire towns and villages and systematic repression across the country, the junta has staged the first part of what it calls a return to democr»»»
COMMENT: Myanmar’s 2025 vote - an election with the ending already written
Myanmar’s generals have finally produced the ballot box they have been promising since their 2021 coup. After five years of civil war, mass displacement of entire towns and villages and systematic repression across the country, the junta has staged the first part of what it calls a return to democr»»»
COMMENT: Myanmar’s 2025 vote - an election with the ending already written
Myanmar’s generals have finally produced the ballot box they have been promising since their 2021 coup. After five years of civil war, mass displacement of entire towns and villages and systematic repression across the country, the junta has staged the first part of what it calls a return to democr»»»
How much it costs to retire in this Asian country in 2026
Manila: As retirement destinations go, the Philippines is ramping up efforts to attract overseas retirees with its Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) — a residency programme that combines affordable long-term stay privileges with a tropical lifestyle and low cost of living. The visa, administer»»»
Thailand and Cambodia agree to ceasefire after weeks of deadly border clashes
Thailand and Cambodia on Saturday agreed to an "immediate" ceasefire after three weeks of fighting killed at least 47 people and displaced more than a million. The truce comes after three days of talks, and it applies to "all types of weapons, including attacks on civilians, civilian obje»»»
From palaces to prison cells: Ex-heads of state behind bars in 2025 — detained, restricted, and what happens next
Once untouchable symbols of national power, a growing number of former heads of state are now behind bars or under detention — a striking reflection of how accountability, politics and justice are colliding across continents. Some cases are hailed by supporters as long-overdue justice; others are f»»»
Thailand and Cambodia Sign New Ceasefire Agreement to End Border Fighting
Thailand and Cambodia on Saturday signed a ceasefire agreement to end weeks of armed combat along their border over competing claims to territory. It took effect at noon local time. In addition to ending fighting, the agreement calls for no further military movements by either side and no violation»»»
Thailand and Cambodia agree to 'immediate' ceasefire: joint statement
Phnom Penh: Thailand and Cambodia agreed to an "immediate" ceasefire on Saturday, the two countries said in a joint statement, pledging to end weeks of deadly border clashes. At least 47 people were killed and more than a million displaced in three weeks of fighting with artillery, tanks, drones an»»»
Thailand and Cambodia agree ceasefire after weeks of deadly clashes
Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an immediate ceasefire, the defence ministers of the two countries said in a joint statement on Saturday. Both sides have agreed to freeze all troop movements and allow civilians living in border areas to return home, halting weeks of intense border clashes that»»»
Her husband's kidnapping became Malaysia's biggest mystery. Then came a stunning confession
When Susanna Liew stepped in front of the TV cameras at Kuala Lumpur's High Court last month, she called the moment a "historic and emotional milestone". "Today... the High Court has delivered a judgment of what we have long believed: that Pastor Raymond Koh was a victim of a grave injustice," the »»»
Former Malaysian PM Najib Razak gets 15 years for money laundering, abuse of power - UPI.com
Former Prime Minister of Malaysia Najib Razak was sentenced Friday to 15 years in prison for money laundering and abuse of power in the 1MDB scandal. File Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI | License Photo Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was found guilty Friday of abuse of pow»»»
Judge jails ex-Malaysian PM Najib for 15 more years after new graft conviction
Putrajaya, Malaysia: A Malaysian judge sentenced former prime minister Najib Razak to 15 more years in jail on Friday after convicting him of abuse of power and money laundering in a sovereign wealth fund graft scandal. Najib was also fined 11.4 billion ringgit ($2.8 billion) for his role in the pl»»»
Former Malaysian PM Najib found guilty of money laundering in 1MDB corruption case
Malaysia's High Court on Friday found former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak guilty of all 21 counts of money laundering related to the sprawling corruption scandal involving Malaysia's sovereign wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). This conviction is likely to add years to the pri»»»
US Firm Confirms Resumption of Search for Wreckage of Flight MH370 That Vanished in 2014
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The US research firm Ocean Infinity confirmed to Sputnik on Friday that it was resuming the search for the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which disappeared in 2014. With backing from the Malaysian government, the company is restarting the hunt for the missing MH370 a»»»
Cambodia Says Thailand Escalated Strikes During Border Talks
Cambodia accused Thailand on Friday of intensifying its bombardment of disputed border areas, even as officials from the two countries attend a multi-day meeting aimed at negotiating an end to deadly clashes. The neighbors' long-standing border conflict reignited this month, shattering an earlier t»»»
Former Malaysia PM Najib Razak guilty of abusing power in 1MDB case
A Malaysia court has convicted former prime minister Najib Razak for abuse of power, in his second major trial for a multi-billion-dollar state funds scandal. Najib, 72, faces multiple charges for misappropriating nearly 2.3 billion Malaysian ringgit ($569m; £422m) from the nation's sovereign wealt»»»
Malaysia Ex-PM Najib Convicted of Abuse of Power In 1MDB Trial
Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak was found guilty Friday of abusing his power in the 1MDB graft scandal, which saw billions plundered from the now-defunct sovereign wealth fund. "The prosecution, I find, has thus proven its case against the accused beyond a reasonable doubt in respect of»»»
Indian expat family in UAE reveals untold stories of actor Sreenivasan, who never carried air of celebrity
Sharjah: For the family of Pooja Jenson, an Indian expat in the UAE, the passing of legendary Malayalam actor, screenwriter, film director and producer Sreenivasan on Saturday goes beyond the loss of a cinematic icon. It is intensely personal. Her father, Cyriac Philip, a retired assistant bank man»»»