Brunei

Pop-up market brightens nights in Brunei

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: The Belait District Office parking area came alive on Thursday night (Jan 22) with the launch of the JDB Pop Up Market x Big Kem Race Village and Big Kem Run 2026, transforming the venue into a hub of community, sports and entrepreneurial activities.

AseanPlus News

Two Hong Kong labs linked to suspected cross-border smuggling of blood samples

Department of Health says the case involves suspected illegal importation of blood samples from mainland China for fetal gender testing

World

Supporters gather as South African politician Malema awaits sentence in firearm case

EAST LONDON, South Africa, ‌Jan 23 (Reuters) - Thousands of supporters of South African opposition politician Julius ‌Malema gathered outside a court on Friday as the Economic ‌Freedom Fighters (EFF) party leader awaited his sentence for firing a rifle in the air at a rally in 2018.

Nation

MHIT reforms aim to reset healthcare insurance, curb rising premiums

KUALA LUMPUR: Reforms under the Medical and Health Insurance/Takaful (MHIT) framework aim to reset Malaysia's healthcare insurance system by shifting away from fee-for-service payments towards a value-based model, in a move to curb rising premiums and improve patient access to care.

Sabah & Sarawak

Two children in Sandakan get out of car just before thief drives off with vehicle

KOTA KINABALU: Two children have managed to escape just before the car they were in was stolen in Sandakan.

Corporate News

Citaglobal secures RM48.5mil MCMC Wi-Fi project

KUALA LUMPUR: Citaglobal Bhd's wholly-owned subsidiary, Citaglobal Telecommunication Sdn Bhd (CGT), has accepted approval from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) for a RM48.5mil Wi-Fi connectivity project under the Universal Service Provision (USP) initiative.

Cambodia

Archaeologists restoring Hindu temple's tower in Cambodia's famed Angkor complex

PHNOM PENH: Archaeologists have been restoring the ruined brick tower and laterite floor of Pre Rup temple in Cambodia's famed Angkor Archaeological Park, the APSARA National Authority (ANA) said in a news release on Friday (Jan 23).

World

Syrian government says it controls prison in Raqqa with Islamic State-linked detainees

Jan 23 (Reuters) - Syria's Interior ‌Ministry said on Friday it had taken over al-Aktan prison ‌in the city of Raqqa in northeastern Syria, a facility ‌that was formerly under the control of Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

World

Explainer-How attacks on Ukraine's nuclear power substations could cause a total blackout

KYIV, Jan 23 (Reuters) - In the midst of extreme ‌cold weather, Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine's energy system, which relies almost entirely on electricity produced by nuclear power plants and has already ‌lost half of its generating capacity.

Laos

Vat Phou Festival in Laos to commemorate 25 years as Unesco World Heritage Site

VIENTIANE: The annual Vat Phou Festival in southern Laos' Champasak province will take place from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2, marking the 25th anniversary of the Vat Phou temple's inscription as a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Corporate News

Hartanah wins RM184mil Sarawak Stadium job

KUALA LUMPUR: Hartanah Kenyalang Bhd's wholly-owned subsidiary, Hartanah Construction Sdn Bhd, has secured a RM184.3mil contract for the upgrade and repair of the Sarawak Stadium from Sarawak's Public Works Department.

Football

Soccer-Upamecano joins list of sidelined defenders but Bayern have no concerns-Kompany

MUNICH, Germany, Jan ‌23 (Reuters) - Bayern Munich's centre-back Dayot Upamecano will ‌miss the league leaders' Bavarian derby against ‌visitors Augsburg on Saturday, but coach Vincent Kompany said he had no concerns despite the absence of a ‍growing number of defenders.

World

Factbox-Who is leading Russia's delegation at the Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi?

MOSCOW, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Russian Admiral Igor ‌Kostyukov is set to head Moscow's team at trilateral security talks with the U.S. ‌and Ukraine on Friday in Abu Dhabi, as part of efforts to reach ‌a deal to end the war in Ukraine.

Nation

Umno welcomes URA withdrawal, suggests further refinements before re-tabled

PETALING JAYA: Umno has welcomed the Cabinet's decision to withdraw the proposed Urban Renewal Bill (URA) and suggested further refinement before it is tabled again in Parliament.

Myanmar

Century-old cooperation: Irrawaddy dolphins help Myanmar communities harvest fish, boost tourism

YANGON: Along Myanmar's Ayeyarwady River, Irrawaddy dolphins swim with local fishers in a rare cooperative partnership that has thrived for more than a century.

Football

FIFA lifts player transfer ban on Kelantan Red Warrior FC

KOTA BARU: World football governing body FIFA has lifted a player transfer ban imposed on Kelantan Red Warrior FC, thereby enabling the club to register new foreign players for this season's Malaysia League (M-League) campaign.

World

France to hold call with G7, Nordics on urgent Ukraine energy support

PARIS, Jan 23 (Reuters) - ‌France will hold a call ‌on Friday with G7 countries as ‌well as Nordic and Baltic states to coordinate support for Ukraine's energy grid after Russian bombings ‍left hundreds of thousands of ‍people without power ‌and heating, its foreign minister said.

Vietnam

China's Xi lauds 'shared future' with Vietnam after To Lam's re-election

BEIJING: China's President Xi Jinping congratulated Vietnam's To Lam on his re-election as the ruling Communist Party's general secretary, praising Vietnam's achievements and describing the two nations as a "community with a shared future."

Children

Heart And Soul: Little steps, big applause on a kindergarten stage

A kindergarten stage becomes a celebration of growth, courage and first achievements.

Entertainment

Matthew McConaughey trademarks ‘Alright, Alright, Alright’ catchphrase to protect against AI

The trademark is part of an overall trademark protecting his image and voice.