Indonesia’s sea lanes give it overlooked leverage over China

The power dynamic between Indonesia and China is more complex than the one-way economic dependence that some experts assume, since China depends on Indonesian waters for ships carrying its exports and imports between the South China Sea and Indian Ocean.

Bluefin tuna fetches record $3.2m at Tokyo auction

A bulky bluefin tuna made a splash at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market on Monday morning, fetching a record 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) at the market’s first auction of the year.

From science fiction to clinical reality: China accelerates brain–computer interface development

In the 1999 sci-fi classic The Matrix, “plugging in” symbolized digital enslavement. In 2025, for a paraplegia patient in Beijing, it became liberation.

AI meets public healthcare: Inside India’s first government AI clinic

The Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) in Greater Noida has inaugurated India’s first government-run artificial intelligence (AI) clinic, marking a major step in integrating advanced technology into public healthcare.

Danish PM tells Trump to stop ’threats’ against Greenland

Denmark’s prime minister has told Donald Trump to ’’stop the threats’’ about taking over Greenland.

Trump warns new Venezuelan leader as Maduro set to appear in court

Donald Trump has warned Venezuela’s new leader Delcy Rodríguez she could ’’pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro’’ if she ’’doesn’t do what’s right’’.

Pakistanis spend two-thirds of income on food, power as remittance reliance grows

Pakistanis spent two out of every three rupees on just two basic needs — food and electricity — as reliance on foreign remittances and financial assistance increased to meet growing expenditures, a new government survey showed.

Bangladesh say they will not play T20 World Cup matches in India

Bangladesh will not play their Twenty20 World Cup matches in India after Mustafizur Rahman was released by his Indian Premier League team amid growing tensions between the countries, Bangladesh’s cricket board (BCB) said on Sunday.

Canada pushes back on Chinese military drills in Taiwan Strait

Canada is pushing back on Chinese influence in the Taiwan Strait after Beijing ratcheted up tensions in East Asia by conducting military drills off Taiwan this week.

Joint UK-French air strike targets IS arms cache in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined French aircraft in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), the UK Ministry of Defence says.

Venezuela’s Supreme Court orders Delcy Rodriguez become interim president

The Constitutional Chamber of Venezuela’s Supreme Court ordered on Saturday that Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assume the role of acting president of the country in the absence of Nicolás Maduro, who was detained early Saturday morning in an operation by U.S. forces.

After Mustafizur’s IPL exit, Bangladesh wants its T20 World Cup games out of India

Bangladesh’s interim government has instructed the Bangladesh Cricket Board to seek a change of venue for the team’s matches at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, requesting that they be moved out of India.

Trump says U.S. will run Venezuela after U.S. captures Maduro

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday he was putting Venezuela under temporary American control after the United States captured President Nicolas Maduro in an audacious raid and whisked him to New York to face drug-trafficking charges.

Venezuelan President indicted in New York on drugs and weapons charges

US Attorney General Pam Bondi said that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife have been indicted in the Southern District of New York.

Trump says Venezuela’s President captured after strikes

The U.S. struck Venezuela overnight and captured its long-serving President Nicolas Maduro, President Donald Trump said early on Saturday after months of pressuring him over accusations of drug-running and illegitimacy in power.

Retiring Aussie Khawaja questions the questions about him

Australia batter Usman Khawaja said he is still battling “racial stereotypes” as he announced his retirement from international cricket.

Venezuela blames explosions on US ’’military aggression’’

Venezuela said it rejected ’’military aggression’’ by the United States after multiple explosions rocked capital Caracas and other areas early on Saturday.

PIA sale and mirage of reform conceal alleged corruption

The recent privatization of Pakistan International Airlines has been projected as a signal achievement of the government’s economic reform agenda.

Sparklers on champagne bottles likely cause of deadly Swiss bar fire

A fire at a bar in a Swiss ski resort appears to have been caused by sparklers placed on bottles of champagne that came ’’too close to the ceiling’’, authorities said.

Trump blocks chips deal, cites security, China-related concerns

President Donald Trump on Friday blocked U.S. photonics firm HieFo Corp’s $3 million acquisition of assets in New Jersey-based aerospace and defense specialist Emcore, citing national security and China-related concerns.

India officially becomes BRICS Chair

From 1 January 2026, the BRICS chairmanship officially passes from Brazil to India. For the first time, India, one of the founding members of the group, will lead the expanded format, which now includes 10 countries.

Trump warns US will intervene if Iran kills protesters

US President Donald Trump has warned Iran’s authorities against killing peaceful protesters, saying Washington ’’will come to their rescue’’.

Dozens missing after boat carrying 200 migrants sinks off Gambia

At least seven people have died and many others are missing after a boat carrying about 200 migrants attempting to reach Europe capsized off the coast of The Gambia, authorities say.

Retiring Khawaja criticises ’racial stereotypes’

The 39-year-old will play his 88th Test in the Ashes finale against England starting on Sunday (23:30 GMT, Saturday) in Sydney, on the ground where he made his debut against the same opponents in 2011.

Japan PM joins fight for more female toilets in parliament

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is among some 60 female lawmakers petitioning for more women’s toilets in the parliament building to match their growing representation in the legislature.

China’s BYD set to overtake Tesla as world’s top EV seller

China’s BYD is set to overtake Elon Musk’s Tesla as the world’s biggest seller of electric vehicles (EVs), marking the first time it has outpaced its American rival for annual sales.

Deadly clashes between protesters and security forces as Iran unrest grows

Growing unrest in Iran is reported to have claimed more lives on a fifth day of protests over the soaring cost of living.

Philippines challenges Chinese vessel off northern province amid Taiwan tensions

The Philippines Coast Guard said it deployed an aircraft on Tuesday to challenge a Chinese research ship that serves as a base for submersible vessels after it was spotted about 19 nautical miles off the coast of northern Cagayan province.

Around 40 killed, 100 injured in explosion in Swiss ski resort bar, police say

Around 40 people have been killed and 100 injured, most of them seriously, after an explosion tore through a crowded bar during a New Year’s Eve party in the upscale ski resort of Crans-Montana, Swiss officials said on Thursday.

Zohran Mamdani sworn in as New York City’s 1st Muslim mayor

Zohran Mamdani was sworn in just before midnight on Jan. 1 as New York City mayor, becoming the first Muslim and South Asian to lead the US largest city after taking the oath of office on the Quran.