China

Artificial intelligence takes sex toy industry by storm

HONG KONG: The burgeoning development of artificial intelligence has found a sultry new frontier in the sex robot industry, as a Chinese company unveils a new series of realistic dolls designed to respond like humans.

AseanPlus News

Singtel-owned Optus mobile service outage affects about 120,000 users in Australia: Local media

SYDNEY: About 120,000 users of Optus experienced mobile service disruptions in Australia on Feb 9.

Laos

Laos, Vietnam PMs back rail, expressway projects

VIENTIANE: The governments of Laos and Vietnam agreed to speed up major infrastructure and economic cooperation projects when the two Prime Ministers met for talks in Vientiane on Feb 5.

Cambodia

Cambodia, China hold first public-private sector dialogue to address business challenges

PHNOM PENH: The first Cambodia-China public-private sector dialogue was convened here on Monday, aiming at finding solutions to challenges faced by Chinese enterprises in the Southeast Asian country.

Brunei

Smart living comes to Gadong

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Unida Smartlife, a Brunei-based retailer and technology solutions provider, officially opened its doors, offering smart technology and electronic appliances aimed at promoting modern, connected living.

Japan

Japan restarts world's biggest nuclear plant once again after hiccup

TOKYO: Japan switched on the world's biggest nuclear power plant again on Monday (Feb 9), its operator said, after an earlier attempt was quickly suspended due to a minor glitch.

Indonesia

'Want to go home': Indonesian crew abandoned off Africa demand wages

JAKARTA: Abandoned for months on their fishing boat off West Africa, Indonesian sailor Surono and his shipmates face a dilemma: return home without almost a year's wages or stay on the docked vessel.

Nation

Federal Court sends Muhyiddin sedition case back to High Court

PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court has remitted Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's sedition case to the High Court for a full hearing.

Vietnam

UAE firm G42, Vietnamese firms in deal to develop AI infrastructure in Vietnam

HANOI: Abu Dhabi-based technology group G42, and a consortium comprising the FPT Corporation and the Viet Thai Group, have signed a deal to develop sovereign AI capabilities and cloud infrastructure across Vietnam, G42 said on Monday (Feb 9).

Badminton

Tanaka shines as Japan end China's reign in Asia Team final

PETALING JAYA: Singles men shuttler Yushi Tanaka led Japan to the Asia Team Championships title for the first time after a superb 3-0 win over hosts China.

Nation

PLUS expects 2.2 million vehicles on highways during CNY, Ramadan

TAPAH: More than two million motorists are expected to travel home for the upcoming Chinese New Year and Ramadan seasons, says PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS).

Philippines

Third impeachment case filed against Philippine VP Sara Duterte

MANILA: Members of the Philippine clergy filed an impeachment complaint Monday (Feb 9) against Sara Duterte, the third to hit the country's vice president in just over a week.

Singapore

Singapore mounts largest cybersecurity op against UNC3886, more than 100 cyberdefenders activated

SINGAPORE: More than 100 cyberdefenders from six government agencies and four local telcos have been involved in the fight against cyberespionage group UNC3886, making the coordinated countermeasures Singapore's largest to date.

Cambodia

Nearly 400 items seized, three detained over forestry crimes in Cambodia's Pursat province

PHNOM PENH: Authorities in Pursat province have seized nearly 400 items and detained three suspects in connection with forestry crimes, following a series of patrols conducted in January, officials said.

Myanmar

Myanmar kicks off union-level MSME product exhibition in Naypyidaw

Myanmar on Sunday (Feb 8) opened a Union-level Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Product Exhibition and Market Fair in Naypyidaw to mark the country's 79th Union Day, the state-owned daily The Mirror reported on Monday.

Nation

KL cops bust syndicate hiding drugs in ‘helium’ gas canisters

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have crippled a drug syndicate that used gas cylinders labelled as helium as its modus operandi.

World

Japan election landslide clears path for Takaichi to deliver tax cuts

TOKYO, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister ‌Sanae Takaichi is set to be pressed on her promised tax cuts and spending plans on Monday after a historic election win was seen heightening the chances of ‌her delivering on stimulus measures that have rattled financial markets.

Economy

Manufacturing sales value hits RM1.97 trillion, grows 4.2% in 2025 - DOSM

KUALA LUMPUR: The sales value of the manufacturing sector in 2025 hit RM1.97 trillion, an increase of 4.2 per cent from RM1.89 trillion in 2024, while sales in December last year rose 6.4 per cent year-on-year, amounting to RM168.6 billion.

Bangladesh

'Flood' of disinformation ahead of Bangladesh election

DHAKA: Voters in Bangladesh elect a new government on Feb 12, but analysts warn their choice is threatened by a coordinated surge of disinformation, much of which originates from neighbouring India.

Laos

Laos-China electricity link on track to become operational in April

VIENTIANE: The 500kV Laos-China power transmission line was fully connected on Feb 5, strengthening cross-border electricity links and supporting clean energy trade in the region.