Ageless Djokovic reaches Australian Open final
MELBOURNE - Novak Djokovic channelled his ‌halcyon days ​in a five-set classic to dethrone Jannik Sinner and become the oldest man to reach ‌the Australian Open final in the professional era at a ‌rocking Rod Laver Arena on Friday night.

Colombian president under fire for ‘Jesus made love’ claim
BOGOTA - A claim by Colombia’s left-wing president that Jesus “made love” to disciple Mary Magdalene has shocked the country’s many Christians, with the faithful urging him to show respect on Friday.

Nipah airport screening ineffective, say experts
LONDON - ‌Airport screening for Nipah virus, which has been stepped up across Asia this week after two cases were identified in India, are more about reassurance than science, several leading experts said on Friday.

Israel to partially reopen key Gaza crossing
JERUSALEM - Israel announced it would reopen the crucial Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt on Sunday after months of urging from the UN, humanitarian organisations and ordinary Palestinians — but only for the “limited movement of people”.

Illegal group tours face Thai government crackdown
Illegal tours targeting foreign markets are spreading rapidly in Thailand, prompting the Tourism Department to prepare for more inspections of tour companies this year.

Thailand plans stricter power purchase rules for data centres
Thailand plans to tighten the rules for investors in data centres and other businesses that use a large amount of electricity, requiring them to provide a bank guarantee or collateral to secure power purchases.

Trump picks new Federal Reserve chief
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump on Friday chose former Federal Reserve governor Kevin Warsh to head the US central bank when Jerome Powell’s leadership term ‌ends in May, giving a frequent Fed critic a chance to put his idea ​of monetary policy “regime change” into practice.

Chinese duo held on scam suspicions in Pattaya
Cybercrime police have arrested two Chinese nationals following a raid on a condominium in Pattaya, where 26 mobile phones with Chinese-language messages were found, raising suspicions of links to online scam operations.

Bank of Thailand plays down US currency watchlist move
The Bank of Thailand says it remains confident in its ability to manage baht volatility against the US dollar after Thailand was added to a US Treasury watchlist for currency practices.

Bangkok speeds up expansion of dust‑free classrooms
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is accelerating its programme to convert all kindergarten classrooms in its school network into dust‑free learning spaces by year-end, as the capital continues to battle hazardous air pollution.