Pacts, patronage and fear: how Myanmar junta chief keeps power
His name is not on the ballot, and his photographs don’t appear on campaign posters. But one man looms large over the general election under way in Myanmar: junta chief Min Aung Hlaing.

Insurer: Disaster losses fell in 2025 but picture still ‘alarming’
FRANKFURT - Natural disaster losses worldwide dropped sharply to $224 billion in 2025, the reinsurer Munich Re said on Tuesday, but warned of a still “alarming” picture of extreme weather events likely driven by climate change.

Fujifilm to launch Super 8-inspired mini camera in Japan
Fujifilm is set to release the instax mini Evo Cinema in Japan, a new hybrid instant camera sporting a nostalgic aesthetic inspired by the legendary Super 8 film cameras that shaped the careers of world-class directors.

French drug smuggling fugitive arrested in Pattaya
A French fugitive wanted on charges of drug smuggling between Europe and America was arrested in Pattaya by Thai police on Monday.

Thai satellite falling back to earth after failed launch, but is insured
The Thai-made satellite THEOS-2A is expectd to fall back to earth after failing to reach its designated orbit due to a failure of the Indian launching rocket, but is insured and can be rebuilt and launched again, the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda) said on Tuesday.

Indonesia's Prabowo affirms commitment to new capital city
JAKARTA — Indonesia's Prabowo ‍Subianto reiterated ‍his commitment to a US$32 billion project to build the country's new capital city as he made ‌his first overnight stay there as ​president, the government said.

What does the MRT smell like? The internet weighs in
A social media user's question about the distinctive scent of the Bangkok's Metropolitan Rapid Transit (MRT) system has sparked a lively online discussion among commuters attempting to identify the underground rail network's unique aroma.

Why is Myanmar's junta holding an election during a civil war?
NAY PYI TAW — Myanmar's military-led government ‍is holding a phased general election amid a civil war convulsing large areas of the Southeast Asian nation.

Hegseth unveils AI partnership with Musk's xAI for military networks
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Monday (January 12) announced the integration of Elon Musk's xAI platform, Grok, into military networks as part of a new "AI acceleration strategy" during a visit to SpaceX. He said "very soon we will have the world's leading AI models on every unclassified and classified network throughout our department." - REUTERS

Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano spews high lava fountains
Footage showed Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano spewing lava in a fountain on Monday (January 12). According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Kilauea has been erupting episodically since December 23, 2024, primarily from two vents (north and south) in Halema‘uma‘u. - REUTERS