Malaysia ex-finance minister Daim charged with failing to declare assets
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29: Malaysia on Monday charged a former finance minister for failing to comply with a notice to declare assets under the country's anti-corruption laws, amid a crackdown on graft involving prominent political and business figures. Daim Zainuddin, 85, a key ally of former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, pleaded not guilty. If convicted, Daim faces a maximum jail term of five years and can be fined up to 100,000 ringgit ($21,159.54). — Reuters
Putin registered as presidential candidate
MOSCOW, Jan 29: Russia on Monday officially recognized Vladimir Putin as a candidate for the presidential elections in March, a vote that he is all but certain to win. The 71-year-old has led Russia since the turn of the century, winning four presidential ballots and briefly serving as prime minister in a system where opposition has become virtually non-existent. The Central Election Commission said it had registered Putin, who nominated himself, as well as right-wing firebrand and Putin-loyalist Leonid Slutsky as candidates for the vote. — AFP
Iran denies links to Jordan drone strike
TEHRAN, Jan 29: Iran denied US and British accusations that it supported militant groups behind a drone strike in Jordan that killed three US military personnel, Tehran's official IRNA news agency reported on Monday. "These claims are made with specific political goals to reverse the realities of the region," IRNA quoted foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani as saying. — AFP
Pakistan, Iran agree to expand cooperation
ISLAMABAD, Jan 29: Pakistan and Iran on Monday said that they respected each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity and resolved to expand security cooperation, stepping up efforts to mend ties after tit-for-tat missile strikes this month at what they said were militant targets. Foreign ministers of the two countries held talks in the Pakistani capital days after their military tensions raised alarm about wider instability in the region since the war between Israel and Hamas erupted on Oct 7. — Reuters
Japan moon lander resumes mission
TOKYO, Jan 29: Japan's Moon lander has resumed operations after being shut down for a week due to a power supply issue. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa) said it re-established contact with the lander on Sunday, indicating that the glitch had been fixed. Its solar cells are working again after a shift in lighting conditions allowed it to catch sunlight, the agency said. It could not generate power when it landed on 20 January as the solar cells pointed away from the Sun. — BBC
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