'Sign of life': defence boom lifts German factory orders Frankfurt, Germany (AFP) Jan 8, 2026 Factory orders in long-struggling Germany unexpectedly posted a sharp jump in November, boosted by higher demand for defence equipment as Europe rushes to rearm, official data showed Thursday. ... more
Malaysian ex-army chief detained in military procurement graft probe Kuala Lumpur (AFP) Jan 8, 2026 A Malaysian former army chief and his two wives were among five people detained Wednesday during a graft investigation into a military procurement project, according to the country's anti-corruption agency and local media. ... more