Jewish students in Sydney returned to school on Friday with a heightened security presence, days after police said they foiled a planned antisemitic attack in the city using a trailer filled with explosives.

Australian stocks opened higher, extending gains in the previous session. Futures show, Japan stocks to open higher. Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong and China markets are closed for Lunar New Year holidays.

Economists polled by Reuters expect Australia's inflation to rise 2.5% in the 12 months to the December quarter, from 2.8% in the previous year.

Here we look at the Australians with debut Test century on Asian soil. Inglis recorded the second-fastest century on Test debut, having taken just 90 balls to get the milestone in Galle. His brilliance played a huge role in Australia's mammoth first innings total of 654/6d. He smashed 10 fours and one six during his 102-run stay (94 balls).

Israel urged Australia to do more to halt an "epidemic of antisemitism" in the country as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government was doing all it could to combat attacks that he says include domestic terrorism.

Beneath the fertile farmlands of Victoria in south-east Australia lie deposits of mineral sands that miners and politicians are keen to tap for rare-earth elements, ingredients in everything from EV batteries to wind turbines to advanced weapons.

Denmark-based sales agency LevelK has acquired Asia and Australia-New Zealand rights to Second World War thriller Nr. 24, after the film’s successful run at the Norwegian box office.

SINGAPORE - Federated Hermes, a global asset management firm, is leveraging its Asia headquarters in Singapore to target wealth management clients and family offices in the region.

The total of 654 scored against Sri Lanka in the first innings in Galle is Australia’s 13th highest in Test history and their highest ever in the sub-continent. Their previous best in Asia came back in 1980 in Faisalabad against Pakistan, where they posted 617.

SINGAPORE: Australia-based academic website East Asia Forum has been ordered to publish a correction notice on an article titled "Singapore’s new prime minister entangled in old politics", after the Singapore government said it contained false statements about the country's governance.

The popular Lebanese outlet’s chief executive is planning to nearly triple the number of stores in the next two years as it takes on major fast-food chains.