Kuala Lumpur's trusted voice for news, politics and business.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has called for ASEAN to become a stronger, more resilient and people-centred bloc capable of addressing shared challenges through regional solutions rather than individual country efforts.
Roughly 30 American water systems faced coordinated cyberattacks over two days in late July. Evidence points to Iranian-affiliated hackers, marking an escalation in infrastructure targeting by state-sponsored groups.
Oil prices fell about 5% to their lowest levels in two weeks following a temporary halt in hostilities between the United States and Iran. Brent crude dropped to US$84.09 per barrel while WTI fell to US$79.26, reflecting cautious market optimism.
US tariff measures will have limited immediate impact on ASEAN exports thanks to product exemptions and lower effective rates, though ongoing investigations and trade tensions keep risks elevated.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reiterated Washington's openness to diplomatic engagement with Iran, though he cautioned that Tehran must demonstrate serious intent for talks to succeed.
The European Union has frozen its mechanism for adjusting the Russian oil price cap for one year while simultaneously launching unprecedented sanctions against vessels assisting Russia's shadow fleet, marking a hardening of Western economic pressure.
Pakistan and Iran pledged continued cooperation on regional security during talks at an SCO summit, emphasizing dialogue as tensions spike following the collapse of a US-Iran ceasefire agreement.
Arkady Dvorkovich, Russian president of the International Chess Federation, has temporarily suspended his duties after being sanctioned by the European Union over Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand will serve as interim president.
The US Secret Service is operating under elevated threat conditions, Director Sean Curran revealed, citing unprecedented risks to President Trump and senior officials following multiple assassination attempts in recent years.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio have committed to sustaining diplomatic communications through international organisations, following talks in Manila that also covered space agency cooperation.
During a combative White House address, Trump accused China of orchestrating the largest election data compromise in history and of interfering in US politics, while simultaneously pushing for stricter voting requirements ahead of midterm elections.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed that Chinese President Xi Jinping's scheduled visit to the United States will proceed in September as planned, despite escalating tensions between the two superpowers over election interference allegations.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof has highlighted how energy security and maritime stability have become inseparable issues, with distant geopolitical tensions now directly affecting fuel prices, shipping costs and supply chains.
Escalating tensions in the South China Sea are threatening to dominate an ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Manila this week, with the US warning of Chinese aggression while Beijing and Manila clash over disputed shoals.
Southeast Asian foreign ministers are convening in Manila this week to tackle regional flashpoints including Myanmar's civil war and rising Middle East hostilities, with major powers including the US, China and Russia in attendance.
Japan's Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has urged the country to engage in serious debate about nuclear weapons, citing shifting security dynamics in Europe and deteriorating conditions in Asia. The call breaks Japan's longstanding taboo on the subject.
Israeli military forces comprising six vehicles crossed into Syria's southwestern Quneitra province on Saturday, advancing toward the Kudna Dam area while operating drones overhead, according to Syrian state media reports.
Asean's annual foreign ministers meeting in Manila this week brings together top diplomats from major powers to address pressing regional challenges including Myanmar's unresolved crisis and South China Sea tensions, while Malaysia navigates competing domestic and diplomatic priorities.
The US Justice Department has reversed a 2022 ban on TikTok use by federal employees on government devices, following ByteDance's transfer of the app's US data and algorithm control to a joint venture with American investors.
Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel has condemned fresh US sanctions, equating Washington's approach to modern-day McCarthyism and fascism, as the island nation struggles through its worst economic downturn in decades.
NATO member states are projected to collectively exceed US$1.8 trillion in defence spending by 2026, representing an 11 per cent increase from 2025 estimates, as the alliance accelerates military investment across Europe and North America.
Malaysia's FBM KLCI climbed on renewed energy sector strength as crude oil prices surged following Iran's attack on tankers in the Straits of Hormuz, with PETRONAS Chemicals and major banks leading the advance.
The United States has launched a second round of military strikes against Iran, targeting capabilities threatening global commerce through the Strait of Hormuz. The escalation comes despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.
President Donald Trump will deliver a prime-time televised address on Thursday evening at 9 pm Eastern time. The topic remains unconfirmed, though speculation centres on the escalating Iran conflict and rising fuel costs.
Iraq's Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi has reaffirmed the country's commitment to remaining within OPEC, while emphasizing Baghdad's expectation for an equitable production quota that reflects its capabilities.
The Philippines is pressing ASEAN member states to enhance maritime security and supply chain resilience in the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea, citing vulnerabilities exposed by disruptions in other global shipping corridors.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reaffirmed Malaysia's unwavering commitment to maintaining an independent, proactive, and non-aligned foreign policy stance despite mounting regional and global pressures.
Malaysia's Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) is redirecting its sponsored students away from the United States for 2025-2026 intakes, citing political instability and geopolitical uncertainties. Alternative countries offering world-class education in critical fields will host the students instead.
Emerging middle powers from the Global South must assert their own strategic interests and resist simply adopting the agendas of established powers as the international order undergoes fundamental transformation, according to scholars speaking at the 39th Asia-Pacific Roundtable in Kuala Lumpur.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has reiterated Malaysia's dedication to bolstering ASEAN unity and capability, addressing emerging geopolitical pressures and regional priorities during discussions with the ASEAN Secretary-General.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has condemned what he views as selective enforcement of international law, using a Norway missile controversy to illustrate broader systemic inequalities in how Western powers and developing nations face different legal standards.
Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia urges ASEAN to move beyond reactive adaptation and instead actively shape the Asia-Pacific's future through deliberate collective action, strategic resilience and greater regional agency.
Mainland Chinese tourists are reshaping their summer travel patterns, abandoning distant Western cities for nearby Southeast Asian destinations. Malaysia and Vietnam are experiencing double-digit growth as economic pressures and geopolitical tensions reshape spending priorities.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has unveiled £15 billion in extra defence spending, projecting annual military budgets to reach £80 billion by 2029. The package emphasises drone and autonomous weapons development alongside a modernised Royal Navy.
Tourism Malaysia is redirecting its marketing push toward ASEAN, East Asia, South Asia, Europe and Oceania to cushion the impact of West Asian instability on visitor arrivals and the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.