Malaysia’s Najib to remain in prison as legal questions linger despite fine payment

Malaysia’s hope for a shift in US trade policy is unlikely to be realised for some time, experts warn, as the new Democratic-led Congress will face strong opposition from US President Donald Trump in its attempt to reverse some of his tariff measures. Trump’s Republicans suffered their worst rout in recent times in the US midterm elections on Tuesday, losing control of both Congress and the Senate by wide margins as voters made clear their anger at Trump over surging living costs caused by the...

Indonesia’s climate ambitions are being undermined by devastating wildfires that contradict its emissions-cutting strategy, casting a shadow over Jakarta’s push for a greener economy ahead of the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (Cop31). However, Environment Minister Jumhur Hidayat has doubled down, arguing that his country’s climate goals should not come at the expense of national development and that emissions reduction efforts must be fair. On Wednesday, he outlined six priority areas for...

Vietnam's Party General Secretary and President To Lam has called for a thorough review of the 2013 Constitution's implementation to provide a basis for studying and proposing comprehensive amendments.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has urged residents not to panic or stockpile food, saying supplies remain sufficient despite a government agency's recommendation that households prepare 72-hour emergency kits.

Indian Malaysians make up 6.5pct of the population but only 3.63pct of the civil service.

The victim who died in a fire at Hanoi's Kim Lien Secondary School on Thursday was a sixth-grade student at the school.

A former Miss Thailand and well-known social activist was arrested on Friday alongside her husband, accused of siphoning off money from her charity to buy luxury homes as police examine an estimated 1 billion baht (US$30 million) in donations. Panadda “Boom” Wongphudee, 50, was detained at her Bangkok home early on Friday morning after the Criminal Court issued arrest warrants accusing the couple of public fraud and money laundering. Her husband, fitness influencer and businessman Atip...

The Democratic Party’s sweep of both houses of the US Congress could stabilise Washington’s commitment to the Philippines, bringing relief to allies rattled by President Donald Trump’s Iran war and his shifting foreign policy. Analysts expect bipartisan support for Manila to endure, with Democratic oversight set to rein in Trump’s unpredictability. But they warn that Washington could still turn inward to deal with domestic challenges, diverting attention from the Indo-Pacific. The rebuke of...

An EU funding crunch is threatening to stifle the bloc’s ambitions to expand its influence in Southeast Asia, as Brussels grapples with a budget deadlock that could slow infrastructure investments across the fast-growing region. The funding squeeze could hinder the green transition and regional connectivity goals of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, even as Brussels seeks greater strategic autonomy amid competition with Beijing’s economic clout. Analysts expect the European Union to...

Vietnam will consider measures suited to its circumstances after several countries advised residents to stock up on enough essential supplies to sustain themselves for several days during emergencies.

MALACCA POLLS | He says this would ensure local communities' concerns and welfare needs are addressed.