Taipei’s new tea order

The highlight is a fashion show featuring Vietnamese students in the traditional 'áo dài', attracting an enthusiastic response from visitors

A fundraiser to help pay disgraced former leader Najib Razak’s 50 million ringgit (US$12.3 million) fine has become a lightning rod for insults and mockery, as Malaysians continue to pile criticism on a decision last week to allow him to spend the rest of his jail sentence under house arrest. King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar last Friday granted Najib a “conditional pardon”, which will allow the jailed ex-prime minister to complete his term in the comfort of his home – provided he first pays off his...

Indonesia’s navy commissioned its first aircraft carrier on Thursday after acquiring the former Italian vessel to strengthen its maritime defences and disaster response. The Italian flag on the former ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi was replaced with the Indonesian flag on the carrier renamed the KRI Sriwijaya-100 as part of its official transfer at the ceremony held at Tanjung Priok seaport in North Jakarta. “The ship, which previously served in the Italian navy, now bears the name KRI Sriwijaya-100,...

The Việt Nam Musicians’ Association plans to build a digital music museum to preserve the country’s musical heritage and make scores, recordings and archival materials more accessible.

As a Rohingya exile who abandoned his life in Malaysia to return to Myanmar, Ismail’s bleak prospects may portend what awaits others caught in Kuala Lumpur’s migrant crackdown. Weeks ago, the 25-year-old was eking out a living at a Malaysian fish market, one of legions of the Muslim minority group who left Myanmar to escape violence some monitors say amounted to genocide. But a wave of anti-Rohingya sentiment, migrant arrests and a government plan to repatriate Myanmar nationals drove Ismail...

UPDATED 3.07PM | Ismail maintains there was no change in position.

UPDATED 3.07PM | Ismail maintains there was no change in position.

Akmal Nasrullah

Exco members also not allowed to carry out their duties, Ismail adds, urging a review.

As many as 250 international and regional experts will attend to contribute Asia-Pacific experience and perspectives to the ongoing international reflection on authenticity within the World Heritage system.

A highlight of the Film Week is a programme featuring 15 films and six films selected from the Hiền tài hôm nay (Talents of Today) Short Film Contest.

Thailand’s teenage guitar sensation Nene Royal won the US$1 million top prize on America’s Got Talent, capping a viral run that made the 16-year-old a national celebrity and drew support from across her home country. Rattikarn Amloy, better known by her stage name Nene Royal, was crowned the winner during Wednesday’s live results show, beating nine other finalists after emerging as the clear favourite before the finale. During Tuesday’s final, she sang and played guitar on a rendition of “Seven...