Bold, independent coverage of Malaysian politics, business and current affairs.
US President Trump has delivered contradictory messages regarding China, publicly attacking Beijing over election interference and Covid origins while simultaneously expressing willingness to trust Xi Jinping ahead of a scheduled September visit.
Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has stated the Strait of Hormuz will not revert to its pre-conflict configuration, emphasizing that Tehran and Oman are establishing a new maritime framework through bilateral talks.
Audi has downgraded its full-year financial guidance following a 21% drop in second-quarter after-tax profit to €563 million. The Volkswagen subsidiary now projects revenues between €58 billion and €63 billion, down from earlier forecasts, citing China's competitive pressures and Middle Eastern instability.
The European Union has frozen its oil price cap adjustment mechanism for Russian crude for twelve months and moved to sanction vessels assisting Russia's shadow fleet, part of a broader effort to constrain Moscow's energy revenues.
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Iran's Abbas Araghchi have reaffirmed their commitment to regional peace during talks at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan.
Malaysia is being considered to host a Formula 1 race at Sepang International Circuit this October, potentially replacing the Bahrain Grand Prix disrupted by Middle East conflicts. The country last staged the event in 2017.
Malaysia's stock market weakened as crude oil prices surged past US$100 per barrel amid Middle East conflict concerns, pushing the FBM KLCI toward a 10-day low despite gains in energy-linked counters.
Arkady Dvorkovich, Russian president of the International Chess Federation, has voluntarily suspended his duties following inclusion in the EU's latest sanctions package related to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Viswanathan Anand assumes interim leadership.
Analysts have backed Malaysia's plan to establish a national petroleum reserve, citing escalating geopolitical risks in the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea that threaten global energy supplies and regional stability.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio have committed to maintaining diplomatic contacts through international organisations, signalling a narrow path for dialogue amid geopolitical tensions.
Malaysia's Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has arrived in Manila to lead the country's delegation at the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, where the West Asia crisis and Myanmar situation are expected to dominate discussions.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof has highlighted how energy security and maritime safety are now inseparable, with regional tensions rippling through supply chains and costs worldwide.
Escalating tensions in the South China Sea threaten to overshadow an ASEAN meeting in Manila, with the United States condemning Chinese conduct while diplomatic efforts to resolve Myanmar's crisis remain deadlocked.
US President Donald Trump has described his recent telephone conversation with newly appointed British Prime Minister Andy Burnham as productive, touching on bilateral relations, trade, and security matters of mutual concern.
Malaysia's Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan heads to the Philippines for the annual Asean Ministers Meeting, where geopolitical tensions and the protracted Myanmar crisis dominate discussions amid efforts to balance diplomatic engagement.
Cuba's president has lambasted the latest American sanctions as a revival of McCarthyism, claiming Washington is orchestrating a global campaign against progressive movements while the island nation battles its worst economic crisis in decades.
India's Directorate General of Shipping has prohibited the deployment of Indian seafarers on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, citing heightened risks from recent attacks on merchant vessels in the strategically vital waterway.
Nvidia has more than halved the number of Asian customers authorised to purchase its advanced AI chips, implementing stricter vetting procedures across Singapore, Malaysia, and Japan as part of US efforts to prevent chip diversion to China.
South Korea's benchmark KOSPI index triggered a circuit breaker on Monday after a sharp 8% decline, marking the seventh halt this year amid escalating US-Iran tensions affecting investor sentiment across Asia.
NATO member states are projected to collectively spend over US$1.8 trillion on defense by 2026, representing an 11 percent increase from 2025 estimates, reflecting renewed security commitments across the alliance.
Malaysia has maintained stable food prices despite Middle East tensions disrupting global shipping by deploying targeted agricultural subsidies and building sector resilience, though structural import dependence remains a long-term challenge.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has reaffirmed Malaysia's commitment to pursuing an independent and non-aligned foreign policy, emphasising the nation's proactive stance in global and regional matters.
Malaysia's Majlis Amanah Rakyat has shifted its sponsored student placements away from the United States for 2025-2026 intakes to alternative countries, citing geopolitical uncertainties and policy volatility while maintaining commitment to world-class education in critical fields.
Leading academics at the Asia-Pacific Roundtable argue emerging middle powers from the Global South must assert independent interests rather than follow established powers as the post-World War Two international order fractures.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has condemned Norway's cancellation of a RM1 billion naval missile contract, accusing the Nordic nation of applying double standards in international law and diplomatic conduct.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has highlighted what he termed "double standards" in how international law and norms are applied globally, citing recent disputes as examples of inconsistent enforcement by the international community.
ISIS Malaysia's leadership has called for ASEAN to transcend passive responses to global fragmentation and instead exercise genuine agency in determining the Asia-Pacific region's trajectory through deliberate strategic choices.
Malaysia's departing High Commissioner to Singapore highlights the strengthening of bilateral relations over his five-year tenure, citing successful navigation of COVID-19 challenges and robust economic recovery, while pledging continued support for Singapore's ASEAN chairmanship.