Bold, independent coverage of Malaysian politics, business and current affairs.
Myanmar's former military ruler Min Aung Hlaing is visiting Thailand to advance his diplomatic rehabilitation campaign, as the region grapples with the fallout from the 2021 coup and ongoing civil conflict.
Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has appealed to Gulf neighbours to coordinate implementation of a US-Iran peace agreement, as regional tensions remain volatile following recent military exchanges.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is visiting Indonesia from August 3-4 for talks with President Prabowo Subianto. The visit marks the first official trip by a Thai PM to Indonesia in 15 years and signals Bangkok's intention to deepen bilateral economic and strategic ties.
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong hosted Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Nazrin Shah for breakfast, where the two leaders discussed strengthening ASEAN cooperation and advancing joint bilateral initiatives between the two nations.
Bangladesh has asked the Philippines, current ASEAN chair, to support its application for Sectoral Dialogue Partner status within the regional bloc, while expanding cooperation on nursing, medical tourism, and the Rohingya refugee situation.
Asean foreign ministers have called for safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, citing economic and security concerns stemming from the Middle East conflict. The bloc emphasised compliance with international maritime law during its 59th ministerial meeting in Manila.
Brunei's Foreign Minister Prince Abdul Mateen has urged Southeast Asian nations to strengthen cooperation on food and energy security, while reaffirming the importance of upholding international law at major Asean-led meetings in Manila.
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.
Myanmar's return to top-level Asean meetings remains uncertain as the Philippines' foreign minister cites continued non-compliance with the bloc's five-point peace initiative amid the country's deepening civil conflict.
ASEAN has doubled down on its Five-Point Consensus framework for Myanmar, with the Philippine Special Envoy and Thai Foreign Minister emphasizing the need for implementation despite Myanmar's parliament rejecting the peace plan last week.
Singapore's President Tharman Shanmugaratnam has stressed that the two neighbouring countries' 60-year partnership is anchored in mutual respect and understanding, not transactional interests, despite periodic disagreements on complex bilateral issues.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul held substantive talks at Putrajaya to advance bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors including trade, security and agriculture.
Indonesia and India advance cross-border payment systems and strategic partnerships. Super Typhoon Inday enters Philippine waters. Singapore, Thailand pursue infrastructure and worker-focused initiatives.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif led the largest delegation from any nation to attend Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's funeral in Tehran, drawing effusive praise from Iranian officials for demonstrating enduring bilateral ties.
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 has assured Belgium that the South China Sea will remain open for maritime commerce, with Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof emphasizing ASEAN's commitment to peace and neutrality amid global shipping concerns.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has pledged Malaysia's continued commitment to strengthening ASEAN as a resilient community, emphasizing unity and stability amid mounting geopolitical pressures.
Iran and Oman have convened the first meeting of their Joint Hormuz Committee, tasked with establishing governance frameworks for the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz while respecting the sovereign rights of both littoral states.
Malaysia and Indonesia are reinforcing bilateral partnerships across legislative and governance domains, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Indonesia's Coordinating Minister agreeing to advance mutual interests.
Oman has expressed strong backing for a newly concluded Iran-US agreement, with Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi confirming that future transit arrangements through the Strait of Hormuz will remain free of charges, reinforcing the sultanate's role in regional maritime security.