Malaysia

Asean expands first time this century: East Timor to join bloc next month under ex-coloniser’s watch

President Jose Ramos-Horta has long campaigned for Asean membership and an application was first submitted in 2011

Malaysia cracks down on IS network: 2 Bangladeshis charged with terrorism, 36 were held last month

Two Bangladeshi men, Md Mamun Ali and Refat Bishat, were charged in Malaysia with terrorism-related offences linked to IS. Mamun supported IS on Facebook; Bishat had an IS flag image

Bangladesh's Yunus eyes $5 tn halal market with industrial park pitch to Malaysia

Malaysian officials have said that the global halal products market is currently valued at $3 trillion and is projected to reach $5 trillion by 2030. Among the key players in the halal market are Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand

Why were 10 Indians denied entry into Malaysia despite the visa-free provision?

Ten Indian nationals were denied entry at Kuala Lumpur Airport by Malaysia’s Border Control despite the country offering a visa-free entry. They were part of a larger group of 99 foreign nationals, including those from Pakistan and Bangladesh, who were blocked from entering. What went wrong?

Suit against Malaysia’s Anwar halted: Is sexual assault case against a PM a matter of constitution or law?

Malaysia’s Court of Appeals has a dealt Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim a victory in a case that would determine whether he could be prosecuted as the prime minister. He has been accused of sexual assault by a former aide.

FirstUp: Indian Navy gets first indigenous diving support vessel and other big news today

The Indian Navy is set to commission its first indigenous diving support vessel, 'INS Nistar', in Vishakhapatnam today. The Supreme Court will be apprised of the status of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya's case, whose death sentence in Yemen has been deferred. In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Bihar to inaugurate several projects worth Rs 7,200 crore

‘He said it would be a blessing...’: The horrific ‘assault’ of Indian-origin beauty queen by temple priest in Malaysia

An Indian-origin model and TV host, Lishalliny Kanaran, has accused a Hindu temple priest of molesting her under the pretext of offering a religious blessing in Malaysia. Kanaran, who is also Miss Grand Malaysia 2021, has urged other women to speak up as police launched a manhunt to arrest the missing priest

How Russia shot down Malaysia Airlines' Flight MH17, killing 298 people

In 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 on board. Years of forensic investigations, legal trials, and international rulings have concluded that a Russian-supplied Buk missile system was responsible

Mahathir Mohamad turns 100 and continues to influence Malaysia politics. Here’s how

Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who turns 100 today, is one of the most important and influential figures in Malaysia’s history. Mohamad served as prime minister from 1981 to 2003 when he transformed the country into a hi-tech exporter and then again from 2018 to 2020 when Malaysia was reeling from the 1MBD corruption scandal. Let’s take a look at Mahathir’s life and times

Rubio to attend Asean meet, his first Asia trip to focus on ‘a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific region

A senior state department official has asserted that it is in "America's interest" to commit to East Asia and Southeast Asia. Trump has been advised to prioritise Asia amid China's threatening influence over the region