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Controversial Malaysian rapper Namewee has released his latest Lunar New Year song, “Type C Malaysia”. Photo: YouTube/Namewee
Malaysia

Malaysian rapper Namewee defies scandals to release Lunar New Year single

Namewee is still helping police in an investigation over the death of a Taiwanese influencer and faces a drug possession charge.

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Singapore

‘Pasta tasted like grass’: Singapore school battles backlash over meal quality

Technology

Singapore, Beijing land in top 10 of Savills’ Matcha Index of global tech cities

Singapore

Singer Henry Lau calls out Singapore concert venue over blocked views

Lau says he is speaking out ‘for the sake of future artistes’ after the venue layout affected his interactions with fans.

Canadian singer-songwriter Henry Lau performing at the Singland Festival at the Marina Bay Sands convention centre in Singapore on Saturday. Photo: Aaron Chang
Canadian singer-songwriter Henry Lau performing at the Singland Festival at the Marina Bay Sands convention centre in Singapore on Saturday. Photo: Aaron Chang
Thailand

Thailand tightens cannabis sales as dispensaries face closure ahead of election

Thailand, the first country in Asia to decriminalise cannabis in 2022, tightens rules to appeal to conservative voters ahead of pivotal election.

Indonesia

Indonesian beauty doctor under police probe as row with influencer turns ugly

Police say there is enough preliminary evidence to investigate Richard Lee for possible violations under health and consumer laws.

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Indonesia

Indonesia’s criminal law overhaul prompts fears of rights erosion

Observers say the new Criminal Code and revised Criminal Procedure Code entrench provisions that undermine democracy.

People walk along a sidewalk in Jakarta’s main business district. Indonesia’s new Criminal Code and revised Criminal Procedure Code came into force on Friday. Photo: EPA
People walk along a sidewalk in Jakarta’s main business district. Indonesia’s new Criminal Code and revised Criminal Procedure Code came into force on Friday. Photo: EPA
Thailand

Border truce tested as Thailand says soldier wounded in Cambodia strike

Thai PM Anutin said Bangkok had the ‘capability to respond’ to Phnom Penh as provincial governors were ordered to ‘make preparations’.

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Malaysia

Malaysians mock military base ‘parties’ with nuggets, fries memes amid probe

An inquiry has been launched after social media clips purport to show women drinking and socialising with personnel inside military camps.

Malaysia

Malaysia’s ex-PM Mahathir in hospital after a fall at home – ‘he was conscious’

Mahathir, 100, fell when he was walking from the balcony to his living room in his home in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia’s former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad leaves a protest event against Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Kuala Lumpur last July. Photo: AFP
Malaysia

Couple from Singapore surrender to Malaysian police over refuelling case

The man allegedly covered the registration number of his Singapore-registered vehicle to pump subsidised petrol in Johor.

A petrol station in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo: AP
A petrol station in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo: AP
The Philippines

‘Rule of law’: Philippine military lauds ex-general’s sedition arrest

Romeo Poquiz’s limited influence means his arrest is unlikely to spark a ‘chilling effect’ among former officials, observers say.

Singapore

How a photo reignited debate on neutrality of Singapore’s NMP scheme

Haresh Singaraju, a newly nominated member of parliament, was spotted in a shirt with the logo of the ruling PAP at an activity in 2023.

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Vietnam

Vietnam overtakes Thailand as Chinese tourists' top choice for travel

Chinese visitors to Vietnam jumped 41 per cent to 5.3 million, topping the 4.5 million to Thailand, where safety concerns reduced Chinese travellers.

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The Night Market in Nha Trang, Vietnam, a popular destination for the growing number of mainland Chinese tourists visiting the city. Photo: Roy Issa
The Philippines

Trump’s Venezuela move strains Philippines’ rules-based diplomacy, critics say

Critics said the US operation has undercut Manila’s claim to principled diplomacy, given its close alliance with Washington.

Protesters hold signs outside the US embassy in Manila on Monday during a rally opposing Washington’s military action in Venezuela following the seizure of President Nicolas Maduro. Photo: EPA-EFE
Protesters hold signs outside the US embassy in Manila on Monday during a rally opposing Washington’s military action in Venezuela following the seizure of President Nicolas Maduro. Photo: EPA-EFE
Malaysia

Reform gamble: Anwar to limit Malaysia PM term amid support crisis

The move could ‘excite core supporters’ and help project the image that the ruling coalition remains committed to reform, analysts say.

The Philippines

Philippine ex-general arrested after call for military to ‘reset’ society

Romeo Poquiz had publicly called for the armed forces to ‘withdraw their support’ from Marcos over the flood control corruption scandal.

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The Philippines

Philippines approves U$115 billion budget, slashes ‘back door’ allocations

Marcos used his veto powers to cut unprogrammed appropriations, historically prone to corruption, to their lowest level since 2019.

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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr delivers a report on government investigative efforts against corruption on November13. Photo: EPA
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr delivers a report on government investigative efforts against corruption on November13. Photo: EPA
Malaysia

Gold rush: Malaysia’s Kelantan to let poor residents dig for precious metal

The move comes as gold prices soared and videos of local Kelantanese panning for the metal were shared online.

Indonesia

New ‘command economy’? Indonesia seizes land the size of Switzerland

Prabowo Subianto’s government has taken over 4 million hectares of plantations and mines since last January.

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The Philippines

‘Not very high’ bar: Philippines inherits Thailand-Cambodia border crisis

Given Asean’s policy of non-interference, the Philippines may be better off leaving peace negotiations to the US and China, experts say.

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People stand beside a crater in front of a damaged police station following clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers in Banteay Meanchey province, Cambodia on Saturday. Photo: AFP
Malaysia

Malaysia, EU threaten action against X, Grok AI for offensive images

Malaysian authorities said they are investigating images produced by Grok after complaints about the misuse of AI to manipulate images of women and minors.

xAI and Grok logos are seen in this illustration from February 16 last year. Photo: Reuters
xAI and Grok logos are seen in this illustration from February 16 last year. Photo: Reuters
Indonesia

Body of Spanish football coach found after Indonesian boat tragedy

Fernando Martin, his wife and their 4 children were on a tour boat that sank in the Komodo National Park area on Boxing Day.

Myanmar

Myanmar’s junta proxy party takes decisive lead in first phase of voting

To mark the country’s 78 years of independence, the military is also releasing over 6,000 prisoners.

Singapore

Small market, global competition: can Singapore’s filmmakers break out abroad?

The government has rolled out a US$155.6 million programme to help local filmmakers reach wider markets amid shrinking cinema audiences.

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The Projector, an independent cinema at Golden Mile Tower in Singapore, closed in 2024 amid rising costs and falling attendance. Photo: Handout
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