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Former Malaysian army chief Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan’s wife, Salwani Anuar, is escorted in a wheelchair by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission officers at the Kuala Lumpur Court on January 22. She and her husband are facing multiple charges under Malaysia’s anti-money-laundering law. Photo: EPA
Malaysia

Corruption suspect’s wheelchair court appearance sparks mockery in Malaysia

The wife of a former army chief was seen walking before later using a wheelchair in court, prompting cynical social media commentary.

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The Philippines

Critics of Marcos step up impeachment calls, cite ‘smoking gun’ letter

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Banking & finance

In a turbulent world, funding Asia’s critical infrastructure a ‘duty’: AIIB

Myanmar

‘We won a majority’: Myanmar’s army-backed party ready to form new government

Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has not ruled out serving as the new government’s president.

Myanmar electoral officials count ballots at a polling station in Yangon on Sunday. Photo: EPA
Myanmar electoral officials count ballots at a polling station in Yangon on Sunday. Photo: EPA
Thailand

Thailand’s Pita hopes to rise again through reformist People’s Party successor

The former leader was blocked from leading government and banned from politics after his party stunned the ruling elite in 2023.

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Thailand

Endangered leopard sharks return to Thai waters in landmark rewilding push

The spotted sharks have sharply declined in the wild over the past decade due to overfishing and habitat loss.

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The Philippines

At least 15 dead after ferry sinks in southern Philippines

More than 350 were on board the inter-island ferry from Zamboanga to Jolo island when it apparently encountered technical problems and sank.

Coastguards attend to the survivors of the sunken MV Trisha Kerstin 3 in waters off Basilan province on Monday. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard/AFP
Coastguards attend to the survivors of the sunken MV Trisha Kerstin 3 in waters off Basilan province on Monday. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard/AFP
The Philippines

‘Bitter fruits’: why the Philippines faces a 10-year climb to fix its schools

Its ‘historic’ US$23 billion education budget might not be enough to close long-standing gaps, experts say.

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Indonesia

Indonesian rescuers recover bodies after Java landslide, 72 still missing

The landslide killed at least 25, as authorities warn coming rain could further destabilise the slope as rescuers search.

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Singapore

How Johor-Singapore SEZ is delivering for businesses a year on

While the zone has attracted sizeable investment since its launch last year, experts call for better coordination to ensure seamless operations.

Singaporean urban farming company Archisen is expanding its operations in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone. Photo: Archisen
The Philippines

Did shelved anti-disaster scheme lead to Philippines’ flood control woes?

The NOAH project, which ran daily from 2012 to 2016, helped the Philippines avoid ‘mass casualties in one place affected by a hazard’.

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Submerged houses and farmlands in Cagayan province, north of Manila, in November 2025, due to heavy rains brought about by Super Typhoon Fung-wong. Photo: AFP
Submerged houses and farmlands in Cagayan province, north of Manila, in November 2025, due to heavy rains brought about by Super Typhoon Fung-wong. Photo: AFP
Indonesia

‘Resilience’ is Indonesia’s new foreign policy buzzword, but is it just rhetoric?

Analysts warn the vague concept lacks a long-term strategy and risks Jakarta drifting from its non-aligned values into transactional deals.

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Indonesia

Groomed at 15: Indonesian actress lays bare her stolen youth in viral memoir

Aurelie Moeremans’ book has sparked a national debate in Indonesia on how a teenager could be manipulated and abused in plain sight.

Indonesia

‘Like thunder’: 8 killed in Indonesia, over 80 missing in Java landslide

‘It had been raining non-stop since the morning, and then it happened’.

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A drone shot on Saturday shows an area affected by fatal landslides in a village in West Java. Photo: Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency via AP
Malaysia

‘Well-known’ Malaysian Tan Sri arrested in US$75 million investment scam probe

The titled businessman had allegedly used his position and influence to attract and convince about 1,700 people to invest in two companies.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission headquarters, where the Tan Sri is arrested on Wednesday. Photo: Shutterstock
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission headquarters, where the Tan Sri is arrested on Wednesday. Photo: Shutterstock
Malaysia

Gloves are off as Malaysia’s strong ringgit bites into producers’ profits

The ringgit climbed more than 10 per cent against the dollar last year, squeezing the bottom line of the export-reliant market.

Malaysia

Malaysia’s Islamists preach ‘racial domination’ to woo young voters

They govern the north, dominate the opposition and claim to soon be the undisputed home of Malay nationalism. Is Putrajaya next for PAS?

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China trade

Vietnam grabs bigger slice of China’s durian market as Thailand loses ground

Vietnam’s exports of the pungent fruit to China rose by US$500 million in 2025 as the country emerges as a serious rival to Thailand.

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People work at a durian processing facility in China’s southwestern Guangxi region. China is by far the world’s largest market for the spiky, pungent fruit. Photo: Xinhua
People work at a durian processing facility in China’s southwestern Guangxi region. China is by far the world’s largest market for the spiky, pungent fruit. Photo: Xinhua
China exports

Explainer | How are US tariffs and trade barriers redrawing China’s export map?

While exports to the US fell last year, other markets more than made up the difference.

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Music

Welcome to the black parade: how Southeast Asia’s Gen Z is reviving 2000s music

From My Chemical Romance to Blue, early-2000s acts are selling out venues across the region as younger fans seek raw, emotional music.

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Thailand

3 children accused of setting man on fire in Thailand for a video

The suspects, aged just nine to 15, allegedly doused the sleeping man in liquid and filmed him as the flames erupted.

An incident involving three children who allegedly set a man on fire under a bridge in Prawet, Bangkok, on Monday was caught on video. Photo: Facebook
Indonesia

Indonesia’s defence deal with Bosnia signals Asian middle power’s clout

The deal is in line with Jakarta’s goal to pursue an ‘active and free’ foreign policy beyond its Western partners.

President Prabowo Subianto (third from left) and Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin (left) at the military academy in Magelang, Central Java in 2024. Photo: AFP/Indonesia’s presidential palace
President Prabowo Subianto (third from left) and Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin (left) at the military academy in Magelang, Central Java in 2024. Photo: AFP/Indonesia’s presidential palace
Thailand

‘So fake’: viral Lisa image for Thai tourism fuels AI concerns

The image of K-pop star Lisa Manobal framed against blooms of the Red Lotus Sea has sparked a meme wave and debate about AI in creative work.

Vietnam

Vietnam’s To Lam gets another 5-year term as Communist Party chief

Lam, who is also seeking to become president, has pledged to speed up growth in the export-reliant country.

Malaysia

Indonesian litterbug weeps after first conviction under new Malaysian law

Anita Lukman was fined US$125 and ordered to serve six hours of community service for discarding rubbish on a pavement in Johor Bahru.

Sultan Md (left) and Anita Lukman (centre) being led into the Sessions Court in Johor Bahru where they were charged with littering in public. Photo: The Star
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