Critics say the Malaysian prime minister hasn’t made any meaningful progress on a host of goals, including tackling corruption, cutting red tape and addressing the rising costs of living.

Sri Lanka, desperate for dollars and remittances, plans to send some 20,000 workers to Israel starting early next month to work in the farm and construction sectors.

Recommendations include securing land rights for women, promoting women’s cooperatives and encouraging women to lead in developing climate policy.

In a symbolic milestone ahead of COP28 that may help unlock more of the trillions of dollars needed, developed countries provided US$89.6 billion in 2021 to their poorer counterparts, with the US$100 billion goal likely met last year.

Amid concerns about trafficking and a lack of resources to help the persecuted minority who have been fleeing Myanmar, Aceh villagers gave out supplies and repaired the group’s boat after desperate passengers tried to sink it.

Five-member jury returns unanimous verdict of death by suicide in the case of Le Van Muoi.

India faces the challenge of harnessing the potential of millions of youth, in hopes of building a US$1 trillion digital economy, but failure could trigger social unrest.

Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim’s ardent pro-Palestinian campaign could pose risks to his domestic agenda including policy enactment and stabilising his coalition.

Vietnam’s economic gains are rarely felt among many of the young and poorly paid Vietnamese employed outside tech and manufacturing sectors.

Gender equality also saw its worst slump in two decades, with ‘stark gender biases’ still prevailing across the region, especially for women in poor households.

South Korea’s migrant programme is under scrutiny for what critics say is failure to guarantee safe working conditions.

Protests by Bangladeshi garment workers against low wages have led to two deaths amid a spike in the costs of basic foodstuffs and other items.

If the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill is passed, access to sexual and reproductive health services, like contraception, would increase.

Official obituary of former leader, who died in Shanghai on Friday, hails his contributions to the economy, belt and road, poverty relief and his support for President Xi Jinping.

Father John Wotherspoon, Australian priest and missionary, tells Kate Whitehead about his four decades ministering to the poor in China and to prisoners, drug addicts and homeless people in Hong Kong.

China’s State Council also puts the onus on local governments to bolster support for those most in need, including the poor and elderly, while also vowing to keep them warm this winter.

NGO Room to Read’s campaign She Creates Change addresses girls’ unequal access to education in developing countries by telling empowering stories of young women who have beaten the odds.

Austerity measures such as tax reforms have taken a toll on Sri Lankans struggling with inflation and rising living costs.

The tussle between China and the Philippines has strangled Filipino fishermen’s access to the fishing grounds which have sustained their community for generations.

Canada is gripped by a surge in homelessness that has seen tens of thousands of people priced out of rental and real estate markets and left to live in the streets of the wealthy nation.

A Chinese-backed economic zone on an Indonesian island south of Singapore is facing stiff resistance from residents who face eviction and an uncertain future.

In Southeast Asia, the popularity of working as freelance drivers is creating a race to the bottom, amid poor terms and conditions, a saturated market and excessive platform fees.

Critics say Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli has overlooked the importance of Malaysia’s street food culture, which provides quick, cheap meals for workers and spaces to socialise.