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Anwar Ibrahim
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Umno President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi reacts after being acquitted of corruption on September 4, 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE
Malaysia

Malaysia’s Umno chief denies he ‘sidelined’ Najib to save himself

Ahmad Zahid, who has been cleared of corruption charges, says the party has ‘never wavered’ from its position of supporting its ex-leader.

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Australia

South Korean church deploys ‘special force’ to recruit Australian youths

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Malaysia

Malaysian man arrested for forcing son, 10, to shoplift regularly

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Singapore

Caucasian ‘sugar daddy’ sextortion scam lands Malaysian in Singapore jail

Rajwant Singh Gill Narajan Singh was sentenced to 12 years in jail for pretending to be a rich white man and coercing women into sex.

People take pictures next to the Merlion statue at the Marina Bay waterfront in Singapore. Photo: AFP
People take pictures next to the Merlion statue at the Marina Bay waterfront in Singapore. Photo: AFP
The Philippines

Philippines ‘comfort women’ demand apology during Japan foreign minister visit

Analysts say Manila is unlikely to back the surviving victims of sex slavery, fearing it could jeopardise billions in infrastructure funding.

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Japan

Japan’s ‘love hotel’ mayor stages comeback, shattering political taboos

Akira Ogawa’s return suggests voters are finally judging women in Japanese politics by the same imperfect standards as men.

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Thailand

Suspected scam boss linked to South Korean student’s death arrested in Thailand

The arrest follows international outrage over the killing of the university student, which led to a joint Thai–South Korean investigation.

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South Korean police escort detainees at Techo International Airport in Phnom Penh on October 18, 2025, after a joint Cambodian–South Korean operation targeting scam networks linked to the trafficking of foreign nationals. Photo: EPA
South Korean police escort detainees at Techo International Airport in Phnom Penh on October 18, 2025, after a joint Cambodian–South Korean operation targeting scam networks linked to the trafficking of foreign nationals. Photo: EPA
Malaysia

‘No oil here’: Malaysians turn US embassy space post into foreign-policy satire

The embassy’s International Space Station image prompted self-deprecating jokes about oil, US power and being strategically uninteresting.

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Japan

Japan’s Princess Kako targeted in viral Grok AI deepfakes trend

Images of the princess in a blue dress during a recent event were used to generate deepfakes, including of her naked and covered in tattoos.

Australia

Australian Labor MPs apologise over ‘disgusting’ rating game at festival

The three Labor MPs were overheard playing the game about male politicians at a festival, triggering a complaint.

People attend Hobart’s Taste of Summer – a food and music festival held annually on the city’s waterfront during the holiday season in Australia. Photo: Handout
Malaysia

Fast and furious: Malaysian streetwear boss suspended after road rage video

The Stoned & Co co-founder, seen on camera tailgating and blocking a car after being honked at, has apologised for his ‘poor judgment’.

This screengrab from a dashcam video shows the moment the Stoned & Co co-founder is honked at to get out of the way. Photo: Instagram/sensual.96s
This screengrab from a dashcam video shows the moment the Stoned & Co co-founder is honked at to get out of the way. Photo: Instagram/sensual.96s
Japan

Fatal Tokyo fist-fight leads to rare duelling arrest under 19th-century law

A 26-year-old man was arrested under an 1889 law after police said a prearranged fight in Kabukicho left the other man dead weeks later.

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Japan

‘Easier targets’: is Japan safe for foreigners if disaster strikes?

Rising xenophobia, ‘vigilante’ patrols and memories of 1923 have rights advocates concerned that history could repeat itself.

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Malaysia

Malaysian man posing as security guard robbed couple, abused woman: police

The suspect took the couple’s identity cards and forced the 19-year-old woman to perform an indecent act with him, police said.

Malaysian police have arrested a 24-year-old local man over allegations he posed as a security guard to rob a young couple in a car park in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Shutterstock
The Philippines

Philippine tourism chief’s magazine cover draws backlash as visitor numbers slip

Christina Frasco’s cover appearance has drawn accusations from critics that self-promotion is being prioritised over strategy and results.

Christina Frasco, secretary of the Philippines’ Department of Tourism. Photo: Handout
Christina Frasco, secretary of the Philippines’ Department of Tourism. Photo: Handout
India

Next appointment, 2027: US visa squeeze hits India’s tech talent

With H-1B renewals stalled, a new generation of Indian professionals is questioning whether to pursue their American dreams.

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The Philippines

Philippine police arrest teenager over alleged online baby sale as cases rise

Police said the teenager had posted the offer online and intended to use the money to cover her tuition.

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Malaysia

Malaysian football body risks Fifa’s takeover amid forgery scandal

Some sports fans claim that the reinstatement of FAM’s chief is ‘almost staged’ as concerns over Fifa’s next step mount.

Malaysian football players, wearing yellow shirts, battle with their Vietnamese counterparts during the AFC Asian Cup qualifier match in Kuala Lumpur in June last year. Photo: AFP
Malaysian football players, wearing yellow shirts, battle with their Vietnamese counterparts during the AFC Asian Cup qualifier match in Kuala Lumpur in June last year. Photo: AFP
Malaysia

Malaysian football body reinstates ‘only negligent’ chief over forgery scandal

Fifa has punished FAM further over the use of fake documents to let 7 foreign-born players represent Malaysia by nullifying 3 matches.

The Philippines

Uniform justice? Why Philippine military expelled a lawmaker but not VP Duterte

Sources said legal ambiguity and political risk shaped how the armed forces handled two high-profile reservist cases.

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Malaysia

Nearly 94% of Malaysians who renounced citizenship chose Singapore, data shows

More than 61,000 Malaysians gave up their citizenship over the last five years, with officials citing jobs and family ties as key reasons.

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A view from Singapore towards Johor Bahru in southern Malaysia, a key crossing point for Malaysians working in the city state. Photo: AFP
Indonesia

Is 12 too young? Rare matricide case tests Indonesia’s juvenile justice system

The girl, often threatened with a knife by her mother, was inspired to use one after playing online games and watching anime, police say.

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Faizah Soraya was allegedly stabbed more than 20 times by her 12-year-old daughter. Photo: Handout
Faizah Soraya was allegedly stabbed more than 20 times by her 12-year-old daughter. Photo: Handout
Japan

Never send, never pay: NGO sounds alarm on sextortion scourge in Japan

Paps reported 2,200 consultations linked to sextortion as of November for the 2025 financial year, with most victims male and aged under 18.

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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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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.

Doctor Richard Lee (left) and Samira Farahnaz, known online as Dokter Detektif or Doktif (right). Photos: Instagram/dr.richard_lee/ dokterdetektifreal
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