North Korea

Govt warns of border escalation

The powerful sister of North Korea's leader said that "a grave situation is prevailing" along the Southern border, according to state media, and Pyongyang was considering deploying "more tactical strike means" to the area.

Vietnam

Coffee output to remain flat as El Nino threat looms

The world's top robusta grower's coffee output is likely to remain steady in the current 2026/27 season as stronger production from younger, replanted trees offsets losses caused by unfavourable weather earlier in 2026, industry participants said.

Nation

Women-only seats mulled

WOMEN-ONLY seats are among the options being considered as the government explores reviving the Gender Parity in Political Representation Bill to boost women's representation in politics, says Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.

Nation

M40 aid review available if income drops

M40 households can appeal for a reassessment of their eligibility for targeted assistance if they become unemployed or suffer a drop in income, says Liew Chin Tong.

Nation

Unhealthy API in 25 areas nationwide

PETALING JAYA: A total of 25 areas nationwide recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) numbers with Batu Muda in Kuala Lumpur recording the highest reading at 166

Nation

Ready to quell forest fires

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has offered a Bombardier firefighting aircraft, three helicopters and 50 personnel to help Indonesia battle its forest and land fires, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Nation

‘M’sia can weather economic pressures’

PUTRAJAYA: Despite rising global crude oil prices and cost of living pressures, this administration remains capable of managing Malaysia's economy, says the Prime Minister.

India

137 cancer drugs to get 70% price cut

The prices of as many as 137 cancer drugs will be reduced by 70%, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers said, as it widened price controls in a bid to make treatment more affordable.

Indonesia

Drought leaves farmers high and dry

Supendi, a 33-year-old palm fruit farmer, cooled his heels at a mill in West Kalimantan for four frustrating days earlier this month trying to unload his harvest of fresh fruit bunches before being told to leave as the site was full.

Nation

Blogger Papagomo acquitted again in sedition case

KUALA LUMPUR: The Klang Sessions Court has acquitted blogger Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris for the second time on a charge of making seditious remarks by linking the government to Israel and the West.

South Korea

33 more years for jailed sect leader

The leader of the religious ​sect Jesus Morning Star was sentenced to a further 33 years in jail after being found guilty of sexually assaulting and abusing ​female followers.

Nation

First phase of ECRL to open by Dec 12

GOMBAK: The long-awaited East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) may open on Dec 12, or even earlier, if final testing proceeds smoothly.

Economy

Vietnam's call for lower lending rates for priority sectors

HANOI: Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang has asked banks to cut lending interest rates by 1.5 percentage points to two percentage points for production, business and priority sectors to ease borrowing costs and support economic growth.

Economy

Vietnamese brands need competitive edge

HANOI: Vietnamese brands must become a strategic competitive advantage for the national economy, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung has said, urging businesses to shift from cost-based advantages to value creation, innovation and stronger participation in global value chains.

Markets

‘Panic’ blamed for Indonesia's record stock market outflows

JAKARTA: Analysts say last Friday's stock market rout was driven by panic-selling and investors' risk-off response to MSCI's proposal to reclassify Indonesian equities in its global indexes, even though a final decision will not happen until the end of June 2027.

Nation

Drug syndicates employ new tactics when using mules

KUALA LUMPUR: International drug syndicates are using new tactics, including making last-minute flight bookings for drug mules or scheduling flights during peak hours at KL International Airport (KLIA) to evade detection, says Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan (pic).

Japan

Keen Sword drill gets under way

Tokyo kicked off a joint military exercise with the United States that will see a type of long-range missiles deployed outside their base for the first time, as ties with China languish at rock bottom.

Corporate News

Australian DC power delay exposes AI bottleneck

BRISBANE: The developer of what's set to be one of Australia's biggest data centres (DCs) has been hit by power supply problems, highlighting how access to electricity could become a bottleneck for the country's rollout of artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure.

Plantations

Planter faces investigation over fire

SINGAPORE: The Indonesian authorities have started a preliminary inquiry into suspected land-clearing fires in a concession area operated by a subsidiary of Singapore-listed palm oil producer Kencana Agri.

Nation

A deal to strengthen Pakatan

PETALING JAYA: The Selangor state government's co-operation with Bersatu is about positioning Pakatan Harapan for the next polls, say analysts.