In-depth reporting on Malaysia and the region.
A senior Palestinian official has called on Malaysia to strengthen its advocacy for Palestinian detainees, urging the country to amplify international pressure on Israel and bring alleged prison abuses before global institutions.
Israeli artillery struck Syria's Quneitra province on Thursday, with shells landing near Tal al-Ahmar al-Sharqi. The incident continues a pattern of increased military activity in southern Syria since the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime.
The Palestinian government confronts a deepening economic emergency stemming from Israel's retention of more than US$5 billion in tax revenues, equivalent to 68% of Finance Ministry income, alongside banking restrictions and movement constraints.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has initiated an official investigation into Saudi Arabia's assertion that unmanned aerial vehicles used in attacks on Saudi territory originated from pro-Iranian organisations based in Iraq.
The Arab League's Nabil Fahmy has warned US President Donald Trump that the Middle East faces imminent instability, urging him to pressure Israel on Palestinian policies ahead of a Trump-Netanyahu meeting.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has demanded international legal action through competent organisations over damage sustained by Iran's transport infrastructure, characterising recent US attacks on civilian facilities as war crimes.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has arrived in Damascus for the first visit by a UN chief since 2009, marking a turning point in international relations with Syria after the civil war's conclusion.
The Palestinian presidency has strongly condemned a wave of attacks by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, holding the Israeli government responsible for supporting what it describes as coordinated violence against Palestinian civilians.
Malaysia's Religious Affairs Minister Dr Zulkifli Hasan has condemned the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and thousands of settlers, calling it a violation of Islamic sanctity and international law.
Asean has called for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, with foreign ministers expressing deep concern about the Middle East conflict's ripple effects on regional economies, energy supplies and maritime security across Asia-Pacific.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has clarified that Malaysia's foreign policy opposition targets Israeli government actions rather than the Jewish people themselves, emphasising this crucial distinction in the country's stance.
An estimated 1.4 million people in Gaza are projected to experience severe acute food insecurity through December 2026, with the crisis deepening despite recent humanitarian gains, according to new UN food security analysis.
A leading Middle Eastern studies scholar has defended Malaysia's longstanding refusal to establish diplomatic relations with Israel as a principled stance against genocide rather than antisemitism, drawing sharp distinctions between opposing state policies and prejudice against Jewish people.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has reaffirmed Malaysia's unwavering commitment to its long-standing ban on Israeli nationals entering the country, brushing aside criticism from eight US Democratic congressmen who sought to overturn the policy.
Indonesia's foreign minister has challenged Asean to fulfil its commitments and demonstrate credibility as the bloc grapples with escalating geopolitical tensions, including fallout from the Middle East conflict and the stalled South China Sea code of conduct.
Air raid sirens sounded across Bahrain on Sunday as Iran pressed forward with sustained missile and drone strikes against Gulf installations, escalating a volatile cycle of US-Iranian military exchanges.
The US conducted its eighth consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran after two American military personnel were killed in Jordan. The escalation marks a dangerous intensification since a ceasefire agreement collapsed last week.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has declared that all oil and LNG tankers must obtain permission before transiting the Strait of Hormuz, following incidents involving four vessels that allegedly disabled navigation systems.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has indicated he is considering whether to attempt arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an upcoming United Nations summit, sparking immediate condemnation from Netanyahu's representatives.
Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait activated emergency sirens and security protocols Friday after Iran launched drone and missile attacks. The escalation marks a dangerous intensification of regional tensions involving the US and its Gulf allies.
Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy has declared the Palestinian cause will remain the organisation's paramount concern, pledging to defend Palestinian rights and pursue justice for what he characterises as ongoing genocide.
Kuwait's air defence systems engaged incoming drones early Wednesday, with authorities confirming a fire at a targeted site. Bahrain also activated air raid sirens as regional tensions escalate following recent US-Iran military exchanges.
Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf has warned the United States that the Strait of Hormuz will only open under Iranian terms, following fresh US military strikes on Iranian targets.
Iraq's Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi has declared that Baghdad will remain within OPEC while advocating for an equitable production quota. The statement comes amid recent OPEC decisions on member production allocations.
Iran and Oman have pledged to maintain ongoing consultations at multiple levels regarding maritime safety in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global energy supplies and trade.
The Malaysian Embassy in Qatar has issued a security advisory to Malaysian nationals following renewed military exchanges between the United States and Iran, urging compliance with local authorities' instructions.
Andy Burnham, poised to become UK Prime Minister, has pledged to pursue additional sanctions against Israel over ceasefire breaches and illegal settlements, signalling a potentially harder stance on Middle East policy than his predecessor.
The Strait of Hormuz continues to pose a severe maritime security threat following recent attacks on commercial vessels, the UK Maritime Trade Operations warned Friday, as tensions between the US and Iran escalate.
Bahrain has not drawn on a $5.3 billion currency swap with the UAE despite economic pressure from regional conflict, its development minister confirmed. The country is simultaneously exploring the return of its Formula One Grand Prix to the 2024 calendar.
Singapore's Temasek has grown its net portfolio value to a record S$518 billion, adding S$49 billion in the past year. The sovereign wealth fund delivered a 20-year shareholder return of 6.8 per cent despite Middle East geopolitical tensions.
Kuwait has launched a US$100 million emergency fund through its development institution to finance repairs of infrastructure damaged during regional tensions with Iran, reflecting ongoing security challenges.
Afghanistan's once-bustling car parts market in Spin Boldak has ground to a halt as cross-border tensions with Pakistan and Middle East conflicts have disrupted critical shipping routes, devastating local businesses and workers.
The United States and Iran are set to resume high-stakes negotiations in Pakistan on July 11, with discussions focusing on sanctions relief, unfrozen assets, and nuclear programme resolution following their recent military ceasefire agreement.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend the funeral of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran on July 4, with plans to visit Turkey afterwards for bilateral discussions.
Palestine's government has reported that more than 3,376 Palestinian detainees are being held without charge or trial, alongside 360 children, citing systematic human rights abuses including torture and inadequate healthcare.
A Saudi Aramco helicopter crashed near Ras Tanura on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of all 14 people on board. Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Energy said authorities are investigating the incident at the major oil facility.
Iraqi security forces conducted sweeping raids across Baghdad's fortified Green Zone on Sunday, arresting multiple officials and parliamentarians on corruption charges as part of an intensified anti-graft campaign.
Japan has announced US$15 million in emergency grant aid for humanitarian relief in West Asia, with the bulk directed to Iran, alongside support for Lebanon and the West Bank.
Iran's top negotiator has rejected US claims that unfrozen Iranian assets will be spent on American agricultural goods, signalling continued friction between Tehran and Washington despite recent peace talks.
Iran has rejected International Atomic Energy Agency inspections at its nuclear sites, insisting such access will only be permitted after a comprehensive agreement with the United States and complete sanctions removal.
Iraq's Oil Ministry has firmly rejected reports suggesting it could leave OPEC if production quotas aren't increased, reaffirming its commitment to the cartel while pushing for a fair reassessment of output limits.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has publicly defended Iran's right to possess ballistic missiles during a high-level visit by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, asserting that missile capabilities were never part of the recent US-Iran understanding.