Malaysia:
* Govt open to factual criticisms of taxation system, says Anwar
* PM Anwar’s Italy visit focuses on strengthening bilateral ties
* No interference in judicial matters as govt respects the Constitutional process, says PM
* Malaysia and Singapore unveil first RTS Link train
* Teacher ordered to enter defence for sexual assault of student
* Melaka restaurant assistant faces court over child molestation charge
* Queen shares heartfelt memories on Tunku Mahkota Ismail’s birthday
* Perhentian boat tragedy: Critically injured young girl now stable
* MCMC to summon TikTok over concerns about ‘Player Knockout Battle’ trend
* Chief Justice retirement: Malaysian Bar calls for immediate announcement of replacement
* Bank Negara: Malaysia’s banking system liquidity remains healthy in May
* Mining bribery case: Sabah reps vow to continue serving constituents while clearing their names
* Two Sabah assemblymen, businessman claim trial over RM350,000 mining bribe case
* MOF: RM11bil deployed under GEAR-uP to drive high-growth sectors
* Federal Court to deliver verdict on final appeal of six men convicted in DPP Kevin Morais murder tomorrow
* Putra Heights inferno: No foul play, negligence found, say cops / PETRONAS finds same issue like in Putra Heights along its 2,680km pipeline
* Under-18 national squad eye a place in Asian Cup semis / MHC stand by coach Sarjit despite poor Nations Cup display
Singapore:
* Singapore to enforce new anti-scam law on Tuesday (July 1 ); move protect individuals targeted by scammers
* Dalai Lama celebrates 90th birthday; suggests institution to continue at launch event
* Jail and caning for man linked to fatal Orchard Road brawl in Singapore
* Over five years’ jail for Singapore driver who caused teen’s death during highway race, said she ‘deserved it’
* Over 950,000 Singaporean households to get U-Save, S&CC rebates in July
* Singapore firms seek delay on yougher climate disclosures
* Asia shares track Wall St gains before payrolls test / Asian stocks, futures rise as trade talks progress
* 🙁 Microsoft’s ‘blue screen of death’ is going away
* Oil falls on prospect of more OPEC+ supply, easing risks in Mideast
* Emerging Market: Forex firm, stocks mixed as investors monitor US trade progress
* US strike on Iran highlights China’s need for strategic bombers, analysts say
Indonesia:
* Indonesia evacuates 97 citizens from Iran, 26 from Tel Aviv, Jurusalem, and Arabah
* China to keep anti-dumping steel duties on EU, UK, S. Korea and Indonesia
* Indonesia begins US$5.9bil EV battery project despite environmental fears
* Asean urged to infuse gender lens in human rights agenda
* Indonesia imports over 1,500 dairy cows to boost milk production
* Indonesia to ease import restrictions ahead of US tariff deadline
* Indonesian islanders lose ground as islets put on sale
* Time to explore the undiscovered wonders of Timor-Leste
People play a skipping rope game with giant dolls named Young-hee and Chul-su from Netflix series – Squid Game – during a promotional event of -Squid Game 3 – final season at City Hall Square in Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday, June 30, 2025. — REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa
Thailand:
* Thai economy slows in May on weaker tourism and production, says its central bank
* Bangkok building collapsed after Myanmar quake due to construction, design flaws, probe shows
* Eda Ezrin’s drug case moved to Songkhla Court of Appeal
* Phumtham rules out coup, says military never entertained idea
* Thai travellers still require Schengen visas, says Foreign Ministry
* Thailand warns of hand, foot and mouth disease outbreak
* Thai PM’s crisis of confidence deepens as public demands fresh direction
* Bangkok Festival set to draw 10,000 visitors, bolster Malaysia’s 2026 tourism drive
Philippines:
* Lithuania and Philippines sign a pact to build an alliance against aggression
* Philippines says military leaders working to set-up ‘one-theatre’ approach in East, South China seas
* Plane becomes sauna and passengers were told to ‘meditate’ – so they stewed even more
* Drugs worth 700mil pesos seized in Philippines; cops probing link to ‘floating’ shabu
* Manila court declares Alice Guo a Chinese national
* Philippines – ‘Involuntary hunger’ rose to 20% in April
A Buddhist devotee holds a golden Buddha figurine as she waits for the arrival of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, before the start of a Long Life Prayer offering ceremony at the Main Tibetan Temple in McLeod Ganj, near Dharamsala on Monday, June 30, 2025. — Photo by Sanjay BAID / AFP
Vietnam:
* Trump deals poised to fall short of sweeping trade reforms
* Vietnam approves plans for international financial centre amid US trade pressure
* United Nations chief warns of ‘decimated’ aid budgets at development conference
* Vietnam rolls out key tax reforms from July 1 to support fairer system
* Vietnam unveils new local government authorities
* China and Vietnam hold border meeting on judicial cooperation
Myanmar:
* Interpol warns of surge in human trafficking linked to online fraud
* KL cops launch manhunt for Myanmar national over murder of co-worker
* Tremors detected near Thai border in Myanmar and Nicobar Islands
* Kunming-Mandalay flights resume after quake repairs in Myanmar
* 14 water supply projects planned in southern Myanmar in fiscal 2025-26
* Yangon approves eight new investment projects, creating over 6,000 jobs
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama (right) arrives to attend a Long Life Prayer offering ceremony at the Main Tibetan Temple in McLeod Ganj, near Dharamsala on Monday, June 30, 2025. Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, gave on June 30, the strongest indication yet that the 600-year-old institution would continue after his death, at prayer celebrations for his 90th birthday. The leader, who turns 90 on July 6, is according to Tibetans the 14th reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. – Photo by Sanjay BAID / AFP
Cambodia:
* Malaysian investors explore Cambodian SME sector
* Ten cases of bird flu reported in Cambodia so far in 2025
* Health workers in Cambodia on standby to support military, citizens on Thai border
* Mother, son contract H5N1 bird flu in Cambodia
* Coach Conor says Cambodian women footballers deserve encouragement after Hong Kong draw
Laos:
* As rain keeps falling, Laos braces for rising flood risk
* Joint Mekong patrol sends strong signal to criminals
* Lao Rocket Festival fills sky with joy
Brunei:
* Brunei, Sarawak artists unite in cultural exchange
* Roadshow raises Asean awareness among Brunei students
* Protesters demand debt cancellation, climate action ahead of UN summit
Rice paddy artwork showing baseball star Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani and his dog Decoy is seen in his hometown of Oshu, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. – AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia
AseanPlus:
* It was rock all the way as a packed house grooved all night at the rollicking ‘Konsert Jiwa Kacau 3.0’ in Bukit Jalil
* RWNYC officially submits bid for New York casino licence
* Bursa Malaysia rises on growing geopolitical stability
* Skola Gambar Ilham is a mobile art gallery on a mission to bring art to the people
* Invest Asean-Malaysia 2025 Conference to run from tomorrow to July 3
* No Malaysians involved in Bangladeshi militant group
* Snakes on a plane bound for India, again
* Chemical factory blast kills eight workers in Southern India
* China’s scorching heat poses summer test for electricity grid
* Hong Kong’s last active pro-democracy group says it will disband amid security crackdown
* Trump says car trade with Mr Japan is unfair as deadline looms
* China’s envoy urges Australia to resist US pressure on military spending
* Indian official says political constraints led to jet losses
* China’s humanoid robots generate more soccer excitement than their human counterparts
* Telegram increases cooperation with South Korean police in criminal investigations
* China’s June manufacturing activity shrinks for third month
* Quarter of South Koreans aged 20 to 50 invest in crypto assets
* Taiwan says ‘constructive progress’ made in US trade talks
* China reiterates opposition to any trade deals at its expense
* South Korea — Fans march for Squid Game’s final round
* Taiwanese girl group S.H.E reunite – for Hebe Tien’s concert
* China’s scorching heat poses summer test for electricity grid
* Digital embryo gives China a powerful tool to decode secret of life: scientists
* Economists call for structural reforms to shift China’s focus to consumption
* Hong Kong public universities get 850 transfer inquiries amid shifting US policies
* China lifts a nearly 2-year ban on seafood from Japan over Fukushima wastewater
* Taiwanese TV host and author Wang Hao-yi dies of heart attack, just 5 days after his mother’s passing
* Over 230,000 Afghans left Iran in June ahead of return deadline
* Bangladesh ISPs worried about Starlink’s entry
* Matcha: the Japanese tea taking over the world
* Jo Yu-ri says she didn’t expect her ‘Squid Game’ role to be this difficult
* Jury retires to decide verdict in Australia’s mushroom murder trial
* Nepalese start-up deploys drones to remove rubbish from Mount Everest
* With a push-notification about ‘F1: The Movie’, Apple did what no company should ever do
* Mongolian President congratulates women’s 3×3 basketball team on historic World Cup achievement
* Surfing – ‘Pickles’ relishes first win of 2025 in Brazil
* Golf – Cool as ice – South Korean super duo Lee and Im win first LPGA titles after bagging the team-format Dow Championships in a playoff