KUALA LUMPUR -- International trade must be governed by transparent rules and legal predictability, not by unilateralism or coercive economic measures, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said here on Thursday.
In his keynote speech at the 38th Asia-Pacific Roundtable (APR) held in Kuala Lumpur, Anwar said that strengthening multilateralism through ASEAN and engaging with a diverse range of partners, such as China, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and BRICS, will help countries seeking constructive cooperation to weather the storm of geopolitical tensions. (Malaysia-Multilateralism-Tariffs)
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HONG KONG -- The international higher education research organization Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) has released its 2026 World University Rankings, revealing significant improvements for several universities in Hong Kong.
A total of five institutions -- including the University of Hong Kong, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and City University of Hong Kong -- continue to rank among the top 100 globally, according to the 2026 QS World University Rankings on Thursday. (Hong Kong-University Rankings)
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JAKARTA -- ASEAN and China must pioneer a forward-looking partnership, anchored in resilient and equitable value-chain integration as well as climate and tech-responsive infrastructure, to chart a more inclusive and sustainable course in today's fragmented world, said ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn here on Thursday.
Speaking at the Jakarta Forum on ASEAN-China Relations, Kao highlighted five strategic areas he believed to be pivotal in redefining the future of ASEAN-China relations: digital economy, green transition, supply chain connectivity and resilience, transport connectivity, and tourism cooperation. (ASEAN-China-Partnership)
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JAKARTA -- Mount Raung in Banyuwangi Regency, Indonesia's East Java province, erupted on Thursday, prompting a flight alert, the country's Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center said.
The eruption occurred twice on Thursday, with the larger one at 04:43 a.m. Jakarta time, spewing a column of ash up to 2,000 meters into the sky. (ASEAN-China-Partnership)
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TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Thursday ruled out dissolving the House of Representatives for now, ensuring that elections for both chambers of parliament will not take place on the same day in July, Kyodo News reported.
The decision came as Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, said he will not submit a no-confidence motion against Ishiba's cabinet. (Japan-Lower House-Election) ■
