Johor caretaker chief minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the launch of the zone’s master plan need not wait until the Singapore-Malaysia Leaders’ Retreat at the end of the year, prompting a swift rebuttal from Economy Minister Akmal Nasir.

The U1 robot can hold conversations and even be customised to resemble loved ones or celebrities. UBTech is targeting single people and those aged over 60, positioning the lifelike android as a companion to help combat loneliness.

The West Papua National Liberation Army shot dead American pilot Nicholas F Gosselin and set his plane on fire after it landed in the Yahukimo region of Highland Papua province.

The jolt struck at a depth of 120km, around 58km west of Tobelo.

Ten other people were still hospitalised after Thursday's crash - two in critical condition and eight with injuries - according to the latest update from Mukdahan Hospital.

Oil prices edged up but held recent losses fuelled by increased traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and on hopes for progress in US-Iran talks.

Campaign debates in the Johor state election have increasingly centred on issues sensitive to Chinese Malaysians. This could prove decisive in some mixed and Chinese-majority constituencies, say analysts.

As the US celebrates its 250th anniversary of independence, Southeast Asia still has questions about its reliability as a partner, says Kevin Chen from the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also cited the situation in Gaza, Israel’s “incessant bombardment” of Lebanon, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the civil war in Sudan as signs that pointed toward a greater devaluation of respect for international norms...

The ads, which were subsequently removed, featured female models in various sexually suggestive poses.

The 11-year-old drove his parents' truck into a group of 35 monks and five lay followers who were walking along a road. 

The government says it wants to have women in at least 30 per cent of the legislative seats.

Human rights groups believe the true death toll could be in the tens of thousands, arguing that many killings went undocumented.

Owners of such stores cite difficulties in finding suitable staff and rising wage costs as reasons for adopting the model.

The plunge in Asia follows a Wall Street selloff in semiconductor shares overnight.