Malaysia

Black and white illustration of a boat on rocky waters

A boat carrying 180 Rohingya refugees vanished. A frantic phone call helped untangle the mystery.

Last year, an estimated 3,500 Rohingya Muslims boarded wooden boats and set off from Bangladesh, across hundreds of miles of dangerous waters in the Bay of Bengal, in search of starting new lives in Malaysia or Indonesia. Hundreds of them never made it.

A boat carrying 180 Rohingya refugees vanished. A frantic phone call helped untangle the mystery.
Namewee is a Malaysian Chinese singer-songwriter and filmmaker whose controversial songs go viral on Youtube.

'It’s controversial because it's important,' Malaysian Chinese pop artist says of his censored music

'It’s controversial because it's important,' Malaysian Chinese pop artist says of his censored music
A collage of video screenshots that feature Africans exploited for profit in a growing trend known as "blessings videos."

A new documentary uncovers the story behind China’s racist ‘blessings video’ trend

A new documentary uncovers the story behind China’s racist ‘blessings video’ trend
President Joe Biden participates in the US-ASEAN Special Summit to commemorate 45 years of US-ASEAN relations at the State Department in Washington, Friday, May 13, 2022.

US 'walks fine line' at Southeast Asia summit to strengthen ties

US 'walks fine line' at Southeast Asia summit to strengthen ties
Malaysian Chinese comedian Nigel Ng poses as "Uncle Roger" to critique people's culinary endeavors. His YouTube channel has nearly half a billion views.

Uncle Roger, YouTube's culinary avenger for Asian food

Uncle Roger, YouTube's culinary avenger for Asian food
A pickup truck is shown flying the white and black Taliban flag in the distance with two people holding rifles in the nearground.

Thousands desperate to be evacuated from Afghanistan

Top of The World: Tens of thousands of people remain stuck in Afghanistan, desperate to be evacuated following the Taliban’s takeover. And, Vice President Kamala Harris’ once low-risk trip to Asia has taken on new importance as she will attempt to reassure allies of American credibility. Also, health officials in Australia are warning that major cities like Sydney and Melbourne may be losing control of a COVID-19 outbreak fueled by the more contagious delta variant.

Thousands desperate to be evacuated from Afghanistan
An older man is shown standing still in a crowded sideway area with people walking past him in blurred motion.

Discussion: The delta variant surge and what's next in the pandemic

The highly infectious COVID-19 delta variant is leaving a devastating wake around the globe. The surge of infections raises a lot of questions and sparks concern among public health officials. The World's Carolyn Beeler moderated a discussion about the delta variant and what's next in the pandemic with Harvard Chan School epidemiologist William Hanage.

Discussion: The delta variant surge and what's next in the pandemic
A worker wearing a yellow safety hat inspects disposable blue gloves at a factory.

US human trafficking report elicits anger from several countries

The Biden administration’s first comprehensive annual review of modern slavery is causing shockwaves around the world.

US human trafficking report elicits anger from several countries
Video still from a Tik Tok video

This teen's TikTok video takes on Malaysia's toxic culture of misogyny

Ain Husniza's video exposing rape culture at her school was viewed at least 1.9 million times, sparking a national conversation on sexual harassment and misogyny.

This teen's TikTok video takes on Malaysia's toxic culture of misogyny
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi holds a news conference on the day after a violent attack on the US Congress, Jan. 7, 2021.

Multinational corporations freeze political funding after Capitol attack; Malaysia declares state of emergency; India's top court suspends farm laws after mass protests

Multinational companies are scrambling to distance themselves from the GOP and the radical far-right white supremacist groups embedded in the chaos by freezing or reassessing political donations.

Multinational corporations freeze political funding after Capitol attack; Malaysia declares state of emergency; India's top court suspends farm laws after mass protests
Lebanese and Chilean rescuers search at he site of a collapsed building after getting signals there may be a survivor under the rubble, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sept. 4, 2020.

Beirut tries to bounce back after tragedy; Malaysia withdraws charges against Goldman Sachs; The Lancet praises Russian vaccine

In Beirut, rescuers were still digging through the rubble of collapsed buildings Friday after finding “signs of life, Malaysia’s Bernama state news agency has reported that prosecutors in Kuala Lumpur withdrew criminal charges against three Goldman Sachs units, and The Lancet medical journal has published early-stage trial results showing that Russia’s “Sputnik-V” vaccine for the coronavirus produced a legitimate antibody response.

Beirut tries to bounce back after tragedy; Malaysia withdraws charges against Goldman Sachs; The Lancet praises Russian vaccine
US Attorney General William Barr is shown wearing a dark suit and red tie with his hands outstretched.

Barr testifies on Mueller probe; Former Malaysia PM found guilty; Bush fires killed or displaced 3 billion animals

US Attorney General William Barr heads to Capitol Hill today and will face questioning on what critics argue is a politicization of the Justice Department. And, in a case seen by many as a test of Malaysia’s resolve to stamp out corruption, the country’s former prime minister, Najib Razak, was found guilty of corruption Tuesday. Also, a new study has found that almost 3 billion animals were killed or displaced in the recent devastating bush fires in Australia.

Barr testifies on Mueller probe; Former Malaysia PM found guilty; Bush fires killed or displaced 3 billion animals
A man wearing a suit stands at a State Department podium between two flags

US toughens its stance against Chinese aggression in South China Sea

In a statement this week, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the world will not allow Beijing to treat the South China Sea as its "maritime empire." Bonnie S. Glaser, senior director for Asia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, joins The World's Carol Hills to discuss the significance of this policy shift and what it means for China-US relations. 

US toughens its stance against Chinese aggression in South China Sea
Mike Pompeo in a suit and face mask in front of a plane and the US and Israeli flags

Pompeo visits Israel; Europe wants a summer travel season; Lebanon counters second virus wave

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in Israel, where Iran, China and the annexation of occupied Palestinian territories is on the agenda. Europe is optimistic about a summer travel season. But Lebanon, facing a potential resurgence of the novel coronavirus, has locked down. And Malaysia is applying lessons from its experience with the Nipah virus. In Shanghai, Disneyland is reopened — but pandemic precautions are making their mark on the magical place.

Pompeo visits Israel; Europe wants a summer travel season; Lebanon counters second virus wave
A man wearing protective face mask jogs under a rainbow as Malaysia reopens a majority of businesses, after a movement control order was imposed to fight the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia May 4, 2020.

Malaysia eradicated Nipah virus. Now it’s a leader in the battle against coronavirus.

Some scientists and researchers say that its success in staving off COVID-19 is directly related to its history of fighting zoonotic diseases. 

Malaysia eradicated Nipah virus. Now it’s a leader in the battle against coronavirus.