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Religion
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Who is Superman star David Corenswet’s rumoured wife, Julia Best Warner? Photos: @juliabestwarner/Instagram
Fame and celebrity

Who is Superman star David Corenswet’s rumoured wife, Julia Best Warner?

The presumed couple reportedly had an interfaith wedding honouring Corenswet’s Jewish heritage as well as Warner’s Catholic faith – they have collaborated on several projects, including a TV series.

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Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur to see mass Hindu community gathering as temple row rumbles

Indonesia

Eid celebrations in Indonesia and India face economic and political challenges

Myanmar

More than 700 Muslims among Myanmar quake fatalities

Some 60 mosques were damaged or destroyed when the 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck at Friday prayer time.

A Muslim woman cries while offering morning prayers on a road near destroyed mosques in Mandalay, Myanmar, on Monday. Photo: AFP
China society

Letters | What China taught me about religious tolerance

Readers discuss the experience of life in China as a Muslim, and the law on land occupancy in Malaysia.

Pacific nations

‘Glassman’ jailed: PNG hopes ruling can curb tribal sorcery violence

After a horrific machete killing, a landmark ruling in Papua New Guinea aims to curb deadly sorcery accusations driven by jealousy and greed.

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Middle East

Tehran sit-in dispersed after 48 days outside Iran’s parliament

The protesters were calling for the implementation of a bill imposing tougher penalties on women who refuse to wear the covering.

An Iranian woman without a mandatory hijab flashes a victory sign as she walks at the old main bazaar of Tehran, Iran, on June 13, 2024. Photo: AP
Britain

‘Got it wrong’: ex-Church of England head admits fault in abuse scandal

Justin Welby resigned last year after a report found the church covered up a 1970s serial abuse case and that he later failed to report the abuses.

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Asia travel

Tokyo’s Sanja Matsuri festival – a raucous celebration not for the prudish

One of Japan’s most colourful festivals, the Sanja Matsuri is a rowdy mix of religious ritual and wild street party

Malaysia

Malaysian man who assaulted bodyguards for fasting jailed for 6 years

The businessman was also convicted of using blasphemous words and telling his bodyguards not to fast if they wanted to keep their jobs.

Businessman Chung Chee Yang. Photo: The Star
Malaysia

Malaysia arrests Muslim preacher as temple relocation row rages on

Controversy refuses to die down even as PM Anwar declared ‘victory’ after laying foundation stone for a mosque to be built on temple site.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the groundbreaking ceremony for Masjid Madani in Kuala Lumpur on March 27. Photo: Facebook/anwaribrahimofficial
Pakistan

Pakistan’s Parsi community shrinks as young migrate

Many young and skilled Pakistanis want to leave a country wracked with political uncertainty, security challenges and a struggling economy.

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Malaysia

Relocation of Hindu temple in Malaysia fuels accusations of special privileges

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is set to lay the foundation stone for a new mosque on the current site of the Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur.

Pakistan

Scent of scandal: Pakistani YouTuber’s perfume stirs religious controversy

Rajab Butt was charged with blasphemy after launching a perfume named ‘295’, referring to blasphemy legislation in Pakistan’s penal code.

Rajab Butt pictured in a jail cell last year after being arrested on an unrelated charge. Photo: X/FearlessWolfess
Indonesia

Bali to crack down on ‘naughty’ foreigners with new rules and tourism levy

The new guidelines for foreign tourists were issued to curb their misbehaviour.

Foreign tourists relax on Kuta Beach on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali in November 2023. Photo: AFP
Malaysia

Malaysia’s Perlis port vows faster halal deliveries to China, but Thai support key

Malaysia’s Perlis mega-port aims to revolutionise halal cargo delivery to China, contingent on Thai rail agreements and regional stability.

Japan

Court orders dissolution of Unification Church in Japan after Abe killing probe

The man accused of killing former PM Shinzo Abe resented the South Korea-based sect, which had decades of cosy ties to Japan’s ruling party.

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Malaysia

Malaysian minister’s claim of ‘Yolo’ mindset driving HIV cases draws ridicule

Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni says the ‘you only live once’ mindset encourages individuals ‘to try something new’.

A diagnostician holds a positive HIV test. Photo: Shutterstock
Fame and celebrity

What is the controversial Churchome, where Justin Bieber goes to worship?

The Biebers formerly belonged to Hillsong, hit by scandals concerning inappropriate behaviour and pastor infidelity; fellow church attendees included Chris Pratt and the Kardashians.

India

India probes comedian over jokes about Modi ally, sparking free speech debate

The investigation into Kunal Kamra’s jokes about Eknath Shinde have sparked vandalism and raised concerns over free speech.

Malaysia

Bid to relocate Hindu temple for mosque in Malaysia’s capital stirs debate

The government land on which the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman temple sat was sold to Jakel in 2014.

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Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman devotees are hoping to save the temple in central Kuala Lumpur from eviction. Photo: Facebook/Tang Ah Chai
Pope Francis

Pope Francis back home after 5-week hospital stay for double pneumonia

The 88-year-old pope made his first public appearance since February 14.

Pope Francis leaves the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, Italy on his way back to the Vatican on Sunday. Photo: AP
Pope Francis

Pope Francis will be released from hospital on Sunday, doctors say

The pontiff will need at least two months of rest after spending nearly 40 days battling a life-threatening case of pneumonia in both lungs.

Bangladesh

Trump’s US aid cuts to add to Rohingya refugees’ misery as food rations bite

UN World Food Program said that without additional funds, it would have to cut food rations to US$6 a month from US$12.50 in Cox’s Bazar.

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Indonesia

Indonesian reporter receives pig’s head in incident condemned as ‘terror attack’

The severed head was found in a cardboard box delivered to Francisca Christy Rosana, who works for the Tempo magazine.

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An Indonesian reporter with Tempo magazine has received a severed pig’s head in an incident condemned as a “terror attack”. Photo: Handout
Malaysia

Slap heard around Malaysia: viral Ramadan altercation sparks memes, debate

Social media users are poking fun at the absurdity of the viral video of an elderly Malay man confronting a non-Muslim for not fasting.

Verdi Kornelis Omjai posts a photo of himself eating with his identity card on the table to prove he isn’t Malay on social media. Photo: Facebook/Verdi Kornelis Omjai
India

Are Indian films tapping Hindu nationalism to achieve box-office success?

The blockbuster Chhaava, which has led to violent protests, has sparked debate on whether Indian directors have forsaken historical accuracy.

Malaysia

Fast fashion: food waste from Malaysian Ramadan bazaars hits the runway

A food waste-reduction group collected over 46,000kg of unsold food over the first two weeks of Ramadan this year, but said the actual wastage was likely to be much higher.

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