Article Related To Astro Awani

The EPF recently introduced the Retirement Income Adequacy Framework, a three-tiered savings benchmark—basic, adequate, and enhanced—meant to be used as a reference to maintain different levels of financial security post-retirement. Is this framework enough to ensure financial security in old age? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Professor Joseph Cherian, Deputy CEO and Practice Professor of Finance, at the Asia School of Business.

Four years ago, on February 1st, 2021, Myanmar’s military staged a coup, overturning a democratically elected government. Today the country remains in turmoil but resistance forces have since gained ground, while the military junta faces declining control. Will 2025 mark a turning point for Myanmar? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Debbie Stothard, founder of the democracy advocacy group, Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma.

It’s been a little over a week since a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas has gone into effect in Gaza. But as displaced Palestinians prepare to return to homes that may no longer exist, aid agencies are racing to provide vital humanitarian assistance that was denied entry into Gaza for so long. On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Datuk Dr Ahmad Faizal Mohd Perdaus, President of MERCY Malaysia.

Will the hype over Oriental Kopi carry over to the stock market during its ACE Market debut on Jan 23? Astro AWANI Correspondent Faye Kwan breaks down the buzz and what to expect from the F&B chain’s IPO listing.

Astro AWANI is the first Malaysian news brand to enter Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Astro AWANI’s Social Media Editor, Hilal Azmi, reports from Damascus on the current situation and the country’s ongoing recovery.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim engaged in a special dialogue with World Economic Forum founder Professor Klaus Schwab in Davos, addressing crucial topics on technology, trade, and geopolitics. For more insights, Astro AWANI’s Lead Editor, Najib Aroff, reports from Switzerland.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is on the second day of his official visit to the UAE. Astro AWANI correspondent Irfan Faruqi breaks down the key moments of the day in Abu Dhabi and what they mean for Malaysia-UAE ties.

As Malaysia takes the helm as ASEAN Chair in 2025, it steps into a leadership role for one of the world’s most dynamic regions. ASEAN is on track to become the fourth-largest economic bloc by 2030, but it faces immense challenges: from navigating an increasingly fragmented global order to advancing regional integration amid rising protectionism. Can Malaysia’s chairmanship make a lasting impact in just one year? And how can ASEAN strengthen its collective voice and economic clout in a polarised world? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Datuk Professor Dr Mohd Faiz Abdullah, Chairperson of the Institute of Strategic & International Studies, better known as ISIS Malaysia.

Despite decades of progress, poverty continues to trap millions in cycles of deprivation, and conventional measures often fail to reflect the full scope of their struggles. The Multidimensional Poverty Index, developed by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative, offers a revolutionary way to understand and address poverty by looking at deprivations in education, health, and living standards. On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Professor Dr Sabina Alkire, Director of the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative. Together with Professor James Foster, she developed the Alkire-Foster method for measuring multidimensional poverty.

If there is one lesson in all of this ending 2024, is that friendship goes both ways.

Neil Woods is a former undercover police officer who spent 14 years infiltrating some of the UK’s most dangerous criminal networks. His frontline experience with law enforcement showed him the unintended consequences of drug prohibition—consequences that not only shaped his perspective but have also made him a leading voice for global drug policy reform. On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris explores how the war on drugs and prohibition policies have created lucrative black markets, which are often controlled by organised crime groups. Neil Woods is a board member of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP) which is a group made up entirely of serving and former police and other law enforcement, advocating for evidence-based drug policy and criminal justice reforms.

As we wrap-up 2024 and set resolutions for year ahead, this episode of #ConsiderThis explores Malaysia’s state of freedom of expression this year: Are we moving forward? Melisa Idris speaks with Nalini Elumalai, Senior Malaysia Programme Officer at ARTICLE 19 which is an NGO dedicated to freedom of expression, and Wathshlah Naidu, Executive Director of the Center for Independent Journalism, about the recently released 2024 Report on the State of Freedom of Expression in Malaysia.

After 13 years of war, an offensive by Syrian opposition groups has ousted Bashar al-Assad as Syria’s president in just days. This historic moment raises urgent questions: What kind of future awaits Syria—for its governance, for the millions of Syrians, both inside the country and in the diaspora, and for the future for the Arab region? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Samer Abboud, Associate Professor of Global Interdisciplinary Studies at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, US, where his research focuses on warfare in Syria and the emergence of an illiberal post-conflict order in the country. He is also the Director of its Center for Arab and Islamic Studies. In 2018 he authored a book titled ‘Syria’, which explores the outbreak and trajectory of the Syrian uprising, and is currently working on his next book on the country.

To mark International Migrants Day on the 18th of December, today we reflect on the millions of workers who have left their homes and families to cross borders in search of better opportunities. In Budget 2025 the Malaysian government unveiled a bold proposal to extend mandatory EPF contributions to non-citizen workers. The move is seen as a step forward in improving worker welfare and aligning Malaysia closer to international labour standards. But for business owners, the measure raises red flags about increased costs and potential economic impacts. On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Professor Niaz Asadullah, Southeast Asia Lead of the Global Labour Organisation.

Malaysia is experiencing one of the worst flood crises seen in a decade, with more than 150,000 people evacuated and tragically lives lost. While many have returned to their destroyed homes as floodwaters receded, the Malaysian Met Department has warned of a second wave—a monsoon surge likely to occur from December 8th to the 14th on the east coast. On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Shah Fiesal Hussain, Head of Global Operations for MERCY Malaysia, which has been providing emergency response efforts to the severe flooding.

A report by the World Air Quality Index indicated that only 17 per cent of cities worldwide meet the recommended air quality standards.

According to the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor , Israel has been killing an average of seven Palestinians every two days.

Malaysia does not intend to compete with neighbouring countries or other ASEAN member states in its efforts to strengthen supply chains.

Six men, including five foreigners in their 30s, were arrested for alleged misappropriation of subsidised cooking oil.

expressing optimism that the talks could lead to "tangible progress"

Ukraine conveyed its readiness to accept a 30-day ceasefire with Russia, as delegations from Kyiv and Washington met in Saudi Arabia.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk plans to enter the Indian internet market with his Starlink satellite system, reported German news agency dpa.

US President Donald Trump plans to impose additional high tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from Canada.

Promoting Malay language doesn't mean disparaging or undermining other languages, we can uplift it without diminishing others.

The violence has pitted the Islamist-led government's security forces against fighters from Assad's Alawite minority.