Today's top Malaysian news, sport and lifestyle.
Iran's newly appointed security council chief has declared that the Strait of Hormuz will remain partially closed until the United States accepts Iranian conditions, including ceasing military operations and releasing frozen assets.
Malaysia's MIDA chairman Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz has called for coordinated regional action to close a massive financing shortfall in ASEAN's energy transition, proposing an integrated power grid, joint investment facility, and emergency protocols.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has called on Oman to guarantee unobstructed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, citing ongoing diplomatic stalemate between the United States and Iran over the region's stability.
Escalating Iran tensions underscore energy security vulnerabilities for import-dependent countries, driving accelerated transition toward renewable power and fuel diversification strategies across Asia and beyond.
Iran says it is close to a shipping accord with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz, but stressed the deal alone would not resolve the five-month conflict with the United States. Further negotiations hinge on American concessions.
US Vice President JD Vance has stated that Washington expects Iran to restore oil and gas exports to pre-conflict levels and guarantee the safe passage of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, while monitoring Iranian commitments closely.
Central Europe's worst drought in years has pushed the Danube River to record-low water levels, stranding ships, forcing nuclear plant shutdowns, and exposing wartime relics. The crisis underscores growing climate pressures on the continent's critical infrastructure.
Malaysia's fuel supply through Petronas stations will remain stable and sufficient until September, according to Minister Azalina Othman Said, with the network supplying about 50% of domestic fuel needs.
US President Donald Trump claimed that Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has committed to expanding North Sea oil drilling, marking a potential shift in UK energy policy following the transition from Keir Starmer's administration.
Tenaga Nasional Bhd and Air Selangor have signed dual agreements to bolster Malaysia's water and energy infrastructure, with TNB supplying power to Southeast Asia's largest water treatment plant serving 9.62 million consumers.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that a second Petronas-operated tanker has secured permission to traverse the Strait of Hormuz and will reach Melaka port in early December, signalling continued progress in maritime logistics.
Sultan Ibrahim's unprecedented royal engagement with Russia has elevated bilateral ties to new heights, securing energy guarantees and setting the stage for President Putin's planned 2027 state visit coinciding with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
The European Union has agreed to freeze its price cap adjustment mechanism on Russian oil for one year and will now target vessels assisting Russia's shadow fleet, according to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Brunei's Foreign Minister Prince Abdul Mateen has urged ASEAN and regional partners to strengthen cooperation on food and energy security, warning that no country can tackle today's challenges alone.
Egypt and Russia are expanding cooperation through new joint economic initiatives, including logistics corridors for grain and petroleum products and seasonal flights to boost tourism, discussed during Manila ministerial meetings.
Japan has committed to deeper collaboration with ASEAN, China, and South Korea on energy resilience and tackling online fraud, signalling the region's growing economic and strategic importance.
Malaysia is studying plans for a national petroleum reserve to bolster energy security as geopolitical tensions increasingly threaten critical shipping corridors. Analysts say the move addresses structural risks to regional oil supplies.
ASEAN foreign ministers held talks with 11 dialogue partners in Manila on Wednesday, focusing on energy security and the ongoing West Asia crisis. The US pledged US$1.5 billion in strategic investment while regional powers committed to maritime stability.
Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof highlighted how global energy and maritime security crises are now interconnected, with distant conflicts affecting Malaysia's fuel prices, electricity costs, and trading systems.
Iraq is advancing feasibility studies for a new oil pipeline connecting its major production regions to Mediterranean ports in Turkey and Syria, seeking to diversify export routes away from the geopolitically volatile Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed two oil tankers struck mines and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, alleging US intelligence encouraged the vessels into the area. The incident underscores escalating tensions over the critical shipping corridor.
Oil prices jumped Friday as US-Iran hostilities intensified and Tehran signalled the Houthi movement to prepare for blocking the Red Sea, threatening global energy supplies and keeping geopolitical premiums embedded in crude benchmarks.
Malaysia is studying the creation of a national petroleum reserve as geoeconomic fragmentation intensifies globally. Experts argue the move represents prudent long-term risk management rather than reactive policy, positioning the nation to safeguard energy supplies amid supply chain vulnerabilities.
An investment strategist has cautioned Malaysia against blindly copying large petroleum reserve programmes from wealthier nations, recommending instead a carefully calibrated approach that prioritises cost-effectiveness and fiscal sustainability.
The Malaysian government will investigate creating a national petroleum reserve to bolster energy security and resilience during geopolitical uncertainties, PM Anwar Ibrahim announced following a National Energy Council meeting.
Kuwait's military activated air defence systems early Wednesday to counter what officials described as hostile Iranian drone attacks, as tensions surge across the Gulf region following broader US-Iran escalations.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indian counterpart Narendra Modi have inked a nuclear arrangement permitting uranium shipments to India for clean energy purposes, marking a deepening strategic partnership.
France is considering Syria as a potential alternative oil transit route to reduce dependence on the Strait of Hormuz, where US-Iran tensions threaten global energy supplies. Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot highlighted Syria's repositioning as a regional hub.
US Central Command says its forces have secured safe passage for more than 800 vessels and 380 million barrels of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz since May, even as tensions with Iran escalate with reciprocal military strikes.
Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof has assured Malaysians that the country's energy supply remains stable and uninterrupted, despite growing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. Petronas and the Prime Minister are actively negotiating to maintain security.