Diplomatic and economic retaliation between Beijing and Tokyo, from seafood bans to mass flight cancellations, has been on the rise after Japan PM Sanae Takaichi suggested that Japan could intervene militarily if China attempted to invade Taiwan. We speak with Chong Ja Ian on how the signals and provocations.

• Ops Kotak uncovers network of underage workers: A Johor raid has exposed 31 minors working illegally under borrowed MyKads, alongside dozens of foreign workers using fraudulent documents. We ask Sharmila Sekaran what this case reveals about Malaysia’s broader, poorly-tracked child labour problem

• Selangor parking deal under scrutiny: C4 says the opaque Selangor Intelligent Parking (SIP) concession raises conflict-of-interest concerns and contradicts earlier state disclosures, intensifying public frustration over why key documents remain under the OSA. We discuss the debate over transparency and accountability in the SIP rollout.

• UTM restricts "foreign cultures": Malaysia’s first-ever prime ministerial visit to Ethiopia comes with renewed diplomatic ties, new MOUs and closer engagement with the African Union. Dr Najimdeen Bakare, Associate Professor of International & Strategic Studies at UM helps us unpack what this says about Malaysia’s foreign policy priorities and the opportunities emerging from Africa’s fast-growing markets.

• Fighting for your right to eat Vegemite: A Victorian inmate is suing the state corrections authorities for access to Vegemite, arguing the ban infringes on his cultural rights. We look at why this salty spread has become a battleground over culture, contraband and prison rules.

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