New research by the Merdeka Center and Germany’s Cyfluence Research Center reveals that high social media consumption is exposing Malaysians, particularly older users with lower digital literacy, to narratives framing China and Russia as models of ideal governance. We are joined by Dr. Benjamin Barton from the University of Nottingham Malaysia to discuss how this exposure exploits existing domestic disillusionment with democracy. (Starts at 24:54)• Banting school stabbing sparks safety discussions: A 15-year-old student is in stable condition after being stabbed 14 times by another student at a school in Banting less than a year after the Bandar Utama stabbing case took place. With the suspect currently remanded and the case under investigation, the incident has renewed conversations around security protocols and student mental health support. We revisit our discussion with child advocate Srividhya Ganapathy on what it takes to create truly safe school environments. (Starts at 18:30)• US exits World Cup amid Trump drama: Team USA is officially out of the World Cup after a 4-1 defeat against Belgium. However, the match was overshadowed by a massive pre-kickoff controversy where FIFA bypassed its own rules to lift a player's suspension after direct phone calls from Donald Trump. We discuss the backlash this has triggered from the international football community. (Starts at 13:06)• Hamas dissolves Gaza governance: After nearly two decades in control, Hamas has dissolved its administrative government to make way for a new, independent committee of technocrats. While it looks like a massive step toward civilian rule under the US-brokered ceasefire, major roadblocks remain, particularly surrounding Hamas' reluctance to disarm themselves. We spoke to Dr Julia Roknifard from Taylor’s University to discuss whether this power shift is real or just a tactical headline. (Starts at 06:19)• Tiny diving suits for cyborg cockroaches: Researchers from Singapore's Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Japan’s Waseda University have developed a 3D-printed underwater suit that allows cyborg cockroaches to survive submerged for up to three hours to transform them into search-and-rescue scouts capable of navigating flooded rubble and pipes. (Starts at 00:28)Top 5 @ 5 is brought to you by Luno: A smarter way to cryptoImage Credits:
