NIZHNY NOVGOROD, June 2 — En pointe, demi-pointe, entrechat — for Jotaro Kanazasi and Haruka Takemi, two Japanese dancers based in Russia’s historic city of Nizhny Novgorod, life revolves entirely around their art, even as the war in Ukraine occasionally interrupts their daily routine.
Jotaro Kanazasi, 32, chose to settle in Russia 14 years ago, the country known for Moscow’s Bolshoi and St Petersburg’s Mariinsky theatres, to fulfil himself “fully as a dancer,” as he puts it in halting Russian.
Some foreign dancers chose to leave Russia after it sent troops to Ukraine in 2022, but Kanazasi decided to stay.
The villainous sorcerer Rothbart in Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, Albrecht in Adolphe Adam’s Giselle — Kanazasi moves from role to role as a principal dancer at the Nizhny Novgorod Opera and Ballet Theatre, some 400 kilometres (250 miles) east of Moscow.
“I love Russian ballet and always wanted to become a dancer, but there is no national ballet school in Japan, so I chose Russia,” says his compatriot Haruka Takemi, 20, who has lived in Russia for six years.
Absorbed in their lives as professional dancers, Takemi and Kanazasi admit they follow the news only loosely, including the war Moscow has been waging in Ukraine since February 2022.
‘Staying in touch’
“My mother constantly sends me articles about Russia, about current events, about what is happening here, so that I stay informed,” says Takemi.
Russia has introduced huge censorship, unseen since Soviet times, during its military campaign.
Her home country Japan has backed Ukraine since the start of the Russian offensive and joined Western sanctions against Moscow.
“I am either at the theatre or at home, then back at the theatre again. I work all the time and concentrate only on ballet,” she said, adding that it is her family who “worries” about her.
In response to near-daily Russian bombardments, Ukraine regularly strikes Russian territory, saying it hits military and energy sites to degrade Moscow’s capacity to fund its offensive.
Nizhny Novgorod, though located more than 800 kilometres (500 miles) from Ukraine, has not been spared. A nearby refinery of Russian energy giant Lukoil in Kstovo has been targeted by Ukrainian strikes in recent weeks.
“There are also difficulties with the internet — you have to use a VPN as apps are sometimes blocked. But I need to stay in touch with my family so they know I am safe,” Takemi adds.
Russia has imposed sweeping digital restrictions in recent months, limiting access to mobile internet in particular.
“There are quite a few Japanese dancers in Russia, who are graduates of the most prestigious Russian schools such as the Moscow State Academy of Choreography, the Vaganova Academy in St Petersburg and the Perm school,” says Valeri Konkov, director of the Nizhny Novgorod ballet company.
Making a career as a classical dancer in Japan is difficult, the dancers say — and, despite difficulties linked to the war, Kanazasi is determined to stay, saying:
“As long as I can dance, I will stay here.” — AFP
Ridley Scott’s career is usually discussed through the giants first: Alien for sci-fi horror, Blade Runner for cyberpunk, Gladiator for the modern historical epic,The Martian for survival cinema, and now The Dog Stars, his upcoming return to science fiction after nearly a decade away from the genre. But somewhere between his mythic worlds and futuristic nightmares sits one of his most punishingly grounded films, which is now streaming on Peacock.
Prime Video has had a big year in 2026 so far with new releases for some of its most popular shows, including both Invincible and The Boys. Prime Video subscribers are also on the lookout for the fourth season of Reacher, which is confirmed to premiere before the end of this year, but it’s still lacking an official premiere date. The show stars towering action icon Alan Ritchson, and Prime Video has so much faith in the series to perform that it’s already been picked up for Season 5. Reacher has become such a success that other platforms have attempted to recreate the show’s magic — Netflix has landed on The Night Agent as its closest replacement for the series. The hit conspiracy thriller stars Gabriel Basso, and while Netflix did renew it for another season, the streamer has confirmed that it will be the final season of the show.
JUNE 7 — Malaysia today presents a curious paradox.
On the one hand, it remains one of the most peaceful and liveable countries in Asia.
The streets are calm. The economy continues to function. The country’s multicultural fabric remains largely intact despite periodic political disagreements.
Families continue to gather in shopping malls, restaurants, mosques, churches, temples, and community centres. Students fill universities.
Tourists arrive in increasing numbers. Businesses continue to trade with the world.
On the other hand, the international environment surrounding Malaysia has rarely been more dangerous since the end of the Cold War.
Wars rage in Ukraine and West Asia. Supply chains remain vulnerable. Energy markets are increasingly unstable.
Great-power competition between the United States and China is accelerating across technology, finance, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and military affairs.
Economic nationalism is spreading. The world economy is becoming more fragmented. Yet Malaysia appears remarkably relaxed.
This is both a strength and a potential weakness.
The country’s resilience is not accidental. For decades, Malaysia has benefited from a strategic culture that prizes moderation, pragmatism, and balance.
Successive governments have avoided ideological extremes and sought constructive engagement with all major powers.
As a medium-sized trading state, Malaysia has long understood that prosperity depends on openness rather than confrontation.
This approach has served the country well.
Malaysia survived the Cold War, the Asian Financial Crisis, the September 11 attacks, the Global Financial Crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic, and multiple episodes of regional instability. Each crisis reinforced the value of flexibility, moderation, and diplomacy.
Today, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim finds himself leading Malaysia through another period of global turbulence.
While Malaysia is not directly involved in any military conflict, the Prime Minister is compelled to govern amid a world increasingly shaped by war. The consequences are unavoidable.
The conflict in West Asia demonstrates how distant events can affect Malaysian livelihoods. Any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz threatens global energy supplies. Oil prices rise.
Transportation costs increase. Inflationary pressures spread. Investment decisions become more cautious.
Likewise, the war in Ukraine continues to affect commodity markets, shipping routes, food prices, and broader economic confidence.
Malaysia’s economy is particularly exposed because it is deeply integrated into global trade networks.
What happens thousands of kilometres away can eventually affect households in Johor Bahru, Kota Bharu, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, and Kuala Lumpur.
Yet despite these mounting risks, Malaysians remain comparatively calm.
Part of this reflects confidence in the country’s institutions. Another part reflects the laid-back nature of Malaysian society itself.
There is much to admire in this national temperament.
Malaysia has generally avoided the extremes of hyper-nationalism, ideological polarization, and social fragmentation that plague many countries. Malaysians are accustomed to diversity and compromise. The country’s political culture, while often noisy, tends to favour accommodation over confrontation.
However, every strength can become a weakness when carried too far.
A relaxed society can become complacent.
A comfortable society can become vulnerable.
And a peaceful society can underestimate emerging dangers.
This is where Malaysia’s paradox becomes most apparent.
The country increasingly resembles a paradise surrounded by gathering storms.
The economic indicators may appear stable. The diplomatic environment may remain manageable. But beneath the surface, significant vulnerabilities persist.
Perhaps the most revealing indicator comes from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).
According to EPF data, approximately 61 per cent of Malaysians are unable to immediately raise RM1,000 in the event of an emergency.
This statistic should concern policymakers, businesses, and society alike.
A household unable to mobilize RM1,000 quickly is not financially resilient. It is financially exposed.
The figure suggests that millions of Malaysians continue to live with limited savings and little margin for unexpected shocks.
This matters because the modern world is becoming increasingly unpredictable.
A sudden rise in food prices. An energy shock. A global recession, potentially, a stagflation.
A disruption in trade routes. A major health emergency. A technological displacement caused by artificial intelligence.
Any one of these developments could place immense pressure on households already operating close to their financial limits.
The challenge facing Malaysia therefore extends beyond foreign policy.
The country must strengthen domestic resilience with the same determination that it applies to international diplomacy.
Malaysia has been exceptionally successful in maintaining balanced relations with major powers. It continues to engage the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, Europe, the Gulf states, and the broader Global South.
Within Asean, Malaysia has consistently supported mechanisms that preserve regional stability.
Through Asean Plus Three, the Asean Regional Forum, the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus, and the East Asia Summit, Malaysia contributes to creating diplomatic space for dialogue amid intensifying geopolitical rivalry.
These achievements should not be underestimated.
Yet diplomacy alone cannot protect households from economic vulnerability.
The next stage of Malaysia’s development must focus on building deeper reserves of national resilience to become a high income nation, worthy of being a member of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and G20.
This means encouraging greater savings, improving wages, strengthening social protection systems, expanding skills training, enhancing digital literacy, and preparing citizens for technological disruption.
It also means fostering a culture of preparedness.
For too long, many societies have assumed that globalization would continue to generate prosperity indefinitely. The events of recent years have demonstrated otherwise.
Globalization is not disappearing, but it is becoming more fragmented, more contested, and more uncertain.
Countries that prepare will adapt.
Countries that remain complacent will struggle.
Malaysia’s future therefore depends on recognising a simple reality.
The country’s peace and prosperity are real. They should be celebrated.
But they should not be taken for granted.
The paradox of modern Malaysia is that it remains a paradise in many respects while confronting increasing perils beyond its shores and growing vulnerabilities within.
The task of leadership is not merely to preserve today’s stability.
It is to prepare society for tomorrow’s uncertainties.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim must therefore continue navigating an increasingly dangerous international environment with or without the General Election at the background.
At the same time, Malaysia itself must become less cavalier about its own economic fragilities.
For while the country remains at ease, the world is not.
And in an era defined by shocks, resilience belongs not to those who are most comfortable, but to those who are most prepared.
Malaysia’s greatest challenge is therefore not avoiding danger altogether.
It is ensuring that paradise does not become complacent in the face of increasing peril.
* Phar Kim Beng is a professor of Asean Studies, International Islamic University Malaysia and a director, Institute of International and Asean Studies.
** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
Movies about the two World Wars forever remain in fashion. The sheer scale of destruction, sacrifice, and loss makes for a great spectacle, with films like All Quiet on the Western Front and Dunkirk offering a visceral portrait of the wars. While WWII is more "popular" than its predecessor, which leads to more movies and TV shows, some creators also tackle the complicated events of WWI. At this point, it seems like there is nothing more to say, but Lukas Dohnt has another angle to explore.
Dr Hussam Abu Safiya now in cell barely big enough to sit in, says son, after UN experts demanded his release in March
The son of a prominent Palestinian doctor who was detained by Israeli forces in Gaza in late 2024 and held for more than 500 days without formal charges has spoken of his deep concern for his father’s wellbeing after he was transferred without explanation to solitary confinement in a maximum-security prison.
Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan hospital in northern Gaza, was detained at work on 27 December 2024. Physicians for Human Rights Israel said last week it had received information indicating that the 53-year-old had been transferred from Ketziot prison to Ramon prison, part of the Ganot prison complex, where he had been put in solitary confinement. PHRI said it had not been told the reasons for the transfer.
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© Photograph: RFI
© Photograph: RFI
© Photograph: RFI
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