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Asia

This Week in Asia

Fahim Zainol and wife Nur Hidayah Abd Jabar celebrate his birthday in October 2024. Photo: Facebook/Fahmi Zainol

Southeast Asia

Malaysian politician Fahmi Zainol faces jail term for alleged assault on wife

Both Penang’s youngest executive councillor and his wife claimed they acted in self-defence after a squabble turned physical.

2 hours ago

Indonesia’s bid to execute 6 cargo ship crew in drug case sparks legal debate

3 hours agovideocam

Thai tourism looks to US$1 billion future as Tomorrowland picks up beat

3 hours ago

South Asia

Pakistan declares ‘open war’ with Afghan Taliban, attacks Kabul, Kandahar

The air strikes came hours after Afghan forces attacked Pakistani border troops in what the Taliban government said was retaliation.

2 hours agovideocam

Taliban security personnel stand guard near the Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan on Friday. Photo: AFP

South Asia

Indian tycoon Anil Ambani’s US$410 million building seized in fraud probe

India’s anti-fraud agency said that the Reliance Communications owner had defaulted on over US$4.4 billion worth of bank loans.

27 Feb 2026 - 10:07AM

Southeast Asia

Pertamina corruption trial: 9 jailed over US$17 billion state loss in Indonesia

Kerry Adrianto Riza, son of ‘gasoline godfather’ Riza Chalid, was given 15 years’ jail and ordered to pay US$173 million in restitution.

5 hours ago

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Southeast Asia

Singapore jails Malaysian who posed as policeman and raped helper

Sharveen Chetty also issued a threat to blacklist the victim from working in Singapore.

27 Feb 2026 - 7:30AM

Singapore’s skyline. A Malaysian man was jailed for raping a domestic worker in the city state. Photo: Xinhua

Health & Environment

Japan on track for hottest summer ever as ocean temperatures surge

Various regions across Japan are expected to register above-normal temperatures between June and August, the weather agency says.

21 minutes agovideocam

Economics

Singapore budget surplus: poor ‘fiscal marksmanship’ or prudent forecast?

MPs have questioned whether the GST rise was necessary after the government projected a US$12 billion surplus in the current financial year.

26 Feb 2026 - 6:30PM

Lifestyle & Culture

Malaysia’s ‘ridiculous’ push to curb LGBTQ apps tests limits of digital control

Officials are examining legislative steps to curb apps like Grindr, though removal from global stores is beyond direct state control.

27 Feb 2026 - 8:30AMvideocam

Malaysia is considering new laws to curb LGBTQ dating apps like Grindr. Photo: Reuters

People

2 arrested after Malaysian commander targeted by gang shooting near Thailand

Authorities have linked the attack on Mohd Nasaruddin Mohd Nasir’s car to the mounting smuggling crackdown along the porous border.

26 Feb 2026 - 4:59PM

Both Malaysia and Thailand have repeatedly floated the idea of a border wall across their frontier to combat smuggling. Photo: Hadi Azmi

Southeast Asia

US, Thailand lead 30 nations in Southeast Asia’s largest military drill

Cobra Gold is necessary to address emerging threats and improve interoperability in the region, the US ambassador to Thailand says.

26 Feb 2026 - 11:43AMvideocam

Politics

‘Hostage diplomacy’ fears mount over arrest of Japanese journalist in Iran

The incident comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran, with a large American military force positioned near Iran.

26 Feb 2026 - 4:23PM

Economics

As Deliveroo leaves Singapore, spotlight turns on city state’s tight market

The platform’s departure has underscored the challenge of turning a profit in a dense, tightly contested market.

26 Feb 2026 - 4:36PMvideocam

A Deliveroo rider in Lai Chi Kok, Hong Kong, in 2025. The UK-founded food delivery platform has been scaling back in parts of Asia in recent years, including Hong Kong, as competition intensifies in the region. Photo: Sam Tsang

People

Viral video of child being shoved at Tokyo’s iconic Shibuya Crossing stokes anger

The video shows a masked passer-by appearing to knock the girl to the ground, prompting calls for an investigation.

26 Feb 2026 - 5:01PMvideocam

Screenshots from a viral video posted by an social media user on Wednesday showing her daughter being shoved while attempting to take a photo at Tokyo’s iconic Shibuya Crossing. Photo: Instagram / peipeilin527

East Asia

South Korea axes visa barriers for Indonesians in 30 million visitor drive

Citizens of China and Southeast Asian nations who have previously visited the country can apply for multiple-entry visas of up to 10 years.

25 Feb 2026 - 3:47PM

Politics

North Korea’s Kim warns of ‘eternal confrontation’ without US dialogue

As long as Washington acknowledges Pyongyang as a nuclear power, there is ‘no reason not to get along’, the North Korean leader says.

26 Feb 2026 - 4:45PM

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Economics

Philippines’ AI reckoning puts millions of jobs on the line

The US$30 billion outsourcing sector is fighting to adapt, leaving millions of workers with a stark choice: upskill or be left behind.

14 Feb 2026 - 4:03PMvideocam

Image: Kevin Wong

Economics

India’s trade blitz seeks to keep afloat a sinking global order

‘Jolted out of its slumber’ by US tariffs, New Delhi is aggressively diversifying trade alliances to act as a bridge in a polarised world.

10 Feb 2026 - 8:54PM

Politics

‘Critical point’: can Thailand election pave way for national reset?

With the economy struggling and corruption rife, Thai voters will look to the February 8 election as a chance to turn the country around.

31 Jan 2026 - 8:08AM

Politics

Malaysia’s Islamists preach ‘racial domination’ to woo young voters

They govern the north, dominate the opposition and claim to soon be the undisputed home of Malay nationalism. Is Putrajaya next for PAS?

24 Jan 2026 - 8:00AM

Supporters of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) wave flags during a rally in Kedah in 2012. Photo: AFP

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Highlights from

THIS WEEK IN ASIA

People

Indonesia’s bid to execute 6 cargo ship crew in drug case sparks legal debate

3 hours agovideocam

Officials from Indonesia’s National Narcotics Agency and other law enforcement bodies present nearly two tonnes of methamphetamine seized in the Riau Islands. Photo: Indonesia’s National Narcotics Agency (BNN)

Lifestyle & Culture

Thai tourism looks to US$1 billion future as Tomorrowland picks up beat

3 hours ago

Fireworks thrill festivalgoers at Tomorrowland, the world’s largest electronic music festival. Photo: Facebook/Tomorrowland

Health & Environment

Japan on track for hottest summer ever as ocean temperatures surge

21 minutes agovideocam

A man cooling down under a water misting system on a hot day in Tokyo in September last year. Photo: AFP

Economics

Singapore budget surplus: poor ‘fiscal marksmanship’ or prudent forecast?

26 Feb 2026 - 6:30PM

Singapore dollar notes being withdrawn from an automated teller machine. Photo: AFP

Lifestyle & Culture

Malaysia’s ‘ridiculous’ push to curb LGBTQ apps tests limits of digital control

27 Feb 2026 - 8:30AMvideocam

Malaysia is considering new laws to curb LGBTQ dating apps like Grindr. Photo: Reuters

MORE IN This Week in Asia

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21 Feb 2026 - 4:30PM

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Filipino fishermen worry about Chinese nature reserve in disputed waters

Filipino fishermen worry about Chinese nature reserve in disputed waters

Centenarian becomes oldest person to climb Mount Fuji

Centenarian becomes oldest person to climb Mount Fuji

Cambodia unveils new Chinese-built airport

Cambodia unveils new Chinese-built airport

Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra to serve 1 year in jail

Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra to serve 1 year in jail

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TRENDING TOPICS

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