Politics
Will Jokowi seek to lead Indonesia’s oldest party to ‘secure his legacy’?
The outgoing president may quit his party of two decades, after his tacit support for Prabowo Subianto in the election left the PDI-P with an “axe to grind”.
India-friendly Bhutan walks tightrope as it seeks to end border row with China
While Bhutan relies on India economically, Delhi also needs to ensure Thimpu remains an ally amid Beijing’s increasing presence and influence in the kingdom, analysts say.
‘Outrageous’ nostalgia for journalist’s stabbing puts Korean media on notice
A chilling warning from a senior presidential aide about possible terror attacks against dissenting journalists has put President Yoon Suk-yeol’s war on ‘fake news’ under the spotlight.
Singapore opposition chief pleads not guilty to charges of lying to parliament
Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh was charged with two counts of lying to a parliamentary committee in hearings involving his party’s former MP Raeesah Khan.
Singapore minister’s visit to Palestinian territories a ‘visible gesture’
Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan’s Middle East tour comes as Singapore becomes ‘more vocal’ on Israel’s actions in Gaza, observers say.
Can a new South Korea-Japan agreement take bilateral ties to the next level?
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol reportedly hopes to build on the Japan-Republic of Korea Joint Declaration made in 1998 that outlined a future-oriented relationship.
Could 3-way meet with the US draw Japan to help Philippines in South China Sea?
Biden, Kishida and Marcos Jnr are set to meet next month in a landmark summit over the issue deemed by Manila to be the top ‘flashpoint’.
‘Grave threat’: Pakistan justifies air strikes on Taliban rebels in Afghanistan
Monday’s operation targeted the Hafiz Gul Bahadur militant faction, which claimed responsibility for the attack on a military outpost that left seven soldiers dead.
Why Chinese scammers may still be running Cambodia’s ‘sin city’ amid crackdowns
Observers say to truly extinguish the criminal operations, Cambodian officials must go after ‘key figures’ protecting the industry dominated by Chinese scam gangs.
US to fund a port on Philippine island near Taiwan. What will it be used for?
The port in Batanes could facilitate rapid troop deployment and serve as a transit point for supplies and evacuated Filipinos in the event of a conflict.
India’s citizenship law slammed as anti-Muslim and Modi’s election ploy
New Delhi announces the long delayed implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act, which sparked violent protests in 2019 when it was unveiled.
‘I feel alienated’: secularism law vexes minorities in Quebec
Opponents of the rule banning public sector employees from wearing religious items at work plan to take their fight to the Supreme Court after a judge refused to quash the law.
In Gaza at Ramadan, starvation adds to deaths amid Israel-Hamas truce impasse
With ceasefire talks stalled, fears are growing that events will ‘spiral out of control’ in Gaza, where deaths from malnutrition and dehydration are adding to the tens of thousands of Palestinians killed by Israel’s months-long bombardment.
What’s behind Australian investors’ reluctance to venture into Southeast Asia?
A lack of risk appetite for developing markets and different ways of doing business are among the factors holding back Australian investors, experts say.
Can South Korea’s star shine on global stage as it seeks to join space race?
South Korea is set to build an aerospace hub to house some 1,000 firms to tap on the sector’s ‘limitless opportunities and a huge market’.
Malaysians deride fancy work title for palm oil jobs: ‘the pay must be worth it’
A minister has been ridiculed for his suggestion that marketing palm oil plantation workers as ‘professional harvesters’ could help solve chronic labour shortages.
India’s politics descends into an AI arms race as deepfakes threaten elections
The emergence of generative AI has left governments around the world scrambling to legislate against the risks posed by the fast-evolving technology. But India is especially vulnerable – and even Modi’s concerned.
Some cry foul play as Indonesia’s Prabowo is set to be named president
The Election Commission last week stopped displaying its ongoing official vote tally online, sparking criticism from activists, watchdogs and backers of Prabowo’s rivals.
Australia should ‘end servility to US’, defuse Aukus deal: ex-Greek minister
Yanis Varoufakis says diplomacy is a ‘far better way’ for Canberra to engage with Beijing, and that the Aukus deal would ‘turbocharge a new Cold War’.
Malaysia to amend citizenship law, give equal rights to foreign-born children
The amendment will allow foreign-born children to Malaysian mothers and their non-Malaysian spouse to automatically get citizenship, ending years of struggle for many.