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Asia

This Week in Asia

A worker assesses the damage after a drone strike on a building in Dubai’s Creek Harbour neighbourhood on Thursday. Photo: Getty Images/AFP

People

No longer safe: Iran war puts 9 million Indian workers in the line of fire

As missiles fly, drone strikes from Dubai to Doha are shattering the illusion of safety for millions of Indian expats living in the Gulf.

2 hours agovideocam

North Korea launches 10 missiles as South Korea, US conduct military exercises

3 hours ago

Malaysian scammers in Singapore pivot to cash handover as online curbs tighten

3 hours agovideocam

East Asia

More than 2,000 Marines leave Japan for Middle East as Iran war intensifies

Trump has ordered the Okinawa-based 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and Tripoli assault ship to be redeployed to the Persian Gulf.

5 hours agovideocam

US Marines take part in amphibious assault training as part of the Cobra Gold joint military exercise in Thailand on February 26. Photo: EPA

Politics

Graft and gridlock: in Anwar’s Malaysia, reformist cracks widen

Malaysia’s prime minister can’t pass his own reform bills. His coalition appears to be cracking – and time is running out.

14 Mar 2026 - 10:30AM

East Asia

Trump tells South Korea he is only leader who can break North Korean deadlock

Trump was interested to know if North Korea’s Kim Jong-un would be open to meeting him, South Korean prime minister said.

14 Mar 2026 - 9:47AM

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Economics

Beyond Pax Silica: Japan, France and Canada seek rare earth autonomy

Wary of both Beijing’s grip and Washington’s whims, three G7 allies are charting their own independent critical mineral course.

14 Mar 2026 - 8:01AM

French President Emmanuel Macron shakes hand with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Paris, France, last year. Photo: EPA-EFE

Southeast Asia

‘Farmers bear the cost’: Iran war knocks out Thai Mideast rice exports

The situation could ripple through the nation’s economy and further batter growers struggling with falling domestic prices.

14 Mar 2026 - 8:30AMvideocam

Southeast Asia

Acid attack on Indonesian activist raises fears for democracy under Prabowo

Andrie Yunus, who had previously received threats for his activism, was rushed to hospital with burns to 24 per cent of his body.

4 hours ago

Health & Environment

‘Death is a release’: Indian parents win right to grant son a dignified death

Harish Rana was comatose and bedridden for over a decade. Now, the Supreme Court has ruled that his ‘endless misery’ can finally end.

13 Mar 2026 - 8:23PM

Harish Rana, an engineering student, has been in a vegetative state for the last 13 years after falling from the fourth floor of his hostel. Photo: Handout

East Asia

Japanese man gets 14 years for deadly tequila-fuelled rape attempt

The victim died from acute alcohol poisoning after Hiroki Itaya forced her to drink 32 tequila shots at a bar in Nagoya.

14 Mar 2026 - 7:10AM

A Japanese man was jailed for 14 years after forcing a woman to drink 32 tequila shots, leading to her death from alcohol poisoning. Photo: Shutterstock

Southeast Asia

Malaysian businessman releases photo to show officers drew guns during raid

Malaysia’s anti-corruption agency has denied that its officers pointed a weapon at Albert Tei’s head during his arrest.

13 Mar 2026 - 2:03PM

Politics

Australia walks ‘very fine line’ with Gulf deployment amid Iran war

Analysts say the defensive deployment reflects Canberra’s attempt to balance alliance pressure with fears of deeper involvement in the conflict.

13 Mar 2026 - 4:43PMvideocam

Economics

Malaysia’s fuel subsidy bill to rise more than fourfold as Iran war drags on

The government will spend about US$812.8 million a month to maintain the price of subsidised petrol and diesel in the short term.

13 Mar 2026 - 6:30PMvideocam

A man fills his vehicle with diesel at a petrol station in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo: EPA-EFE

Economics

Cable thefts at key Malaysian train lines soar amid copper’s red-hot demand

Such cases have disrupted services between Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, with offenders thinking of more creative ways to cut cables.

13 Mar 2026 - 8:39PM

Malaysia’s Mass Rapid Transit Putrajaya Line train. Photo: Shutterstock

Health & Environment

‘Quite severe’: coastal erosion threatens future of Bali’s famed Kuta Beach

Experts warn extreme weather and decades of coastal development on the resort island have worsened the situation.

13 Mar 2026 - 5:35PMvideocam

People

250 men went down with a WWII ‘hell ship’. Now the US is coming back for them

Eight decades after the Oryoku Maru was sunk by American bombs, specialist divers are returning to retrieve the 250 men still trapped inside.

13 Mar 2026 - 11:38AM

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Politics

Graft and gridlock: in Anwar’s Malaysia, reformist cracks widen

Malaysia’s prime minister can’t pass his own reform bills. His coalition appears to be cracking – and time is running out.

14 Mar 2026 - 10:30AM

Illustration: Huy Truong

People

‘It’s inevitable’: Singapore’s workers brace for AI disruption

The city state wants 100,000 workers to become ‘AI bilingual’. But with entry-level roles already vanishing, time may not be on its side.

11 Mar 2026 - 12:24PMvideocam

Politics

Build fast, grow rich: To Lam’s blueprint for a rising Vietnam

Vietnam’s Communist Party chief is staking his legacy on 10 per cent growth, domestic megaprojects and an overseas charm offensive.

1 Mar 2026 - 8:00AM

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

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Highlights from

THIS WEEK IN ASIA

Politics

Graft and gridlock: in Anwar’s Malaysia, reformist cracks widen

14 Mar 2026 - 10:30AM

Illustration: Huy Truong

People

No longer safe: Iran war puts 9 million Indian workers in the line of fire

2 hours agovideocam

A worker assesses the damage after a drone strike on a building in Dubai’s Creek Harbour neighbourhood on Thursday. Photo: Getty Images/AFP

Economics

Malaysian scammers in Singapore pivot to cash handover as online curbs tighten

3 hours agovideocam

A poster in Singapore’s Raffles Place warning the public of scam threats. Photo: AFP

Economics

Beyond Pax Silica: Japan, France and Canada seek rare earth autonomy

14 Mar 2026 - 8:01AM

French President Emmanuel Macron shakes hand with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Paris, France, last year. Photo: EPA-EFE

Health & Environment

‘Death is a release’: Indian parents win right to grant son a dignified death

13 Mar 2026 - 8:23PM

Harish Rana, an engineering student, has been in a vegetative state for the last 13 years after falling from the fourth floor of his hostel. Photo: Handout

MORE IN This Week in Asia

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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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