Asia

This Week in Asia

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong spoke with US President Donald Trump on Friday. Photo: Facebook/Lawrence Wong

Southeast Asia

Lawrence Wong thanks Trump for G20 invitation, Singapore-US mark 60th milestone

Singapore’s prime minister plans to visit the US to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between both countries.

1 hour agovideocam

Why talk of a Japanese nuclear option is resurfacing – and why it alarms critics

1 hour agovideocam

Fair or fowl? Malaysia struggles to stomach its US trade pact

13 minutes ago

Economics

Netflix-Warner deal sparks concern in India’s entertainment sector

Films in Indian cinemas could be screened for a shorter period before they move to Netflix’s streaming platform, an association warns.

2 Jan 2026 - 8:58PM

A Netflix sign atop a building in Los Angeles, with the Hollywood sign in the distance. Photo: AP

Politics

Why the Philippines’ military is betting on South Korean defence systems

The US$27.7 million contract covers combat management systems for two next-generation Philippine Navy frigates.

2 Jan 2026 - 5:18PMvideocam

Politics

‘More than a beloved child’: palace visit renews debate on Pyongyang succession

State media has released images of the first recorded visit of Kim Ju-ae, the teen daughter of Kim Jong-un, to the country’s most sacred site.

2 Jan 2026 - 12:45PMvideocam

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Health & Environment

Malaysia’s new year revelry sees less waste as tougher littering laws kick in

Some 42 litterbugs caught in a nationwide operation face fines and community service amid stringent enforcement of waste laws.

2 Jan 2026 - 11:59AM

Fireworks explode near the Petronas Twin Towers during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo: Xinhua

Politics

Why North Korea’s Kim is hailing ‘invincible’ Russia ties in new year message

Kim praised North Korean troops fighting in the Ukraine war for their unwavering bravery for the sake of ‘the brotherly Russian people’.

2 Jan 2026 - 8:11AM

Health & Environment

‘Less than friendly’: Malaysia’s tourism minister flags visitor complaints

Authorities have also called for a major clean-up ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026 in response to reports of dirtiness in tourist areas.

1 Jan 2026 - 3:33PM

Lifestyle & Culture

‘Felt left out’: ex-students’ videos on Singapore’s elite schools spark debate

When she was in an elite primary school, her classmates were shocked to find out that most Singaporeans lived in public flats.

1 Jan 2026 - 2:10PMvideocam

Sunrise in Singapore with the iconic Merlion statue in the background. A viral video on elite schools has sparked a debate on whether such schools may lead to wider social stratification. Photo: Shutterstock

Economics

Malaysia moves to regulate WhatsApp, Facebook and others under online safety law

The decision to deem major platforms licensed regardless of application closes a regulatory gap, but questions remain over enforcement.

1 Jan 2026 - 5:50PM

Young women using a smartphone in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. From January 1, major social media and messaging platforms with more than eight million users in Malaysia are treated as licensed under a new online safety regime. Photo: AP

People

Thai fortune-teller arrested after allegedly fulfilling his own bad luck prophecy

Police in Pattaya arrested the man after a teenager reported her iPhone missing following a fortune-telling session outside a temple.

1 Jan 2026 - 7:54PMvideocam

Southeast Asia

No Wi-fi or Grab: Malaysian woman’s kindness saves family’s Hong Kong trip

‘Kindness is still around. It’s just quieter now. It wears hoodies, headphones and tired faces,’ the visitor says of the woman who saved the day.

1 Jan 2026 - 2:14PM

Lifestyle & Culture

Asian travellers brace for ‘chilling’ US social media scrutiny

The proposal, which requires visa-exempt visitors to provide five years of social media history, comes amid moves to toughen US borders.

1 Jan 2026 - 5:45PM

Travellers walk through the arrival hall at La Guardia Airport in New York on December 23, 2025. Photo: AFP

People

25 years on, unsolved Setagaya murders continue to haunt Japan

The lack of progress on the case has frustrated authorities and worried the public, amid renewed attention every year.

1 Jan 2026 - 4:24PMvideocam

On the night of December 30, 2000, an assailant managed to get into the home of the Miyazawa family, in Tokyo’s upmarket Setagaya ward and strangled or knifed all of them to death. Photo: Handout

Politics

Will ‘Made in Europe’ threaten South Korea’s arms export boom?

Observers urge South Korea to integrate itself into European supply chains by increasing production localisation to maintain competitiveness.

1 Jan 2026 - 8:00AMvideocam

People

Singapore PM excited about Jessica Sanchez’s show in Cebu, Marcos’ wife says

The wife of President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr says Filipino-American singer Jessica Sanchez will be performing at the Asean summit in 2026.

31 Dec 2025 - 6:27PM

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Economics

Fair or fowl? Malaysia struggles to stomach its US trade pact

Local chefs fume over ‘lousy’ US poultry flooding the market, as critics call the trade agreement hastily reached and unfairly lopsided.

13 minutes ago

A woman shops at a wet market in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia is bracing itself for a surge in shipments of American poultry. Photo: Reuters

Economics

Thailand’s tourism crown slips as troubles in paradise mount

Border clashes with Cambodia, fierce competition from Malaysia, deadly floods and a strong baht threaten the kingdom’s holiday appeal.

21 Dec 2025 - 12:33PM

Economics

Southeast Asia’s rich buy sky garages while the middle class lose their homes

As wealthy buyers seek penthouses with living-room supercar parking, struggling families battle banks to keep a roof overhead.

15 Dec 2025 - 3:32PMvideocam

Health & Environment

6 cyclones, 5 weeks: Philippines can’t escape its endless cycle of disaster

Corruption, complacency and climate chaos conspire to turn the Philippines’ natural hazards into man-made tragedies.

6 Dec 2025 - 8:17AMvideocam

Satellite imagery shows Super Typhoon Fung-wong as it approaches the Philippines on November 9. Photo: NOAA/EPA

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Highlights from

THIS WEEK IN ASIA

Economics

Fair or fowl? Malaysia struggles to stomach its US trade pact

13 minutes ago

A woman shops at a wet market in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia is bracing itself for a surge in shipments of American poultry. Photo: Reuters

Politics

Why talk of a Japanese nuclear option is resurfacing – and why it alarms critics

1 hour agovideocam

A mushroom cloud rises moments after the US dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan, on August 9, 1945. Photo: AP

Economics

Netflix-Warner deal sparks concern in India’s entertainment sector

2 Jan 2026 - 8:58PM

A Netflix sign atop a building in Los Angeles, with the Hollywood sign in the distance. Photo: AP

Politics

Why the Philippines’ military is betting on South Korean defence systems

2 Jan 2026 - 5:18PMvideocam

Hanwha Systems Combat System (CMS) in a simulated anti-submarine warfare scene. Photo: Hanwha Systems

Politics

‘More than a beloved child’: palace visit renews debate on Pyongyang succession

2 Jan 2026 - 12:45PMvideocam

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, his wife and their daughter (centre) visit the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang on Thursday. Photo: KCNA via Reuters

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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

The Philippines

South China Sea

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