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This Week in Asia
Indian billionaire Gautam Adani. Photo: Reuters

United States & Canada

US prosecutors drop fraud charges against Indian businessman Gautaum Adani

Adani, one of the world’s richest people, had been accused in 2024 of paying huge bribes to ensure the success of a solar project in India.

‘Crises’: WHO kicks off annual assembly amid Ebola, US withdrawal

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Why Malaysia’s election ‘war drums’ could be the end for Anwar’s coalition

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Politics

India links up with UAE, Europe on Modi’s grand tour

Seizing on the UAE’s Opec exit and a new EU trade pact, India’s PM looks to lock-in long-term energy supply and economic dividends.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (centre, left) is welcomed by UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (centre, right) in Abu Dhabi on Friday. Photo: UAE Presidential Court/Reuters
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (centre, left) is welcomed by UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (centre, right) in Abu Dhabi on Friday. Photo: UAE Presidential Court/Reuters

Health & Environment

‘Lives are cheap here’: Thailand reels from deadly Bangkok train crash

A drug-positive train driver with no licence. A barrier raised too late. Thailand’s capital asks: when will the city finally fix itself?

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Economics

South Korea weighs the cost of stepping into Samsung’s US$400,000 bonus row

Seoul is considering using a rarely used emergency power to halt a strike that could cost the economy US$67 billion.

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Politics

How Philippine Senate leadership battle will shape Sara Duterte’s trial

The vice-president’s impeachment trial starts amid chaos in the Senate from leadership battles and the fallout from her father’s ICC case.

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Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio announces her intention to run for presidency on February 18. Photo: AFP
Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio announces her intention to run for presidency on February 18. Photo: AFP

Economics

Vietnam’s US$5 billion Apec island is running out of time

Phu Quoc is a test case for Vietnam’s build-fast model. But with 18 months to go, the island is short of workers, diesel and hotel rooms.

Southeast Asia

‘Younger and younger’: Singapore softens approach to first-time drug abusers

First-time abusers who turn themselves in will avoid detention under new rules. The youngest offender arrested this year was just 12.

Politics

Beyond bamboo: Vietnam’s To Lam mounts a diplomacy offensive

The security chief turned paramount leader is chasing the markets and capital required to reach high-income status by 2045.

Vietnam’s To Lam waves after shaking hands with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi before their meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on May 6. Photo: EPA

Lifestyle & Culture

Reality deficit: how South Korea lost the plot on AI

A viral ‘baseball goddess’, a wolf that never was and a deepfake epidemic. Generative AI is rewriting South Korea’s reality.

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A screenshot of the "baseball goddess" from an AI-generated video. Photo: X/kangminlee
A screenshot of the "baseball goddess" from an AI-generated video. Photo: X/kangminlee

Health & Environment

Face forward: why Thailand is the next big thing in beauty trends

The T-beauty industry is growing by 5 per cent each year and is estimated to be worth over US$10 billion by 2030.

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South Asia

The great scam migration: fraudsters fleeing Cambodia find a new hub

Criminal gangs are setting up in rented spaces ranging from luxury villas to office complexes, thanks to cheap visas and fast internet.

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Economics

Jakarta pushes back after Chinese chamber complains tougher rules hurt investors

A letter from the China Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia cited six major issues, including lower nickel ore quotas and project suspensions.

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A worker at a ferronickel production line in the Chinese-funded Weda Bay Industrial Park, North Maluku, Indonesia. Photo: Xinhua

Politics

Why India, Pakistan cannot afford another war right now

Hardline Indian political figures appear to be signalling a thaw in New Delhi-Islamabad ties is imminent, analysts say.

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In Islamabad, fireworks light up the sky to mark the first anniversary of Pakistan’s air skirmish with India on May 10. Photo: EPA
In Islamabad, fireworks light up the sky to mark the first anniversary of Pakistan’s air skirmish with India on May 10. Photo: EPA

Lifestyle & Culture

Human intelligence remains critical in AI era: Singapore minister

Foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan cautions against overdependence on large-language models to solve every problem.

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Politics

Bangladesh turns to China for Teesta river project, testing India ties

Bangladesh’s new prime minister has formally asked China to help with a long-delayed river project near the sensitive Siliguri Corridor.

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Politics

Beyond bamboo: Vietnam’s To Lam mounts a diplomacy offensive

The security chief turned paramount leader is chasing the markets and capital required to reach high-income status by 2045.

Vietnam’s To Lam waves after shaking hands with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi before their meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on May 6. Photo: EPA
Vietnam’s To Lam waves after shaking hands with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi before their meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on May 6. Photo: EPA

Economics

Singapore shines as a stable investment oasis in a global storm

Wealthy families are trading global uncertainty for Singapore’s regulatory rigour, driving record inflows and a revitalised stock exchange.

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Politics

From Malaysia’s book bans to Iran war, Anwar’s reform agenda faces sternest test

Anwar’s government has tilted to the right in recent years in a move to win the support of Malay voters, analysts say.

Economics

Mixed bag: Indonesia’s 8% growth dream hits a plastic ceiling

Soaring packaging costs amid the Iran war hint at a deeper malaise as the middle class contracts and growth hits a plateau.

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A woman shops for vegetables in Depok, Indonesia, earlier this month near a sign asking customers to bring their own shopping bags. Photo: Reuters
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Highlights from
THIS WEEK IN ASIA

Politics

India links up with UAE, Europe on Modi’s grand tour

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (centre, left) is welcomed by UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (centre, right) in Abu Dhabi on Friday. Photo: UAE Presidential Court/Reuters

Politics

How Philippine Senate leadership battle will shape Sara Duterte’s trial

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Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio announces her intention to run for presidency on February 18. Photo: AFP

Economics

South Korea weighs the cost of stepping into Samsung’s US$400,000 bonus row

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Members of Samsung Electronics’ largest labour union chant slogans during a protest against the company’s compensation levels in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, last month. Photo: Reuters

Politics

Why Malaysia’s election ‘war drums’ could be the end for Anwar’s coalition

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Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim attends a meeting at Perdana Putra Complex in Putrajaya on April 16. Photo: dpa

Health & Environment

‘Lives are cheap here’: Thailand reels from deadly Bangkok train crash

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Residents inspect the site of Saturday’s deadly train crash in Bangkok where flowers have been laid in memory of the eight people killed. Photo: Aidan Jones
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MULTIMEDIA
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Centenarian becomes oldest person to climb Mount Fuji

Centenarian becomes oldest person to climb Mount Fuji
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Cambodia unveils new Chinese-built airport

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Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra to serve 1 year in jail

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