Advertisement
Advertisement

Asia

Australasia
East Asia
Southeast Asia
South Asia
This Week in Asia
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim attends a meeting at Perdana Putra Complex in Putrajaya on April 16. Photo: dpa

Politics

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

Rival-turned-ally Umno – and allies-turned-rivals Rafizi and Nik Nazmi – may force the prime minister to call an early election.

videocam

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

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

South Asia

India has 1.42 billion people – but some Modi allies want bigger families

India’s fertility rate has been dropping, prompting calls for more babies with cash incentives.

Commuters crowd on a train platform in Mumbai. The UN projects India’s population will keep rising for ‌about four decades, peaking at around 1.7 billion. Photo: Reuters
Commuters crowd on a train platform in Mumbai. The UN projects India’s population will keep rising for ‌about four decades, peaking at around 1.7 billion. Photo: 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?

videocam

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.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

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.

Cannabis use is legal or tolerated in parts of Southeast Asia such as Thailand, whereas Singapore retains some one of the world’s harshest policies on drugs. Photo: dpa
Cannabis use is legal or tolerated in parts of Southeast Asia such as Thailand, whereas Singapore retains some one of the world’s harshest policies on drugs. Photo: dpa

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.

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.

5

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.

videocam
Shoppers look at beauty products at a store in Bangkok. Photo: AFP

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.

videocam
Police escort detained Indians and Nepalis suspected of running cyber fraud centres to a court in Galle, Sri Lanka, on Tuesday. Photo: AFP
Police escort detained Indians and Nepalis suspected of running cyber fraud centres to a court in Galle, Sri Lanka, on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

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.

videocam
4

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.

videocam
4

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.

videocam
Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan speaks at a joint press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

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.

The Teesta River flows through Sevok in India’s West Bengal state, around 60km north of the Bangladesh border and some 20km east of Siliguri. Photo: AFP
The Teesta River flows through Sevok in India’s West Bengal state, around 60km north of the Bangladesh border and some 20km east of Siliguri. Photo: AFP

Politics

Gunfire, farce and fugitive Philippine Senator Bato dela Rosa

‘Call me a coward’, ICC fugitive Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa told the cameras, as he holed up in the Senate in a bid to escape justice.

videocam

Lifestyle & Culture

Japan’s ‘ibasho’ sense of belonging helps disaster survivors heal, study finds

Research into the 2011 earthquake and tsunami shows fostering social connection and purpose helps survivors rebuild and staves off dementia.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

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.

videocam

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.

videocam
A woman shops for vegetables in Depok, Indonesia, earlier this month near a sign asking customers to bring their own shopping bags. Photo: Reuters
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
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

Economics

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

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

videocam
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

videocam
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

Economics

Armed with Nvidia chips, UAE aims to build an AI bridge to the Global South

videocam
The Dubai skyline featuring the Burj Khalifa. The UAE’s AI strategy is structured around deep, capital-intensive investments and the development and export of large language models to underserved markets. Photo: EPA-EFE
MORE IN This Week in Asia
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
OPINION
Zha Daojiong

Asian Angle | China offers Southeast Asia clear advantages in nuclear power

Zha Daojiong
Kishore Mahbubani

Opinion | The West was never the whole world. It’s time to move on

Kishore Mahbubani
19
Cyril Ip

Being Chinese | How to deal with this ‘very Chinese time’ in Western lives

Cyril Ip
David Dodwell

Outside In | Xi-Trump summit aside, 2 meetings in Asia matter for global trade

David Dodwell
Lijia Zhang

Opinion | Brics is less a structure than a sentiment

Lijia Zhang
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
MULTIMEDIA
Video

Filipino fishermen worry about Chinese nature reserve in disputed waters

Filipino fishermen worry about Chinese nature reserve in disputed waters
03:09
Video

Centenarian becomes oldest person to climb Mount Fuji

Centenarian becomes oldest person to climb Mount Fuji
02:34
Video

Cambodia unveils new Chinese-built airport

Cambodia unveils new Chinese-built airport
02:02
Video

Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra to serve 1 year in jail

Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra to serve 1 year in jail
04:27
Advertisement
Advertisement
TRENDING TOPICS
Singapore
Malaysia
South China Sea
The Philippines
Indonesia
Advertisement
Advertisement