https://www.scmp.com/rss/324749/feed Latest news, in-depth features and opinion on Singapore, covering politics, economy, society and the city state’s relationships with China, Malaysia, and other Southeast Asian countries. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Asian digital entrepreneurs that once saw Dubai as a safe, well-connected base for global expansion are now reassessing that view after the US-Israel war on Iran exposed vulnerabilities in the city’s appeal as a financial and technology hub. For many investors and founders from India, China and Southeast Asia, the strain is not just about physical security but also about what disruption around the Strait of Hormuz has revealed about liquidity, credit and market confidence. Dubai has in recent... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349694/how-gulf-conflict-recast-risks-asian-investors-dubai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349694/how-gulf-conflict-recast-risks-asian-investors-dubai?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 07:00:11 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Fang Liu, a partner at global law firm Clifford Chance, counts among his clients many technology companies that are keen to list in Hong Kong, but find the current requirements cumbersome. Clifford Chance has helped more than a dozen innovative companies raise funds under the new listing regime since 2018, when Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) introduced reforms for pre-revenue biotech firms and companies with weighted voting rights (WVR), where one class of shareholders carries more... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3349647/hong-kongs-listing-reform-20-can-it-outshine-global-rivals-innovative-firms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3349647/hong-kongs-listing-reform-20-can-it-outshine-global-rivals-innovative-firms?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 03:00:12 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Singapore and Australia pledged on Friday to keep fuel and gas flowing between them as the Middle East conflict rattled global energy markets, with both sides also working towards a legally binding agreement on essential supplies. At a joint press conference in Singapore, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Canberra stood ready to supply more liquefied natural gas (LNG) if the city state needed it, while Albanese’s Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong said his government would... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349689/singapore-australia-vow-uninterrupted-fuel-supply-amid-global-energy-shock?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349689/singapore-australia-vow-uninterrupted-fuel-supply-amid-global-energy-shock?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:40:41 +0000 Ushar Daniele Ushar Daniele Iran’s threat to impose tolls on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz is stirring concern far beyond the Gulf, sharpening fears that one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints could be used as political leverage rather than governed by international rules. The concern is especially acute in Asia, which remains heavily reliant on Middle East energy supplies and exposed to any disruption in the waterway, through which nearly a fifth of the world’s oil passes. Analysts warn that... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349686/irans-hormuz-toll-threat-lays-bare-asias-energy-vulnerability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349686/irans-hormuz-toll-threat-lays-bare-asias-energy-vulnerability?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:23:36 +0000 The Star The Star Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has reaffirmed Malaysia’s independent foreign policy stance, saying that while the nation prioritises maintaining strong ties with its neighbours, it remains firm in its refusal to overlook the causes of current regional instability. Responding to recent remarks by Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, who stated that the republic would not negotiate for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, Anwar said Malaysia’s diplomatic approach is guided... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349684/malaysias-anwar-singapores-hormuz-stance-thats-their-affair?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349684/malaysias-anwar-singapores-hormuz-stance-thats-their-affair?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:07:56 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Indonesian fisherman nets surprise catch – a Chinese underwater drone A Chinese underwater drone was caught by an Indonesian fisherman near a key waterway leading to Australia, local media reported. 2. What is the war on Iran teaching... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3349469/fisherman-catches-chinese-drone-iran-wars-lessons-china-scmps-7-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3349469/fisherman-catches-chinese-drone-iran-wars-lessons-china-scmps-7-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 05:30:08 +0000 Bloomberg,Reuters Bloomberg,Reuters Economic growth across Asia is likely to slow even if oil prices stabilise in the coming months, as the impact of war in the Middle East ripples through industries from manufacturing to tourism, according to the Asian Development Bank. The US and Israeli war on Iran is projected to halt developing Asia’s economic upswing, with the region’s gross domestic product expansion seen moderating to 5.1 per cent this year from 5.4 per cent in 2025, the ADB said in its outlook report on... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349591/asian-economies-face-formidable-test-middle-east-conflict-drags-adb?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349591/asian-economies-face-formidable-test-middle-east-conflict-drags-adb?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 02:32:16 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow US President Donald Trump’s public rebuke of South Korea for refusing to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz is an uncomfortable moment for a 70-year alliance, piling fresh pressure on a Seoul government already uneasy about Washington’s appetite for confrontation in the Middle East. But analysts believe the relationship can withstand the strain, pointing to deep institutional ties between the two militaries, broad elite and public support in both capitals, and the reluctance of other US... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3349554/why-trumps-hormuz-rebuke-wont-derail-south-koreas-very-strong-alliance-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3349554/why-trumps-hormuz-rebuke-wont-derail-south-koreas-very-strong-alliance-us?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 01:30:15 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Unitree Robotics, one of China’s largest robot makers, will debut the R1, its cheapest humanoid model, on the international market via Alibaba Group Holding’s AliExpress marketplace next week, according to two sources familiar with the matter on Thursday. The launch would cover major overseas markets including North America, Europe, Japan and Singapore, one of the sources said. The product would later be available on other channels, the second person said. The R1, launched in mainland China last... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3349489/chinas-unitree-debut-cheapest-humanoid-robot-globally-alibaba-site-sources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3349489/chinas-unitree-debut-cheapest-humanoid-robot-globally-alibaba-site-sources?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 07:30:11 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan Singapore’s pushback against negotiating with Iran over access to the Strait of Hormuz has triggered a backlash from Malaysian politicians, who saw its statements as “lecturing” them on how best to secure safe passage through the vital waterway. For the past month, Tehran had all but shut access to the strait – which handles about a fifth of global oil and gas shipments, bound mostly for Asia – in retaliation for deadly strikes by the US and Israel since they launched a war on Iran on February... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3349464/malaysia-wont-be-lectured-singapores-refusal-negotiate-over-hormuz-creates-waves?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3349464/malaysia-wont-be-lectured-singapores-refusal-negotiate-over-hormuz-creates-waves?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 04:23:33 +0000 Leopold Chen,Ambrose Li,Olga Wong Leopold Chen,Ambrose Li,Olga Wong The Hong Kong government has proposed short-term measures including diesel subsidies of HK$3 per litre and reduced tunnel tolls to ease pressure on the commercial transport sector, which is grappling with soaring fuel prices. Confirming an earlier South China Morning Post report, the government said on Thursday night that a recently formed task force monitoring fuel price movements had floated four temporary measures prioritising diesel-powered commercial vehicles and vessels, and ferries. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349450/hong-kong-roll-out-relief-measures-transport-sector-fuel-costs-soar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349450/hong-kong-roll-out-relief-measures-transport-sector-fuel-costs-soar?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 02:57:21 +0000 Matteo Giovannini Matteo Giovannini Hong Kong’s identity as a world-leading international hub has never been static. It has been built over time through openness, adaptability and, crucially, diversity. Recent discussions about the city’s talent strategy, including concerns that the overwhelming majority of applicants under key admission schemes come from mainland China, raise a deeper structural question: can Hong Kong remain truly global if its talent pipeline becomes increasingly concentrated? This is not about downplaying the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3349169/hong-kongs-global-future-depends-diverse-talent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3349169/hong-kongs-global-future-depends-diverse-talent?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 01:30:08 +0000 CNA,Bloomberg CNA,Bloomberg Government facilities in Singapore will take steps to reduce electricity consumption to boost the nation’s energy resilience as the conflict in the Middle East tightens global energy supplies. Immediate measures include setting the air-conditioner at 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher, managing operating times for air-conditioning, lighting and lifts and unplugging or turning off non-essential equipment when not in use, the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment (MSE) and... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349443/singapore-raises-air-con-temperatures-public-spaces-save-energy-amid-fuel-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349443/singapore-raises-air-con-temperatures-public-spaces-save-energy-amid-fuel-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 01:12:14 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang China’s biopharmaceutical sector is seeing an uptick in deal-making, with sovereign wealth funds from Singapore and the United Arab Emirates joining Chinese state-backed investors to back next-generation drug developers. Shanghai-based Everest Medicines agreed to spend US$250 million to acquire a Singapore company holding rights to 14 chronic-disease treatments across the Asia-Pacific region, according to a stock exchange filing on Wednesday. Its Singapore unit will acquire 100 per cent of... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3349390/china-biotech-flow-picks-everest-seals-us250-million-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3349390/china-biotech-flow-picks-everest-seals-us250-million-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung Chances are, the Hainanese chicken rice served at your local restaurant is not the real deal. In the same way that champagne must come from Champagne, Hainanese chicken rice must technically be made with Wenchang chicken from Hainan, an island province of China in the South China Sea. These birds are small, free-range and famous for being fed a diet of fallen banyan seeds, coconut pulp and peanut bran. The breed was shaped by the region’s natural environment, which gives the meat natural... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3349320/origins-hainanese-chicken-rice-and-its-versions-singapore-malaysia-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3349320/origins-hainanese-chicken-rice-and-its-versions-singapore-malaysia-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Reuters Reuters The head of a body representing global airlines said on Wednesday that even if Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz, it would take months for jet fuel supply to recover given disruptions to Middle East refining capacity. Oil fell below US$100 per barrel after US President Donald Trump said he had agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran ‌that was subject to the immediate and safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries about a fifth of the world’s oil trade. Iranian Foreign... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349353/no-quick-fix-asian-airlines-even-if-iran-reopens-hormuz-iata-chief?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349353/no-quick-fix-asian-airlines-even-if-iran-reopens-hormuz-iata-chief?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:26:07 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have put together stories from our coverage on science from the past two weeks to help you stay informed. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Chinese embassy in US confirms death of semiconductor researcher Wang Danhao Chinese semiconductor researcher Wang Danhao died at the University of Michigan last month, shortly after being questioned by US federal law enforcement. 2. ‘Impossible for Chinese’: Yale scientist Zhang Kai leaves US for China Zhang... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3349349/chinese-embassy-confirms-wang-danhao-death-spacex-challenger-fails-7-science-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3349349/chinese-embassy-confirms-wang-danhao-death-spacex-challenger-fails-7-science-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:00:07 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim A 38-year-old woman has been charged over her involvement in an accident which killed a six-year-old Indonesian girl and severely injured her mother at a popular tourist district in Singapore. The woman, who cannot be named due to a gag order, was handed two charges on Wednesday. One was for driving without due care and attention causing death, and the other for driving without due care and attention causing grievous hurt. If found guilty of the first charge, she could be jailed up to three... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3349318/woman-charged-over-singapore-crash-killed-indonesian-girl-chinatown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3349318/woman-charged-over-singapore-crash-killed-indonesian-girl-chinatown?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 02:48:55 +0000 CNA CNA Singapore will not negotiate for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, as doing so would undermine fundamental principles of international law, Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has said. Responding to a parliamentary question on Tuesday by Member of Parliament Fadli Fawzi on whether Singapore would engage Iran or consider paying a toll for its vessels, Balakrishnan stressed that transit through such waterways was a right – not a privilege. “There is a right of transit passage,”... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349314/singapore-says-no-negotiations-hormuz-safe-passage-transit-right-not-privilege?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349314/singapore-says-no-negotiations-hormuz-safe-passage-transit-right-not-privilege?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 01:16:36 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen Whether the US-Israeli war on Iran wraps up quickly or drags on, the repercussions will be felt for years, reshaping warfare, geopolitics and energy security as well as how the world sees the United States and its tactical and strategic capabilities. In the second of a three-part series, we examine some of the implications likely to unfold over months and years, affecting the future of conflict in an increasingly unstable world. As the United States and Israel wage war on Iran, they are also... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3349261/missile-barrage-iran-continues-what-it-teaching-china-about-us-war-resilience?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3349261/missile-barrage-iran-continues-what-it-teaching-china-about-us-war-resilience?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 22:00:12 +0000 Kolette Lim,Jean Iau Kolette Lim,Jean Iau Singapore’s economy will inevitably be hit by the global energy crunch even though it is in a better position to deal with the crisis compared with its neighbours, according to analysts, as the city state unveiled a raft of measures to help households and businesses. The conflict in the Middle East has roiled supply chains and sent fuel prices soaring in Southeast Asia, with governments scrambling to enforce measures such as fuel caps and work-from-home mandates. Singapore ministers in... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349276/singapore-set-be-hit-global-energy-crisis-it-unveils-countermeasures?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349276/singapore-set-be-hit-global-energy-crisis-it-unveils-countermeasures?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 10:20:15 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Most Southeast Asians would choose China as a strategic partner over the US if forced to pick, as analysts attribute the findings of an annual survey to recent geopolitical and trade uncertainties driven by Washington’s policies. But analysts warn against interpreting the respondents’ sentiment in the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute survey as a zero-sum game between the superpowers, saying that Asean is looking to diversify partners in a multipolar world. When asked which superpower the region... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3349247/most-asean-prefer-china-over-us-partner-poll-trump-cited-biggest-concern?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3349247/most-asean-prefer-china-over-us-partner-poll-trump-cited-biggest-concern?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 08:05:32 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Vietnam’s Communist Party boss To Lam was elected president by the National Assembly on Tuesday, capping his bid to centralise authority in a nation where senior cadres have traditionally governed collectively. In less than two years as party chief, the 68-year-old has swept aside rivals and transformed the country through an aggressive reform drive – literally redrawing the map as he combined provinces and slashed bureaucracy. Lam has set an ambitious target of 10 per cent annual growth for the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349235/lam-emerges-vietnams-supreme-leader-after-being-elected-president?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349235/lam-emerges-vietnams-supreme-leader-after-being-elected-president?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 06:35:20 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. UAE squeezes Iranian economic lifeline in retaliation for attacks 2. Untouchable no more: Nepal to apologise to Dalits for first time 3. Bali rocked by spate of murder cases – is Indonesian island more dangerous now? 4. Australia receives fuel export guarantees from... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3349208/uae-retaliates-against-iran-balis-spate-murders-7-asia-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3349208/uae-retaliates-against-iran-balis-spate-murders-7-asia-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 04:30:08 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau A defamation lawsuit filed by Singapore cabinet ministers K Shanmugam and Tan See Leng against financial news outlet Bloomberg on Tuesday opened with heated exchanges over an article that mentioned their personal property transactions. According to statements of claim filed in the High Court, Shanmugam, who is coordinating minister for national security, and Tan, who is manpower minister, said parts of the article, titled “Singapore mansion deals are increasingly shrouded in secrecy”, were... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3349204/singapore-ministers-defamation-suit-against-bloomberg-property-article-starts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3349204/singapore-ministers-defamation-suit-against-bloomberg-property-article-starts?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 02:07:27 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran When Filipino motoring journalist James Deakin recently posted a photo of his fuel receipt – more than 4,000 pesos (US$67) after topping up on nearly 39 litres – his message to followers was blunt: “I’m seriously looking at an EV [or] hybrid now. What’s your breaking point?” He is far from alone. As the Philippines grapples with a national energy emergency triggered by the war in Iran, record pump prices are forcing consumers to rethink their transport methods, and Vietnamese electric vehicle... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349191/why-high-fuel-costs-could-accelerate-philippines-ev-boom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349191/why-high-fuel-costs-could-accelerate-philippines-ev-boom?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:15 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk Singapore’s Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam has said he wished the United States had kept controversial blogger and child sex convict Amos Yee, warning that foreign media and rights advocates have mistaken a repeat offender, who was deported back to the city state, for a free-speech icon. Yee, who is listed on a US Department of Homeland Security website as among the “worst of the worst criminal aliens” the Immigration and Customs Enforcement has arrested, was deported from the US on March 19... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3349183/singapores-shanmugam-deported-blogger-amos-yee-i-wish-americans-had-kept-him?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3349183/singapores-shanmugam-deported-blogger-amos-yee-i-wish-americans-had-kept-him?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:20:26 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk Singapore police have confirmed that a body recovered from the sea off the Indonesian island of Karimun is that of a 37-year-old man who has been missing since March 27 after a collision between two boats. The police said on Sunday that Indonesian authorities had found the body of Chua Muhammad Syafidi floating in the sea off the island to the southwest of Singapore at about 3pm on March 30, according to The Straits Times. “The body, believed to be the missing person from the collision between a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3349121/singapore-police-say-body-found-missing-man-boat-collision?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3349121/singapore-police-say-body-found-missing-man-boat-collision?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 04:48:58 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Australia’s government has received guarantees from major fuel exporting nations in Asia that supplies will proceed as normal despite the disruptions caused by the war in Iran, Assistant Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said. In an interview with Sky News on Sunday, Thistlethwaite said that he had sought and received pledges from Japan, South Korea and Singapore that shipments of fuel to Australia would continue, amid concerns that some countries might curb exports to... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3349087/australia-receives-fuel-export-guarantees-singapore-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3349087/australia-receives-fuel-export-guarantees-singapore-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 10:31:34 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju As Russia comes to India’s aid amid the global energy crisis, a familiar mantra has resurfaced among officials and political analysts – that Moscow is New Delhi’s “all weather-friend”. Such a stance is anchored by deep strategic interests, with both countries viewing each other as vital to their balancing between China and an increasingly erratic United States, according to observers. On Friday, Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov said Moscow was well-positioned to ramp up oil and... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3349063/india-turns-trusted-friend-russia-oil-lng-supply-iran-war-energises-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3349063/india-turns-trusted-friend-russia-oil-lng-supply-iran-war-energises-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 04:29:34 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof “You don’t even have to look for it,” nine-year-old Anaqi said of the short videos he watches online. “It just shows up automatically, and it’s super interesting.” That instinctive pull is familiar to his father, Firdaus Omar. The 39-year-old Malaysian civil servant said his two children – Anaqi and his six-year-old brother – could spend hours watching the kind of short, noisy, endlessly recommended clips now commonly dismissed online as “brain rot”. He is worried about the effect of such... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3348957/malaysian-bookshop-hits-novel-idea-bring-back-readers-addicted-brain-rot-clips?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3348957/malaysian-bookshop-hits-novel-idea-bring-back-readers-addicted-brain-rot-clips?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 05:00:11 +0000 Dicky Yordan Dicky Yordan Somewhere in Manila, a journalist reported a scene where tricycle drivers queued since six in the morning for a government cash handout worth US$84 – compensation for fuel prices that have surged since Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz. The Philippines has also become the first country to declare a state of national energy emergency. In Hanoi, petrol stations are rationing by the hour and unleaded prices have climbed more than 20 per cent in a matter of weeks. In Jakarta, the government is... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3348970/hormuz-sending-southeast-asia-warning-and-we-can-no-longer-ignore-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3348970/hormuz-sending-southeast-asia-warning-and-we-can-no-longer-ignore-it?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 04:00:27 +0000 CNA CNA A Workers’ Party disciplinary panel looking into secretary general Pritam Singh’s conduct has completed its investigation into whether the chief had contravened the party’s constitution, after his court conviction for lying under oath to a parliamentary committee. “The panel will present its finalised report and recommendations to the Central Executive Committee in April,” Singapore’s opposition party said in a statement on Saturday. “The Notice of the Special Cadre Members’ Conference will be... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349015/singapores-workers-party-finishes-investigation-chief-pritam-singhs-conduct?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349015/singapores-workers-party-finishes-investigation-chief-pritam-singhs-conduct?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 03:43:15 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran Later this month, Indonesian cinema-goers will finally get to see what audiences in Berlin saw in February: Jokor Anwar’s Ghost in the Cell. The horror-comedy, which had its world premiere at the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival, has been celebrated by influential trade magazine Variety for rising above mere “escapist entertainment” to channel societal anxieties about corruption and environmental destruction. Yet it is only the latest example of Southeast Asia’s creative moment... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3348980/southeast-asia-seeks-soft-power-outlast-us300-billion-buzz?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3348980/southeast-asia-seeks-soft-power-outlast-us300-billion-buzz?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 00:00:16 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou The compound is modern with air conditioning in every room. Inside are a medical clinic, massage parlour, and Vietnamese barbecue, Chinese hotpot and halal eateries – a full range of conveniences. Yet the residents are gone – and they appear to have fled in haste. Clothes still hang out to dry, while the stench of rotting food lingers. Located in a secluded area in Kampot province near Cambodia’s border with Vietnam, the site is believed to be a telecoms scam centre. Cambodian authorities said... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348930/game-whack-mole-how-could-scam-industry-bring-china-and-us-together?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348930/game-whack-mole-how-could-scam-industry-bring-china-and-us-together?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 22:00:10 +0000 CNA CNA A Malaysian electrician was recruited by a syndicate and travelled to Singapore to set up devices in a rented house that would blast thousands of automated scam calls, with call origins masked to appear like they were being made locally. The devices transmitted over 50,000 call sessions over a 50-minute period, linked to around 18,000 phone numbers, 40 of which later featured in 42 police reports. The call sessions contained automated voice messages perpetuating scams from purported government... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3348867/50-minutes-50000-calls-us12-million-lost-singapores-high-speed-scam?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3348867/50-minutes-50000-calls-us12-million-lost-singapores-high-speed-scam?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 01:27:18 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou Despite land reclamation efforts in the fiercely contested South China Sea, an unusual silence has fallen between Beijing and Hanoi over their rival claims. Observers said this suggested both sides were prioritising pragmatism to keep tensions in check. In March, months into reports suggesting continued Chinese dredging activities at Antelope Reef in the Paracel Islands, Hanoi broke its silence by lodging a protest with Beijing over what it called “illegal and invalid” foreign... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348763/why-china-and-vietnam-are-shifting-confrontation-calm-south-china-sea-claims?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348763/why-china-and-vietnam-are-shifting-confrontation-calm-south-china-sea-claims?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 09:01:08 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Asean’s neutrality in the Iran conflict is key to granting access to the coveted Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran likely seeking to win global opinion amid its war with the United States and Israel. Amid boiling tensions in the Gulf, Iran has wielded its control of the strategic channel to choke global oil supplies, especially to the US and its allies. Many countries – including those from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations – have turned to diplomatic efforts to secure safe passage for... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3348759/why-asean-neutrality-iran-war-key-unlocking-strait-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3348759/why-asean-neutrality-iran-war-key-unlocking-strait-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:41:08 +0000 CNA CNA A former teacher was charged in Singapore court on Thursday with multiple charges over sexual acts with an underage student. The Singaporean, who is in his 30s, was handed nine charges in total – six of committing indecent acts with a young person and three charges of sexual penetration of a minor. A gag order imposed by the court prevents the publication of anything that might identify the accused and the victim, including the incident locations. Court records indicate that the pair have a... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3348741/fourth-ex-teacher-charged-singapore-amid-string-student-sex-abuse-cases?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3348741/fourth-ex-teacher-charged-singapore-amid-string-student-sex-abuse-cases?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 03:47:08 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words From April 3, elderly and disabled passengers must pay 20 per cent of any fare exceeding HK$10 (US$1.28) under the revised HK$2 transport fare scheme. The government says this will curb people taking long-haul bus trips for short rides. But the debate obscures a different problem:... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3348663/hong-kong-needs-start-charging-all-bus-passengers-distance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3348663/hong-kong-needs-start-charging-all-bus-passengers-distance?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 03:30:11 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau Perched on top of a shoe shelf at the entrance of Veriff’s headquarters in Tallinn, Estonia, is a sign of a cartoon unicorn that reads “Welcome to Unicorn Land!”, serving as a reminder of the identity verification company’s rise from a local start-up to a valuation of US$1.5 billion in seven years. Veriff, which boasts clients including PayPal, Bumble and Visa, was founded by Kaarel Kotkas in 2015. It is one of at least 10 unicorn companies – privately held start-ups valued at more than US$1... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3348736/estonian-start-ups-eye-singapore-natural-gateway-build-digital-trust-asean?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3348736/estonian-start-ups-eye-singapore-natural-gateway-build-digital-trust-asean?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 03:13:35 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin The head of Hong Kong’s government investment agency has been appointed as a director of a global organisation that brings together leading firms and investors, marking the first time a Chinese sovereign wealth fund has held a seat on the board. FCLTGlobal announced on Wednesday that Clara Chan Ka-chai, CEO of the Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC), had become one of the 19 directors on its board. “Clara brings deep experience and thoughtful leadership that will strengthen our work to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348690/hong-kong-investment-chief-joins-global-board-first-chinese-sovereign-funds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348690/hong-kong-investment-chief-joins-global-board-first-chinese-sovereign-funds?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:00:25 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow The Myanmar junta’s attempts to place its top man in the country’s highest civilian position have been described by analysts as a “constitutional repackaging of continued military rule”. On Monday, Min Aung Hlaing, who led the military in the 2021 coup and has headed the junta since then, resigned from the armed forces, moving one step closer to becoming president. He stepped down after Myanmar’s parliament had cleared the way for his nomination. He handed over the role of commander-in-chief of... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3348662/why-myanmar-top-generals-exit-window-dressing-cement-military-rule?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3348662/why-myanmar-top-generals-exit-window-dressing-cement-military-rule?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 09:05:08 +0000 Kandy Wong Kandy Wong China’s exports of jet fuel have declined sharply in recent weeks amid the US-Israel war on Iran, leaving countries including Australia and Japan facing a supply crunch and scrambling to find alternative sellers. China is Asia-Pacific’s largest jet fuel and kerosene exporter, but shipments from the country fell nearly 40 per cent month on month in March to 204,000 barrels per day, figures from trade data provider Kpler showed. The cutback is likely to hit hardest in Australia and Japan, which... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348642/australia-and-japan-face-jet-fuel-supply-crunch-china-cuts-exports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348642/australia-and-japan-face-jet-fuel-supply-crunch-china-cuts-exports?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:22:29 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A Scottish crime boss is to be deported to Spain on Wednesday after he was arrested on the Indonesian resort island of Bali in connection with large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering, authorities said. The 45-year-old, identified as Steven Lyons, was taken into custody by immigration officers at Ngurah Rai International Airport on Saturday on arrival from Singapore, Untung Widiyatmoko, head of Indonesia’s branch of Interpol, said on Tuesday. The immigration system had flagged him as... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3348595/scottish-man-linked-gang-arrested-indonesias-bali-after-interpol-issues-red-alert?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3348595/scottish-man-linked-gang-arrested-indonesias-bali-after-interpol-issues-red-alert?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 01:08:04 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran Rising fuel costs linked to the Middle East conflict could push more Filipinos deeper into debt, analysts have warned, with one regional study describing the Philippines’ credit card burden reaching a “critical” risk level. Although credit card ownership in the Philippines remains relatively low, data indicates that cardholders appear to be using them far more intensively as living costs outpace income growth. Credit card receivables in the Philippines have been growing consistently at more than... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3348579/will-surging-fuel-prices-push-filipinos-deeper-credit-card-debt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3348579/will-surging-fuel-prices-push-filipinos-deeper-credit-card-debt?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:12 +0000 Resty Woro Yuniar Resty Woro Yuniar The firing of an Indonesian immigration officer at a Batam seaport, following reports of extortion of foreign tourists, has raised questions about the prevalence of such practices across the country’s entry points. Batam, in Indonesia’s Riau Islands province, is a popular destination for visitors from nearby Singapore as it boasts scenic beaches an hour’s ferry ride from the city state. The island’s appeal has recently been marred by allegations of extortion by immigration officers at Batam... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3348544/extortion-widespread-indonesias-entry-points-officers-firing-sparks-concern?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3348544/extortion-widespread-indonesias-entry-points-officers-firing-sparks-concern?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 09:40:54 +0000 The Star The Star Singaporeans are not flocking to Malaysia’s Johor just for groceries these days – fuel is the “obsession” for the moment. Petrol prices have spiked sharply in the city state due to the Middle East conflict, with RON95 at almost three times the price in Malaysia at S$3.41 (US$2.64) per litre. Singapore vehicles are only allowed to pump the unsubsidised RON97 fuel in Malaysia, which is being retailed in Johor Bahru at 5.15 ringgit (US$1.27) per litre. A Singaporean who wanted to be known only as... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3348497/fuelling-new-obsession-drawing-singaporeans-malaysias-johor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3348497/fuelling-new-obsession-drawing-singaporeans-malaysias-johor?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 06:42:52 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Trump’s ‘wind-up doll’? Japan’s PM faces backlash over White House fawning Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is facing accusations of diplomatic sycophancy after White House footage showed her giggling at a portrait of an autopen – placed by US President Donald... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3348465/japan-pms-fawning-sparks-backlash-philippines-work-life-balance-fails-7-asia-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3348465/japan-pms-fawning-sparks-backlash-philippines-work-life-balance-fails-7-asia-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 04:12:07 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof For years, Malaysians watched singer-actress Bella Astillah’s heartbreak unfold in public. Her tribulations – a troubled marriage, cheating scandal and very public split – struck a chord with many, underscoring the stigma that divorced women face in a conservative Muslim-majority society. When lawmaker Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, 33, proposed to her – first on Mount Kinabalu and later at a formal engagement ceremony in Kuala Lumpur – it resonated with many Malaysians who felt Bella was... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3348466/bella-astillah-and-syed-saddiqs-new-chapter-captivates-malaysia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3348466/bella-astillah-and-syed-saddiqs-new-chapter-captivates-malaysia?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 02:16:59 +0000