This Week in Asia /
People
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Anwar Ibrahim
Xi Jinping
Narendra Modi
Thailand
Thailand’s ‘orange wave’ is back. Can it finally end conservative rule?
The Senate can no longer pick the prime minister, opening a path to victory for the reformist People’s Party in the election on February 8.
4 Jan 2026 - 10:30AM
North Korea
Why North Korea’s Kim is hailing ‘invincible’ Russia ties in new year message
2 Jan 2026 - 8:11AM
Thailand
Thai fortune-teller arrested after allegedly fulfilling his own bad luck prophecy
1 Jan 2026 - 7:54PM
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Japan
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 - 4:24PM
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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
The Philippines
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
India
In India, New Delhi’s smog crisis exposes the high price of clean air
The winter smog has widened the affordability gap among residents, with many lower-income families lacking the means to buy an air purifier.
31 Dec 2025 - 10:30AM
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Bangladesh
Will Tarique Rahman’s return to Bangladesh ease tensions, restore stability?
Rahman could help consolidate the BNP’s position as the dominant electoral force, while tempering a volatile political climate, analysts say.
29 Dec 2025 - 6:50PM
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Tarique Rahman, son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and Bangladesh Nationalist Party‘s acting chairman, addresses supporters during a rally after his arrival in Dhaka on Thursday. Photo: AFP
Nepal
Nepal probes illegal matchmaking as China cautions citizens over ‘bride buying’
Officials say online brokers are promoting Nepali women to Chinese men, prompting detentions and official warnings.
29 Dec 2025 - 12:25PM
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The Philippines
Corruption, floods and clan wars rock Philippines in 2025
Deepening political feuds, ex-president Duterte’s ICC arrest and the South China Sea dispute have reshaped the Philippine landscape.
28 Dec 2025 - 4:00PM
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Malaysia
How the Peranakan Chinese built one of Southeast Asia’s most powerful networks
Born of trade and migration, the Peranakan community has forged a distinct identity that has bridged China and Southeast Asia for centuries.
27 Dec 2025 - 4:00PM
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Malaysia
Trump’s dance, Najib’s 1MDB saga, influencer case: Malaysia leads Asean in 2025
The country hosts the region’s biggest event, sees a new twist in the 1MDB scandal and is at a critical political juncture.
27 Dec 2025 - 1:00PM
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US President Donald Trump reacts to dancing performers at a welcoming ceremony after arriving at Kuala Lumpur International Airport to attend the Asean summit on October 26. Photo: AP
Singapore
Singapore in 2025: election fever, courtroom drama, pickleball mania
Local politics, tariff concerns, a horrific child abuse case and noise disputes dominate the headlines this year.
27 Dec 2025 - 11:00AM
Indonesia
Power, protests and policy shake-ups shape Indonesia’s 2025
President Prabowo Subianto asserts his authority as he navigates the global stage and domestic challenges in his first full year in office.
26 Dec 2025 - 4:00PM
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Myanmar
Stay or go? Rohingya see no way out of predicament as Myanmar heads to poll
Myanmar’s phased election, set to start on Sunday, is likely to be steered by the same leaders responsible for driving the Rohingya out.
26 Dec 2025 - 5:05PM
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Malaysia
With 1MDB verdict due, will Malaysia’s Najib have to ‘prepare for the worst’?
The High Court will rule on abuse of power and money laundering charges, with Najib facing the prospect of lengthy prison terms if found guilty.
25 Dec 2025 - 7:15PM
Malaysia’s former prime minister Najib Razak attends the verdict of his house arrest bid at Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex in Malaysia on Monday. Photo: Reuters
Indonesia
Red, white and Blue: Indonesia lodges complaint over porn star’s flag stunt
Bonnie Blue’s run-in with Indonesia began earlier this month when she was arrested for making pornographic content in a Bali studio.
25 Dec 2025 - 3:48PM
The Philippines
Philippine court upholds murder verdict in Duterte’s drug war case
While the ruling has been hailed as a win for human rights, it may not have much impact on Duterte’s ICC case, legal analysts say.
25 Dec 2025 - 2:53PM
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Singapore
Gaffes, breaches and sinkhole stars: Singapore’s 2025 social storms
Passionate online discussions have revealed concerns about power, accountability and how the country sees itself.
25 Dec 2025 - 11:30AM
A still from a social media video shows a submerged car after it fell into a sinkhole in Singapore on July 26. Social media users hailed migrant workers for their quick response in saving the driver. Photo: X/HaggerDarren
India
Indian doctor suspended, charged after allegedly assaulting patient
Dr Raghav Narula is accused of speaking disrespectfully to a patient at a hospital in Shimla, but has denied wrongdoing in the confrontation.
24 Dec 2025 - 7:35PM
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Singapore
Singapore’s young graduates feel the heat in ‘draining’ job hunt
A dearth of entry-level jobs has forced some young Singaporeans to pivot to stopgap roles and entrepreneurship.
24 Dec 2025 - 1:00PM
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Malaysia
Malaysian rapper Namewee acquitted of drug use charge after negative test
The 42-year-old still faces a drug possession charge and remains under investigation following the death of a Taiwanese influencer.
22 Dec 2025 - 3:44PM
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Malaysia
Malaysian court blocks Najib’s bid for house arrest
Monday’s decision keeps the former prime minister behind bars as he awaits the outcome of the far larger 1MDB case on Friday.
22 Dec 2025 - 6:40PM
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Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak is escorted by prison officers on his arrival at the Kuala Lumpur High Court Complex on Monday. Photo: AP
Malaysia
‘We just want to live’: fear grips Malaysia’s LGBTQ community
With drag clubs closed and spas raided, the shrinking space for queer life in Malaysia leaves a community with nowhere left to turn.
21 Dec 2025 - 2:35PM
SCMP Highlights
US singer marries sultan, paraglider’s 28,000ft stunt: 8 viral stories in 2025
From US singer marrying Malaysian sultan to Chinese paraglider cheating death, here are our stories that have gone viral in 2025.
20 Dec 2025 - 11:00AM
Malaysia
‘Was he the Hulk?’: Malaysian officer goes viral after ripping off car door
The officer became an unlikely internet sensation when a dashcam video showed him ripping apart a suspect’s car door ‘like a banana leaf’.
19 Dec 2025 - 5:24PM
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