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People
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Lifestyle & Culture
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is seen on Liberal Democratic Party poster boards in Date, Hokkaido prefecture, on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Politics

Japan’s ‘Traitor Takaichi’ hit with online smear campaign using fake accounts

Using AI-generated images and simplified Chinese characters, a network of 3,000 fake accounts reportedly tried to sway Japan’s election.

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Bikini-clad mermaid sales stunt triggers religious probe in Malaysia

Art as advocacy: Philippine mural contest adds to South China Sea messaging push

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Economics

Tariff whiplash throws Asia’s recent US trade deals into doubt

India has already paused trade talks with Washington as other Asian nations are left to question the validity of their recent agreements.

US President Donald Trump speaks at the White House on Friday. Photo: AFP
US President Donald Trump speaks at the White House on Friday. Photo: AFP

Lifestyle & Culture

Clocking off: is Japan’s culture of overwork finally dying?

The average hours put in by Japanese workers are lower than those of their American and Italian counterparts.

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Economics

Thailand ‘buzzing’ with travel boom as Chinese tourists back in droves

The country’s heavy investment in wooing Chinese visitors appears to have paid off as it overcomes safety fears to secure holiday growth.

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Lifestyle & Culture

Ancient Chinese astrology gets a Gen Z rebrand in Southeast Asia

Forget rituals and superstitions, today’s young professionals are using ‘bazi’ 10-year luck forecasts to plan their next career pivot.

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An event organised by Joey Yap, one of “bazi’s” most prominent modern practitioners. Photo: Handout
An event organised by Joey Yap, one of “bazi’s” most prominent modern practitioners. Photo: Handout

Health & Environment

‘Just ask for it’: Malaysia’s vape crackdown fails to break the habit

An estimated 1.4 million Malaysian adults vape, despite existing curbs. Many say new laws will simply push them back to cigarettes.

Economics

Views of corruption in Philippines worsen as ‘grease money’ dents confidence

A global index on corruption perceptions shows the Philippines posting its lowest ranking since 2012.

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Lifestyle & Culture

Unearthed temple in Nepal sheds new light on Buddha’s early life

Archaeologists hope the newly discovered ruins at Siddhartha Gautam’s childhood palace will help secure Unesco World Heritage status.

Archaeologists at work in Tilaurakot, Lumbini, Nepal. Photo: Department of Archaeology, Nepal

Politics

Will Thailand’s election be voided? Bar code blunder sparks ballot secrecy fears

With counting errors forcing revotes this Sunday, the reformist opposition is seizing on irregularities to demand a fresh election.

An election worker counts ballots at a counting station in Bangkok, Thailand, on February 8. Photo: Xinhua
An election worker counts ballots at a counting station in Bangkok, Thailand, on February 8. Photo: Xinhua

Politics

Where is Kim Ju-ae? Succession question hangs over North Korea’s ruling congress

With Kim Jong-un set to outline his end-of-decade vision, the notable absence of his teenage daughter raises fresh succession questions.

Explained

Bangladesh faces daunting post-election challenges in economy, garment sector

A key concern for Dhaka is the upgrade to developing nation status, with the key garment sector set to face stiffer competition.

Lifestyle & Culture

Why Indonesia’s president wants clay roofs on all homes

The president says tourists are put off by Indonesia’s ‘rusty zinc’ roofs, and its image would improve with wider use of clay tiles.

Zinc roofs on top of a house in Walatungga village, Sumba Island, Indonesia. Photo: AP

Politics

‘Plan B is war’: Gaza truce faces late April test despite Trump’s peace push

Observers say the unresolved question of Hamas’ disarmament leaves the fragile truce vulnerable to collapse.

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US President Donald Trump raises the gavel during the “Board of Peace” meeting in Washington on Thursday. Photo: EPA
US President Donald Trump raises the gavel during the “Board of Peace” meeting in Washington on Thursday. Photo: EPA

People

Malaysian police arrested over crypto extortion of Chinese nationals

Officers allegedly stormed a Selangor bungalow, seized laptops and forced a Chinese national to fork over US$51,000 in digital assets.

Politics

Japan’s Takaichi pushes to scrap food tax, ignoring economists’ warnings

The newly reappointed prime minister is gambling 5 trillion yen a year on a popular election promise that could backfire badly.

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Economics

Philippines’ AI reckoning puts millions of jobs on the line

The US$30 billion outsourcing sector is fighting to adapt, leaving millions of workers with a stark choice: upskill or be left behind.

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Image: Kevin Wong
Image: Kevin Wong

Economics

India’s trade blitz seeks to keep afloat a sinking global order

‘Jolted out of its slumber’ by US tariffs, New Delhi is aggressively diversifying trade alliances to act as a bridge in a polarised world.

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Politics

‘Critical point’: can Thailand election pave way for national reset?

With the economy struggling and corruption rife, Thai voters will look to the February 8 election as a chance to turn the country around.

Politics

Malaysia’s Islamists preach ‘racial domination’ to woo young voters

They govern the north, dominate the opposition and claim to soon be the undisputed home of Malay nationalism. Is Putrajaya next for PAS?

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Supporters of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) wave flags during a rally in Kedah in 2012. Photo: AFP
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LATEST Asia NEWS

Southeast Asia

Duterte was ‘pivotal’ in murder of thousands, ICC prosecutors say

People protest in favour of the detention of former Philippines’ president Rodrigo Duterte outside the International Criminal Court where he will be questioned on charges of crimes against humanity, in The Hague on Monday. Photo: AFP

Economics

Tariff whiplash throws Asia’s recent US trade deals into doubt

US President Donald Trump speaks at the White House on Friday. Photo: AFP

Politics

Japan’s ‘Traitor Takaichi’ hit with online smear campaign using fake accounts

videocam
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is seen on Liberal Democratic Party poster boards in Date, Hokkaido prefecture, on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Lifestyle & Culture

Bikini-clad mermaid sales stunt triggers religious probe in Malaysia

An expanded screenshot of the mermaid sales stunt that circulated on Malaysian social media. Photo: X/dahfollowbelum

East Asia

Tokyo Skytree tower closed after 20 trapped in lift for 5 hours

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The Tokyo Skytree. Photo: AFP
MORE Asia NEWS
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OPINION
Alex Capri

Opinion | Who will save the world from a US-China AI arms race?

Alex Capri
Ivan Franceschini,Charlotte Setijadi,Ling Li

Opinion | Cambodia’s scam factory survivors find no escape in freedom

Ivan Franceschini
Charlotte Setijadi
Ling Li
Sharon Seah

Asian Angle | How Asean can resolve its Myanmar dilemma post-election

Sharon Seah
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Ian Storey

Opinion | Vietnam’s renewed nuclear power push faces formidable hurdles

Ian Storey
Treethep Srisa-nga

Asian Angle | Thailand’s election will pass verdict on the architecture of elite control

Treethep Srisa-nga
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MULTIMEDIA
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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
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Video

Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra to serve 1 year in jail

Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra to serve 1 year in jail
04:27
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