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This Week in Asia

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Economics
People
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Health & Environment
Lifestyle & Culture
Thai singer and actress Lalisa Manobal arrives for the Amazing Thailand Ambassador Exclusive Night at the Temple of Dawn or Wat Arun in Bangkok, Thailand, on Wednesday. Photo: EPA

Lifestyle & Culture

Will Thai tourism ambassador Blackpink’s Lisa help lure Chinese visitors back?

Chinese visitor arrivals slumped by nearly 30 per cent last year amid concerns over safety, the border war with Cambodia and the strong baht.

Japan child suicides reach record high as experts warn of mounting pressures

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Not cricket? Political sticky wicket forces Bangladesh out of T20 World Cup

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Politics

How far can Asean engage Myanmar without legitimising military rule?

The bloc’s foreign ministers meet in Cebu amid concerns that diplomacy could slide into tacit acceptance of military rule.

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Asean foreign ministers pose for a group photo in Cebu City on Thursday where they discussed the bloc’s response to the Myanmar crisis. Photo: Reuters
Asean foreign ministers pose for a group photo in Cebu City on Thursday where they discussed the bloc’s response to the Myanmar crisis. Photo: Reuters

People

Singapore court rules man, 97, mentally fit to marry mistress

The widower, who had an extramarital affair with his secretary since 1971, has filed separate lawsuits against his second son and grandson.

Politics

‘Patience wearing thin’: Anwar demands updates on anti-corruption fight

The leader says that if top enforcement officials admit they are unable to crack down on corruption and smuggling, they should step aside.

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Lifestyle & Culture

Japan’s ‘new-wave yakuza’: tokuryu gangs take control of lucrative sex business

The arrest of a leader of Japan’s largest tokuryu has put the spotlight on how the gangs are edging out the yakuza and worrying the police.

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Pedestrians walk past an entrance at Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo. Natural, a leading tokuryu criminal group, started its operations in the nightlife district in 2019. Photo: EPA-EFE
Pedestrians walk past an entrance at Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo. Natural, a leading tokuryu criminal group, started its operations in the nightlife district in 2019. Photo: EPA-EFE

Lifestyle & Culture

Just 1 visa to rule them all? How European-style pass could help Asean tourism

While Asean members such as Malaysia and Vietnam have shown strong post-pandemic growth, tourist numbers have lagged in the Philippines.

People

Why ‘rampant baby trafficking’ is a growing concern in Indonesia, Singapore

Analysts warn the driving factor for the rise in baby trafficking is the ‘lure of the Singapore dollar’, urging authorities to step up vigilance.

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Politics

Why more Japanese than ever support strengthening the military

A record-high survey result reflects how the war in Ukraine and regional tensions have reshaped Japan’s once cautious security outlook.

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A launch ceremony for the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force’s newly built submarine Sogei at a Kawasaki Heavy Industries shipyard in Kobe, western Japan, on October 14, 2025. Photo: Kyodo

People

Will North Korea compensate Japanese citizens lured into ‘paradise on Earth’?

A Tokyo court has ordered Pyongyang to pay damages, but the plaintiffs are now bracing for a long fight to enforce the ruling.

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Plaintiffs, their lawyers and supporters gather outside the Tokyo District Court after winning its decision ordering North Korea to pay damages over its decades-long human rights violations after luring them to move to the North by Pyongyang’s false promises of living in “paradise on Earth”, on Monday in Japan. Photo: AP
Plaintiffs, their lawyers and supporters gather outside the Tokyo District Court after winning its decision ordering North Korea to pay damages over its decades-long human rights violations after luring them to move to the North by Pyongyang’s false promises of living in “paradise on Earth”, on Monday in Japan. Photo: AP

Lifestyle & Culture

Who are ‘we’? Why some Singaporeans bristle at ‘we first’ inclusive society call

Several ministers have spoken about a “we first” society, prompting some Singaporeans to question whether it benefits foreigners more.

Economics

Bank Indonesia’s autonomy under scrutiny as Prabowo’s nephew joins leadership

Thomas Djiwandono’s appointment as deputy governor has made it seem ‘as if power at Bank Indonesia is inherited’, some analysts say.

People

Would you intervene? Singapore train-spitting case spotlights bystander culture

A viral MRT incident has revived debate over whether Singaporeans should intervene when disorderly behaviour plays out in public.

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Screengrab from a viral video of a woman spitting out water on the floor and at passengers on an MTR train in Singapore. Photo: Instagram / summeryeow0573

Politics

Why US defence strategy may hurt leaders in South Korea, Japan

The National Defence Strategy states that the US will provide ‘more limited’ support to its allies in line with the ‘America-first’ policy.

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A US B-1B bomber, South Korean F-15K, Japanese F-2, and US F-16 jets fly in a joint drill over Jeju Island, South Korea, in 2024. Photo: AFP/US Air Force/South Korea’s defence ministry
A US B-1B bomber, South Korean F-15K, Japanese F-2, and US F-16 jets fly in a joint drill over Jeju Island, South Korea, in 2024. Photo: AFP/US Air Force/South Korea’s defence ministry

People

Filipino’s death fuels concern over coercive recruitment in Ukraine war

Observers say the case of John Patrick reflects human exploitation and the structural pressure on Russia’s manpower resources.

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Politics

As US carrier fleet sails near Iran, Trump faces ‘no easy levers’ against Tehran

Analysts evaluate the difficult options of a US air strike, killing of Iran’s top leaders, covert operations and counter-intelligence.

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

Politics

Philippines enters its ‘hour of danger’ in Marcos vs Duterte clash

Analysts warn of a ‘very messy year’ ahead as coup fears swirl, the economy falters and political warfare rages out in the open.

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Economics

India overtakes Japan in economic size – while prosperity trails far behind

Becoming the No 4 economy is a source of pride. Now, the race is on to turn statistical success into 8 million new jobs a year.

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Economics

Fair or fowl? Malaysia struggles to stomach its US trade pact

Local chefs fume over ‘lousy’ US poultry flooding the market, as critics call the trade agreement hastily reached and unfairly lopsided.

A woman shops at a wet market in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia is bracing itself for a surge in shipments of American poultry. Photo: Reuters
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LATEST Asia NEWS

China Economy

How changing tastes in China are hitting Australia’s wine exports

Bottles of Australian wine at a store in Beijing in November 2020. Photo: Reuters

Lifestyle & Culture

Will Thai tourism ambassador Blackpink’s Lisa help lure Chinese visitors back?

Thai singer and actress Lalisa Manobal arrives for the Amazing Thailand Ambassador Exclusive Night at the Temple of Dawn or Wat Arun in Bangkok, Thailand, on Wednesday. Photo: EPA

Health & Environment

Japan child suicides reach record high as experts warn of mounting pressures

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Japan recorded a record 532 child suicides in 2025, according to preliminary government figures. Photo: Shutterstock

People

Singapore court rules man, 97, mentally fit to marry mistress

A Singapore family court judge has ruled that a 97-year-old man possesses the mental capacity to decide for himself whether to marry his long-time secretary. Photo: Shutterstock

Lifestyle & Culture

Japan’s ‘new-wave yakuza’: tokuryu gangs take control of lucrative sex business

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Pedestrians walk past an entrance at Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo. Natural, a leading tokuryu criminal group, started its operations in the nightlife district in 2019. Photo: EPA-EFE
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OPINION
Alan Robles

Opinion | Marcos health problems call to mind past Philippine leaders’ woes

Alan Robles
William Choong,Joanne Lin

Asian Angle | What a US-China ‘grand bargain’ would mean for Southeast Asia

William Choong
Joanne Lin
Jean Iau

Singapore’s opposition chief debate draws comparisons with Westminster system

Jean Iau
Lee Hwok-Aun

Asian Angle | Malaysia’s PM term limits could backfire unless election cycles are set

Chandran Nair

Asian Angle | China has a worthy blueprint to improve the UN. Why is the West ignoring it?

Chandran Nair
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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
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Centenarian becomes oldest person to climb Mount Fuji

Centenarian becomes oldest person to climb Mount Fuji
02:34
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Cambodia unveils new Chinese-built airport

Cambodia unveils new Chinese-built airport
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Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra to serve 1 year in jail

Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra to serve 1 year in jail
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