This Week in Asia

Health & Environment

Lifestyle & Culture

Philippine Navy personnel aboard BRP Miguel Malvar during a naval exercise in the South China Sea in August 2025. Photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines, Public Affairs Office via AP

Politics

French ‘intimacy’: Philippines, France near deal for Indo-Pacific strength

The visiting forces deal comes on top of similar pacts with other nations and could help the Philippines attain a ‘muscular defence arsenal’.

2 hours agovideocam

Why India is losing ground over Bangladesh and Myanmar to regional rivals

2 hours agovideocam

Malaysia’s Umno chief denies he ‘sidelined’ Najib to save himself

2 hours agovideocam

People

South Korean church deploys ‘special force’ to recruit Australian youths

The Shincheonji church compiles profiles of potential members to draw up personalised recruitment plans, according to a former member.

4 hours agovideocam

South Korean police officers bar entry to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Daegu after a coronavirus outbreak in 2020. Photo: Yonhap/EPA-EFE

Politics

Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia plan defence deal to counter chaos in Middle East

Iran’s neighbours are worried that the US’ increasingly erratic behaviour may pose a risk to regional power balance and trade, analysts say.

3 hours agovideocam

People

Malaysian man arrested for forcing son, 10, to shoplift regularly

The case has sparked widespread outrage on social media and cast the spotlight on causes of child abuse.

6 hours agovideocam

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Politics

South Korea’s Yoon sentenced to 5 years in prison over martial law charges

The ruling comes days after prosecutors in a separate case demanded Yoon Suk-yeol be sentenced to death for masterminding insurrection.

2 hours agovideocam

Supporters of South Korea’s former president Yoon Suk-yeol gather in front of the Seoul Central District Court on Friday. Photo: AFP

Health & Environment

Philippines’ Cebu residents cry foul over mounting garbage, health risks

The fatal collapse of a garbage landfill in Cebu has also exposed lax enforcement and poor waste management.

3 hours ago

Economics

Japan’s next-generation fighter jet project gets boost as European rival stalls

Germany, France and Spain have put their project on hold, prompting speculation that some may turn to the Japan-UK-Italy programme.

16 Jan 2026 - 9:37AM

Politics

Asean urged to rethink stance as Myanmar election risks normalising junta rule

The bloc should encourage Indonesia’s approach of engaging key stakeholders in efforts to resolve the Myanmar crisis, observers say.

15 Jan 2026 - 6:36PM

An official of the Union Election Commission displays a ballot for counting during the second phase of the general election at a polling station in Yangon, Myanmar, on Sunday. Photo: Xinhua

Economics

‘Trump’s wrath’: India’s aim to diversify trade via Iran faces tariff threat

The 25 per cent tariff against countries that trade with Iran may curtail India’s plan to develop the Chabahar port in Iran.

16 Jan 2026 - 1:01AMvideocam

Officials attend a ceremony in 2019 to mark the first export convoy to India via Iran at Chabahar port. Photo: Getty Images

Politics

Singapore’s PM Lawrence Wong removes Pritam Singh as Leader of the Opposition

Wong invites the Workers’ Party to nominate another elected MP to serve as the next Leader of the Opposition.

15 Jan 2026 - 8:04PM

Politics

Token gesture? Why US is spending US$45 million on Thai-Cambodian border war

Washington is looking to reposition itself as the main peacemaker in Southeast Asia following Beijing’s mediation successes, analysts say.

15 Jan 2026 - 6:26PMvideocam

Lifestyle & Culture

X marks the bot: Malaysia says Grok ban may be lifted if it is proven to be safe

Though X has deactivated several prompts, more changes need to be made to ensure the site’s safety, Malaysia’s communications minister says.

15 Jan 2026 - 4:28PM

Health & Environment

Thai PM moves to strip scandal-hit firm of contracts after second deadly accident

Amid public anger, PM Anutin issued an order to end two contracts and blacklist Italian-Thai Development after two crane disasters killed 34 people.

15 Jan 2026 - 9:49PMvideocam

A crushed car sits among the debris after a crane collapses at the under-construction Rama II Expressway on Thursday. Photo: Xinhua

Economics

Pakistan’s arms deals cleared for take-off as orders soar for JF-17 jets

The jets, co-produced with China, proved their worth during the India-Pakistan tensions, when they destroyed an S-400 air defence system.

16 Jan 2026 - 11:12AMvideocam

Economics

Trump’s 500% tariff push raises risk of India-US trade freeze

Such punitive tariffs would erode India’s export competitiveness and force the country to reorient its trade elsewhere, analysts warn.

15 Jan 2026 - 5:03PM

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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.

10 Jan 2026 - 8:52AM

Shoppers walk along a street illuminated with decorative lights ahead of New Year celebrations in Bengaluru, India, last month. Photo: AFP

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.

3 Jan 2026 - 10:47AM

Economics

Thailand’s tourism crown slips as troubles in paradise mount

Border clashes with Cambodia, fierce competition from Malaysia, deadly floods and a strong baht threaten the kingdom’s holiday appeal.

21 Dec 2025 - 12:33PM

Economics

As Southeast Asia’s middle classes lose their homes, the rich get sky garages

As wealthy buyers seek penthouses with living-room supercar parking, struggling families battle banks to keep a roof overhead.

10 Jan 2026 - 8:59AMvideocam

Illustration: Huy Truong

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LATEST Asia NEWS

Southeast Asia

Malaysia rules 15-year-old fit to stand trial in 2025 murder of Yap Shing Xuen

4 hours ago

Yap Shing Xiuen, 16, was found dead in a school toilet in Malaysia on October 14, stabbed more than 200 times from her neck to thigh, according to her mother. Photo: Facebook

Politics

French ‘intimacy’: Philippines, France near deal for Indo-Pacific strength

2 hours agovideocam

Philippine Navy personnel aboard BRP Miguel Malvar during a naval exercise in the South China Sea in August 2025. Photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines, Public Affairs Office via AP

Politics

Why India is losing ground over Bangladesh and Myanmar to regional rivals

2 hours agovideocam

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets then Bangladeshi leader Sheikh Hasina before a meeting in New Delhi on June 22, 2024. Photo: AP

People

Malaysia’s Umno chief denies he ‘sidelined’ Najib to save himself

2 hours agovideocam

Umno President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi reacts after being acquitted of corruption on September 4, 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE

Banking & Finance

HSBC reviews Singapore insurance unit amid high Hong Kong, mainland China growth

2 hours ago

People take photos of the Merlion statue in the Marina Bay area in Singapore on June 30, 2020. Photo: AP Photo

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I Gusti Bagus Dharma Agastia

Asian Angle | Indonesia’s digital 2045 ambition rests on a fragile seabed spine

I Gusti Bagus Dharma Agastia

11 Jan 2026 - 11:00AM

Opinion | From memes to the streets: Gen Z’s fight back against corruption

Amani Braa

10 Jan 2026 - 4:00PM

Asian Angle | How uneven borders fuel Myanmar’s vast and resilient scam economy

Xu Peng

4 Jan 2026 - 1:00PM

Asian Angle | Bangladesh needs ‘structural’ change, but how will it get there?

Kamal Ahmad

3 Jan 2026 - 4:00PM

Asian Angle | Sabah’s election proves Malaysians want results, not slogans

Arnold Puyok

21 Dec 2025 - 10:30AM

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Filipino fishermen worry about Chinese nature reserve in disputed waters

Filipino fishermen worry about Chinese nature reserve in disputed waters

Centenarian becomes oldest person to climb Mount Fuji

Centenarian becomes oldest person to climb Mount Fuji

Cambodia unveils new Chinese-built airport

Cambodia unveils new Chinese-built airport

Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra to serve 1 year in jail

Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra to serve 1 year in jail

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TRENDING TOPICS

The Philippines

South China Sea

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MOST POPULAR

1

Philippine tourism chief’s magazine cover draws backlash as visitor numbers slip

12 Jan 2026 - 8:48PM

2

Malaysian petrol station operators fume as foreign fuel cheats go unpunished

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3

System failure at Malaysia-Singapore border leaves thousands stranded

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4

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5

Bali’s toughest tourism proposal yet: checking foreign visitors’ bank accounts

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