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Asia

This Week in Asia

Indonesians walk on a pedestrian bridge in Jakarta. Photo: EPA-EFE

Lifestyle & Culture

Top of the world: why Indonesian workers are happiest in Asia-Pacific

While a survey shows that 82 per cent of Indonesian workers are happy, it also flags increasing burnout among them.

2 hours ago

Inside the coconut cartel: how Chinese money squeezes Thai farmers

15 Mar 2026 - 10:30AM

Southeast Asia’s scam compound survivors suffer in stigma and silence

15 Mar 2026 - 8:00AMvideocam

Politics

Graft and gridlock: in Anwar’s Malaysia, reformist cracks widen

Malaysia’s prime minister can’t pass his own reform bills. His coalition appears to be cracking – and time is running out.

14 Mar 2026 - 10:30AM

Illustration: Huy Truong

People

No longer safe: Iran war puts 9 million Indian workers in the line of fire

As missiles fly, drone strikes from Dubai to Doha are shattering the illusion of safety for millions of Indian expats living in the Gulf.

14 Mar 2026 - 4:00PMvideocam

Economics

Why the Iran war marks a turning point for Gulf-Asia trade

The closure of the Middle East’s important straits – Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb – is forcing Gulf and Asian nations to explore other options.

4 hours agovideocam

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Economics

Beyond Pax Silica: Japan, France and Canada seek rare earth autonomy

Wary of both Beijing’s grip and Washington’s whims, three G7 allies are charting their own independent critical mineral course.

14 Mar 2026 - 8:01AM

French President Emmanuel Macron shakes hand with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Paris, France, last year. Photo: EPA-EFE

Southeast Asia

Prabowo ‘surprised’ by Iran war, says US bombing won’t spark regime change

The president says he does not see any ‘rationality’ in the military campaign, urging all sides to ‘look for the peaceful option’ to end the war.

3 hours agovideocam

Economics

Malaysian scammers in Singapore pivot to cash handover as online curbs tighten

The warning by Singapore police comes as government official impersonation scams continue to surge in the city state.

14 Mar 2026 - 3:17PMvideocam

East Asia

More than 2,000 Marines leave Japan for Middle East as Iran war intensifies

Trump has ordered the Okinawa-based 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and Tripoli assault ship to be redeployed to the Persian Gulf.

14 Mar 2026 - 12:52PMvideocam

US Marines take part in amphibious assault training as part of the Cobra Gold joint military exercise in Thailand on February 26. Photo: EPA

East Asia

Trump tells South Korea he is only leader who can break North Korean deadlock

Trump was interested to know if North Korea’s Kim Jong-un would be open to meeting him, South Korean prime minister said.

14 Mar 2026 - 9:47AM

President Donald Trump meets North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the demilitarised zone separating the two Koreas on June 30, 2019. Photo: Reuters

South Asia

Afghan Taliban’s drone attacks on civilians ‘crossed red line’, Pakistan warns

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari says the administration in Kabul has brought ‘grave consequences upon itself’.

14 Mar 2026 - 9:30PM

Southeast Asia

Malaysian businessman releases photo to show officers drew guns during raid

Malaysia’s anti-corruption agency has denied that its officers pointed a weapon at Albert Tei’s head during his arrest.

13 Mar 2026 - 2:03PM

Health & Environment

‘Death is a release’: Indian parents win right to grant son a dignified death

Harish Rana was comatose and bedridden for over a decade. Now, the Supreme Court has ruled that his ‘endless misery’ can finally end.

13 Mar 2026 - 8:23PM

Harish Rana, an engineering student, has been in a vegetative state for the last 13 years after falling from the fourth floor of his hostel. Photo: Handout

Politics

Australia walks ‘very fine line’ with Gulf deployment amid Iran war

Analysts say the defensive deployment reflects Canberra’s attempt to balance alliance pressure with fears of deeper involvement in the conflict.

13 Mar 2026 - 4:43PMvideocam

A Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft (top left) flying over airspace in the Northern Territory of Australia. Photo: Australian Defence Force/AFP

Economics

Malaysia’s fuel subsidy bill to rise more than fourfold as Iran war drags on

The government will spend about US$812.8 million a month to maintain the price of subsidised petrol and diesel in the short term.

13 Mar 2026 - 6:30PMvideocam

Health & Environment

‘Quite severe’: coastal erosion threatens future of Bali’s famed Kuta Beach

Experts warn extreme weather and decades of coastal development on the resort island have worsened the situation.

13 Mar 2026 - 5:35PMvideocam

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Politics

Graft and gridlock: in Anwar’s Malaysia, reformist cracks widen

Malaysia’s prime minister can’t pass his own reform bills. His coalition appears to be cracking – and time is running out.

14 Mar 2026 - 10:30AM

Illustration: Huy Truong

People

‘It’s inevitable’: Singapore’s workers brace for AI disruption

The city state wants 100,000 workers to become ‘AI bilingual’. But with entry-level roles already vanishing, time may not be on its side.

11 Mar 2026 - 12:24PMvideocam

Politics

Build fast, grow rich: To Lam’s blueprint for a rising Vietnam

Vietnam’s Communist Party chief is staking his legacy on 10 per cent growth, domestic megaprojects and an overseas charm offensive.

1 Mar 2026 - 8:00AM

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.

14 Feb 2026 - 4:03PMvideocam

Image: Kevin Wong

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Highlights from

THIS WEEK IN ASIA

Lifestyle & Culture

Top of the world: why Indonesian workers are happiest in Asia-Pacific

2 hours ago

Indonesians walk on a pedestrian bridge in Jakarta. Photo: EPA-EFE

Economics

Inside the coconut cartel: how Chinese money squeezes Thai farmers

15 Mar 2026 - 10:30AM

Thai coconut farmer Lamduan Haochareon. Photo: Aidan Jones

People

Southeast Asia’s scam compound survivors suffer in stigma and silence

15 Mar 2026 - 8:00AMvideocam

Detained scam centre workers are seen after a raid on a compound in Myanmar’s eastern Myawaddy township last year. Photo: AFP

Politics

Graft and gridlock: in Anwar’s Malaysia, reformist cracks widen

14 Mar 2026 - 10:30AM

Illustration: Huy Truong

People

No longer safe: Iran war puts 9 million Indian workers in the line of fire

14 Mar 2026 - 4:00PMvideocam

A worker assesses the damage after a drone strike on a building in Dubai’s Creek Harbour neighbourhood on Thursday. Photo: Getty Images/AFP

MORE IN This Week in Asia

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Barbora Valockova

Opinion | Underwater and unprotected: why Asean and the EU must secure subsea lifelines

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Ram Manikkalingam

Opinion | US attack on IRIS Dena shows that wars know no borders

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15 Mar 2026 - 8:20AM

Opinion | Myanmar’s junta staged an election. It couldn’t stage legitimacy

14 Mar 2026 - 12:00PM

Brian Y. S. Wong

Opinion | Hong Kong can play vital part in boosting crucial Sino-India relations

Brian Y. S. Wong

14 Mar 2026 - 12:16PM

Opinion | US-Israeli war on Iran makes a mockery of global governance rules

Andrew Sheng

13 Mar 2026 - 8:30PM

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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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