Asia

This Week in Asia

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman Tarique Rahman waves to crowds from a vehicle after his arrival in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

South Asia

Aspiring Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman welcomed home after 17 years abroad

The political heavyweight is to lead the BNP through an election after ex-premier Sheikh Hasina’s exit following a student-led uprising.

25 Dec 2025 - 5:46PMvideocam

With 1MDB verdict due, will Malaysia’s Najib have to ‘prepare for the worst’?

25 Dec 2025 - 7:15PM

Duopoly of Air India, IndiGo to face challenge from 2 new airlines

25 Dec 2025 - 5:43PM

People

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 - 2:53PMvideocam

Filipino policemen (from left) Jeremiah Pereda, Arnel Oares and Jerwin Cruz attend a Senate inquiry in Pasay City on August 24, 2017. Photo: EPA

Southeast Asia

‘Starting anew’: Indonesians in flood-struck Sumatra hold Christmas mass

Many in the congregation are still sheltering at evacuation sites after the fatal disaster wreaked havoc on the island four weeks ago.

25 Dec 2025 - 5:03PMvideocam

People

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

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Economics

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

The central business district in Singapore. Official data showed the unemployment rate of residents aged below 30 was 5.5 per cent in September. Photo: Reuters

Lifestyle & Culture

Hair-raising: Malaysia arrests 2 over video of man in headscarf drinking alcohol

The pair are being investigated for causing religious disharmony and misusing social media.

25 Dec 2025 - 11:41AM

Politics

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

Health & Environment

Seeking climate justice: Indonesian fishermen’s case against Holcim to proceed

The lawsuit states that Holcim has ‘significantly contributed to climate change with its massive CO2 emissions’.

25 Dec 2025 - 8:00AM

Edi Mulyono and Asmania, two of four plaintiffs who have filed a lawsuit against cement company Holcim for its role in climate change, stand in front of Holcim’s Eclepens cement plant in 2023. Photo: Lorenz Kumme/HEKS/EPER

Politics

Najib’s children lament Malaysian court ruling – ‘we thought he was coming home’

The ex-prime minister has lost his case to have his imprisonment commuted to house arrest based on a supposed royal decree.

24 Dec 2025 - 4:57PM

A supporter of former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak wears a t-shirt displaying Razak’s face at the Federal Court in Putrajaya, Malaysia, in August. Photo: EPA

People

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

East Asia

Coupang’s massive data leak probe ignites US-Seoul diplomatic firestorm

Some Republicans said Seoul’s investigation into the e-commerce firm was an attempt to favour China.

25 Dec 2025 - 3:46PM

Politics

Not for cars: Philippine fugitive accused of building ‘cash basement’

Zaldy Co, who is on the run, has been accused of being involved in the flood-control corruption scandal.

24 Dec 2025 - 5:55PMvideocam

Anti-corruption prosecutors in the Philippines have accused Zaldy Co, a former congressman, and others of defrauding the state through “ghost” and substandard flood-control projects. Photo: Captured off YouTube

Southeast Asia

‘Nothing has changed’: safety gaps, old facilities hobble Malaysian tourism

‘We must clean this up. Tourists must feel safe and happy so they leave with good memories of Malaysia,’ Tourism Minister Tiong says.

25 Dec 2025 - 8:55AM

People look at Kuala Lumpur’s skyline from an observation deck in the Malaysian capital. Photo: Reuters

Australasia

Australia probes after car with Hanukkah sign torched in Christmas Day attack

The vehicle was scorched by the ‘suspicious fire’ while parked in a house driveway in Melbourne.

25 Dec 2025 - 12:07PMvideocam

Health & Environment

Thai marines rescue starving lions, bears from Cambodian border casino

Officials say the two lions, two Asiatic black bears and one sun bear suffered from underfeeding and prolonged neglect at Thmor Dar Casino.

24 Dec 2025 - 6:20PM

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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

Illustration: Huy Truong

Economics

Southeast Asia’s rich buy sky garages while the middle class lose their homes

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

15 Dec 2025 - 3:32PMvideocam

Health & Environment

6 cyclones, 5 weeks: Philippines can’t escape its endless cycle of disaster

Corruption, complacency and climate chaos conspire to turn the Philippines’ natural hazards into man-made tragedies.

6 Dec 2025 - 8:17AMvideocam

Politics

‘It’s time for us to rise’: India races to rebuild its lost maritime muscle

India is eyeing a future as a leading shipping and shipbuilding nation, backed by big investments – and expertise from South Korea and Japan.

30 Nov 2025 - 5:12PM

Illustration: Huy Truong

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Highlights from

THIS WEEK IN ASIA

People

With 1MDB verdict due, will Malaysia’s Najib have to ‘prepare for the worst’?

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

Economics

Duopoly of Air India, IndiGo to face challenge from 2 new airlines

25 Dec 2025 - 5:43PM

Aircrafts queue up on the tarmac before taking off at Mumbai airport. Photo: AFP

People

Red, white and Blue: Indonesia lodges complaint over porn star’s flag stunt

25 Dec 2025 - 3:48PM

Bonnie Blue pins the Indonesian flag to the back of her dress, causing it to drag on the ground. Photo: Instagram

People

Philippine court upholds murder verdict in Duterte’s drug war case

25 Dec 2025 - 2:53PMvideocam

Filipino policemen (from left) Jeremiah Pereda, Arnel Oares and Jerwin Cruz attend a Senate inquiry in Pasay City on August 24, 2017. Photo: EPA

Lifestyle & Culture

Hair-raising: Malaysia arrests 2 over video of man in headscarf drinking alcohol

25 Dec 2025 - 11:41AM

Malaysian police have arrested two people over a video showing a man in a headscarf drinking alcohol. Photo: Shutterstock

MORE IN This Week in Asia

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Opinion | Seoul holds the key to US-North Korea denuclearisation talks

25 Dec 2025 - 5:30AM

Albert Bakhtizin

Opinion | Forget the US dollar. Watch water and energy resources instead

Albert Bakhtizin

23 Dec 2025 - 9:30AM

David Tingxuan Zhang

Opinion | Why China has moved to curb steel exports

David Tingxuan Zhang

23 Dec 2025 - 7:49AM

Mohammed Sinan Siyech

Opinion | As UK universities lose prestige, Asian institutions stand to benefit

Mohammed Sinan Siyech

22 Dec 2025 - 9:37PM

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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