Asia

Australasia
East Asia
Southeast Asia
South Asia
This Week in Asia
Activists from the Baloch Students Council taking part in a protest demanding the release of Mahrang Baloch, in Lahore on Sunday. Photo: AFP

South Asia

Pakistan charges human rights, Baloch activist with ‘terrorism’

Mahrang Baloch, one of Pakistan’s most prominent human rights advocates, has long campaigned for the Baloch ethnic group.

India: quashing Volkswagen’s tax bill would be ‘catastrophic’

AI chatbots throw Singapore’s young people a mental health lifeline

Politics

‘Mission accomplished’: US-Philippines drills return in full battle mode

As 16,000 troops gear up for the 40th Balikatan, one Philippine general says he ‘doesn’t care’ how China reacts: ‘if they’re angry … good’.

videocam
22
US and Philippine troops conduct battle drills at Fort Magsaysay during last year’s Balikatan drills. Photo: US Army
US and Philippine troops conduct battle drills at Fort Magsaysay during last year’s Balikatan drills. Photo: US Army

Politics

Australia’s two-party system faces its biggest challenge yet: young people

Angry and frustrated young Australians want to make mainstream politicians ‘feel their hurt’ in this year’s election, observers say.

Southeast Asia

Singapore story ‘still being written’ as Lee Kuan Yew’s death anniversary marked

Lawrence Wong called on Singaporeans to ‘forge a brighter future worthy of the foundation’ laid by the late leader.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Lifestyle & Culture

In Malaysia, one chef’s daily grind preserves Melaka Peranakan food traditions

Sharon Ann De Souza’s mission is to preserve Malacca Peranakan cuisine, by embracing traditional methods in a modern world.

The ubiquitous Peranakan style udang masak lemak nenas, or prawn and pineapple stewed in a delectable coconut curry, paired with a flavour-packed nasi ulam or rice mixed with raw herbs. Photo: Joseph Sipalan
The ubiquitous Peranakan style udang masak lemak nenas, or prawn and pineapple stewed in a delectable coconut curry, paired with a flavour-packed nasi ulam or rice mixed with raw herbs. Photo: Joseph Sipalan

Lifestyle & Culture

Cosmetic cravings: Asia’s Gen Z risk it all to keep their youthful looks

Young Southeast Asians are running a gauntlet of bootleg botox, fake fillers and clandestine clinics in their quest to defy ageing.

videocam

Economics

Amid India’s trade blitz, New Zealand joins the race for a deal

New Delhi is simultaneously pursuing agreements with the UK and the EU, driven by export-led growth ambitions and concerns over US policies.

videocam

Politics

‘Scared of dark skin’ no more? Young Thais reject stigma as beauty norms evolve

With a new generation of Thais challenging biases and redefining beauty norms, fair skin’s once-unquestioned dominance appears to be fading.

videocam
Miss Thailand Anna Sueangam-Iam 2022 walks onstage at a Miss Universe contest. While some beauty pageants now celebrate more diverse aesthetics, Thailand’s most popular television shows still star fair-skinned leads. Photo: Getty Images/AFP

South Asia

Trump’s brand booms in Asia despite worldwide loathing

Two months after his frenetic return to the White House, Donald Trump’s brand has had mixed success worldwide.

People protest during a pro-Palestinian demonstration at the Trump Building in New York on Wednesday. Photo: AFP
People protest during a pro-Palestinian demonstration at the Trump Building in New York on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

South Asia

Leading human rights, Baloch advocate detained in Pakistan

Mahrang Baloch has long campaigned for the Baloch ethnic group, which alleges extrajudicial harassment, arrests and killings by Islamabad.

Southeast Asia

On This Day | Grief in Singapore as founding father Lee Kuan Yew dies – from the SCMP archive

Lee, 91, died after more than a month in hospital, leaving behind a country he transformed into a global city state within a generation.

videocam

East Asia

South Koreans rally as court prepares impeachment ruling

Despite predictions of a verdict by mid-March, the Constitutional Court has yet to rule, the longest deliberation in its history.

Protesters wave flags during a rally calling for impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol to step down, in Seoul on Saturday. Photo:AP

East Asia

Japanese stem cell research helps treat spinal injuries

Paralysis caused by serious spinal cord injuries affects more than 150,000 patients in Japan alone, with 5,000 new cases each year.

Stem cells illustrated in colour. Photo: Shutterstock
Stem cells illustrated in colour. Photo: Shutterstock

Southeast Asia

Australian tourist killed as boat capsizes off Indonesia’s Bali

The boat was travelling to Nusa Penida, a popular island near Bali, on Friday morning when it was hit by a large wave.

East Asia

Kim Jong-un pledges support for Russia in Ukraine war in talks with top official

Kim met with Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s Security Council secretary, just days after Moscow and Kyiv agreed in principle to a limited ceasefire in the conflict.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Lifestyle & Culture

Cosmetic cravings: Asia’s Gen Z risk it all to keep their youthful looks

Young Southeast Asians are running a gauntlet of bootleg botox, fake fillers and clandestine clinics in their quest to defy ageing.

videocam
Gen Z beauty seekers appear undeterred by harrowing tales of disfiguring infections, scarring and deaths caused by botulism. Photo: Shutterstock
Gen Z beauty seekers appear undeterred by harrowing tales of disfiguring infections, scarring and deaths caused by botulism. Photo: Shutterstock

Politics

How Singapore’s opposition hopes to loosen the PAP’s 66-year grip on power

The Workers’ Party aims to build on its gains. Tan Cheng Bock’s PSP is back in the fray, too. Can they chip away at the PAP’s supermajority?

14

Economics

Emas or gelap? Prabowo’s golden dream and Indonesia’s ‘dark’ realities collide

With a shrinking middle class, falling commodity prices and youth unemployment on the rise, experts warn of an economic paradox in the making.

videocam

Economics

Malaysia’s digital economy ambition faces disconnect in workplace and schools

The country’s workers are ill-equipped to meet the needs of the digital economy with AI threatening to leave them in the shade, analysts say.

videocam
Kuala Lumpur city skyline. Malaysia’s goal to become a digital economy faces challenges such as a shortage in skilled manpower. Photo: Shutterstock
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Highlights from
THIS WEEK IN ASIA

Lifestyle & Culture

Cosmetic cravings: Asia’s Gen Z risk it all to keep their youthful looks

videocam
Gen Z beauty seekers appear undeterred by harrowing tales of disfiguring infections, scarring and deaths caused by botulism. Photo: Shutterstock

Health & Environment

AI chatbots throw Singapore’s young people a mental health lifeline

Artificial intelligence chatbots have become a first line of defence for a generation struggling with their mental health. Photo: Shutterstock

Lifestyle & Culture

In Malaysia, one chef’s daily grind preserves Melaka Peranakan food traditions

The ubiquitous Peranakan style udang masak lemak nenas, or prawn and pineapple stewed in a delectable coconut curry, paired with a flavour-packed nasi ulam or rice mixed with raw herbs. Photo: Joseph Sipalan

Politics

Australia’s two-party system faces its biggest challenge yet: young people

School students attend a climate rally in Melbourne. For the first time, baby boomers will be outnumbered by millennials and Gen Z voters at Australia’s next federal elections. Photo: AFP

Politics

‘Mission accomplished’: US-Philippines drills return in full battle mode

videocam
22
US and Philippine troops conduct battle drills at Fort Magsaysay during last year’s Balikatan drills. Photo: US Army
MORE IN This Week in Asia
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
OPINION
Elisha M. Sonthra

Opinion | The gravity of ‘space oil’: understanding Hong Kong teens’ new drug of choice

Elisha M. Sonthra
Sundeep Waslekar

Opinion | A nuclear war started by AI sounds like science fiction. It isn’t

Anthony Rowley

Macroscope | Southeast Asia’s new arms race undermines its regional strengths

Anthony Rowley
Audrey Jiajia Li

Being Chinese | In Singapore, my children are freer to be happy than I was in China

Audrey Jiajia Li
John Pomeroy

Opinion | Asia is ground zero for the impact of global glacier loss

John Pomeroy
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
MULTIMEDIA
Video

Indian slums get cool roofs to beat summer heat

Indian slums get cool roofs to combat extreme heat
01:00
Video

Vietnam targets Chinese dolls over South China Sea ‘map’

Vietnam targets toys reportedly featuring South China Sea map used by Beijing
02:17
Video

Military bombs Myanmar village twice in one week

‘Killed on their way to the market’: Myanmar junta bombs village twice in a single week
01:55
Video

Freed Indonesians return from Myanmar

Hundreds of Indonesians rescued from Myanmar scam centres arrive home
03:02
Advertisement
Advertisement
TRENDING TOPICS
Singapore
Malaysia
South China Sea
The Philippines
Indonesia
Advertisement
Advertisement