Asia

This Week in Asia

US Navy officers stand aboard a Virginia-class fast-attack submarine in Western Australia in February. Photo: AFP

East Asia

US to grant Seoul exception on nuclear submarine fuel supply

Seoul to formalise right to build nuclear-powered submarines via Aukus-style waiver requiring approval from Trump and US Congress.

24 Dec 2025 - 6:34PM

Indian doctor suspended, charged after allegedly assaulting patient

24 Dec 2025 - 7:35PM

Thai marines rescue starving lions, bears from Cambodian border casino

24 Dec 2025 - 6:20PM

Southeast Asia

Thailand’s Anutin named PM candidate for ‘consequential’ February poll

Caretaker leader Anutin Charnvirakul named Bhumjaithai’s PM candidate, banking on nationalism and Cambodia tensions to win election.

24 Dec 2025 - 6:39PMvideocam

Thailand’s caretaker PM Anutin Charnvirakul reacts at a Bangkok event on Wednesday while unveiling policies ahead of February’s general election. Photo: Reuters

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

Economics

India’s new law to fuel energy needs, drive nuclear power growth

The new law, which will end years of near-exclusive state control, could unlock stalled investment and boost nuclear capacity, analysts say.

24 Dec 2025 - 5:35PMvideocam

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United States & Canada

Trump’s US$100,000 H-1B visa fee upheld by judge, as lottery system ends

The US awards 85,000 H-1B visas annually via lottery, with Indian nationals accounting for nearly three-quarters of recipients.

24 Dec 2025 - 8:42PM

US President Donald Trump displays an executive order creating the “Trump Gold Card” and introducing a fee of US$100,000 for H-1B visas in the Oval Office in September. Photo: TNS

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

Lifestyle & Culture

South Korean webtoon slammed for heroine resembling Kim Jong-un’s daughter Ju-ae

Critics say the romantic comedy ‘Princess Goes to School’ risks softening perceptions of North Korea’s regime.

24 Dec 2025 - 4:53PMvideocam

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

Economics

India’s gem exports defy US tariffs as Asia, Middle East demand grows

Shipments rose 19.64 per cent year on year to US$2.51 billion in November, reflecting a successful diversification push, analysts say.

24 Dec 2025 - 4:00PMvideocam

A salesman checks the quality of a diamond necklace through a magnifier at a jewellery store in Chennai. India is the world’s largest exporter of diamonds due to its dominance in gem cutting and polishing. Photo: AFP

Lifestyle & Culture

Singapore’s athletes debate on funding after official’s ‘come to party’ review

The debate was prompted by a sports official’s underwhelming assessment of Singapore’s performance in athletics at the recent SEA Games.

24 Dec 2025 - 3:17PM

Health & Environment

‘Worse than the tsunami’ – Indonesia’s Aceh residents traumatised by flooding

A month after the disaster, residents are still struggling to recover as anger against Jakarta’s slow rescue response mounts.

24 Dec 2025 - 11:00AMvideocam

East Asia

‘Juicy, delicious’ and sold out: culled bear meat sparks Japan feeding frenzy

‘With news about bears growing, the number of customers who want to eat their meat has increased a lot,’ an eatery owner says.

24 Dec 2025 - 3:15PMvideocam

People eat bear meat hot pot at a restaurant in Chichibu, Japan’s Saitama prefecture. Photo: AFP

Politics

Yoon’s ex-aides express ‘disbelief’ over South Korean martial law plan

The two aides’ testimonies give a rare insight into the thinking of the former president, who is charged with leading the ‘insurrection’.

24 Dec 2025 - 8:00AMvideocam

Soldiers try to enter the National Assembly building in Seoul, after then South Korea president Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law on December 3, 2024. Photo: AFP

Politics

Why Malaysian court ruling against Najib is dividing Anwar’s coalition

A comment by a DAP member that is perceived as celebrating Najib’s legal setback has been slammed by Umno’s leaders.

23 Dec 2025 - 4:48PM

Southeast Asia

Business class thief jailed after targeting Singapore Airlines passengers

The prosecution said Chinese national Liu Ming’s act was financed by a criminal syndicate.

24 Dec 2025 - 9:17AM

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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

Indian doctor suspended, charged after allegedly assaulting patient

24 Dec 2025 - 7:35PM

Screenshot from a video filmed by an attendant at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital on Monday showing a masked doctor punching a man lying on a bed. Photo: X

Health & Environment

Thai marines rescue starving lions, bears from Cambodian border casino

24 Dec 2025 - 6:20PM

Two bears found caged inside a Cambodian casino were later rescued by Thai marines. Photo: Facebook/DNP1362

Politics

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

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

Economics

India’s new law to fuel energy needs, drive nuclear power growth

24 Dec 2025 - 5:35PMvideocam

Fishermen tether a boat on the shore near the Madras Atomic Power Station at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu, India. Photo: AP

Politics

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

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

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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

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