Asia

This Week in Asia

A protester sets fire to the gate of the regional parliament building in Bandung, Indonesia, on Monday. Photo: Reuters

Southeast Asia

8 dead, 20 missing as Indonesia’s unrest escalates, more protests expected

Police have arrested 1,240 people in Jakarta since protests broke out last week over lavish perks for lawmakers.

1 hour agovideocam

North Korea’s Kim Jong-un signals nuclear clout to US before China visit

1 minute agovideocam

Will Thailand’s next PM be decided by the reformist opposition?

13 minutes agovideocam

East Asia

Explainer | What’s the rail truth behind North Korean leader Kim’s special green train?

North Korean rulers like to travel by the bulletproof train as it has more space for their large entourage, food and amenities, experts say.

5 hours ago

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un (left) departs from Pyongyang by special train to visit Beijing on Monday. Photo: KCNA/AFP

People

As pachinko’s crisis deepens, desperation spawns vote-buying scandal in Japan

Six executives of parlour operator accused of paying staff to vote for candidate in recent election, amid industry decline, economic pressures.

6 hours ago

Lifestyle & Culture

‘It’s in their DNA’: bribery probe convulses South Korea’s Unification Church

Investigators allege the church sought political favours in exchange for illicit campaign funds and gifts for ex-first lady Kim Keon-hee.

3 hours agovideocam

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East Asia

‘Good’: Elon Musk’s one-word endorsement of anti-immigration rally in Japan

The Tesla and SpaceX chief and former Trump adviser has been known to back far-right parties in other countries in the past.

3 hours ago

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk salutes the crowd in Washington, DC, on January 20. Photo: AFP

Southeast Asia

Sinking fund: Philippines lost up to US$2 billion in 2 years to flood corruption

Up to 70 per cent of government funds have gone down the drain from ‘ghost and poor-quality projects’, the finance secretary tells Senate.

24 minutes ago

Lifestyle & Culture

‘Have some respect’: US TV series draws flak for portrayal of Singapore

Social media users slam the crime drama’s misrepresentations of Singaporeans’ English skills, the city state and the PAP.

6 hours ago

People

Flood of anger: why Filipinos turn to social media to expose ‘nepo babies’

The spotlight on the lavish lifestyles of contractors’ and politicians’ kids comes amid Marcos’ order to investigate failed flood projects.

1 Sep 2025 - 12:07PMvideocam

Claudine Co is known for posting photos of her lavish lifestyle. Photo: Facebook/Claudine Co

Lifestyle & Culture

The Seoul shuffle: why foreigners are loving and leaving South Korea

Experts warn that rigid visa rules and a lack of anti-discrimination protections are creating barriers for newcomers.

1 Sep 2025 - 8:00AM

People walk through a crowded street in the Myeong-dong shopping district of Seoul on August 5. Photo: Reuters

Economics

India’s ‘dead economy’ growth hailed, but Trump’s tariffs pose risks

While the 7.8 per cent first-quarter growth is a positive sign, experts warn the impact of US tariffs could be felt later in the year.

1 Sep 2025 - 5:40PMvideocam

Politics

Legacy of courage: remembering Chinese diaspora’s WWII sacrifices

Chinese migrants in Southeast Asia helped build a united front and in the process created a new sense of identity in their adopted countries.

31 Aug 2025 - 9:15AM

Lifestyle & Culture

‘Families are breaking’: India bans real-money online gaming to fight addiction

India’s online gaming industry is reeling from a ban meant to curb addiction and suicides. Critics warn it could drive gambling underground.

31 Aug 2025 - 2:30PM

A bookmaker counts money at an archery club in Shillong, India, where men gamble on a game known simply as “shoot arrow”. Photo: AFP

East Asia

South Korean actress Go Min-si denies school bullying allegations

An online post alleged that a celebrity, speculated to be Go, had engaged in extortion, verbal abuse and harassment of disabled classmates.

1 Sep 2025 - 7:42AM

South Korean actress Go Min-si. Photo: Instagram / @gominsi

Politics

‘Not Nato only’: UK declares ‘new golden age’ of defence ties with Japan

Britain’s defence secretary made the remarks aboard a UK aircraft carrier on a historic first visit to Tokyo for a security forum.

30 Aug 2025 - 5:20PMvideocam

People

Kim Keon-hee’s corruption charge exposes South Korea’s cronyism culture

Prosecutors allege the former first lady abused her position as Yoon Suk-yeol’s wife to make US$740,000 from stock manipulation and bribes.

30 Aug 2025 - 10:05AMvideocam

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Politics

Will Singapore’s PAP rule forever?

The People’s Action Party may have found a lasting formula for governing, with Singaporeans wanting it to remain in power, analysts say.

30 Aug 2025 - 8:00AM

Supporters of the ruling People’s Action Party gather at a nomination centre in Singapore on April 23 ahead of the May 3 general election. The PAP has ruled Singapore for 66 years. Photo: EPA-EFE

Economics

Malaysia’s oil and gas future finds itself adrift in the South China Sea

Decades of underinvestment have left Malaysia’s armed forces ill-prepared to protect its vital oil and gas reserves.

25 Aug 2025 - 9:35AM

Economics

Southeast Asia’s pinched middle class abandons the dream of owning a home

Luxury flats are still being built, but a growing number of middle-class Southeast Asians are being squeezed out of the market.

19 Aug 2025 - 10:57AM

Economics

How a US$1.5 billion North Korean hack exposed Asia’s crypto weaknesses

The Bybit hack represented a new high-water mark for the Lazarus Group, ushering in a dangerous new era for Asia’s digital finance ecosystem.

9 Aug 2025 - 8:00AMvideocam

Illustration: Huy Truong

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Highlights from

THIS WEEK IN ASIA

Politics

Will Thailand’s next PM be decided by the reformist opposition?

13 minutes agovideocam

Demonstrators wearing accessories and face paint in the colours of Thailand’s national flag hold a sign reading ‘No prime minister from the Pheu Thai Party’ during a protest in Bangkok on Sunday. Photo: EPA

Politics

North Korea’s Kim Jong-un signals nuclear clout to US before China visit

1 minute agovideocam

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un inspecting an unnamed location in North Korea. Kim visited a research institute behind the development of ICBMs on Sunday, KCNA reported. Photo: KCNA/KNS/dpa

Lifestyle & Culture

‘It’s in their DNA’: bribery probe convulses South Korea’s Unification Church

3 hours agovideocam

Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja attends a mass wedding ceremony in April at Cheongshim Peace World Centre in Gapyeong, South Korea. Photo: AFP

People

As pachinko’s crisis deepens, desperation spawns vote-buying scandal in Japan

6 hours ago

A pachinko parlour in Asakusa. Pachinko’s popularity in Japan has declined since its heyday in the 1990s. Photo: Shutterstock

People

Why Philippines picked ‘results-driven reformer’ to stem flood corruption

2 Sep 2025 - 12:10AM

A car is seen partially submerged in floodwater during heavy rain in Quezon City, the Philippines, on Saturday. Photo: Xinhua

MORE IN This Week in Asia

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Opinion | What Southeast Asia needs to succeed in building local AI models

Elina Noor

2 Sep 2025 - 7:23AM

The View | Why South Korea and Japan are turning against foreign homebuyers

Nicholas Spiro

1 Sep 2025 - 4:30PM

Opinion | Multipolar arms race takes ballistic missile threat to new levels

Nigel Li

1 Sep 2025 - 8:20AM

Opinion | China, Southeast Asia and the shared legacy of anti-fascist struggle

Hou Yanqi

30 Aug 2025 - 11:00AM

Rioberto Sidauruk

Opinion | Indonesia’s Prabowo poised to offer world a new, pragmatic road map

Rioberto Sidauruk

31 Aug 2025 - 6:30AM

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Ear-splitting street parties in Indonesia declared ‘haram’

Ear-splitting street parties in Indonesia declared ‘haram’

Japan warns of Mount Fuji eruption with ‘alarmist’ simulation

volcanic warning

Drones clear rubbish on Mount Everest

Drone clear garbage

Indian villagers resist mega dam amid China water threat

india

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TRENDING TOPICS

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