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This Week in Asia
An Indian rickshaw puller drinks from a plastic bottle during a hot afternoon in Kolkata, India, on March 27. Photo: EPA-EFE

South Asia

India’s hotter-than-usual weather may strain power networks, put crops at risk

India is facing an unusually hot April, risking wheat crop damage and straining power grids, with record electricity demand and potential diesel shortages.

Japan warns up to 298,000 could die in potential Nankai Trough ‘megaquake’

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Bangladesh’s ‘remittance warriors’ deliver record US$3 billion boost

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Southeast Asia

Eid celebrations in Indonesia and India face economic and political challenges

Eid ul-Fitr in Indonesia sees subdued celebrations due to soaring prices and economic strain, while Indian Muslims face political challenges amid festivities.

A balloon vendor waits for customers at the site where Indonesian Muslims perform Eid al-Fitr prayers, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Jakarta on March 31. Photo: AFP
A balloon vendor waits for customers at the site where Indonesian Muslims perform Eid al-Fitr prayers, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Jakarta on March 31. Photo: AFP

People

Myanmar diaspora rallies for quake victims with 1 rule: do not help the junta

Those living overseas have urged international donors not to send aid via the junta, saying the military will weaponise relief efforts to increase exploitation.

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Southeast Asia

More than 700 Muslims among Myanmar quake fatalities

Some 60 mosques were damaged or destroyed when the 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck at Friday prayer time.

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Southeast Asia

Duterte’s lawyer says ICC case ‘a kidnapping’, has grounds to throw out case

Duterte’s lawyer called for the ICC case to be dismissed, citing the Philippines’ withdrawal, and labelled Duterte’s detention a “political hit job”.

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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gesturing as he delivers his state of the nation address at Congress in Manila. Photo: AFP
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gesturing as he delivers his state of the nation address at Congress in Manila. Photo: AFP

Health & Environment

‘The sooner, the better’: Bali governor wants island waste-free by 2027

A sustainable waste management facility which can convert rubbish to energy is in the works for the resort island.

Health & Environment

Japan to spend a record US$133 billion on earthquake resilience

One focus will be on strengthening essential services affected by recent disasters, such as the Noto Peninsula earthquake last January.

Economics

Chicken on credit? Debt trap fears in Malaysia over deferred payment schemes

Lack of safeguards against multiple Buy Now, Pay Later borrowings could lead to surging indebtedness among low-income earners, consumer group warns.

A woman shops at a wet market in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Food prices rose 2.5 per cent in February, according to government data. Photo: Reuters

Australasia

‘We’re keeping an eye on this’: Australia tracks hi-tech Chinese research ship

‘I would prefer that it wasn’t there’, Australian PM Anthony Albanese said on Monday of the ship, which recently visited New Zealand.

Australian servicemen use binoculars to scan the ocean in 2014. Australian media described the Chinese vessel as a hi-tech research ship. Photo: Australian Defence Force/AFP
Australian servicemen use binoculars to scan the ocean in 2014. Australian media described the Chinese vessel as a hi-tech research ship. Photo: Australian Defence Force/AFP

Economics

Can Danantara deliver? Indonesia’s sovereign fund vows to be ‘super transparent’

Investment chief Pandu Sjahrir is confident the new sovereign wealth fund can overcome market jitters and keep political meddling at bay.

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Lifestyle & Culture

‘Glassman’ jailed: PNG hopes ruling can curb tribal sorcery violence

After a horrific machete killing, a landmark ruling in Papua New Guinea aims to curb deadly sorcery accusations driven by jealousy and greed.

East Asia

In South Korea, the elderly risk their lives fighting wildfires for US$50 a day

More than seven in 10 of South Korea’s seasonal wildfire fighters are aged 60 or older. This month’s wildfires claimed some of their lives.

A firefighter in Andong, South Korea, sprays water on a thatched roof in preparation for an approaching wildfire on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

People

Chasing Jho Low: blockchain bounty breathes new life into hunt for 1MDB fugitive

Can a memecoin help uncover Jho Low’s whereabouts? New evidence is surfacing about the scandal, thanks to a crypto reward system.

An undated photo surfaced by the ‘WhereIsJho’ project and shared on social media shows Jho Low in Las Vegas in 2013 or 2014. Photo: X/whereisjho
An undated photo surfaced by the ‘WhereIsJho’ project and shared on social media shows Jho Low in Las Vegas in 2013 or 2014. Photo: X/whereisjho

Politics

AIKEYME in action: India counters China with African naval outreach

India’s naval diplomacy focuses on building trust and offering a ‘non-coercive’ alternative to China’s investments, analysts say.

People

Is Duterte’s ‘capable’ daughter reshaping her image for a 2028 presidential run?

Showcasing a kinder image to overseas Filipinos, Sara Duterte-Carpio appears to be positioning herself for a future presidential bid.

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Politics

What Duterte’s downfall means for Marcos – and the Philippines

Ex-president Duterte is behind bars in The Hague and his daughter is fighting for political survival. But don’t discount a comeback in 2028.

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Rodrigo Duterte pictured at an Asean summit in 2019 while still president of the Philippines. Photo: Reuters
Rodrigo Duterte pictured at an Asean summit in 2019 while still president of the Philippines. Photo: Reuters

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.

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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?

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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.

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Illustration: Huy Truong
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Highlights from
THIS WEEK IN ASIA

Politics

What Duterte’s downfall means for Marcos – and the Philippines

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Rodrigo Duterte pictured at an Asean summit in 2019 while still president of the Philippines. Photo: Reuters

Health & Environment

Japan warns up to 298,000 could die in potential Nankai Trough ‘megaquake’

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A wave approaches Miyako City from the Heigawa estuary in Iwate prefecture, Japan, after an earthquake struck the area on March 11, 2011. Photo: Reuters

People

Myanmar diaspora rallies for quake victims with 1 rule: do not help the junta

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People inspect the site of a damaged building in the aftermath of a 7-7-magnitude earthquake, in Mandalay, Myanmar, on Monday. Photo: Reuters

Health & Environment

‘The sooner, the better’: Bali governor wants island waste-free by 2027

Workers clean up a river filled with rubbish in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. Photo: EPA-EFE

Economics

Chicken on credit? Debt trap fears in Malaysia over deferred payment schemes

A woman shops at a wet market in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Food prices rose 2.5 per cent in February, according to government data. Photo: Reuters
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Aftershocks hamper rescue efforts in Myanmar and Thailand as earthquake death toll climbs
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