https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/318215/feed Southeast Asia's latest news, current affairs, politics and regional issues. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Jim Au Yeung Jim Au Yeung A Singaporean woman pleaded guilty on Monday to conspiring with a friend and the friend’s boyfriend to abuse four-year-old Megan Khung, and helping to dispose of the child’s body after she died following months of abuse. Nouvelle Chua Ruoshi, 36, pleaded guilty to three charges, including conspiracy to commit child abuse, intentional disposal of a corpse and methamphetamine consumption, The Straits Times reported. Three further charges for conspiracy to commit child abuse will be considered when... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3372195/singaporean-woman-admits-conspiring-abuse-megan-khung-disposing-her-body https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3372195/singaporean-woman-admits-conspiring-abuse-megan-khung-disposing-her-body Mon, 26 Oct 2026 12:40:38 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran The Philippines faces the highest climate-driven port damage costs in Southeast Asia, with annual losses projected to hit US$70.2 billion by 2100, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has warned. Analysts say the damage could cripple supply chains, drive up food prices and threaten livelihoods, urging Manila to adopt a more coordinated approach to flood protection rather than simply strengthening port infrastructure. In its latest report titled “Asia-Pacific Climate Report 2026: Coastal Risks on the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3372185/climate-damage-philippine-ports-could-cost-us70b-year-2100 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3372185/climate-damage-philippine-ports-could-cost-us70b-year-2100 Mon, 26 Oct 2026 11:46:33 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk Indonesia has defended its decision to cut natural gas exports to Singapore, citing domestic electricity and industrial needs and arguing that the reduction remains within contractual limits. The cuts came days after Indonesia’s energy minister warned that his country could stop exports to nations that “did not respect” it. On Monday, Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia defended the reduction of 31 million standard cubic feet per day in pipeline gas exports to Singapore, saying it represented about... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3372181/indonesia-defends-singapore-gas-cuts-cites-rising-domestic-needs-and-contractual-limits https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3372181/indonesia-defends-singapore-gas-cuts-cites-rising-domestic-needs-and-contractual-limits Mon, 26 Oct 2026 10:44:13 +0000 Juan Fernando Herrera Ramos Juan Fernando Herrera Ramos For decades, China was one of the world’s largest sources of migrant labour. Its workers staffed factories at home and built infrastructure abroad. But demographic decline may eventually force China to contemplate a striking reversal: importing workers on a meaningful scale. That change is not imminent. China still has a vast labour force and substantial youth unemployment. It is investing heavily in industrial automation, extending working lives through a gradual increase in the retirement age,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3371970/china-may-well-be-next-big-competitor-asian-migrant-labour https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3371970/china-may-well-be-next-big-competitor-asian-migrant-labour Mon, 26 Oct 2026 08:30:08 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof A Malaysian ruler is demanding accountability over the mismanagement of a pilgrimage fund, after a government rescue package, criminal proceedings against former officials and half-hearted reforms have fuelled concerns about political influence in an institution entrusted with the savings of millions of the country’s Muslims. Tabung Haji holds the savings of more than 9.8 million depositors and helps Malaysian Muslims finance and undertake the pilgrimage to Mecca, a religious obligation for... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3372160/fed-malaysian-sultan-rebukes-scandal-hit-pilgrimage-fund-demands-accountability https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3372160/fed-malaysian-sultan-rebukes-scandal-hit-pilgrimage-fund-demands-accountability Mon, 26 Oct 2026 08:28:02 +0000 Ushar Daniele Ushar Daniele The death of a 21-year-old delivery rider at an underground gig in Malaysia, now being investigated as murder, has highlighted concerns over crowd safety and regulatory flaws in the country’s independent live music scene, industry players say. Police reclassified the case on Sunday, four days after the man died from head injuries sustained at the gig in the southern state of Melaka, where the event was reportedly held without the necessary permits and local authority approval. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3372143/suspected-murder-man-malaysian-underground-gig-raises-safety-concerns https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3372143/suspected-murder-man-malaysian-underground-gig-raises-safety-concerns Mon, 26 Oct 2026 06:53:49 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Singapore has expanded its investigation into haze-creating fires in Indonesia that have blanketed the city state in smog, requesting information from 10 locally registered companies. The National Environment Agency (NEA) sent notices seeking documents and details of land concessions in Indonesia owned by the firms, their firefighting and blaze prevention measures, and their relationship to other relevant companies, according to a Friday statement. All 10 Singapore-registered companies were... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3372103/singapores-toxic-haze-probe-expands-10-palm-oil-forestry-firms https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3372103/singapores-toxic-haze-probe-expands-10-palm-oil-forestry-firms Mon, 26 Oct 2026 01:45:49 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Philippine police are investigating a laptop found alongside images of child abuse at the former home of Meghan Markle’s estranged father, with “full results” expected in a week, the country’s interior minister has said. Thomas Markle, whose daughter is married to Britain’s Prince Harry, had been living in Cebu in the Philippines until reportedly returning to the US earlier this year. Philippine interior minister Jonvic Remulla said the country planned to take “appropriate legal actions” against... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3372089/philippines-plan-appropriate-legal-action-against-thomas-markle https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3372089/philippines-plan-appropriate-legal-action-against-thomas-markle Sun, 25 Oct 2026 15:26:17 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles Filipinos are almost evenly divided over the Marcos administration’s handling of the maritime dispute with China, even as nearly three in four favour diplomacy over confrontation, according to a new survey. That preference has taken on added significance after recent remarks by China’s ambassador to Manila sparked a diplomatic row ahead of November’s Asean summit. The feud underscored the challenge of managing tensions with Beijing, and increasingly hostile rhetoric could make the diplomatic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371980/filipinos-split-marcos-south-china-sea-handling-amid-row-over-jing-quans-remarks https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371980/filipinos-split-marcos-south-china-sea-handling-amid-row-over-jing-quans-remarks Sun, 25 Oct 2026 08:00:06 +0000 The Star The Star The tanker detained by Indonesian authorities that was used in an attempt to smuggle 1.16 tonnes of ketamine is owned by a Malaysian-registered company. Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department director Hussein Omar Khan said the two directors of the company that owns the MT Global 168 are Malaysians. He said the company’s office is located in Johor Bahru, Malaysia’s Johor state. According to Hussein, the tanker had previously applied for registration under the Malaysian flag but had... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3372054/malaysian-owned-tanker-carrying-us14-million-ketamine-seized-indonesia https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3372054/malaysian-owned-tanker-carrying-us14-million-ketamine-seized-indonesia Sun, 25 Oct 2026 06:00:02 +0000 Vincent Tan Vincent Tan Tran Dai Thang spotted two young people who had picked up their drinks at a pop-up cafe beside his travelling bookstore and were about to leave, so he called them over. One of them said they did not read books, Thang recalled. But he kept the conversation going and eventually persuaded the visitor to buy a book for 10,000 dong (US$0.40) – heavily discounted from its original price of 45,000 dong. For Thang, an artist and publisher, the small sale mattered far less than the fact that someone who... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3371941/novel-idea-thailand-vietnam-take-books-road-reading-drive https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3371941/novel-idea-thailand-vietnam-take-books-road-reading-drive Sun, 25 Oct 2026 05:00:09 +0000 CNA CNA Singapore expects all parties who have signed commercial contracts for gas supplies to “honour their commitments”, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Sunday after Indonesia cut its exports. Speaking at the People’s Action Party (PAP) convention, Wong added that Singapore’s gas importer will take the necessary steps to protect its rights and interests. Indonesia began reducing natural gas exports to Singapore on Saturday. Indonesia’s upstream oil and gas regulator SKK Migas said the move was to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3372048/singapore-tells-suppliers-honour-commitments-amid-indonesias-gas-cut https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3372048/singapore-tells-suppliers-honour-commitments-amid-indonesias-gas-cut Sun, 25 Oct 2026 03:38:07 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Singapore is turning to major technology firms to strengthen its cyber defences, even as it presses them for greater transparency over security breaches – a balancing act facing regional governments as they seek to harness artificial intelligence while guarding against the risks it introduces. Those risks were highlighted by an AI agent linked to OpenAI that gained unauthorised access to files on an Australian government website earlier this year, raising questions over how quickly companies... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371950/singapore-embraces-ai-cyber-defence-one-caveat-breach-transparency https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371950/singapore-embraces-ai-cyber-defence-one-caveat-breach-transparency Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:14 +0000 David Kim David Kim On October 18, Anthropic, the artificial intelligence (AI) laboratory preparing one of the largest listings in history, committed 5 per cent of its shares to a public benefit fund. The next day, Elon Musk promised one SpaceX share, next year, for “every kid in America” – about US$10.6 billion for some 73 million children. The offers differ in who holds the shares. Anthropic’s will sit in an entity the company owns, spent on the public’s behalf; Musk’s would land, by a route he has not explained,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3371822/how-share-ai-wealth-neither-us-nor-asia-has-answer https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3371822/how-share-ai-wealth-neither-us-nor-asia-has-answer Sat, 24 Oct 2026 21:30:06 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Indonesia cut exports of natural gas to Singapore on Saturday to prioritise domestic demand, an official said, with the two countries at loggerheads over regional air pollution emanating from wildfires on the vast archipelago. The head of SKK Migas, a state agency supervising the oil and gas sector, said Indonesia would cut a total of 31 million standard cubic feet per day from its supply to Singapore. Fifteen million standard cubic feet per day was being cut from Natuna in Indonesia’s Riau... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3372025/indonesia-cuts-gas-singapore-amid-borneo-sumatra-wildfire-haze https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3372025/indonesia-cuts-gas-singapore-amid-borneo-sumatra-wildfire-haze Sat, 24 Oct 2026 10:21:42 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Two Philippine air force planes collided during a training flight and crashed at an airbase south of Manila, killing all four pilots on board, Philippine officials said on Saturday. The two SF-260 aircraft collided while flying at a low altitude on Friday afternoon then crashed at Fernando Air Base in Lipa city in the coastal province of Batangas south of the capital. There were no injuries on the ground, the officials said. The air force did not provide details of what it called an accidental... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3372014/4-pilots-killed-mid-air-collision-philippine-military-planes https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3372014/4-pilots-killed-mid-air-collision-philippine-military-planes Sat, 24 Oct 2026 07:42:50 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran At this time of year, Fatima Ramos would normally be preparing her balikbayan boxes. Overseas Filipinos typically fill these boxes with gifts, clothes, food and household items to send to their loved ones back home in the Philippines for Christmas. Ramos has previously sent the tax-exempt parcels to her family and Philippine charity organisations from Abu Dhabi, where she is a domestic worker. Now back in the Philippines, Ramos is seeking answers about the parcels she sent last year, some of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3371982/overseas-filipinos-feel-heartache-over-missing-parcels-loved-ones-demand-answers https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3371982/overseas-filipinos-feel-heartache-over-missing-parcels-loved-ones-demand-answers Sat, 24 Oct 2026 04:00:20 +0000 Anand Mathai,Johannes Nugroho Anand Mathai,Johannes Nugroho When 35-year-old Bekasi resident Ika Kartika voted for Prabowo Subianto in Indonesia’s 2024 presidential election, she hoped the former general would restore a “Suharto-like” era of stability, when everyday essentials were affordable and life felt more predictable. Growing up, she had often heard her parents reminisce about the “good old days” under the late strongman, whose rule had brought a sense of order to their lives. Two years into his presidency, however, rising food prices have left Ika... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3371953/big-dreams-growing-pains-indonesia-prabowos-turbulent-2-years-power https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3371953/big-dreams-growing-pains-indonesia-prabowos-turbulent-2-years-power Sat, 24 Oct 2026 00:00:19 +0000 Reuters Reuters Authorities in the Philippines are investigating Thomas Markle, father of Meghan, the ⁠wife of Britain’s Prince ⁠Harry, the Philippine justice undersecretary said ⁠on Friday, after allegations he possessed child sexual abuse images. “Our Anti-Trafficking and Anti-OSAEC (online sexual abuse and exploitation of children) task force in Cebu is currently investigating the matter,” Nicholas Ty, Philippine justice undersecretary, said. Thomas Markle could not be immediately reached for comment but he... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3371976/meghan-markle-distressed-philippines-probes-father-over-child-sexual-abuse-images https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3371976/meghan-markle-distressed-philippines-probes-father-over-child-sexual-abuse-images Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:41:01 +0000 Vincent Tan Vincent Tan Fatimah Zainal had already paid for her flights and accommodation when videos of the unrest in France made her jittery about the Paris leg of her European holiday. “The videos definitely made me panic,” said Fatimah, who plans to visit the French capital solo from October 31 to November 3 after travelling through Belgium. The press officer for an international organisation said the Malaysian government’s travel advisory gave her second thoughts, and changing her flight would cost up to an... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371964/france-unrest-sparks-travel-jitters-southeast-asian-tourists https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371964/france-unrest-sparks-travel-jitters-southeast-asian-tourists Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:00:20 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Indonesia’s warnings of curbing energy exports to countries it deems disrespectful amid regional tensions have put Singapore and other Southeast Asian buyers on notice, exposing the risks of relying on a neighbour increasingly protective of its resources. On Thursday, Coordinating Minister for Downstreaming and Energy Transition Bahlil Lahadalia said he would not hesitate to consider halting exports to countries that did not respect Indonesia. “Don’t come asking for help only when you’re in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371967/what-indonesias-warnings-energy-cuts-mean-asean https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371967/what-indonesias-warnings-energy-cuts-mean-asean Fri, 23 Oct 2026 13:22:20 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The Philippine government put a bounty on Friday on the head of the top enforcer of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody anti-drug crackdown, nearly a year after the International Criminal Court (ICC) ordered his arrest. Former Philippine police chief and sitting Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa had mostly been in hiding for months before The Hague-based tribunal unsealed the November 2025 arrest warrant against him in May and put him into flight. The bounty comes just over a month before... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3371939/philippines-offers-us786000-bounty-dangerous-senator-wanted-icc https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3371939/philippines-offers-us786000-bounty-dangerous-senator-wanted-icc Fri, 23 Oct 2026 09:53:23 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran The Philippines is turning to the United States to build its oil stockpile amid the global energy crunch, with observers saying the move could also serve Washington’s military interests and deepen strategic ties. A bilateral deal could deliver more immediate benefits than a broader Asean stockpile, which would entail coordination hurdles, analysts said, but questions remain over how quickly Manila could establish such a reserve and whether it would meaningfully reduce long-term dependence on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371877/how-philippines-energy-crisis-opening-doors-deeper-us-military-ties https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371877/how-philippines-energy-crisis-opening-doors-deeper-us-military-ties Fri, 23 Oct 2026 09:00:07 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysia’s oil-rich Sarawak state will dissolve its assembly on Monday in a test of political strength for a powerful regional coalition whose support has become crucial to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government. Anwar is facing growing pressure following electoral setbacks for his own coalition in Peninsular Malaysia, while over in Borneo, ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) continues to press for greater autonomy and control over the state’s vast oil and gas resources. Sarawak Premier Abang... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371903/malaysias-oil-rich-sarawak-heads-polls-forcing-anwar-yet-another-federal-test https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371903/malaysias-oil-rich-sarawak-heads-polls-forcing-anwar-yet-another-federal-test Fri, 23 Oct 2026 07:51:10 +0000 Reuters Reuters The world’s oldest cave paintings on the Indonesian island ⁠of Sulawesi are under threat ⁠as heat and smoke from the ⁠country’s worst wildfires in more than a decade risk accelerating the deterioration of the more than 67,000-year-old works of art, according to researchers. Indonesia is battling its most intense forest and land fires since 2015 as a severe El Nino drives up temperatures and reduces ‌rainfall, leaving its forest and peatland vulnerable to fire. While the islands of Sumatra and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3371884/indonesian-wildfires-threaten-worlds-oldest-cave-paintings-sulawesi https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3371884/indonesian-wildfires-threaten-worlds-oldest-cave-paintings-sulawesi Fri, 23 Oct 2026 06:31:38 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan Embattled Negeri Sembilan chief minister Ismail Lasim has denied claims that he has resigned, as a constitutional crisis in the Malaysian state spiralled further following a move by his executive council to challenge their sacking by the state’s ruler in court. The state has been all but paralysed by a dispute that began in April over who has the right to sit on Negeri Sembilan’s throne, bringing down a state government aligned with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH)... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371866/i-am-not-resigning-embattled-leader-digs-malaysia-royal-crisis-deepens https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371866/i-am-not-resigning-embattled-leader-digs-malaysia-royal-crisis-deepens Fri, 23 Oct 2026 04:35:02 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The son of Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi said she sounded “fairly healthy” after speaking to the detained ex-democratic leader on Thursday for the first time in more than five years. Suu Kyi, 81, is under house arrest in the capital, Naypyidaw, according to Myanmar authorities, where she has been sequestered since being unseated in a 2021 military coup. “She was sounding fairly healthy,” Kim Aris, who lives in the UK, said after the telephone conversation. It was the first time he had spoken to his... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3371841/rare-suu-kyi-phone-call-son-signals-shift-myanmar-junta-strategy https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3371841/rare-suu-kyi-phone-call-son-signals-shift-myanmar-junta-strategy Fri, 23 Oct 2026 01:33:46 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran A wind energy partnership between Vietnam and Denmark has fuelled expectations of the Southeast Asian country boosting its competitiveness in renewable electricity to serve overseas and domestic markets. Vietnam is well placed to grow its renewable electricity sector by tapping its large pool of engineering talent and abundant wind resources with help from Denmark, a global leader in wind energy, according to analysts. On Tuesday, the two countries signed a comprehensive strategic partnership... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371827/vietnam-partners-denmark-propel-its-wind-energy-ambition https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371827/vietnam-partners-denmark-propel-its-wind-energy-ambition Fri, 23 Oct 2026 00:00:17 +0000 CNA CNA Organisations in Singapore have been urged to immediately fix two critical security flaws in a widely used programming language amid reports of widespread attempts by hackers to exploit the vulnerabilities. The flaws in PHP, which powers many websites and online services, could allow attackers to take control of web servers, steal data or disrupt services without needing login credentials, Singapore’s Commissioner of Cybersecurity Gwenda Fong said on Thursday. “The threat is immediate,” Fong,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3371820/singapore-pushes-quick-action-php-security-flaws-hackers-prowl https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3371820/singapore-pushes-quick-action-php-security-flaws-hackers-prowl Thu, 22 Oct 2026 13:58:28 +0000 Resty Woro Yuniar Resty Woro Yuniar Indonesia’s government has resisted mounting calls to declare widespread forest and land fires a national disaster, insisting it can handle the crisis alone as residents report worsening health impacts and disaster experts warn that a broader, coordinated response is needed. Critics suggest the reluctance may stem from concerns that a national declaration could force Jakarta to redirect funds from other political priorities, while exposing the administration to greater scrutiny over its disaster... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371793/indonesia-haze-why-jakarta-wont-declare-wildfires-national-disaster https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371793/indonesia-haze-why-jakarta-wont-declare-wildfires-national-disaster Thu, 22 Oct 2026 10:00:43 +0000 Johannes Nugroho Johannes Nugroho In the wake of Indonesia’s worst stock-market rout since the 1998 Asian financial crisis, President Prabowo Subianto’s administration has turned to appeals to economic nationalism to shore up confidence, urging citizens to rally behind the country’s battered stock market. The government has promised reforms in response to warnings from global index provider MSCI that Indonesia could be downgraded from emerging-market to stand-alone-market status. But analysts say its patriotic appeals will do... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371767/can-prabowos-economic-nationalism-save-indonesia-potential-msci-downgrade https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371767/can-prabowos-economic-nationalism-save-indonesia-potential-msci-downgrade Thu, 22 Oct 2026 08:00:14 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk As wildfires rage across Sumatra and Kalimantan, frustrated Indonesians are turning to performance art to call for greater government action and draw global attention to the destruction of both the country’s rainforests and rich cultural heritage. In South Sumatra, local art collective Jaga Api recently launched a project titled Tarian Kehancuran Budaya (the Dance of Cultural Destruction), using traditional performance to convey the human and environmental toll of the fires, as reported by The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3371773/indonesians-turn-eco-art-haze-sparks-anger-and-diplomatic-tension https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3371773/indonesians-turn-eco-art-haze-sparks-anger-and-diplomatic-tension Thu, 22 Oct 2026 07:59:54 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Australia and East Timor signed a defence deal on Thursday to boost cyber and maritime security as Canberra seeks to curb China’s influence among its island neighbours. Australia is East Timor’s largest defence and security partner and the agreement will significantly increase defence exercises, Defence Minister Richard Marles told reporters. “This is a time to double down on friendship, to double down on family,” he said in East Timor’s capital Dili. Australia will provide A$62 million (US$44... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3371751/australia-commits-us44-million-boost-east-timors-cyber-maritime-security https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3371751/australia-commits-us44-million-boost-east-timors-cyber-maritime-security Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:16:08 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Runners in Malaysia are swapping their usual routes through parks and city streets for laps around shopping malls, commandeering air-conditioned corridors to keep up their training as a stubborn blanket of haze makes exercising outdoors increasingly hazardous. The switch comes as smoke from forest and peatland fires continues to foul the air across parts of Southeast Asia, with Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur and its surrounding districts among the hardest-hit areas. By 9am on Thursday, 15 of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3371749/haze-forces-malaysian-fitness-groups-swap-outdoor-runs-shopping-mall-laps https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3371749/haze-forces-malaysian-fitness-groups-swap-outdoor-runs-shopping-mall-laps Thu, 22 Oct 2026 05:51:41 +0000 The Star The Star Malaysia’s highway authority is working to resolve technical disruptions affecting its TuJu navigation application following a sharp increase in users. In a statement on Thursday, the Lembaga Lebuhraya Malaysia (LLM) said the matter was being resolved together with the application provider Prosignal Consortium. LLM said the surge in users came after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim suggested that the public consider using a locally developed navigation application instead of Waze. “We apologise for... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3371744/malaysias-tuju-app-struggles-after-anwar-suggests-switching-waze https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3371744/malaysias-tuju-app-struggles-after-anwar-suggests-switching-waze Thu, 22 Oct 2026 05:15:12 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk Malaysian police have arrested a 16-year-old student after he live-streamed an attack on a teacher with an axe at a private school in Kuching, the capital of Sarawak state. CCTV footage shows the teenager entering a classroom at around 7.50am on Wednesday, hitting the female teacher with an axe before leaving. He re-enters through a second door and swings the axe at students as they flee the room. As the teacher tries to intervene, he attempts to hack at her again but is subdued by two male... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3371718/malaysian-teen-arrested-after-live-streaming-axe-attack-teacher-class https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3371718/malaysian-teen-arrested-after-live-streaming-axe-attack-teacher-class Thu, 22 Oct 2026 03:17:26 +0000 Vincent Tan Vincent Tan Southeast Asian nations are seeking to make it easier for businesses and consumers to operate across borders in the digital economy, but achieving the goal will depend on whether governments can align their domestic laws under a proposed pact, according to analysts. Targeted to be signed during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Manila in November, the Asean Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) is aimed at improving compatibility between rules and systems governing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371685/asean-wants-single-digital-economy-will-different-state-laws-hobble-its-goal https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371685/asean-wants-single-digital-economy-will-different-state-laws-hobble-its-goal Thu, 22 Oct 2026 02:30:19 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Indonesia’s president railed against “countries that like to insult” his nation over wildfires that have razed vast areas, spewing toxic haze into neighbouring countries. The Southeast Asian giant has for months struggled to contain fires that Nusantara Atlas, an independent monitor analysing satellite data, said had consumed more than 1.9 million hectares (4.7 million acres) in the nine months to September. The haze has sent air pollution levels surging to dangerous levels not only at home, but... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3371700/prabowo-warns-regional-critics-indonesia-wont-be-insulted-over-haze https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3371700/prabowo-warns-regional-critics-indonesia-wont-be-insulted-over-haze Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:54:00 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran A Gen Z jet-setter in the Philippines has been named commissioner for the urban poor, raising eyebrows over her qualifications for a position dealing with issues such as food and housing insecurity. Zofia Canlas took her oath as commissioner for the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) on Monday, but drew widespread attention for social media photos depicting a fashion-forward lifestyle and lavish getaways, such as posing in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and other trips around... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3371647/nepo-baby-uproar-philippines-after-gen-z-jet-setter-named-urban-poor-commissioner https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3371647/nepo-baby-uproar-philippines-after-gen-z-jet-setter-named-urban-poor-commissioner Wed, 21 Oct 2026 09:27:00 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran When Mark Ifurung left his 18-year career as an IT professional in May, he was happy to ditch his two-hour commutes from his home in Cavite province south of Manila to his office in Makati City. So for his fresh start, the 40-year-old father of four wanted something that would allow him to work from home. “After being unemployed for five months, I decided to explore freelancing,” he said. “With my background in IT operations and application support, I realised I already have transferable skills... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371614/filipinos-virtual-assistant-trumps-doctor-dream-job-whats-reality https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371614/filipinos-virtual-assistant-trumps-doctor-dream-job-whats-reality Wed, 21 Oct 2026 09:00:13 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan All civil servants in Malaysia have been banned from using Waze, following a warning by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of security concerns over the Israeli government’s control of the mobile navigation app. The government announced the decision after a National Cyber Security Committee (NCSC) meeting chaired by Anwar on Tuesday, according to an official circular. “In this regard, all ministry secretaries-general and heads of department must make sure this decision is communicated to all officers... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371631/malaysia-bars-civil-servants-using-waze-citing-israels-control-app https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371631/malaysia-bars-civil-servants-using-waze-citing-israels-control-app Wed, 21 Oct 2026 07:53:33 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Singapore’s state investors Temasek and GIC have denied involvement in Indonesia’s looming MSCI reclassification, following accusations that the city state’s sovereign wealth funds were pulling strings behind the scenes for their own gain. On Wednesday, Fock Wai Hoong, head of Asia-Pacific at Temasek Global Investments, said the claims had “no basis” and were “patently untrue”. GIC also dismissed the allegations. Former Indonesian trade minister Muhammad Lutfi on Monday claimed that both firms... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371626/singapore-hits-back-over-claims-it-rigged-indonesias-stock-market-crash https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371626/singapore-hits-back-over-claims-it-rigged-indonesias-stock-market-crash Wed, 21 Oct 2026 07:42:25 +0000 Jean Iau,Kolette Lim Jean Iau,Kolette Lim Singapore has warned it will go after companies responsible for the forest fires in Indonesia causing the regional haze, but cross-border challenges remain stumbling blocks to solving a problem that has plagued the city state for decades. Analysts point to long-standing obstacles hampering the country’s decade-old haze legislation, such as complex corporate ownership and opaque transboundary supply chains. To date, no company has been prosecuted under the law. Beyond legal threats, greater... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3371620/does-singapores-tougher-stance-haze-mark-inflection-point https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3371620/does-singapores-tougher-stance-haze-mark-inflection-point Wed, 21 Oct 2026 07:22:38 +0000 Aidan Jones Aidan Jones Fresh from walking down red carpets laid out by his Southeast Asian neighbours, Myanmar’s ex-military chief Min Aung Hlaing appears to have a new diplomatic feather in his cap: re-engagement with the United States. Washington slapped sanctions on Min Aung Hlaing just 10 days after his February 1, 2021 coup and the ensuing bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters. Waves of subsequent sanctions targeted military-linked companies and cronies. Yet since last month, two rounds of talks with US... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371605/whats-behind-quiet-us-diplomatic-thaw-myanmar https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371605/whats-behind-quiet-us-diplomatic-thaw-myanmar Wed, 21 Oct 2026 05:58:55 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysia’s border control chief pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to two charges of assaulting junior police officers at the country’s main international airport last month, after a video of the confrontation went viral. Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain, director general of the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency, was filmed confronting two men at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on September 28. He previously linked the incident to an operation against airport touts following complaints about... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3371584/malaysias-border-chief-charged-assaulting-police-viral-airport-clash https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3371584/malaysias-border-chief-charged-assaulting-police-viral-airport-clash Wed, 21 Oct 2026 03:58:29 +0000 The Star The Star Malaysia is negotiating with Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia to establish overland transit routes for fresh durian exports to China, according to Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu. The minister said the move would reduce transport costs and improve access to the lucrative Chinese market. “Durian is a favourite among Chinese consumers, but they sometimes find it difficult to get the fruit at a more affordable price,” he said during parliament’s question and answer time on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3371573/stinking-rich-malaysia-eyes-land-routes-boost-durian-trade-china https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3371573/stinking-rich-malaysia-eyes-land-routes-boost-durian-trade-china Wed, 21 Oct 2026 03:49:06 +0000 CNA CNA A Singaporean couple who regularly abused their first child after he was born, resulting in his death at the age of eight months, were sentenced to jail on Wednesday. Chloe Gan Ci Xuan, 23, and Neo Jia Ming, 27, were sentenced respectively to 15 years and three months’ jail and 16 years’ jail for various charges over the death of their son, Trevor Neo Yu Hin. Gan pleaded guilty to three charges comprising causing the death of a child, ill-treating a child and permitting such ill-treatment. Neo... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3371579/singapore-parents-jailed-after-8-month-old-son-dies-severe-abuse https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3371579/singapore-parents-jailed-after-8-month-old-son-dies-severe-abuse Wed, 21 Oct 2026 03:12:12 +0000 Vincent Tan Vincent Tan Singapore’s recent parliamentary debate over primary school admissions has put a familiar parental strategy in the city state under the spotlight – parents moving house to improve their children’s chances of getting into popular schools. Speaking with This Week in Asia, property agents say some families in Singapore have been approaching them with the intention of buying or renting particular residences at least two years before their children’s primary school admission. Living close to a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3371554/southeast-asian-families-tying-house-move-top-schools-spur-privilege-worries https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3371554/southeast-asian-families-tying-house-move-top-schools-spur-privilege-worries Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:00:24 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen With domestic profits narrowing and production capacity expanding, China’s firms are continuing to widen their overseas footprints in search of new, more lucrative markets. In this series, we examine China Inc.’s next phase of “going global” and the complex, challenging international environment its companies have chosen to enter. A subtle shift is taking place among Chinese businesses as they adopt a “China plus one” outlook and redirect domestic investments to neighbouring economies – a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371529/poster-child-why-more-chinese-firms-have-thailand-their-expansion-plans https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371529/poster-child-why-more-chinese-firms-have-thailand-their-expansion-plans Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:00:05 +0000 Resty Woro Yuniar Resty Woro Yuniar As the threat of a reclassification by MSCI that could relegate Indonesia to an investment hinterland looms, the country’s financial regulators and stock exchange officials have vowed to address systemic concerns, including removing stocks with concentrated ownership. The global index provider announced on Friday it was launching a formal consultation to decide whether to downgrade Southeast Asia’s largest economy from “emerging market” to “stand-alone” status, similar to countries such as... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371515/indonesia-faces-msci-downgrade-threat-officials-vow-reforms-ease-fears https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371515/indonesia-faces-msci-downgrade-threat-officials-vow-reforms-ease-fears Tue, 20 Oct 2026 10:02:45 +0000