https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/523706/feed The latest news and top stories on the University of Sydney. An Australia-based public research university, the University of Sydney is dedicated to inspiring positive change through education and research, including First Nations knowledge. Its main areas of focus include bachelor, master and doctoral degrees across health, engineering, humanities, law and business. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Sam Beltran Sam Beltran US President Donald Trump is expected to drive hard bargains on tariffs and critical minerals in his return to the Asean summit in Manila next month, with Washington seeking greater economic and strategic concessions while remaining hawkish on China. The Philippines confirmed on Wednesday that Trump would fly in for the summit from November 16 to 18, before attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Shenzhen that same week. Trump’s second consecutive appearance at the forum... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371132/trumps-second-asean-summit-presence-comes-price-region https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371132/trumps-second-asean-summit-presence-comes-price-region Sun, 18 Oct 2026 00:00:08 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau Investor Ben Lindsay relocated from Sydney to Singapore in March, with wife and dog in tow – his sights set on growing venture capital firm Investible from an Australian outfit into an Asia-Pacific one. Lindsay is among a growing number of investors, businessmen and tech founders from down under who are setting up bases and relocating to Singapore, Dubai and San Francisco to expand their company’s reach. For example, Australian billionaire Adrian Portelli, founder of savings and rewards platform... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3370642/not-just-about-tax-why-australias-tech-entrepreneurs-are-moving-singapore https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3370642/not-just-about-tax-why-australias-tech-entrepreneurs-are-moving-singapore Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:22 +0000 Vincent Tan Vincent Tan Australia may have vast tracts of land and political will to support the growth of the artificial intelligence industry, but the development of data centres to power the technology is proving more challenging. Last month, property developer Goodman Group withdrew its application for a 90-megawatt data centre in Lane Cove, on Sydney’s lower north shore, after months of opposition from residents about the potential impact on their electricity and water supplies, noise pollution and other... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3370115/data-centre-opposition-growing-australia-there-middle-ground https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3370115/data-centre-opposition-growing-australia-there-middle-ground Thu, 08 Oct 2026 03:00:18 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Neighbouring China and Vietnam, two manufacturing giants, are building out railways, adding flights and boosting cargo links to leverage their geographic proximity for another boost in trade and tourism that will help both weather pressure from the US. The two countries set aside political disputes last year to step up economic ties, and analysts said they were now improving both the quality and quantity of transport links. “Overall, I see the China-Vietnam connectivity story moving from... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369606/us-bears-down-export-powerhouses-china-and-vietnam-establish-closer-transport-links https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369606/us-bears-down-export-powerhouses-china-and-vietnam-establish-closer-transport-links Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:27 +0000 Tom Hussain Tom Hussain For over two decades, Pakistan has waged countless counterterrorism campaigns against Taliban and Baloch insurgents in its western regions bordering Afghanistan and Iran, yet remains mired in a cycle of violence it cannot break. Scores of soldiers, policemen and civilians are killed every month in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and southwestern Balochistan provinces, where near-daily attacks on security personnel, government officials and other prominent figures are carried out by... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3368825/why-pakistans-endless-war-militants-fails-break-cycle https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3368825/why-pakistans-endless-war-militants-fails-break-cycle Sat, 26 Sep 2026 05:00:17 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang China’s new draft law on combating cross-border corruption is as much a weapon against foreign interference as it is a tool against illicit financial flows, analysts say. The draft sets out ways to block extraterritorial investigations and to retaliate against foreign anti-corruption enforcement, drawing a firm legal boundary against foreign jurisdictions while establishing its own mechanism to police overseas assets. In doing so, legal specialists warn, Beijing is also creating a double-edged... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3367286/chinas-anti-corruption-law-going-global-what-does-it-mean-overseas-firms https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3367286/chinas-anti-corruption-law-going-global-what-does-it-mean-overseas-firms Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:16 +0000 Soniya Rijal,Nader Naderpajouh Soniya Rijal,Nader Naderpajouh Hearts across the globe are aching for communities along the Nepal-Tibet border. Late last month, a catastrophic flash flood ripped apart whole villages and swept away dozens of vital bridges and roads. It has claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people, with authorities racing to find thousands more who are unaccounted for and free hundreds of workers trapped in a hydropower tunnel. In the wake of the flood, the world has rallied to support ongoing rescue and humanitarian efforts. But as with... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/opinion/article/3366414/after-nepal-tibet-floods-recovery-depends-grass-roots-solidarity https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/opinion/article/3366414/after-nepal-tibet-floods-recovery-depends-grass-roots-solidarity Sat, 05 Sep 2026 04:00:07 +0000 Mandy Zuo,Sherry Wang,He Huifeng Mandy Zuo,Sherry Wang,He Huifeng China’s recent rejection of a shipment of Australian beans citing a pesticide problem suggests that Beijing is adopting a stricter enforcement approach despite the stabilisation of trade ties over the past few years, according to experts. Ten containers of Australian mung beans were blocked by authorities in China – the largest buyer of the commodity – after tests found glyphosate residues five times above China’s permitted limit, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported last week. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3364292/chinas-no-australian-beans-what-import-rejection-says-about-trade-ties https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3364292/chinas-no-australian-beans-what-import-rejection-says-about-trade-ties Tue, 18 Aug 2026 01:00:05 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Japan is looking beyond the United States to enhance its defence capabilities, as mounting doubt over American munitions supplies pushes Tokyo to seek deeper industrial ties on this front with Australia and India. Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi’s visits to the two countries this week are set to advance cooperation spanning warships to stealth technology and drones, analysts say, pointing to how prolonged conflict in the Middle East and the Ukraine war could drain stockpiles for US... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3364048/japan-eyes-deeper-defence-ties-australia-india-ease-supply-chain-concerns https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3364048/japan-eyes-deeper-defence-ties-australia-india-ease-supply-chain-concerns Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:10 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan The head coach of reigning champions National Chengchi University (NCCU) said the Asian University Basketball League (AUBL) remained the strongest college tournament they had ever taken part in after securing a quarter-final berth on Tuesday. Playing against tournament debutants National University of Mongolia, NCCU from Taiwan dominated almost from the start before cruising to an 83-51 win at Binjiang Gymnasium. They have now won both their group matches, after also beating mainland side... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3362935/asian-university-basketball-league-toughest-college-event-coach-title-holders-nccu-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3362935/asian-university-basketball-league-toughest-college-event-coach-title-holders-nccu-says Tue, 04 Aug 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow At the remote, mountainous frontier where the mighty Mekong carves the border between Myanmar and Laos, planners have sketched the outline of a mega dam. It would be the largest hydropower project ever built on the river’s mainstream outside China, but analysts suspect the study into it may matter more than the dam itself. A 34-month joint feasibility study for the 2,790-megawatt project was agreed on July 4 during Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing’s state visit to Vientiane. Officials from both... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3361456/myanmar-and-laos-plan-downstream-mekongs-biggest-dam-yet https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3361456/myanmar-and-laos-plan-downstream-mekongs-biggest-dam-yet Wed, 22 Jul 2026 08:40:33 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow New Zealand’s interest in joining a newly signed defence pact between Australia and Fiji may mark the start of a broader hard security alliance covering the South Pacific, but analysts warn smaller states’ concerns are likely to go unaddressed. The Ocean of Peace Alliance, signed by Australia and Fiji on July 6, binds Canberra and Suva to come to each other’s defence if attacked. Days later, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon welcomed the pact and signalled Wellington’s interest in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3360621/pacific-security-axis-grows-new-zealand-eyes-australia-fiji-defence-pact https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3360621/pacific-security-axis-grows-new-zealand-eyes-australia-fiji-defence-pact Wed, 15 Jul 2026 05:32:01 +0000 Resty Woro Yuniar Resty Woro Yuniar Indonesian authorities are widening their investigation into a case of suspected identity and research fraud at an overseas medical conference, which has exposed gaps in academic oversight and revived concerns about abuses in the nation’s system of publication-driven promotion for academia. The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology has set up a team to examine papers previously published by the alleged perpetrators, saying action would be taken if they were found to have used... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3359734/how-cheap-ai-undermining-indonesias-academic-credibility https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3359734/how-cheap-ai-undermining-indonesias-academic-credibility Wed, 08 Jul 2026 03:00:07 +0000 Sylvia Ma,Xinyi Wu Sylvia Ma,Xinyi Wu China’s industrial overcapacity should not be singled out for blame amid trade imbalances, as economies worldwide are struggling to adapt to shifts in the global economy, contributing to mounting pressures, a prominent Chinese scholar said in comments directed at the United States. “The reason why our imbalance is becoming a bigger problem is that the rest of the world is having a bigger problem in adjusting the economic structure,” said Huang Yiping, dean of Peking University’s National School... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3358090/what-fuels-global-trade-imbalances-chinas-overcapacity-or-americas-failure-adapt https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3358090/what-fuels-global-trade-imbalances-chinas-overcapacity-or-americas-failure-adapt Tue, 23 Jun 2026 14:00:05 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow A recent meeting between the leaders of Myanmar and China has given the military junta an opening to persuade Asean to allow it to return to the bloc’s summits. Analysts also say, however, that Myanmar’s regime could feel emboldened to escalate action against resistance forces, revving up its “military approach” to deal with the country’s civil war. Last Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping met his Myanmar counterpart Min Aung Hlaing in Beijing, providing vital political endorsement to the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3357880/did-myanmar-china-talks-spawn-more-emboldened-junta https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3357880/did-myanmar-china-talks-spawn-more-emboldened-junta Mon, 22 Jun 2026 05:32:11 +0000 Albee Zhang,Josephine Ma Albee Zhang,Josephine Ma The summit between presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump was watched closely around the world for welcome moves towards stability but it also triggered anxiety among traditional US allies. As he returned home on Air Force One on Friday, Trump had a phone call with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. “We exchanged views, centring on various issues surrounding China, including the economy – encompassing economic security – and security matters,” Takaichi wrote in a social media post. She... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353757/what-did-american-allies-make-trumps-trip-china-meet-xi https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353757/what-did-american-allies-make-trumps-trip-china-meet-xi Fri, 15 May 2026 12:42:11 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang China’s international arbitration efforts have made significant progress, but more work is needed to attract foreign parties to arbitrate in China amid US-China rivalry, according to arbitrators and law scholars. China’s newly revised Arbitration Law took effect in March, marking the most significant overhaul of the country’s commercial dispute framework since 1994, in a move to promote cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen to develop into international arbitration centres, competing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352822/trust-key-if-chinas-international-arbitration-goals-are-succeed-experts-say https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352822/trust-key-if-chinas-international-arbitration-goals-are-succeed-experts-say Fri, 08 May 2026 15:45:04 +0000 Kandy Wong Kandy Wong Chinese multinational company Landbridge Group’s legal claim regarding Darwin Port – the first case ever brought against Australia at the international tribunal – is likely to yield a multi-year proceeding, which could serve as a buffer to provide some positive impacts for the Australia-China relationship, analysts said. The owner of Landbridge, Ye Cheng, filed a case with the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investor Disputes (ICSID) requesting “arbitration proceedings” over... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3352339/chinas-fight-keep-darwin-port-could-help-fragile-sino-australian-relations-analysts https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3352339/chinas-fight-keep-darwin-port-could-help-fragile-sino-australian-relations-analysts Tue, 05 May 2026 01:00:14 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Common security interests in the region have led to Japan’s unprecedented sharing of its Mogami-class warships with India, according to analysts. The move dovetails with New Delhi’s drive to localise industrial and defence production. Enhanced naval capabilities will also allow India to become a “security provider” in the Indian Ocean. Japan offered India its Mogami design plans and the option to build the frigates in Indian shipyards using Japanese materials, according to recent reports from... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3351945/why-japan-sharing-its-guarded-mogami-warship-design-india https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3351945/why-japan-sharing-its-guarded-mogami-warship-design-india Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:12:12 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow A landmark warship deal between Australia and Japan is expected to drive further defence technology cooperation between the two Asia-Pacific nations, comparable in scope to Canberra’s security arrangements with Washington. Analysts say the agreement with Tokyo will also help Canberra address navy shortfalls and reduce its overreliance on the US at a time of great volatility. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles and his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi announced on Saturday that the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3351174/australias-us7-billion-japan-warship-deals-signals-shift-us-overreliance https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3351174/australias-us7-billion-japan-warship-deals-signals-shift-us-overreliance Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:21 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Vietnam is among Southeast Asian countries most hard-hit by the global energy crisis, with Hanoi’s bid to forge deals with Russia this week laying bare its urgency to stem the bleed that may threaten its objective of double-digit economic growth. Observers also say the fallout in fuel supply caused by the Iran war could even chip away at the legitimacy of Hanoi’s new leadership. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to Russia this week reportedly saw the signing of several... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3347735/why-vietnam-leaning-russia-weather-energy-turmoil https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3347735/why-vietnam-leaning-russia-weather-energy-turmoil Tue, 24 Mar 2026 11:12:37 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Australia’s decision to send a surveillance aircraft and air-to-air missiles to the Gulf highlights the difficult position the country now faces: supporting US and regional partners while trying to avoid being drawn deeper into the widening conflict. Analysts said the government was “walking a very fine line” with the deployment, signalling support for partners under Iranian attack while stopping short of committing Australia to offensive operations. At the same time, they said Canberra was... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3346459/australia-walks-very-fine-line-gulf-deployment-amid-iran-war https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3346459/australia-walks-very-fine-line-gulf-deployment-amid-iran-war Fri, 13 Mar 2026 05:39:28 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim The US war against Iran may have handed Beijing some fresh rare-earths leverage over Washington, with roughly three weeks until US President Donald Trump’s expected visit to China. Washington’s heavy reliance on the Chinese minerals for its advanced weapon systems means China could dictate how long US strikes on Iran can go on, according to sources and analysts. Sources told the South China Morning Post, on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, that Washington had only... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346123/could-chinas-rare-earth-supplies-dictate-how-long-us-strikes-iran-go https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346123/could-chinas-rare-earth-supplies-dictate-how-long-us-strikes-iran-go Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:00:09 +0000 Tom Hussain Tom Hussain Iran’s nuclear-armed neighbour Pakistan has invoked its mutual defence pact with Saudi Arabia in response to Tehran’s missile and drone attacks on the kingdom, in what analysts have described as a key test of Islamabad’s emerging role in the Middle East’s security architecture. A gently worded warning to the Islamic Republic, delivered by Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, has established Islamabad as a go-between to manage the escalation. Briefing the Senate on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3345466/pakistan-aims-walk-tightrope-between-saudi-arabia-and-iran-war-flares-region https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3345466/pakistan-aims-walk-tightrope-between-saudi-arabia-and-iran-war-flares-region Wed, 04 Mar 2026 13:22:39 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou The South China Sea continues to act as a lightning rod for competing claims among regional powers. In the first of a three-part series, Laura Zhou examines how a new conservation framework is being leveraged to advance territorial ambitions within these highly contested waters. Amid simmering tensions in the South China Sea, a likely new legal and diplomatic battlefield has emerged. Two decades in the making, the High Seas Treaty, also known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342892/will-new-high-seas-treaty-open-fresh-front-line-south-china-sea-disputes https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342892/will-new-high-seas-treaty-open-fresh-front-line-south-china-sea-disputes Mon, 09 Feb 2026 22:00:09 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran Filipino actress and fashion influencer Heart Evangelista’s reappearance at Paris Fashion Week following scrutiny over her lavish lifestyle in previous months has drawn sharp criticism amid “unprecedented” public outrage linked to an unfolding corruption scandal plaguing the country. Public sentiment in the Philippines has been particularly negative against influencers such as Evangelista and other “nepo babies”, a term referring to flamboyant family members of wealthy politicians, officials and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3342588/outrage-philippines-socialite-heart-evangelista-nepo-babies-return-spotlight https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3342588/outrage-philippines-socialite-heart-evangelista-nepo-babies-return-spotlight Fri, 06 Feb 2026 05:30:09 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Vietnam’s Communist Party five-yearly congress is set to consolidate more power for General Secretary To Lam, whom observers say has behaved like he “expects a mandate”. But term and age limits on the leadership are expected to remain, they add, leaving Lam as just a “first among equals” when the conclave concludes on Sunday. The congress – where the one-party state’s highest decisions are made – opened on Monday and will set key economic targets for the country as well as pick new... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3340666/will-one-man-model-work-vietnam-lam-looks-set-consolidate-power https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3340666/will-one-man-model-work-vietnam-lam-looks-set-consolidate-power Thu, 22 Jan 2026 00:00:10 +0000 Kolette Lim,Aidan Jones Kolette Lim,Aidan Jones Southeast Asian countries invited to join Donald Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace” should think carefully before entering what looks like a “more exclusive version” of the United Nations Security Council with the US president in ultimate control, analysts caution. Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam are among about 60 countries that have reportedly received invitations, alongside South Korea and India. The initiative, presented by Trump as a new international body to promote global... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3340651/why-southeast-asia-wary-trumps-pay-play-global-peace-board https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3340651/why-southeast-asia-wary-trumps-pay-play-global-peace-board Wed, 21 Jan 2026 06:30:10 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim During his Southeast Asia trip in October, US President Donald Trump sealed deals with Malaysia and Thailand on the same day – both aimed at securing and diversifying America’s supply chains for critical minerals and rare earths. Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim agreed to step up cooperation on building and expanding critical minerals supply chains, according to a White House statement. They also agreed to strengthen the security of critical minerals and rare earths supplies in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3335297/why-china-may-be-better-placed-us-tussle-rare-earths https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3335297/why-china-may-be-better-placed-us-tussle-rare-earths Fri, 05 Dec 2025 22:00:24 +0000 Reuters Reuters A majority of Australians, Japanese and Indians believe US President Donald Trump’s second term has been bad for their countries, and more Australians see the US as harmful than helpful in Asia, a survey of people in the four countries reported on Thursday. The United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney polled 1,000 people in each of the four Quad nations: Australia, Japan, India, and the US. It found the region has been shaken by disruptive US developments but still backs... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3335102/trumps-second-term-harmful-quad-nations-australia-japan-india-poll-finds https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3335102/trumps-second-term-harmful-quad-nations-australia-japan-india-poll-finds Wed, 03 Dec 2025 16:00:10 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg More than half of Australians are concerned about US interference while support for defence spending has reached a new high, according to a nationwide poll that comes as friction mounts between the allies over issues such as trade. The survey released on Tuesday by the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney found that 54 per cent of respondents are worried about US influence on domestic affairs – a jump of nearly 20 percentage points since 2021. The increase... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3333195/australian-poll-reveals-rising-concerns-over-us-influence-coercive-trade-tactics https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3333195/australian-poll-reveals-rising-concerns-over-us-influence-coercive-trade-tactics Tue, 18 Nov 2025 04:02:45 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 76th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. A new approach to ageing developed in Australia could influence how older people are supported – at home, in the community, by policymakers and through technology. It could even have the potential to reduce dementia risk in older populations. Intrinsic Capacity, as it is called, takes a holistic view of health, a more complete picture of overall... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3332758/what-intrinsic-capacity-approach-ageing-and-how-can-it-help-cut-dementia-risk https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3332758/what-intrinsic-capacity-approach-ageing-and-how-can-it-help-cut-dementia-risk Mon, 17 Nov 2025 04:15:08 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Half a century after the fall of Saigon, the United States and Vietnam are edging towards deeper defence cooperation built on shared anxieties about China and Washington’s desire to wean Hanoi off its historical dependence on Russian arms. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth arrived in Hanoi last Sunday for a two-day visit, declaring that establishing stronger security ties would be a win-win. “Deeper [military] cooperation will benefit both of our countries,” said Hegseth, who had travelled to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3331983/avoiding-strategic-suicide-vietnams-us-russia-china-diplomatic-dance https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3331983/avoiding-strategic-suicide-vietnams-us-russia-china-diplomatic-dance Sun, 09 Nov 2025 05:30:07 +0000 Shi Huang Shi Huang Pang Zhibo, a leading expert on industrial chips and robots with high-end manufacturing giant ABB in Sweden, has returned to China and joined Peking University as a fully tenured professor. As ABB’s senior principal scientist, Pang was second only to the company’s chief technology officer – who personally appointed him – and oversaw more than 800 developers and 80 technical products globally across all business areas. The Swiss-Swedish multinational, best known for robotics, motors, energy and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3331021/abbs-top-industrial-chip-and-robotics-expert-pang-zhibo-leaves-sweden-china https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3331021/abbs-top-industrial-chip-and-robotics-expert-pang-zhibo-leaves-sweden-china Fri, 31 Oct 2025 05:26:43 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow In the Solomon Islands, where memories of civil unrest and ethnic violence are still fresh, the government’s plan to create a defence force has raised both hope and concerns. For some, it is a step towards stability; for others, it is a potential flashpoint in a region increasingly pulled between China and the West. Jimson Tanangada, the Pacific nation’s police and national security minister, told parliament earlier this month that the government was exploring the creation of a defence force as... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3330233/solomon-islands-defence-force-dream-australia-china-flashpoint https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3330233/solomon-islands-defence-force-dream-australia-china-flashpoint Sun, 26 Oct 2025 01:30:15 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow With Japan’s parliament poised to vote on who it wants to next lead the country, a resurgent opposition and the collapse of the ruling coalition have put the prospect of the nation’s first female prime minister in real doubt. On Tuesday, the leaders of Japan’s principal opposition factions agreed to convene in hopes of fielding a unified candidate for the top job, as they aim to break the Liberal Democratic Party’s 13-year grip on power. “It will be essential for us to achieve consensus on basic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3329121/japans-ruling-party-falters-non-ldp-prime-minister-becomes-real-possibility https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3329121/japans-ruling-party-falters-non-ldp-prime-minister-becomes-real-possibility Thu, 16 Oct 2025 00:00:10 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Life-saving treatments for newborns suffering from sepsis are becoming dangerously ineffective across Southeast Asia, according to new research, with experts warning that drug-resistant bacteria are putting thousands of infants at risk. A study led by the University of Sydney and published in The Lancet this month warns that drug-resistant bacteria are behind nearly 80 per cent of sepsis cases in newborns across five Asian countries: Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Sri... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3327409/drug-resistant-sepsis-threatens-newborns-across-southeast-asia-study-warns https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3327409/drug-resistant-sepsis-threatens-newborns-across-southeast-asia-study-warns Tue, 30 Sep 2025 10:33:10 +0000 dpa dpa A major new report suggests the number of new cancer cases worldwide will increase sharply by the middle of the century, rising from 18.5 million cases in 2023 to 30.5 million in 2050. The research team, which published its findings in the journal The Lancet this week, says this is mainly because of ageing populations, as older people are more susceptible to cancer. If a standardised age structure is used for calculations, the relative incidence of cancer will fall by 5.7 per cent between 2024... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3326937/more-40-cancer-deaths-are-preventable-study-finds-cases-set-soar https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3326937/more-40-cancer-deaths-are-preventable-study-finds-cases-set-soar Fri, 26 Sep 2025 11:15:07 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk More than 3,000 Tuvaluans have applied for a landmark climate visa to move to Australia, as rising seas threaten to engulf vulnerable areas of the South Pacific island. Australia last week opened a new visa category specially set aside for adult citizens of Tuvalu following the groundbreaking climate migration pact, Falepili Union, signed in 2023. About 3,125 Tuvaluans – accounting for nearly a third of the population – had already entered the ballot within four days of its opening, Agence... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3316097/australias-landmark-climate-visa-attracts-thousands-seeking-refuge-rising-seas https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3316097/australias-landmark-climate-visa-attracts-thousands-seeking-refuge-rising-seas Fri, 27 Jun 2025 08:28:10 +0000