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Myanmar

Latest news, updates and opinion on Myanmar, covering politics, economy, society and the country’s relationships with China and India, and other countries in Southeast Asia.

Capital

Naypyidaw

Head of State

Acting President Min Aung Hlaing

Head of Government

Prime Minister Min Aung Hlaing

Two rescued Filipino child labourers show their painted hands before a ceremony to improve the lives of children held at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila in 2001. Photo: AFP

The Philippines

Can the Philippines lead Southeast Asia’s fight against child labour?

As Manila puts together a new road map to end child labour by 2028, analysts warn policies alone cannot overcome poverty.

9 Oct 2026 - 6:33PMvideocam

SCMP Highlights

Chinese emperor’s tomb mystery, US F-35s join Indian drills: 7 highlights

9 Oct 2026 - 12:59PM

Old Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s historic vessels: from Victoria Harbour to Hollywood!

9 Oct 2026 - 8:00AM

US-China relations

Hong Kong rejects US downgrade to lowest tier in human trafficking report

US cites declining prosecutions and failure to identify victims exploited in Hong Kong; city rejects downgrade as ‘entirely unfounded’.

9 Oct 2026 - 6:18AMvideocam

The US State Department’s 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report has downgraded Hong Kong to the lowest ranking in its annual human trafficking study. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Malaysia

Anwar’s push to return Myanmar to Asean sparks criticism over reduced leverage

The Malaysian leader’s pledge to visiting President Min Aung Hlaing comes without securing ‘significant concessions’, critics say.

8 Oct 2026 - 3:16PM

Mainland China

Video | Chinese state media highlights crackdown on Myanmar scam centres

The three-part documentary series outlines how joint operations brought down major crime families operating near the China-Myanmar border.

7 Oct 2026 - 9:01PM

Singapore

Why Singapore must be able to say ‘no’ to US, China to preserve trust

Vivian Balakrishnan says Singapore must maintain trust with Washington and Beijing without becoming a proxy for either.

7 Oct 2026 - 7:18PM

The city skyline of Singapore in February. Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has said the city state is at a "sensitive existential" point amid US-China competition, reiterating that Singapore will take no sides. Photo: Xinhua

Malaysia

Malaysia’s Myanmar bet? Repatriations pave way for diplomacy

Malaysia’s move ahead of Min Aung Hlaing’s visit has raised concerns that Asean’s efforts to resolve the Myanmar civil war would be futile.

7 Oct 2026 - 4:07PM

Indonesia

4 Indonesian seamen kidnapped by Somali pirates return home

The men were among 17 crew rescued a week ago when maritime police stormed the Palau-flagged MT Honour 25 tanker that was hijacked in April.

8 Oct 2026 - 2:06PMvideocam

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong remains world’s freest economy as Switzerland overtakes Singapore

Annual Economic Freedom of the World report compiled by Canada’s Fraser Institute ranks city first among 165 jurisdictions.

6 Oct 2026 - 10:51PM

Hong Kong lost the top spot for the first time in 2023, before reclaiming it in 2024 and retaining it in 2025. Photo: Dickson Lee

Southeast Asia forced-labour scams

China tried 3 times to talk crime families out of scam business in Myanmar: CCTV

Series outlines how joint operations brought down major border compounds amid warning criminal syndicates are relocating near Thailand.

6 Oct 2026 - 5:44PMvideocam

A series produced by China’s Ministry of Public Security and state broadcaster CCTV details China’s efforts to bring down scam empires in Myanmar. Photo: CCTV

Malaysia

Malaysia repatriates 1,500 Myanmar nationals despite UN risk warnings

The returnees have been convicted of staying illegally and other immigration violations in Malaysia.

5 Oct 2026 - 12:42PM

China-Africa relations

China, Africa boost law enforcement ties in crackdown on cross-border cybercrime

Police cooperation allows Beijing to expand its security role without formal alliances or a large military footprint, observers say.

4 Oct 2026 - 6:00AMvideocam

US-China relations

Trump claims he discussed release of political prisoners in China with Xi

US president says he had ‘some very, very important discussions’ with his Chinese counterpart, but did not identify specific cases.

2 Oct 2026 - 1:51AMvideocam

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets US President Donald Trump at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on September 24, 2026. Photo: Xinhua

Africa

Somali pirates kill 5 crew on hijacked tanker before rescue

Deaths aboard the Palau-flagged MT Honour 25 appear to be the first involving Somali pirates in over a decade.

30 Sep 2026 - 1:33PM

An armed Somali pirate in 2010. A previous wave of piracy from 2008 to 2014 disrupted one of the world’s busiest ‌shipping routes. Photo: AFP

Singapore

Man charged over AI image of crocodile at Singapore reservoir that led to search

Water and park authorities went to Pandan Reservoir to search for the crocodile while water activities were suspended.

29 Sep 2026 - 6:37PMvideocam

Malaysia

Malaysia begins sending thousands of Myanmar nationals back to war-torn homeland

Rights groups warn returnees face persecution and forced conscription under an opaque deal with Myanmar’s military-backed government.

29 Sep 2026 - 4:25PM

2026 Xi-Trump summits

Why is the National Archives the last stop on Xi and Trump’s summit itinerary?

The presidents and their wives will get a personal view of the National Archives and the documents that define the American system.

25 Sep 2026 - 5:18PM

The US National Archives will be the last stop on President Xi Jinping’s trip to the United States. Photo: Getty Images

Malaysia

‘Helpless’ Rohingya who fled Myanmar chaos now dread return from Malaysia

‘I get a headache just thinking about where to go,’ a migrant says ahead of next week’s repatriation from detention centres.

24 Sep 2026 - 3:08PMvideocam

Southeast Asia forced-labour scams

Video | Chinese live-streamer held for US$90,000 ransom in Myanmar

Chinese state media said Wang Ran was first lured to Thailand and later told a friend she was being held against her will in Myanmar.

23 Sep 2026 - 4:33PM

Human rights

Beatings, electric shocks, burns: women endure torture in Myanmar prisons

Human Rights Watch said detainees routinely experienced systemic abuse and life-threatening medical neglect.

23 Sep 2026 - 12:25PMvideocam

A prison in Yangon, Myanmar. According to Human Rights Watch, female prisoners in the country suffer brutal torture and sexual violence. Photo: AP

United Nations

Burning questions: world leaders meet at UN amid climate, war and AI worries

As we face ‘three existential threats,’ says the UN chief, ‘international cooperation is more necessary than ever’.

21 Sep 2026 - 9:54PM

A wildfire burns amid high temperatures in Colombia on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Malaysia

Malaysia to invite Myanmar’s Min Aung Hlaing for Rohingya repatriation talks

Anwar Ibrahim says it is necessary to formally recognise Minh Aung Hlaing’s government if Malaysia wants to resolve the Rohingya crisis.

17 Sep 2026 - 2:06AMvideocam

Malaysia

Who will look after ageing Asia when its carers grow old?

Asia’s care economy is booming, but its biggest supplier nations are ageing too, raising fears of a coming carer shortfall.

13 Sep 2026 - 8:00AM

Asean

Up in smoke: why Southeast Asia failed to halt the haze

Asean was going to eliminate transboundary haze by 2020. What happened?

12 Sep 2026 - 9:57PMvideocam

Scenes from across Southeast Asia as dense transboundary haze from widespread forest and peatland fires triggers severe air pollution. Photos: EPA

Singapore

As Singapore weighs joining China-led AI body, does it risk US retaliation?

Joining the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation gives Singapore influence, but may affect its Pax Silica role, analysts say.

11 Sep 2026 - 9:53PM

People walk along the promenade next to Marina Bay in Singapore on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

US-China relations

US sanctions Chinese-language Xinbi Guarantee marketplace over cyber scams

Washington also seizes Telegram channels and US$52 million in cryptocurrency linked to the platform’s alleged illicit operations.

10 Sep 2026 - 10:30AMvideocam

Thailand

12 South Koreans arrested in Thailand scam centre crackdown

Police say the alleged scammers entered Thailand from a neighbouring country and rented a luxury house south of Bangkok.

8 Sep 2026 - 8:46PMvideocam

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Myanmar

Can the Philippines lead Southeast Asia’s fight against child labour?

As Manila puts together a new road map to end child labour by 2028, analysts warn policies alone cannot overcome poverty.

Chinese emperor’s tomb mystery, US F-35s join Indian drills: 7 highlights

Hong Kong’s historic vessels: from Victoria Harbour to Hollywood!

Hong Kong rejects US downgrade to lowest tier in human trafficking report

US cites declining prosecutions and failure to identify victims exploited in Hong Kong; city rejects downgrade as ‘entirely unfounded’.

Anwar’s push to return Myanmar to Asean sparks criticism over reduced leverage

The Malaysian leader’s pledge to visiting President Min Aung Hlaing comes without securing ‘significant concessions’, critics say.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Video | Chinese state media highlights crackdown on Myanmar scam centres

The three-part documentary series outlines how joint operations brought down major crime families operating near the China-Myanmar border.

Why Singapore must be able to say ‘no’ to US, China to preserve trust

Vivian Balakrishnan says Singapore must maintain trust with Washington and Beijing without becoming a proxy for either.

Malaysia’s Myanmar bet? Repatriations pave way for diplomacy

Malaysia’s move ahead of Min Aung Hlaing’s visit has raised concerns that Asean’s efforts to resolve the Myanmar civil war would be futile.

4 Indonesian seamen kidnapped by Somali pirates return home

The men were among 17 crew rescued a week ago when maritime police stormed the Palau-flagged MT Honour 25 tanker that was hijacked in April.

Hong Kong remains world’s freest economy as Switzerland overtakes Singapore

Annual Economic Freedom of the World report compiled by Canada’s Fraser Institute ranks city first among 165 jurisdictions.

China tried 3 times to talk crime families out of scam business in Myanmar: CCTV

Series outlines how joint operations brought down major border compounds amid warning criminal syndicates are relocating near Thailand.

Malaysia repatriates 1,500 Myanmar nationals despite UN risk warnings

The returnees have been convicted of staying illegally and other immigration violations in Malaysia.

China, Africa boost law enforcement ties in crackdown on cross-border cybercrime

Police cooperation allows Beijing to expand its security role without formal alliances or a large military footprint, observers say.

Trump claims he discussed release of political prisoners in China with Xi

US president says he had ‘some very, very important discussions’ with his Chinese counterpart, but did not identify specific cases.

Somali pirates kill 5 crew on hijacked tanker before rescue

Deaths aboard the Palau-flagged MT Honour 25 appear to be the first involving Somali pirates in over a decade.

Man charged over AI image of crocodile at Singapore reservoir that led to search

Water and park authorities went to Pandan Reservoir to search for the crocodile while water activities were suspended.

Malaysia begins sending thousands of Myanmar nationals back to war-torn homeland

Rights groups warn returnees face persecution and forced conscription under an opaque deal with Myanmar’s military-backed government.

Why is the National Archives the last stop on Xi and Trump’s summit itinerary?

The presidents and their wives will get a personal view of the National Archives and the documents that define the American system.

‘Helpless’ Rohingya who fled Myanmar chaos now dread return from Malaysia

‘I get a headache just thinking about where to go,’ a migrant says ahead of next week’s repatriation from detention centres.

Video | Chinese live-streamer held for US$90,000 ransom in Myanmar

Chinese state media said Wang Ran was first lured to Thailand and later told a friend she was being held against her will in Myanmar.

Beatings, electric shocks, burns: women endure torture in Myanmar prisons

Human Rights Watch said detainees routinely experienced systemic abuse and life-threatening medical neglect.

Burning questions: world leaders meet at UN amid climate, war and AI worries

As we face ‘three existential threats,’ says the UN chief, ‘international cooperation is more necessary than ever’.

Malaysia to invite Myanmar’s Min Aung Hlaing for Rohingya repatriation talks

Anwar Ibrahim says it is necessary to formally recognise Minh Aung Hlaing’s government if Malaysia wants to resolve the Rohingya crisis.

Who will look after ageing Asia when its carers grow old?

Asia’s care economy is booming, but its biggest supplier nations are ageing too, raising fears of a coming carer shortfall.

Up in smoke: why Southeast Asia failed to halt the haze

Asean was going to eliminate transboundary haze by 2020. What happened?

As Singapore weighs joining China-led AI body, does it risk US retaliation?

Joining the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation gives Singapore influence, but may affect its Pax Silica role, analysts say.

US sanctions Chinese-language Xinbi Guarantee marketplace over cyber scams

Washington also seizes Telegram channels and US$52 million in cryptocurrency linked to the platform’s alleged illicit operations.

12 South Koreans arrested in Thailand scam centre crackdown

Police say the alleged scammers entered Thailand from a neighbouring country and rented a luxury house south of Bangkok.

Video | Chinese state media highlights crackdown on Myanmar scam centres