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This Week in Asia

This Week in Asia

The latest news, analysis and opinion on This Week in Asia. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

US protectionism was good for some Asian nations when China was the main target during Donald Trump’s first tenure in the White House. But this time nowhere looks safe. Photo: AP

SCMP Highlights

Recap | Donald Trump tariff tantrums, Japan’s first-kiss crisis: 5 latest reads on Asia

Explore the impact of potential Trump tariffs on Southeast Asia, economic challenges in Malaysia, and more.

23 Nov 2024 - 5:08PM

Video | TikTok CEO denies ties to China’s Communist Party in heated exchange with US senator

2 Feb 2024 - 9:07AM

Video | Malaysian PM Ibrahim meets with Indonesian President Widodo

9 Jan 2023 - 11:25PM

Coronavirus pandemic

Debate over tests, jabs hobbles Hong Kong-Singapore Covid-19 travel bubble

Spikes in virus cases twice delayed the much-awaited travel corridor but the recent hold-up is over stumbling blocks.

14 Jul 2021 - 12:37AMvideocam

In Singapore, the government offers free jabs from Pfizer-BioNTech and US firm Moderna while residents can pay for Sinovac shots. Photo: Reuters

One-eighth of Singapore’s foreign workforce lost jobs last year. Will they ever return?

Non-residents, mostly lower-skilled workers, accounted for all job losses last year. But economists predict they will return, given Singapore’s needs and its allure to expats.

3 Apr 2021 - 12:30PMvideocam

Video | Inside Sheng Siong co-founder’s home

27 Mar 2021 - 10:30AM

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What Heng Swee Keat’s budget has in store for Singapore

Heng Swee Keat is expected to avoid another draw on reserves, focusing on targeted spending, reskilling workers, and tapered support schemes.

15 Feb 2021 - 10:29AM

Towers in Singapore’s financial district, around Marina Bay. The city state will unveil its 2021 budget on Tuesday. Photo: Bloomberg

Coronavirus India

Video | Workers struggle to get home amid India’s Covid-19 lockdown

23 May 2020 - 3:00PM

Women and gender

What does Evelyn Yang’s stance on sexual violence mean for Asian women?

Yang, married to Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang, last week spoke up about her sexual assault by a gynaecologist.

31 Jan 2020 - 1:33PM

Belt and Road Initiative

Exclusive | ‘Malaysia revived China deals to boost Belt and Road Forum spirits’

Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah rejects opposition claims that government gave in under pressure from Beijing.

22 Apr 2019 - 2:02PM

The Golden Bridge sculpture on Silk Road outside the National Convention Centre in Beijing on April 19, 2019. Photo: Simon Song

Video | 2019 elections in Asia

6 Mar 2019 - 1:15PM

New year, new governments? Elections in major Asian countries could bring about dramatic change

Singapore gay couple open up after landmark adoption case

The two dads whose adoption case made international headlines say they are relieved and looking forward to a special family Christmas.

29 Dec 2018 - 8:59PM

From Trump and Kim’s handshake to 1MDB: stories that shaped Asia in 2018

Dragged deeper into the rivalry between the United States and China, the region saw plenty of highs and lows throughout the year

23 Dec 2018 - 9:49AM

Anwar Ibrahim’s daughter distances herself from her party

Izzah’s resignation was in response to allegations of nepotism and preferential treatment within the party.

18 Dec 2019 - 1:53PMvideocam

Nurul Izzah Anwar, Anwar Ibrahim’s daughter. Photo: AP

Landmark Singapore ruling allows gay couple to adopt surrogate son

The two men are Singaporeans of Chinese ethnicity, aged 45. They have been living together since 2005.

23 Dec 2018 - 9:01PM

The fathers and their son. Photo: Don Wong

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

Saudi prince steps beyond the Khashoggi scandal at G20 summit

World appears to be moving forward following shocking murder of journalist and Mohammed bin Salman appears happy to join them.

2 Dec 2018 - 7:42PM

Shirkers: three women stake their claim on Singapore’s film legacy

A rogue director made off with their film reels when they were teenagers in the 1990s. Today, they recount and reclaim their stolen dreams in a captivating new Netflix documentary

4 Nov 2018 - 10:45PM

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Ceritalah | China’s loss in Trump’s trade war is Asean’s gain. Look at Vietnam

The country is setting an example to the rest of Southeast Asia when it comes to attracting industry.

6 Nov 2018 - 7:10PM

The Vietnamese have endured more than thirty years of war, but after Doi Moi they have also witnessed dramatic growth.

Mahathir Mohamad

Mahathir to be greeted like ‘old friend’ in Beijing despite tensions

30 Jul 2018 - 6:35AM

Philippines insurgency

Video | A year after siege, Philippines’ Marawi lies in ruins

25 May 2018 - 1:47PM

Video | The struggle of Indonesia’s forgotten people

21 May 2018 - 10:11AM

The struggle of Indonesia’s forgotten people

Mahathir Mohamad

Mahathir begins government clean up, but coalition still a mess

In day one of his new job, PM purges officials seen as too close to predecessor Najib, while division remains among members of his political alliance

15 May 2018 - 4:59PM

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir waves to delegates who follow Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah after a meeting in Putrajaya, Malaysia on Monday, May 14, 2018. Photo: AP

China-India relations

Will Xi-Modi summit lead to deals on Belt and Road, investments, and border?

Unexpected meeting between two leaders comes as a major course correction for a fraught relationship as Asian giants re-evaluate their options vis-à-vis one another as well as Trump’s America.

25 Apr 2018 - 4:12PM

Malaysia election 2022

Najib fires starting gun for duel with one-time mentor Mahathir

The expectation among political watchers is that the vote will be held in late April or early May, just before the start of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.

6 Apr 2018 - 8:54PMvideocam

At 92, does Mahathir have enough left in him to stun Malaysia?

The opposition is hoping the former prime minister can win over rural Malays and pull off an upset in the upcoming election.

16 Jan 2018 - 12:43PM

The opposition is hoping the former prime minister can win over rural Malays and pull off an upset in the upcoming election

Thank you Trump: that tweet was just what China needed to tame Pakistan

Trump might only succeed in pushing Islamabad deeper into Beijing and Moscow’s sphere of influence. After Trump’s tweet, China sprang to Pakistan’s defence, saying the world should acknowledge its all-weather friend’s “outstanding contribution” to counterterrorism.

6 Jan 2018 - 1:04AM

Supporters of Jamat ud Dawa condemned Trump’s tweet. Photo: EPA

Meet the ‘rough country boy’ standing up to US base plans in Japan

1 Jan 2018 - 1:14PM

Did Beijing just give South Korea’s Moon the cold shoulder?

24 Dec 2017 - 12:55PM

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