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Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim attends a bilateral meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Putrajaya earlier in April. Photo: Bianca De Marchi/AAP/dpa

Politics

From Malaysia’s book bans to Iran war, Anwar’s reform agenda faces sternest test

Anwar’s government has tilted to the right in recent years in a move to win the support of Malay voters, analysts say.

UAE’s Opec exit signals aim to accelerate foreign policy diversification

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Common threats help Japan, South Korea overlook historical rows

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Politics

Why India’s logistics pact with Russia signals its Arctic ‘footprint’ ambition

The pact allows up to ‘five warships, 10 aircraft and 3,000 troops’ to be stationed in each other’s territory for five years.

Melting ice on the North Pole in the Arctic. Photo: Getty Images
Melting ice on the North Pole in the Arctic. Photo: Getty Images

Health & Environment

Rapidly ageing Japan’s ‘macho carers’ lend muscles to benefit elderly, disabled

Japan’s care industry is facing a shortage of workers, and one company is plugging the gap by deploying ‘cool’ and well-toned staff.

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Economics

Why Singapore, Thailand are among the world’s ‘happiest’ economies

Southeast Asian countries outdid larger economies in the 178-nation Hanke’s Annual Misery Index for 2025.

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Economics

Deadly train crash in Indonesia exposes severe safety gaps, dangerous crossings

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto pledges to spend US$230 million to upgrade level crossings after the accident that killed 16 passengers.

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Workers and rescuers on Tuesday examine the wreckage following a train collision in Bekasi, Indonesia. Photo: AP
Workers and rescuers on Tuesday examine the wreckage following a train collision in Bekasi, Indonesia. Photo: AP

Economics

Gold loses its shimmer in Asia over rising oil prices, hawkish Fed stance

Demand for the metal is likely to remain weak, with central banks not expected to cut interest rates for some time due to high energy prices.

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Health & Environment

Elephants never forget? Malaysians demand Japan return ‘homesick’ trio

One video shows Dara, Amoi and Kelat responding to their names in Malay while another reportedly reveals one of the elephants ‘weeping’.

Economics

Singapore PM reassures workers over AI fears, vows job opportunities

The city state cannot promise there will be no disruption from the new technology but it will protect every worker, the prime minister says.

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Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong speaks about the impact of AI on the economy in his May Day rally speech in the city state on Friday. Photo: YouTube

Lifestyle & Culture

‘Moral harm’: Malaysia’s culture war brigade tries to hose down water festival

Kuala Lumpur’s Rain Rave Water Music Festival faces backlash from critics who argue that such vulgar imports hurt conservative values.

Malaysian Tourism Minister Tiong King Sing sprays water as girl group Dolla performs at the Rain Rave Water Music Festival in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Instagram/dolla.official
Malaysian Tourism Minister Tiong King Sing sprays water as girl group Dolla performs at the Rain Rave Water Music Festival in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Instagram/dolla.official

Lifestyle & Culture

Japan’s higher education sector faces reckoning as student pool shrinks

The potential abolition of so many universities is a ‘dramatic move’ that analysts warn will affect thousands of students and teachers.

Health & Environment

Japan survey finds sexual abuse at 15% of hospitals. Is the true scale higher?

Under-reporting is a concern as children and severely disabled patients may not know how to voice their complaints.

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Economics

Pakistan’s IMF-backed recovery under pressure as Iran-US mediation stalls

While Islamabad continues to push for peace, the war threatens to erode its foreign exchange reserves and make financing harder to secure.

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A trader monitors share prices at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) in Karachi, Pakistan, on Monday. Photo: EPA

Politics

Iran war tests India’s Brics leadership as ‘political relevance’ questions mount

With Brics members Iran and the UAE as belligerents, the bloc has failed to reach a common position on the Middle East conflict.

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India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi chats with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during the 2025 Brics summit in Rio de Janeiro last July. Photo: AP
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi chats with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during the 2025 Brics summit in Rio de Janeiro last July. Photo: AP

People

Filipino male pageant contestant’s viral swimsuit walk sparks body image debate

Observers said RJ Perkins’ viral moment shows beauty pageants might be ready to move beyond their traditional ideals.

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People

Malaysian woman jailed 2 years for throwing baby daughter from 38-floor flat

The woman, who was convicted of infanticide for causing the death of her newborn, did not tell her family about her pregnancy.

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Politics

From Malaysia’s book bans to Iran war, Anwar’s reform agenda faces sternest test

Anwar’s government has tilted to the right in recent years in a move to win the support of Malay voters, analysts say.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim attends a bilateral meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Putrajaya earlier in April. Photo: Bianca De Marchi/AAP/dpa
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim attends a bilateral meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Putrajaya earlier in April. Photo: Bianca De Marchi/AAP/dpa

Economics

Mixed bag: Indonesia’s 8% growth dream hits a plastic ceiling

Soaring packaging costs amid the Iran war hint at a deeper malaise as the middle class contracts and growth hits a plateau.

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Health & Environment

Shock therapy: war forces oil-addicted Asia to finally go green

Burned by soaring energy prices, Southeast Asian nations are racing to future-proof themselves against the volatility of war.

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Politics

Japan’s Middle East oil habit gets an Iran war reality check

Almost all of Japan’s oil comes from the Middle East. A closed strait turned that dependence into a trap.

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Storage tanks are seen at an oil refinery in Yokohama, Japan’s Kanagawa prefecture, as Mount Fuji looms in the background. Photo: AFP
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LATEST Asia NEWS

Politics

Common threats help Japan, South Korea overlook historical rows

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Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (left) and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung visit the Horyu-ji temple in Ikaruga, Nara prefecture, on January 14. Photo: EPA

Politics

Why India’s logistics pact with Russia signals its Arctic ‘footprint’ ambition

Melting ice on the North Pole in the Arctic. Photo: Getty Images

East Asia

Takaichi to hold talks in Vietnam on economic security, critical minerals

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Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrives at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on Friday. Photo: AFP

China Economy

Durian Express? China brings in cheaper fruit with new Southeast Asia train

A shopper browses a mound of durians at a market in Hong Kong. Photo: Eugene Lee

Health & Environment

Rapidly ageing Japan’s ‘macho carers’ lend muscles to benefit elderly, disabled

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Care worker and bodybuilder Takuya Usui (right) chats with Madoka Yamaguchi as he helps her sit on a bed at a care home for people with disabilities operated by Visionary in Ichinomiya, Aichi prefecture. Photo: AFP
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OPINION
Panarat Anamwathana

Asian Angle | A year after corporal punishment ban, Thailand needs to curb resurgence

Panarat Anamwathana
Wesley Morgan,Ben Newell

Opinion | Trump’s oil crisis is accelerating the end of the fossil fuel era

Wesley Morgan
Ben Newell
Michael Vatikiotis

Opinion | Blinding the world with lies makes peacemaking an impossible task

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Chandran Nair

Asian Angle | The Thucydides Trap is a lie created to justify a US-China war

Chandran Nair
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Nilufer Oral

Opinion | Passage through the Strait of Hormuz is a right in war and peace

Nilufer Oral
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MULTIMEDIA
Video

Filipino fishermen worry about Chinese nature reserve in disputed waters

Filipino fishermen worry about Chinese nature reserve in disputed waters
03:09
Video

Centenarian becomes oldest person to climb Mount Fuji

Centenarian becomes oldest person to climb Mount Fuji
02:34
Video

Cambodia unveils new Chinese-built airport

Cambodia unveils new Chinese-built airport
02:02
Video

Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra to serve 1 year in jail

Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra to serve 1 year in jail
04:27
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