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Filipino children walk to school on Isla Pugad in Hagonoy town, Bulacan province. Photo: AFP
The Philippines

Will Philippines’ ‘historic’ US$23 billion education budget make the grade?

Critics are worried that the massive budget would either fall prey to corruption or not be enough to tackle long-standing problems.

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Japan

Can Japan’s space industry regain thrust after H3 rocket failure?

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Malaysia

Trump’s dance, Najib’s 1MDB saga, influencer case: Malaysia leads Asean in 2025

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Singapore

Singapore in 2025: election fever, courtroom drama, pickleball mania

Local politics, tariff concerns, a horrific child abuse case and noise disputes dominate the headlines this year.

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong of the People’s Action Party thanks voters at an assembly area for the party’s supporters on general election day on May 3. Photo: AP
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong of the People’s Action Party thanks voters at an assembly area for the party’s supporters on general election day on May 3. Photo: AP
India

Indian rice could become costlier for US amid Trump’s tariff threat

Experts warn of wider repercussions, including efforts by importers to divert shipments and renewed strain in US-India trade talks.

Indonesia

Power, protests and policy shake-ups shape Indonesia’s 2025

President Prabowo Subianto asserts his authority as he navigates the global stage and domestic challenges in his first full year in office.

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India

Duopoly of Air India, IndiGo to face challenge from 2 new airlines

The approval for Al Hind Air and FlyExpress to operate in India comes amid mounting calls to challenge the dominance of Air India and IndiGo.

Aircrafts queue up on the tarmac before taking off at Mumbai airport. Photo: AFP
Aircrafts queue up on the tarmac before taking off at Mumbai airport. Photo: AFP
India

India’s new law to fuel energy needs, drive nuclear power growth

The new law, which will end years of near-exclusive state control, could unlock stalled investment and boost nuclear capacity, analysts say.

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India

India’s gem exports defy US tariffs as Asia, Middle East demand grows

Shipments rose 19.64 per cent year on year to US$2.51 billion in November, reflecting a successful diversification push, analysts say.

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Singapore

Singapore’s young graduates feel the heat in ‘draining’ job hunt

A dearth of entry-level jobs has forced some young Singaporeans to pivot to stopgap roles and entrepreneurship.

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The central business district in Singapore. Official data showed the unemployment rate of residents aged below 30 was 5.5 per cent in September. Photo: Reuters
Indonesia

Economic ‘pragmatism’ powers Indonesians’ positive view of China, survey finds

Analysts say China’s ‘visible’ investment activities and its ‘soft diplomacy’ in Indonesia have contributed to the positive public perception.

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Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping shake hands during their meeting at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, in November 2024. Prabowo is seen as “close” to Xi in a new survey. Photo: Pool via AP
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping shake hands during their meeting at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, in November 2024. Prabowo is seen as “close” to Xi in a new survey. Photo: Pool via AP
India

‘Pax Silica’: America’s new AI inner circle and Asia’s chosen few

Japan, South Korea and Singapore made the cut, leaving key partners like India and Vietnam – and even New Zealand – on the sidelines.

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India

Why India to Europe trade corridor is stalling even as talks continue

A key hurdle hampering the progress of the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor is the lingering uncertainty over Gaza.

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Japan

Losing ground: Japan sounds alarm over foreign-owned land

From next year, anyone buying property will have to confirm their nationality – a move some analysts say is overkill.

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The Tokyo Skytree is seen from buildings in a residential area of the Japanese capital. Photo: AFP
US-ally trade wars

Mexico’s 50% tariff shock shuts Asia’s North American trade bypass

A tariff wall will soon separate protected partners like CPTPP members Singapore and Malaysia from exporters facing a shutout.

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A drone view shows the Manzanillo seaport in Mexico in April. Photo: Reuters
A drone view shows the Manzanillo seaport in Mexico in April. Photo: Reuters
Thailand

Thailand’s tourism crown slips as troubles in paradise mount

Border clashes with Cambodia, fierce competition from Malaysia, deadly floods and a strong baht threaten the kingdom’s holiday appeal.

The Philippines

Philippines struggles to win back Chinese tourists as regional rivals surge

New data shows Chinese arrivals to the Philippines hit 312,000 last year, only 18 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.

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Japan

Steppe in the right direction? ‘Japan is back’ in Central Asia with new summit

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and the leaders of five Central Asian nations are expected to establish a new framework for cooperation in AI.

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Vendors sell traditional Uzbek clothing and jewellery inside a madrasah in Registan Square in Samarkand, Uzbekistan In September. Photo: EPA
Vendors sell traditional Uzbek clothing and jewellery inside a madrasah in Registan Square in Samarkand, Uzbekistan In September. Photo: EPA
Malaysia

Trump’s tariffs on Southeast Asia put US Christmas gifts at risk

From Hot Wheels to headphones, new levies are squeezing the supply of Americans’ festive favourites.

Malaysia

Southeast Asia’s rich buy sky garages while the middle class lose their homes

As wealthy buyers seek penthouses with living-room supercar parking, struggling families battle banks to keep a roof overhead.

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Malaysia

‘We’re just trying to survive’: young Malaysians buckle under rising debt

The country has seen a nearly 60 per cent increase in bankruptcies among those under 30 amid rising living costs and access to easy credit.

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Young Malaysians are struggling to stay afloat as rising costs and easy credit fuel growing financial stress. Photo: Shutterstock
India

Rupee slump ‘a little relief’ for Indian exporters amid US trade talks

The lower rupee is helping Indian industries that have been absorbing tariff losses in the hopes of a US-India trade deal, analysts say.

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A roadside vendor counts Indian rupee notes in Mumbai on November 28. Photo: AFP
A roadside vendor counts Indian rupee notes in Mumbai on November 28. Photo: AFP
India

India-EU trade pact nears finish line despite carbon tax dispute and Russia

Brussels is looking past India’s ties with Moscow to secure a vital economic win, with analysts predicting a deal within months.

India

IndiGo flight chaos exposes risks of India’s aviation duopoly

India’s largest airline grounded nearly 3,000 flights last week, showing how easily a staffing crunch at one carrier can paralyse the sector.

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The Philippines

Philippines ‘flood control queen’ faces arrest over corruption scandal

Prosecutors accuse Cezarah ‘Sarah’ Discaya of pocketing millions for a government-funded flood control project that was never built.

Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya (right) appears at a Senate committee hearing with her husband Pacifico in September. Photo: AP
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