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Stacks of containers at the Tanjung Priok port in Jakarta. Indonesia’s 5.12 per cent economic growth in the second quarter was better than analysts’ expectations. Photo: Reuters
Indonesia

‘Odd’ data: why Indonesia’s growth numbers are raising eyebrows

A think tank has asked the UN to review Indonesia’s economic data, as academics point to rising lay-offs and pessimistic manufacturing.

Japan

How a US$7 billion warship deal is reshaping Japan-Australia defence ties

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South Korea

South Korea, Vietnam join forces amid US-China rivalry

India

‘Stay in your lane’: US tariffs stir debate on India’s economic destiny

With US tariffs now at 50 per cent, calls are growing for India to become a ‘most unapologetic superpower’ and diversify its trade portfolio.

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US President Donald Trump speaks with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the White House on February 13. Photo: AP
US President Donald Trump speaks with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the White House on February 13. Photo: AP
Malaysia

Malaysia-Bangladesh labour migration talks resume despite job scam fears

Malaysia placed a freeze on hiring last year after thousands of Bangladeshi workers were left stranded, exploited by recruitment scams.

Indonesia

Game over? Indonesia eyes Roblox ban over child safety concerns

Indonesia’s education minister says the game has ‘a lot of violence’ that could lead young children to mimic harmful behaviours.

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The Philippines

As Trump threatens 100% semiconductor tariffs, how will Philippine firms react?

Semiconductors account for some 70 of the Philippines’ exports – but some observers are hopeful that ‘Taco’ Trump will not follow through.

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US President Donald Trump meets Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr at the White House on July 22. Photo: Reuters
US President Donald Trump meets Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr at the White House on July 22. Photo: Reuters
Malaysia

Malaysia’s plan to take on ticket touts is music to concertgoers’ ears

After tickets for a My Chemical Romance concert went on sale for US$940 each, authorities are considering a law to penalise scalpers.

India

India and Australia unite to challenge China’s rare earth reign

Australia’s tech and resources could unlock India’s vast untapped reserves, analysts say, creating a whole new supply chain.

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US-Asean relations

Tariffs and truces: how Southeast Asia bargained with erratic US economic might

Most nations ended up with tariffs reflecting a ‘baseline of sorts’, but not without major concessions – and two were singled out.

US President Donald Trump holds up a “reciprocal” tariff chart while speaking at the White House on “Liberation Day” earlier this year. Photo: Getty Images/TNS
Singapore

Why Singapore’s million-dollar HDB flats are becoming more common

The proportion of resale flats with such a price tag is rising even as the government has introduced steps to cool the public housing market.

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The view from Alice’s 39th-floor Clementi flat in Singapore. The price index of resale public housing flats in Singapore has been climbing steadily since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Photo: Alice
The view from Alice’s 39th-floor Clementi flat in Singapore. The price index of resale public housing flats in Singapore has been climbing steadily since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Photo: Alice
North Korea

How a US$1.5 billion North Korean hack exposed Asia’s crypto weaknesses

The Bybit hack represented a new high-water mark for the Lazarus Group, ushering in a dangerous new era for Asia’s digital finance ecosystem.

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Donald Trump

Will oil prices fall despite Trump’s tariff threat over Russian supply?

A drop from Russia’s oil supply is not likely to be significant, with global prices set to remain stable in the near term, an analyst says.

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Malaysia

Grab halts Mandarin driver trial in Malaysia after backlash, government warning

A viral screenshot showed the ride-hailing giant charging up to 50 per cent more for Mandarin-speaking drivers.

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A Grab car pick-up and drop-off point in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Shutterstock
India

Trump’s 50% tariff sows ‘total mistrust’ between US and India

Analysts say the US president’s move has little to do with economics and has injected unwanted ‘volatility’ into a once-stable relationship.

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Employees work at a buttermilk packaging plant in Gandhinagar, India, on August 7. US President Donald Trump has abruptly doubled tariffs on Indian goods. Photo: AP
Employees work at a buttermilk packaging plant in Gandhinagar, India, on August 7. US President Donald Trump has abruptly doubled tariffs on Indian goods. Photo: AP
Malaysia

Malaysia arrests Indian national caught with 2,500 turtles at airport

The incident comes after several cases of smugglers using Kuala Lumpur’s main airport as a hub to transport primates and rare reptiles.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s garment sector gets a tariff break – but rivals still threaten

Firms from Bangladesh’s biggest export sector worry that they do not enjoy a major competitive advantage over rivals from Vietnam and India.

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Malaysia

Fuel-lish act: Singapore car owner slammed for buying subsidised petrol in Johor

The issue of Singapore-registered car owners who have pumped subsidised petrol across the causeway is a sore point for Malaysians.

A still from social media footage showing the Singapore-registered car owner pumping RON95 subsidised petrol in Malaysia. Photo: Handout
A still from social media footage showing the Singapore-registered car owner pumping RON95 subsidised petrol in Malaysia. Photo: Handout
Japan

All talk, no paper: Japan’s US tariff deal hits a snag

A lack of clarity has left Japan’s crucial vehicle sector in limbo, with the political future of its embattled PM tied to the deal’s success.

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Malaysia

Malaysia’s US tariff deal comes with a US$240 billion price tag

Analysts warn unfunded government commitments could drain state funds and far outstrip the country’s existing trade imbalance with the US.

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Aviation

Jetstar Asia’s exit spotlights Asia’s budget airline squeeze

Analysts warn a perfect storm of rising costs, competition and economic volatility is forcing low-cost carriers to rethink their strategies.

Jetstar Asia’s exit reflects the intense pressure on profit margins faced by budget carriers in the region. Photo: AFP
Thailand

Is Thailand’s conflict-hit economy running out of luck?

As conflict with Cambodia compounds decades of political turmoil, analysts warn ‘Teflon’ Thailand may have lost its ability to bounce back.

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A 68-year-old Thai woman collects belongings from her home, destroyed by Cambodian artillery attacks, on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters
A 68-year-old Thai woman collects belongings from her home, destroyed by Cambodian artillery attacks, on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters
India

Foreign universities enter India, raising hopes for end to ‘brain drain’

India’s move to globalise higher education has attracted UK and Australian campuses, but experts say it may not address talent migration.

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South Korea

‘Shrimp among whales’: South Korea faces stark choices amid US-China rivalry

South Korea is coming under intense US pressure to pick a side, even as its new president would prefer to equivocate.

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Indonesia

Garuda Indonesia’s Boeing jets deal: a win-win or political trade-off?

The deal has come under scrutiny given Boeing’s safety reputation, even as Garuda insists it is part of strategic plans to expand its fleet.

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A worker closes a door of a Garuda Indonesia Boeing plane with a new face mask design. Garuda Indonesia, the country’s state-owned airline, is emerging from near-bankruptcy. Photo: AFP
Open Questions series

80 years on from WWII, China’s interests lie in peaceful Asia-Pacific: Mitter

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended

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Illustration: Henry Wong

Scholar Jing Qian on right-sizing China’s economy in the age of Trump

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

US-China rivalry doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game: Jessica Chen Weiss

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

China’s rise, potential recession, no WWIII yet: 11 key interviews from 2024

Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

80 years on from WWII, China’s interests lie in peaceful Asia-Pacific: Mitter

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended

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92
Illustration: Henry Wong

Scholar Jing Qian on right-sizing China’s economy in the age of Trump

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40
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

US-China rivalry doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game: Jessica Chen Weiss

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29
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

China’s rise, potential recession, no WWIII yet: 11 key interviews from 2024

Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
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