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This Week in Asia

Asia
Politics
Economics
People
Opinion
Health & Environment
Lifestyle & Culture
Illustration: Kevin Wong

Lifestyle & Culture

Bling gamble: how Southeast Asia’s middle class is redefining luxury

Instalments and resales are helping customers from Bangkok to Jakarta bridge the gap between aspiration and affordability.

Lee Kuan Yew’s Montblanc pen sells for US$360,000 in Singapore auction

Malaysia’s DAP backs Anwar’s alliance but faces growing pressure for reform

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Economics

How Cambodian worker exodus exposes Thailand’s fragile labour model

An estimated 780,000 Cambodian workers have left Thailand since last year’s border conflicts, affecting a wide range of industries.

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Cambodian migrant workers cross the border at Ban Laem Border checkpoint in Chanthaburi province, Thailand, in July last year to return to their home amid the deadly border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia. Photo: Reuters
Cambodian migrant workers cross the border at Ban Laem Border checkpoint in Chanthaburi province, Thailand, in July last year to return to their home amid the deadly border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia. Photo: Reuters

Lifestyle & Culture

Does K-pop need the Grammys? BTS’ boycott reignites debate

BTS’ decision has forced Asian pop artists to weigh Grammy recognition against the risk of being boxed in.

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Economics

Cable ties: Australia urged to lead Indo-Pacific in protecting subsea links

Australia should treat cable resilience not only as a domestic security issue but also as a shared regional project, analysts say.

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Politics

Russia’s role in Middle East politics endures, shifts to being ‘secondary power’

Two Russian military bases will remain in Syria as the region continues to recalibrate its relations with major powers amid the Iran war.

A Syrian rebel fighter stands at an inspection checkpoint for incoming vehicles before a Russian flag and Russian soldiers behind manning the entrance of the Russian-leased Syrian military base of Hmeimim in Latakia province in Syria in 2024. Photo: TNS
A Syrian rebel fighter stands at an inspection checkpoint for incoming vehicles before a Russian flag and Russian soldiers behind manning the entrance of the Russian-leased Syrian military base of Hmeimim in Latakia province in Syria in 2024. Photo: TNS

Lifestyle & Culture

Meet the Singaporean DJ taking local sounds to the global stage

Likie Low’s playlist at Tomorrowland wove Singapore train announcements and bird calls together with electronic dance music.

People

How Southeast Asia’s monarchies stay relevant in a volatile region

The kings in Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and Brunei have to be attuned to societal or economic changes to survive, analysts say.

Politics

Why Prabowo’s change in tone might not signal a change in Indonesia’s course

Analysts said his rare self-criticism showed responsiveness to pressure but questioned whether a commodity policy shift marked real change.

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Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto delivers his annual State of the Nation Address ahead of the country’s Independence Day at the parliament building in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Friday. Photo: EPA

Politics

Philippines’ Marcos sees progress on China oil deal despite maritime row

The president also confirms for the first time a ‘provisional understanding’ with China over the resupply of WWII warship Sierra Madre.

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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr speaks at a Foreign Correspondents’ Association of the Philippines forum on Friday. Photo: AFP
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr speaks at a Foreign Correspondents’ Association of the Philippines forum on Friday. Photo: AFP

People

Families of Lion Air crash victims suffer again, ‘predatory’ lawyer evades jail

Keith Griffin has admitted that he knew his boss Tom Girardi failed to distribute settlement funds to families of the Lion Air victims.

Politics

Will disbarment of Singapore’s Pritam Singh further dent his political standing?

Singaporeans have largely moved on from the long-running saga involving the WP chief due to ‘political fatigue’, analysts say.

Politics

UN atrocity report adds friction to Myanmar junta’s push for legitimacy

The report says abuses escalated around the time Myanmar was conducting junta-led elections that saw Min Aung Hlaing elected as president.

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Myanmar’s President Min Aung Hlaing reviews a Thai guard of honour during a welcome ceremony at Bangkok’s Government House on August 6. Photo: Reuters

People

Malaysian university slammed for talk by murdered Mongolian’s ex-lover

Abdul Razak, a former adviser to Najib Razak, still faces a civil suit after a court found him liable over Altantuya Shaariibuu’s death.

An undated passport photograph of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu is seen beside an undated picture of Malaysian political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda. Photo: AP Photo/Mongolian Consulate
An undated passport photograph of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu is seen beside an undated picture of Malaysian political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda. Photo: AP Photo/Mongolian Consulate

Lifestyle & Culture

Malaysian F1 fans vent fury over sales process, organisers cite ‘high traffic’

The Sepang International Circuit is hosting the race for the first time since 2017 as the Bahrain leg was cancelled due to the Iran war.

Politics

South Korea’s moon landing, quantum chips: Seoul bets big on post-AI economy

The country has identified seven next-generation industries, including nuclear fusion and small modular reactors, to stem sluggish growth potential.

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Lifestyle & Culture

Bling gamble: how Southeast Asia’s middle class is redefining luxury

Instalments and resales are helping customers from Bangkok to Jakarta bridge the gap between aspiration and affordability.

Illustration: Kevin Wong
Illustration: Kevin Wong

People

Malaysia’s royals rise to the fore in a changing nation

Unstable coalitions have created greater room for the country’s royal institutions to influence government formation, observers say.

Health & Environment

Asia’s AI boom has a dirty secret: the coal that powers it

In the rush to build the digital future, regional tech hubs are digging up the past.

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Economics

Southeast Asian scammers’ new disguise: your leader’s face

The president is asking for your bank details. He isn’t, of course. But the AI wearing his face is.

Illustration: Kevin Wong
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LATEST Asia NEWS

People

Lee Kuan Yew’s Montblanc pen sells for US$360,000 in Singapore auction

A silver Montblanc Meisterstuck No 146 fountain pen belonging to Singapore’s founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew sells for S$461,500 on Sunday. Photo: Handout

Australasia

Australian foreign minister defends multiculturalism, attacks far-right

High school and university students opposed to the policies of Pauline Hanson and her far-right One Nation Party march through Melbourne on Thursday. Photo: dpa

Politics

Malaysia’s DAP backs Anwar’s alliance but faces growing pressure for reform

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DAP Secretary General Anthony Loke (centre) answers questions from the media after the vote on Sunday. Photo: Joseph Sipalan

South Asia

Pakistan border sees 724 humanitarian trucks enter Afghanistan

Afghan refugees receive food rations donated by Saudi Arabia, in Kabul on July 30. Photo: EPA-EFE

South Asia

Rahman will not visit India until Hasina extradited to Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tarique Rahman attends a meeting with Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (not pictured) at the Federal Government office ‘Perdana Putra’ in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on June 22. Photo: Reuters
MORE Asia NEWS
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OPINION
Nguyen Khac Giang

Asian Angle | How Vietnam’s ‘streamlining revolution’ may lead to uneven success

Nguyen Khac Giang
Donald Low

Asian Angle | Bangkok branches out: how Thai capital moved from concrete to real jungle

Donald Low
Chheang Vannarith

Asian Angle | Cambodia and Thailand must define the border to achieve lasting peace

Chheang Vannarith
Thomas Greminger

Opinion | America and China can be allies against AI catastrophe

Thomas Greminger
Anna Fong,Donald Low

Asian Angle | Southeast Asia must embrace reforms for ‘China plus one’ to succeed

Anna Fong
Donald Low
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MULTIMEDIA
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Filipino fishermen worry about Chinese nature reserve in disputed waters

Filipino fishermen worry about Chinese nature reserve in disputed waters
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Video

Centenarian becomes oldest person to climb Mount Fuji

Centenarian becomes oldest person to climb Mount Fuji
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Cambodia unveils new Chinese-built airport

Cambodia unveils new Chinese-built airport
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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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