Advertisement
Advertisement

This Week in Asia

Asia
Politics
Economics
People
Opinion
Health & Environment
Lifestyle & Culture
Teenagers play games on their smartphones at a convenience store in the Philippines. Lawmakers have called for curbs on minors’ social media access. Photo: Shutterstock

Lifestyle & Culture

Philippines weighs social media ban for minors, but will it be enough?

Analysts warn that restricting access alone will do little to fix the algorithms that expose young users to harmful content.

videocam

Bali rocked by spate of murder cases – is Indonesian island more dangerous now?

videocam

Malaysian minister steps in with aid for family of drink-driving victim

Economics

How Asean’s neutral stance in Iran war protects its energy security

Granting Southeast Asian vessels safe passage through the strait allows Iran to come across as a diplomatic good guy, analysts say.

videocam
An oil tanker sits anchored off Muscat, Oman, on March 10. Photo: Reuters
An oil tanker sits anchored off Muscat, Oman, on March 10. Photo: Reuters

People

Malaysian woman’s apology for damaging double-parked car triggers outcry

Viral videos showed the woman was unable to leave for about an hour after a red Perodua Ativa was left double-parked behind her car.

5

Economics

From ‘Unicorn Land’ to Singapore: Estonian start-ups chase tech dream in Asean

Veriff and other unicorn companies are targeting Singapore for their regional headquarters, citing similarities in digital advancement.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Politics

Why Japan’s advanced fighter project may get Canadian tailwinds

With Ottawa’s interest in the stealth fighter, Tokyo hopes the multinational project for its air force’s modernisation can regain momentum.

A concept design of the Global Combat Air Programme sixth-generation fighter jet displayed at the 2024 Farnborough International Air Show. Photo: AFP
A concept design of the Global Combat Air Programme sixth-generation fighter jet displayed at the 2024 Farnborough International Air Show. Photo: AFP

Economics

‘Matter of survival’: Philippines seeks safe Hormuz passage for vessels

Philippine and Iranian officials met on Wednesday to discuss ‘key avenues for cooperation’, amid Tehran’s blockade of the strait.

videocam

Health & Environment

Is the Strait of Hormuz a ticking environmental time bomb?

A major oil spill in the Gulf could damage fragile marine habitats, leading to dire consequences for the region, conservationists warn.

videocam

Politics

Indonesian peacekeepers’ deaths spur calls for Middle East exit plan

Lawmakers want Indonesia to pressure Israel for answers and urge Jakarta to rethink its Lebanon and Gaza peacekeeping mission.

videocam
UN peacekeepers with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon drive past firefighters clearing the road at the site of an overnight Israeli airstrike in Naqura in southern Lebanon last week. Photo: AFP

Politics

Why Myanmar top general’s exit is window dressing to cement military rule

Min Aung Hlaing, who has resigned from the armed forces, is set to get approval from the military-allied parliament to become president.

Myanmar junta chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing hands over a flag to newly appointed Commander-in-Chief General Ye Win Oo at a ceremony in Naypyitaw on Monday. Photo: Handout via Reuters
Myanmar junta chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing hands over a flag to newly appointed Commander-in-Chief General Ye Win Oo at a ceremony in Naypyitaw on Monday. Photo: Handout via Reuters

Politics

Malaysia denies Anwar delayed release of MACC chief probe, plans legal action

The government says Anwar has committed to releasing the findings once related investigations are completed.

Politics

Malaysian anti-corruption body offers to pay for witness’s flight in chips probe

Ex-government aide James Chai, who is in London, said he was a ‘nobody’ who did not influence the US$250 million deal with Arm Holdings.

Economics

Malaysian minister warns of ‘very, very serious’ energy crisis

Anthony Loke urges Malaysians to plan their travel and reduce resource wastage, saying energy supply would not be disrupted until May.

videocam
A man fills his car with petrol in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Photo: EPA

Politics

What Pakistan gains by playing peacemaker in Iran war

If Islamabad can successfully carry off the talks, it stands a chance of bringing in much-needed investments and weapon sales, analysts say.

videocam
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (left) and Army Chief Asim Munir (right) meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on September 26, 2025. Photo: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Office/AFP
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (left) and Army Chief Asim Munir (right) meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on September 26, 2025. Photo: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Office/AFP

Politics

Japan races to limit fallout from Chinese embassy break-in

Chinese state media seized on the breach as proof of Japan’s militarism and ‘rampant far-right ideology’.

Lifestyle & Culture

Litterbugs in Shibuya to be fined on the spot as visitor numbers surge

The initiative, which will see offenders fined US$12.50, reflects a broader rethink of the ward’s earlier decision to remove public rubbish bins.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Health & Environment

Burning daylight: Iran war energy shock revives Asean’s power grid plans

Oil is up, coal is back and so are fuel queues. As the Middle East burns, Southeast Asia dusts off an old plan to rewire its future.

Illustration: Huy Truong
Illustration: Huy Truong

Health & Environment

Mortal combat: Southeast Asia fights fears of death to plan for the end

Birth rates are falling. Populations are ageing. In Southeast Asia, the business of dying has never been bigger.

videocam

Politics

Graft and gridlock: in Anwar’s Malaysia, reformist cracks widen

Malaysia’s prime minister can’t pass his own reform bills. His coalition appears to be cracking – and time is running out.

People

‘It’s inevitable’: Singapore’s workers brace for AI disruption

The city state wants 100,000 workers to become ‘AI bilingual’. But with entry-level roles already vanishing, time may not be on its side.

videocam
Illustration: Huy Truong
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
LATEST Asia NEWS

Lifestyle & Culture

Philippines weighs social media ban for minors, but will it be enough?

videocam
Teenagers play games on their smartphones at a convenience store in the Philippines. Lawmakers have called for curbs on minors’ social media access. Photo: Shutterstock

Lifestyle & Culture

Bali rocked by spate of murder cases – is Indonesian island more dangerous now?

videocam
Igor Komarov, a 28-year-old Ukrainian, was kidnapped and later found dead in a suspected murder in Bali in February. Photo: YouTube

People

Malaysian minister steps in with aid for family of drink-driving victim

Malaysia’s Transport Minister Anthony Loke offers condolences and personal financial aid to the family of Amirul Hafiz Omar, who was killed in a drink-driving accident. Photo: Handout

Economics

How Asean’s neutral stance in Iran war protects its energy security

videocam
An oil tanker sits anchored off Muscat, Oman, on March 10. Photo: Reuters
MORE Asia NEWS
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
OPINION
Marianne Hanson

Opinion | One rule for Israel and another for Iran risks nuclear disaster

Marianne Hanson
6
Francis C. Domingo

Asian Angle | The Philippine military must transform, not just modernise

Francis C. Domingo
Ian Storey

Opinion | Indonesia’s new aircraft carrier is more vanity project than war machine

Ian Storey
Syaza Shukri

Asian Angle | Malaysia’s LGBTQ crackdowns aren’t hypocrisy, they’re politics

Syaza Shukri
Barbora Valockova

Opinion | Underwater and unprotected: why Asean and the EU must secure subsea lifelines

Barbora Valockova
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
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
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
TRENDING TOPICS
Singapore
Malaysia
The Philippines
Indonesia
South China Sea
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
MOST POPULAR
1

Philippines scores poorly on work-life balance. Filipinos are not surprised

videocam
2

Joy in a bag: for overseas Filipinos, Jollibee is a taste of home

3

Malaysia’s Yong Zheng Xi on the ‘95% hard work’ behind his Bridgerton fame

4

Man kills woman at Tokyo Pokemon shop before taking his own life

5

Untouchable no more: Nepal to apologise to Dalits for first time

videocam