This Week in Asia

Asia
Politics
Economics
People
Opinion
Health & Environment
Lifestyle & Culture
Gen Z beauty seekers appear undeterred by harrowing tales of disfiguring infections, scarring and deaths caused by botulism. Photo: Shutterstock

Lifestyle & Culture

Cosmetic cravings: Asia’s Gen Z risk it all to keep their youthful looks

Young Southeast Asians are running a gauntlet of bootleg botox, fake fillers and clandestine clinics in their quest to defy ageing.

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‘Scared of dark skin’ no more? Young Thais reject stigma as beauty norms evolve

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Amid India’s trade blitz, New Zealand joins the race for a deal

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Politics

Philippines’ crackdown on Duterte disinformation may backfire, analysts warn

Investigation of vloggers accused of spreading falsehoods may further entrench his supporters’ beliefs and deepen the country’s political divide.

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Supporters of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte gather during a prayer rally, in Manila, on March 15. Photo: Reuters
Supporters of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte gather during a prayer rally, in Manila, on March 15. Photo: Reuters

Politics

Hegseth’s Manila visit ahead of Balikatan signals strong US-Philippines ties

US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth’s visit is seen as an important step in strengthening Washington’s alliances in the Asia-Pacific.

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Politics

Indonesian reporter receives pig’s head in incident condemned as ‘terror attack’

The severed head was found in a cardboard box delivered to Francisca Christy Rosana, who works for the Tempo magazine.

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Economics

Singapore rolls out unprecedented unemployment payouts – will it help?

The policy ‘U-turn’ is brought about by global disruptions that Singapore has been experiencing in recent years, an analyst says.

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People walk in the Central Business District in Singapore. Photo: EPA-EFE
People walk in the Central Business District in Singapore. Photo: EPA-EFE

Politics

Chinese couple linked to cryptocurrency scam, kidnapping arrested in Thailand

Thai police arrested a Chinese woman in connection to the scam, while discovering her fugitive boyfriend was wanted for kidnapping in China.

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Politics

Will India and South Korea join the Philippines’ ‘Squad’ to counter China?

Analysts say expanding the Squad would strengthen surveillance and response capabilities, making it harder for Beijing to operate unchallenged in contested waters.

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Lifestyle & Culture

Slap heard around Malaysia: viral Ramadan altercation sparks memes, debate

Social media users are poking fun at the absurdity of the viral video of an elderly Malay man confronting a non-Muslim for not fasting.

Verdi Kornelis Omjai posts a photo of himself eating with his identity card on the table to prove he isn’t Malay on social media. Photo: Facebook/Verdi Kornelis Omjai

Lifestyle & Culture

Malaysian ‘budgie smuggler’ caught on camera stuffing Labubu toys down his shorts

A Malaysian shoplifter, dubbed the “blind box bandit”, was filmed smuggling Labubu toys down his trousers at a Kuala Lumpur megamall.

A Labubu key-chain collection from Pop Mart. Photo: Shutterstock
A Labubu key-chain collection from Pop Mart. Photo: Shutterstock

Lifestyle & Culture

Is Singapore still smiling after a drop in the world happiness report?

Singapore remains Southeast Asia’s happiest nation despite its lowest global ranking in a decade, with strong GDP but weak social support affecting citizens.

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Lifestyle & Culture

Bhutan’s life sentences for political prisoners is illegal, UN says

The UN report noted that it was ‘discriminatory’ to single out members of a minority group for expressing political opinions.

Politics

Indonesia and Vietnam to seal maritime deal – will China respond?

Indonesia’s parliament is set to sign an agreement to formalise maritime boundaries with Vietnam next month.

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Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Vietnam’s Communist Party General Secretary To Lam wave to students at a welcoming ceremony in Jakarta on March 10. Photo: Reuters

People

Vietnamese ex-surgeon who dismembered mistress gets death sentence

The judges who presided over the case said Danh Son’s murder of the victim was ‘exceptionally brutal’.

A Vietnamese doctor has been found guilty of killing his mistress. Photo: Shutterstock
A Vietnamese doctor has been found guilty of killing his mistress. Photo: Shutterstock

Lifestyle & Culture

Are Indian films tapping Hindu nationalism to achieve box-office success?

The blockbuster Chhaava, which has led to violent protests, has sparked debate on whether Indian directors have forsaken historical accuracy.

Lifestyle & Culture

Fin-tastic: world’s ugliest animal wins New Zealand’s fish of the year

The quirky deep-sea blobfish beat the orange roughy to claim the honour.

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Lifestyle & Culture

Cosmetic cravings: Asia’s Gen Z risk it all to keep their youthful looks

Young Southeast Asians are running a gauntlet of bootleg botox, fake fillers and clandestine clinics in their quest to defy ageing.

videocam
Gen Z beauty seekers appear undeterred by harrowing tales of disfiguring infections, scarring and deaths caused by botulism. Photo: Shutterstock
Gen Z beauty seekers appear undeterred by harrowing tales of disfiguring infections, scarring and deaths caused by botulism. Photo: Shutterstock

Politics

How Singapore’s opposition hopes to loosen the PAP’s 66-year grip on power

The Workers’ Party aims to build on its gains. Tan Cheng Bock’s PSP is back in the fray, too. Can they chip away at the PAP’s supermajority?

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Economics

Emas or gelap? Prabowo’s golden dream and Indonesia’s ‘dark’ realities collide

With a shrinking middle class, falling commodity prices and youth unemployment on the rise, experts warn of an economic paradox in the making.

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Economics

Malaysia’s digital economy ambition faces disconnect in workplace and schools

The country’s workers are ill-equipped to meet the needs of the digital economy with AI threatening to leave them in the shade, analysts say.

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Kuala Lumpur city skyline. Malaysia’s goal to become a digital economy faces challenges such as a shortage in skilled manpower. Photo: Shutterstock
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LATEST Asia NEWS

South Asia

Leading human rights, Baloch advocate detained in Pakistan

Supporters of the Baloch hold placards as they rally to protest after their leader Mahrang Baloch was arrested in Quetta, in Islamabad on Saturday. Photo: EPA-EFE

East Asia

South Koreans rally as court prepares impeachment ruling

Protesters wave flags during a rally calling for impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol to step down, in Seoul on Saturday. Photo:AP

East Asia

Japanese stem cell research helps treat spinal injuries

Stem cells illustrated in colour. Photo: Shutterstock

South Asia

Trump’s brand booms in Asia despite worldwide loathing

People protest during a pro-Palestinian demonstration at the Trump Building in New York on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

Politics

‘Scared of dark skin’ no more? Young Thais reject stigma as beauty norms evolve

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Miss Thailand Anna Sueangam-Iam 2022 walks onstage at a Miss Universe contest. While some beauty pageants now celebrate more diverse aesthetics, Thailand’s most popular television shows still star fair-skinned leads. Photo: Getty Images/AFP
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OPINION
Sundeep Waslekar

Opinion | A nuclear war started by AI sounds like science fiction. It isn’t

John Keane

Opinion | The decline of the American empire: how Trumpism threatens democracy worldwide

John Keane
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John Keane

Opinion | The rise of China and the retreat of the US: a new global empire takes shape

John Keane
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Samantha Boh

Asian Angle | Singapore was once polluted, too. Asia could learn much from its transformation

Samantha Boh
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Lucio Blanco Pitlo III

Asian Angle | What Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest means for Philippines’ politics, global standing

Lucio Blanco Pitlo III
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MULTIMEDIA
Video

Indian slums get cool roofs to beat summer heat

Indian slums get cool roofs to combat extreme heat
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Vietnam targets Chinese dolls over South China Sea ‘map’

Vietnam targets toys reportedly featuring South China Sea map used by Beijing
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Military bombs Myanmar village twice in one week

‘Killed on their way to the market’: Myanmar junta bombs village twice in a single week
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Freed Indonesians return from Myanmar

Hundreds of Indonesians rescued from Myanmar scam centres arrive home
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