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Philippine military servicemen take part in a live fire exercise during the annual US-Philippines joint Balikatan exercise in Rizal, Palawan, last year. Photo: AFP

Politics

Philippines’ rising military pensions risk triggering budget ‘time bomb’

The surge in pensions may weaken the country’s push to buy modern military assets to strengthen its deterrence.

Malaysia’s Ismail Sabri denies failing to declare millions in cash, gold bars

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Trunk road: injured elephant’s 100km trek home drives debate in Malaysia

Lifestyle & Culture

Can Singapore’s new anti-scam rules help stop online fraud before it occurs?

The new rules shift more responsibility to messaging platforms, in a move analysts say could become a regional model.

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People walk past a poster warning of scam threats in the financial business district of Raffles Place in Singapore in September 2025. Photo: AFP
People walk past a poster warning of scam threats in the financial business district of Raffles Place in Singapore in September 2025. Photo: AFP

Lifestyle & Culture

Bears and pest control: how Japan is spending its departure tax windfall

Critics say the funds are being channelled into projects with limited direct benefit to travellers and question how the money is being spent.

Politics

South Korea hands police more power even as dead bodies expose the lies

Fabricated calls and erased files kept two deaths hidden. Now, a force prone to cover-ups is inheriting unchecked authority.

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Politics

Why US visa pause could have ‘real consequences’ for Asian applicants

Observers warn the pause ‘risks months of cascading delays’ for Asian countries with large numbers of pending applications.

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US President Donald Trump’s administration has tightened legal immigration through new screening and higher costs. Photo: TNS
US President Donald Trump’s administration has tightened legal immigration through new screening and higher costs. Photo: TNS

People

Why South Asian students are rethinking Western university education

Rising costs, visa restrictions and better regional choices drive a shift towards domestic undergraduate study before going abroad.

Lifestyle & Culture

Singapore’s future island plan stirs concern over reefs and old fishing grounds

The plan to merge three islands could be another example of nature, memory and maritime heritage giving way to development, activists say.

Politics

Why Philippines is betting on drones to boost maritime security

Manila plans to use drones as force multipliers, but analysts warn building a credible deterrence network will require multi-year investment.

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A drone hovers above a Philippine Coast Guard patrol vessel in Bataan province in April 2025. Photo: EPA-EFE

Health & Environment

Smog without borders: Indonesia opens its skies to Malaysian rainmakers

Joint cloud seeding efforts offer immediate relief from the haze, but experts warn fire prevention at source is the real battle.

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Firefighters extinguish a peatland fire at Tambang in Indonesia’s Riau province on Tuesday. Photo: Wahyudi/AFP
Firefighters extinguish a peatland fire at Tambang in Indonesia’s Riau province on Tuesday. Photo: Wahyudi/AFP

People

‘Open air murder’: fatal brawl reignites fears over Malaysian gang violence

Dashcam video showing a man being rammed by a car during an armed street fight has triggered a murder inquiry.

Politics

North Korea’s Japan-bashing hits fever pitch as Russia ties grow

Pyongyang slams Tokyo’s record defence budget and war shrine visits, framing regional tension as a Cold War-style clash.

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Politics

Philippines’ naval base plans put closed Chinese-linked plant in spotlight

US embassy says American military personnel wanted to assess Sanjia Steel’s premises as a potential site for next year’s Balikatan exercises.

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US and Philippine soldiers take part in counter-landing live‑fire exercises during Balikatan, the annual joint military exercises, at Long Point Beach in Palawan in April. Photo: Reuters

Politics

What is really behind Japan’s planned cabinet shake-up?

With voters anxious over inflation, swapping cabinet faces offers a convenient distraction from economic pain.

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrives at her office in Tokyo on Tuesday. Photo: AFP
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrives at her office in Tokyo on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Health & Environment

‘Crazy loud’: terror as Malaysian roller coaster fails mid-ride, injuring 10

A top official points to metal fatigue as police and the theme park operator face a backlash for delayed comment on Saturday’s incident.

Health & Environment

Singapore’s island merger plan fuels nuclear power speculation

Analysts say nuclear could be one of Singapore’s options when planning the new island and its supporting infrastructure.

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Politics

Malaysia’s Anwar traded reform for power. Now Umno wants it all

Back-to-back election losses and internal party rifts leave Malaysia’s prime minister clinging to a crumbling coalition.

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Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition has suffered a series of bruising defeats in recent state elections. Photo: EPA-EFE
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition has suffered a series of bruising defeats in recent state elections. Photo: EPA-EFE

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.

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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Illustration: Huy Truong
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LATEST Asia NEWS

East Asia

Japan to probe popular animal cafes amid hygiene, welfare concerns

A Japanese woman plays with an inhabitant of a cat cafe in Tokyo in February 2012. Japan plans to probe popular animal cafes following concerns about hygiene and animal welfare. Photo: AFP

Politics

Philippines’ rising military pensions risk triggering budget ‘time bomb’

Philippine military servicemen take part in a live fire exercise during the annual US-Philippines joint Balikatan exercise in Rizal, Palawan, last year. Photo: AFP

Southeast Asia

Malaysian airport staff find body in wheel well of plane from Japan

An AirAsia plane taxies along the tarmac of Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2. Airlines that fly to the terminal include AirAsia, Cebu PAcific and Scoot. Photo: Reuters

East Asia

North Korea vows ‘powerful response’ to US$125 million US-South Korea arms deal

An AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missile at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. The US State Department has approved a potential sale to South Korea of $125 million worth of ‌AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles and related equipment. Photo: AP

Politics

Malaysia’s Ismail Sabri denies failing to declare millions in cash, gold bars

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Former Malaysian prime minister, Ismail Sabri, waves as he leaves the Kuala Lumpur court on Thursday. Photo: EPA
MORE Asia NEWS
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OPINION
Su Mon Thazin Aung

Asian Angle | SpaceX’s Starlink blackout punishes Myanmar civilians, not just cybercriminals

Su Mon Thazin Aung
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
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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
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Cambodia unveils new Chinese-built airport

Cambodia unveils new Chinese-built airport
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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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