This Week in Asia

Asia
Politics
Economics
People
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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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AI chatbots throw Singapore’s young people a mental health lifeline

In Malaysia, one chef’s daily grind preserves Melaka Peranakan food traditions

Politics

Australia’s two-party system faces its biggest challenge yet: young people

Angry and frustrated young Australians want to make mainstream politicians ‘feel their hurt’ in this year’s election, observers say.

School students attend a climate rally in Melbourne. For the first time, baby boomers will be outnumbered by millennials and Gen Z voters at Australia’s next federal elections. Photo: AFP
School students attend a climate rally in Melbourne. For the first time, baby boomers will be outnumbered by millennials and Gen Z voters at Australia’s next federal elections. Photo: AFP

Politics

‘Mission accomplished’: US-Philippines drills return in full battle mode

As 16,000 troops gear up for the 40th Balikatan, one Philippine general says he ‘doesn’t care’ how China reacts: ‘if they’re angry … good’.

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Politics

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

With a new generation of Thais challenging biases and redefining beauty norms, fair skin’s once-unquestioned dominance appears to be fading.

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Economics

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

New Delhi is simultaneously pursuing agreements with the UK and the EU, driven by export-led growth ambitions and concerns over US policies.

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India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) shakes hands with his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon in New Delhi on Monday. Photo: AFP
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) shakes hands with his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon in New Delhi on Monday. Photo: AFP

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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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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An Indonesian reporter with Tempo magazine has received a severed pig’s head in an incident condemned as a “terror attack”. Photo: Handout

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.

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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

Pakistan charges human rights, Baloch activist with ‘terrorism’

Activists from the Baloch Students Council taking part in a protest demanding the release of Mahrang Baloch, in Lahore on Sunday. Photo: AFP

South Asia

India: quashing Volkswagen’s tax bill would be ‘catastrophic’

A person walks next to the logo of German car maker Volkswagen on a wall at the company’s plant in Wolfsburg, Germany, on March 7. Photo: EPA-EFE

Health & Environment

AI chatbots throw Singapore’s young people a mental health lifeline

Artificial intelligence chatbots have become a first line of defence for a generation struggling with their mental health. Photo: Shutterstock

Politics

‘Mission accomplished’: US-Philippines drills return in full battle mode

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US and Philippine troops conduct battle drills at Fort Magsaysay during last year’s Balikatan drills. Photo: US Army

Politics

Australia’s two-party system faces its biggest challenge yet: young people

School students attend a climate rally in Melbourne. For the first time, baby boomers will be outnumbered by millennials and Gen Z voters at Australia’s next federal elections. Photo: AFP
MORE Asia NEWS
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OPINION
Elisha M. Sonthra

Opinion | The gravity of ‘space oil’: understanding Hong Kong teens’ new drug of choice

Elisha M. Sonthra
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
15
Samantha Boh

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

Samantha Boh
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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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Video

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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Video

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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Video

Freed Indonesians return from Myanmar

Hundreds of Indonesians rescued from Myanmar scam centres arrive home
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