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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr speaking at the Apec CEO summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, in October. Photo: AP

Politics

Filipino activists decry loss of public trust over failed bid to impeach Marcos

Public attention is now turning to two separate impeachment complaints filed against Vice-President Sara Duterte.

‘Bali is so dirty’: waste woes under scrutiny after Prabowo warning

Ex-actor Ian Fang deported and barred from Singapore over underage sex offences

Politics

‘Dominated by non-Malays’: study on elected Kuala Lumpur mayor spurs race debate

Critics slam the study as a ‘naive and misguided’ move by Minister Hannah Yeoh that would worsen the country’s ‘cultural war’.

Participants hold the national flag during Independence Day celebrations in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on August 31, 2025. Photo: EPA
Participants hold the national flag during Independence Day celebrations in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on August 31, 2025. Photo: EPA

Lifestyle & Culture

Outrage in South Korea over ‘importing virgins’ proposal to raise birth rate

Critics slammed a governor’s ‘crude’ suggestion to marry ‘Sri Lankan and Vietnamese virgins’ to local men as a fix for population decline.

Politics

Pakistan accuses ‘elements supported by India’ of organising Balochistan attacks

The attacks in recent days in the restive province caused the deaths of more than 250 civilians, security personnel and insurgents.

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Politics

‘Devil’s in the details’: why Asia may not sign up to Canada’s alliance call

While Canadian PM Mark Carney’s vision appeals to many, analysts say a lack of detail and divergent interests make a unified front unlikely.

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Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney delivers a speech during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last month. Photo: TNS
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney delivers a speech during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last month. Photo: TNS

Politics

Could a ‘shock’ Pyongyang visit cement Japan PM Takaichi’s snap election bid?

Despite scepticism, a leading campaigner claims Pyongyang is ready to return surviving abductees for ‘immediate, large-scale’ aid.

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Economics

Malaysian waters see return of oil transfer by ‘dark fleet’ of tankers

A crackdown against two vessels off Penang was the first disruption of such a ship-to-ship oil transfer in the state for over 10 years.

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Lifestyle & Culture

Thai funeral ‘food court’ blunder: tourists looking for buffet attend wake

The tourists who were served food by a family at the funeral were impressed with the kindness of the people in Thailand.

A Thai family offering food to a group of tourists who are searching for a restaurant and wander into a funeral by mistake in the city of Nakhon Si Thammarat. Photo: Facebook/Charantorn Chaloemkiad

People

Chinese buyers top the list in Malaysia’s MM2H golden visa scheme

While Chinese nationals lead the pack, Malaysia’s tourism minister also cites interest from the US, UK, Australia and Bangladesh.

Commercial buildings and residential housing in Kuala Lumpur. MM2H homeowners tend to cluster around prime districts in the Malaysian capital. Photo: AFP
Commercial buildings and residential housing in Kuala Lumpur. MM2H homeowners tend to cluster around prime districts in the Malaysian capital. Photo: AFP

Politics

Malaysia did not cede any land to Indonesia, PM Anwar insists

Claims of a 5,200-hectare territorial handover to Indonesia are ‘a lie’, Malaysia’s prime minister tells lawmakers.

Politics

Calls grow for tougher rules to track foreign-paid ‘trolls’ in Philippines

Retired justice says updating the Foreign Agents Act will help deter individuals from espousing pro-Beijing content.

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Health & Environment

Japan’s deadly winter spurs warnings of more ‘disaster-level’ weather patterns

Severe snowfall and related accidents across Japan have killed at least 29 people, including foreign nationals on holiday, in recent weeks.

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Japanese military personnel remove snow from a rooftop in Aomori, northeastern Japan, on Monday. Photo: Kyodo

Politics

As Japan’s Takaichi eyes big election win, will China stance shift?

A solid win will boost Takaichi’s position in foreign affairs but she is unlikely to become more confrontational towards China, analysts say.

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Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s prime minister and leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, attends an election campaign event in Nagano on Sunday. Photo: Kyodo via Reuters
Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s prime minister and leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, attends an election campaign event in Nagano on Sunday. Photo: Kyodo via Reuters

Economics

Exclusive | Indonesia’s top economic minister vows capital market reforms

Airlangga Hartarto also tells This Week in Asia that Indonesia is not on a nationalisation drive, but merely targeting illegal operations.

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Economics

Why India may ‘gravitate back’ to US bloc after Trump-Modi tariff deal

Analysts doubt that India can buy more than US$500 billion of US products in a short span of time and stop buying Russian oil.

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Politics

‘Critical point’: can Thailand election pave way for national reset?

With the economy struggling and corruption rife, Thai voters will look to the February 8 election as a chance to turn the country around.

Thailand’s prime minister and Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul (second from right) greets people at a market during an election campaign at Chinatown in Bangkok on January 20. Photo: AFP
Thailand’s prime minister and Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul (second from right) greets people at a market during an election campaign at Chinatown in Bangkok on January 20. Photo: AFP

Politics

Malaysia’s Islamists preach ‘racial domination’ to woo young voters

They govern the north, dominate the opposition and claim to soon be the undisputed home of Malay nationalism. Is Putrajaya next for PAS?

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Politics

Philippines enters its ‘hour of danger’ in Marcos vs Duterte clash

Analysts warn of a ‘very messy year’ ahead as coup fears swirl, the economy falters and political warfare rages out in the open.

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Economics

India overtakes Japan in economic size – while prosperity trails far behind

Becoming the No 4 economy is a source of pride. Now, the race is on to turn statistical success into 8 million new jobs a year.

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Shoppers walk along a street illuminated with decorative lights ahead of New Year celebrations in Bengaluru, India, last month. Photo: AFP
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LATEST Asia NEWS

Southeast Asia

Video | Giant sinkhole threatens Indonesian village

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Photo: Handout

South Asia

India probes suspected suicide of 3 sisters amid social media ban debate

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A child watches a cartoon series on a mobile phone in New Delhi. The sisters’ father had recently taken away their devices and banned online games and Korean dramas, local media reported. Photo: AFP

Politics

‘Dominated by non-Malays’: study on elected Kuala Lumpur mayor spurs race debate

Participants hold the national flag during Independence Day celebrations in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on August 31, 2025. Photo: EPA

Health & Environment

‘Bali is so dirty’: waste woes under scrutiny after Prabowo warning

Waste materials lie on Kuta Beach on Bali island on January 23. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has said he received complaints from foreign dignitaries about the state of cleanliness in Bali. Photo: EPA

Southeast Asia

Malaysia denies granting US exclusive rare earth access in Trump trade deal

US President Donald Trump (left) and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim shake hands during the signing of a Cambodia-Thailand peace deal In Kuala Lumpur in October 2025. Photo: Getty Images
MORE Asia NEWS
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OPINION
Lucio Blanco Pitlo III

Asian Angle | South China Sea: 6 risks facing Philippines, China as conflict threshold lowers

Lucio Blanco Pitlo III
Sophie Wushuang Yi

Asian Angle | ‘Old order is not coming back’: Trump’s US, not China, threatens status quo

Sophie Wushuang Yi
Alan Robles

Opinion | Marcos health problems call to mind past Philippine leaders’ woes

Alan Robles
William Choong,Joanne Lin

Asian Angle | What a US-China ‘grand bargain’ would mean for Southeast Asia

William Choong
Joanne Lin
Jean Iau

Singapore’s opposition chief debate draws comparisons with Westminster system

Jean Iau
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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
Video

Cambodia unveils new Chinese-built airport

Cambodia unveils new Chinese-built airport
02:02
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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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