This Week in Asia

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A cargo ship is loaded with containers as it is docked at the port of Bangkok in Thailand on Thursday. Thailand is one of six countries in Southeast Asia slapped with much higher than expected tariffs by the US. Photo: Reuters

Politics

Southeast Asians expect more US engagement amid Trump’s tariff call: survey

Singapore, one of the US’ closest partners in the region, is the most worried about the impact of Trump’s second term, a new survey shows.

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Japan’s municipalities unready to deal with major earthquake: survey

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Sinophobia among Philippine officials? China’s travel advisory spurs reflection

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Economics

Temasek takes a big bite of India’s food market with major Haldiram’s deal

The state investment fund has reportedly bought a 10 per cent stake in the leading Indian food company for US$1 billion.

Packets of snacks on the shelves inside a Haldiram’s restaurant in Mumbai, India. Photo: Reuters
Packets of snacks on the shelves inside a Haldiram’s restaurant in Mumbai, India. Photo: Reuters

Politics

Japanese female politician gets 8,000 death threats over menstrual care post

Experts say abusive messages reflect a deeper pattern of gender-based harassment aiming to silence outspoken women and are frequent occurrences.

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Politics

India and Sri Lanka set to sign defence pact amid China’s rising regional clout

Both sides are also expected to sign agreements on the development of solar power plants and trade cooperation in several sectors.

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Health & Environment

South Korea mulls giving Indonesian wildfire hero a long-stay visa

He carried elderly villagers on his back to a sea wall about 300m from the hamlet as the fast-moving flames approached.

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A wildfire-damaged house in a coastal village in Yeongdeok, South Korea, on Friday. Photo: AFP
A wildfire-damaged house in a coastal village in Yeongdeok, South Korea, on Friday. Photo: AFP

Health & Environment

‘Earthquake drunk’ Thais given advice on how to deal with post-quake dizziness

The syndrome, caused by an overstimulated nervous system, is more common among those with anxiety disorders and migraines, experts say.

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Politics

Philippine influencers grilled over Duterte ‘fake news’ admit errors amid tears

Some critics welcomed the accountability for social media figures, while others felt the hearing focused more on settling scores than addressing structural issues.

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Health & Environment

Deaths from future big quake in Philippines may surpass 50,000: seismologist

The forecast comes after a 7.7-magnitude quake in Myanmar last week left over 2,700 people dead and caused a building in Bangkok to collapse.

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A building collapsed after a 7.3 magnitude earthquake hit Santiago, Ilocos Sur province, Philippines, in 2022. Photo: EPA-EFE

Lifestyle & Culture

‘Malicious’ Japan TV clip claiming Chinese eat crows ruffles feathers in China

A freelance producer had manipulated the clip for maximum entertainment value, network claimed.

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A crow caws from an overhead power line. Photo: dpa
A crow caws from an overhead power line. Photo: dpa

Politics

Bodybuilder in legal trouble for viral turbine stunt at Sydney Airport

Despite facing criticism for being unsafe, the bodybuilding influencer defended his actions, stating he had taken adequate precautions.

Health & Environment

Malaysians angry over Selangor gas pipeline fire, blame ‘haphazard’ works

More than 100 people were injured in the huge blaze that happened near a residential area, with 65 of them hospitalised.

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Health & Environment

Massive Myanmar earthquake reveals cracks in Bangkok’s ‘tofu buildings’

The Chinese embassy in Bangkok has called for full cooperation with the Thai authorities’ investigation into the State Audit Office collapse.

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Rescuers conduct a search for survivors on Friday at the site of the collapsed State Audit Office tower building in Bangkok. Photo: EPA-EFE

Health & Environment

Japan’s second ‘baby hatch’ for abandoned infants opens amid economic strain

With thousands of product prices rising, the cost of raising a child is becoming an impossible burden for some young Japanese women.

A member of staff demonstrates Japan’s first baby hatch at Jikei Hospital in Kumamoto city. Photo: AFP
A member of staff demonstrates Japan’s first baby hatch at Jikei Hospital in Kumamoto city. Photo: AFP

Politics

Singapore foreign minister denies ‘liking’ controversial Gaza post

The minister says he has enhanced security for his Facebook account after being accused of temporarily liking inflammatory remarks on activists.

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People

In Japan, museum for Korean nationalist hero reopens old wounds

The launch of a museum dedicated to Yun Bong-gil, who was executed in 1932, has been postponed after protests by right-wing groups.

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Politics

What Duterte’s downfall means for Sara, Marcos and the Philippines

Ex-president Duterte is behind bars in The Hague and his daughter is fighting for political survival. But don’t discount a comeback in 2028.

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Rodrigo Duterte pictured at an Asean summit in 2019 while still president of the Philippines. Photo: Reuters
Rodrigo Duterte pictured at an Asean summit in 2019 while still president of the Philippines. Photo: Reuters

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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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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Illustration: Huy Truong
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LATEST Asia NEWS

Politics

Southeast Asians expect more US engagement amid Trump’s tariff call: survey

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A cargo ship is loaded with containers as it is docked at the port of Bangkok in Thailand on Thursday. Thailand is one of six countries in Southeast Asia slapped with much higher than expected tariffs by the US. Photo: Reuters

South Asia

India’s Lower House passes bill that would change Muslim land laws

Supporters of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an election campaign rally in Pushkar on April 6, 2024. Modi’s government says India is run on democratic principles of equality and no discrimination exists in the country. Photo: AFP

Health & Environment

Japan’s municipalities unready to deal with major earthquake: survey

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A collapsed house in Osaki in Kagoshima prefecture after a strong earthquake hit southwestern Japan in August last year. Photo: Kyodo

Southeast Asia

‘When will 11 years of waiting end?’: search for missing flight MH370 paused

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A mural representing the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 at an alley near Kuala Lumpur. Photo: AFP

Politics

Sinophobia among Philippine officials? China’s travel advisory spurs reflection

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Seized equipment on display as Chinese nationals and their alleged Philippine accomplices arrested for alleged espionage are presented at a press conference in Manila in February. Photo: AFP
MORE Asia NEWS
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OPINION
Nguyen Hong Thach

Asian Angle | Will Vietnam’s trade charm offensive be enough to placate Trump?

Nguyen Hong Thach
Sara Loo

Asian Angle | Data centres are booming in Johor. Now comes the hard part – job creation

Sara Loo
Elisha M. Sonthra

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

Elisha M. Sonthra
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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MULTIMEDIA
Video

Is Indonesia marching back towards military rule?

Does the military’s new expansion mark a return to Indonesia’s military rule?
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Chinese contractors under scrutiny in Bangkok tower collapse

Search for Myanmar quake survivors continues as officials investigate Thai tower collapse
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Indonesian Muslims mark Eid amid economic worries

Eid festivities dampened by economic, political concerns in Indonesia, India
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Towering inferno erupts in Kuala Lumpur

Towering inferno erupts on outskirts of Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur
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