Asia

This Week in Asia

Doctors and health groups in the Philippines said the “medical pork” system allows politicians to influence who receives state medical aid. Photo: Shutterstock

Health & Environment

‘Medical pork’ row exposes political grip over Philippine health assistance

Doctors and health groups say the system allows politicians to influence who receives state medical aid, undermining universal care.

39 minutes agovideocam

Mexico’s 50% tariff shock shuts Asia’s North American trade bypass

3 hours ago

Malaysia allows halal hotels, eateries to deck halls with boughs of holly

3 hours ago

East Asia

Vietnamese influx surges as South Korea’s foreign population hits record high

The Vietnamese population in South Korea jumped by 15.5 per cent last year, the fastest growing among major ethnic groups.

4 hours agovideocam

People of different nationalities flock to Myeongdong shopping street in Seoul. Photo: Shutterstock

East Asia

Bear aware: Japanese drone school develops AI system to track animals

The new system being developed in Akita prefecture can detect bears and share their locations via smartphones.

4 hours ago

Lifestyle & Culture

More Japanese favour having an empress as Princess Aiko’s public appeal rises

Japan’s conservative politicians are against changing the centuries-old tradition of a male heir for the throne.

5 hours ago

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Australasia

Australia’s Albanese faces battle over gun laws after Bondi Beach shooting

The prime minister’s call for tighter gun controls is meeting resistance from right-wing populists and mainstream conservatives.

20 Dec 2025 - 9:10AMvideocam

A wooden Star of David stands in a makeshift memorial to pay tribute to the victims of Sunday’s mass shooting on Bondi Beach. Photo: Reuters

Economics

Rivals, rain and rising costs: Thailand’s tourism crown slips

As a border war with Cambodia flares and Malaysian tourism surges ahead, Thailand battles to save its holiday image.

20 Dec 2025 - 8:00AM

Southeast Asia

Malaysian cook’s toddler abuse at Singapore school covered up by deleting CCTV

School management admit to reformatting CCTV to hide the abuse, claiming one of the victims was ‘unaware’ because they were asleep.

19 Dec 2025 - 10:19PM

Politics

Anwar’s coalition revives Chinese school certification debate, sparking row

The sensitive issue in the Malay-Muslim majority country has caused a row between Umno and DAP, an insider says.

19 Dec 2025 - 9:08PM

Students create a long scroll in Kelang, Selangor state. A proposal for the Malaysian government’s recognition of school leaving certificates issued by private Chinese high schools has sparked a row in the ruling coalition. Photo: Xinhua

South Asia

India overhauls controversial rural jobs scheme despite opposition walkout

The scheme increases guaranteed workdays but shifts funding to states, as opposition cries foul over the changes.

19 Dec 2025 - 8:57PM

Unemployed youths fill application forms to access job openings outside an “employment van” in Hyderabad in 2021. Photo: AFP

China Economy

Secure Arctic shipping route essential for China, senior official says

Trade lanes using Strait of Malacca, Red Sea and Suez Canal could be disrupted during ‘major international crisis’, Beijing forum told.

19 Dec 2025 - 8:30PM

Southeast Asia

Singapore cracks down on scammers with mandatory caning

The new law with tougher penalties for fraud syndicates and money mules to fight rising cybercrime takes effect December 30.

19 Dec 2025 - 8:08PMvideocam

East Asia

Bank of Japan’s historic rate increase signals new era for economy

Bank of Japan lifts rates to 0.75 per cent – a 30-year high – ending zero-interest era, paving the way for further increases amid rising inflation.

19 Dec 2025 - 4:52PM

A man passes a screen in Tokyo showing Japan’s 10-year bond level after the Bank of Japan raised interest rates on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Lifestyle & Culture

‘Was he the Hulk?’: Malaysian officer goes viral after ripping off car door

The officer became an unlikely internet sensation when a dashcam video showed him ripping apart a suspect’s car door ‘like a banana leaf’.

19 Dec 2025 - 5:24PM

A Malaysian police officer is seen wrenching a suspect’s car door open with his bare hands in a dashcam video that has gone viral. Photo: TikTok/Mazmar93

Politics

Is Philippines being unfairly named in Australia’s Bondi Beach shooting?

Australian police are looking into a trip the two suspects made to Davao City, but Philippine officials say it is not connected to the shooting.

19 Dec 2025 - 5:24PMvideocam

East Asia

Japan vows never to possess nuclear weapons, rebuffing official’s idea

The government’s response came after a senior security official suggested that Tokyo needed nuclear arms to deter ‍potential aggressors.

19 Dec 2025 - 2:56PMvideocam

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Economics

Rivals, rain and rising costs: Thailand’s tourism crown slips

As a border war with Cambodia flares and Malaysian tourism surges ahead, Thailand battles to save its holiday image.

20 Dec 2025 - 8:00AM

Illustration: Huy Truong

Economics

Southeast Asia’s rich buy sky garages while the middle class lose their homes

As wealthy buyers seek penthouses with living-room supercar parking, struggling families battle banks to keep a roof overhead.

15 Dec 2025 - 3:32PMvideocam

Health & Environment

6 cyclones, 5 weeks: Philippines can’t escape its endless cycle of disaster

Corruption, complacency and climate chaos conspire to turn the Philippines’ natural hazards into man-made tragedies.

6 Dec 2025 - 8:17AMvideocam

Politics

‘It’s time for us to rise’: India races to rebuild its lost maritime muscle

India is eyeing a future as a leading shipping and shipbuilding nation, backed by big investments – and expertise from South Korea and Japan.

30 Nov 2025 - 5:12PM

Illustration: Huy Truong

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Highlights from

THIS WEEK IN ASIA

Economics

Rivals, rain and rising costs: Thailand’s tourism crown slips

20 Dec 2025 - 8:00AM

Illustration: Huy Truong

Health & Environment

‘Medical pork’ row exposes political grip over Philippine health assistance

39 minutes agovideocam

Doctors and health groups in the Philippines said the “medical pork” system allows politicians to influence who receives state medical aid. Photo: Shutterstock

Economics

Mexico’s 50% tariff shock shuts Asia’s North American trade bypass

3 hours ago

A drone view shows the Manzanillo seaport in Mexico in April. Photo: Reuters

Lifestyle & Culture

More Japanese favour having an empress as Princess Aiko’s public appeal rises

5 hours ago

Japanese Princess Aiko arrives at the Akasaka Estate in Tokyo to greet former emperor Akihito and former empress Michiko on her 24th birthday on December 1. Photo: Kyodo

Politics

Anwar’s coalition revives Chinese school certification debate, sparking row

19 Dec 2025 - 9:08PM

Students create a long scroll in Kelang, Selangor state. A proposal for the Malaysian government’s recognition of school leaving certificates issued by private Chinese high schools has sparked a row in the ruling coalition. Photo: Xinhua

MORE IN This Week in Asia

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12 Dec 2025 - 5:30AM

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Filipino fishermen worry about Chinese nature reserve in disputed waters

Filipino fishermen worry about Chinese nature reserve in disputed waters

Centenarian becomes oldest person to climb Mount Fuji

Centenarian becomes oldest person to climb Mount Fuji

Cambodia unveils new Chinese-built airport

Cambodia unveils new Chinese-built airport

Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra to serve 1 year in jail

Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra to serve 1 year in jail

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TRENDING TOPICS

The Philippines

South China Sea

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