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This Week in Asia
A woman walks past a statue of Myanmar’s independence hero Aung San at Thu Mingalar Park in Yangon on July 16. Photo: AFP

People

‘Defanging’ Aung San: Myanmar’s generals wage war on memory

Removing statues of the country’s founding father appears aimed at stripping democratic legitimacy from his daughter, Aung San Suu Kyi.

Indonesia’s plan for a rival to Singapore starts to take shape

Japan, UK, Italy eye Japanese factory to build fighter jet

Politics

India’s education minister quits in major win for youth protesters

India’s latest street protests have been a challenge to PM Narendra Modi as politicians joined youngsters’ calls ‌to demand action.

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Indian Youth Congress party workers hold placards of India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan during a protest against the National Testing Agency over alleged exam irregularities in Mumbai on June 2, Photo: AFP
Indian Youth Congress party workers hold placards of India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan during a protest against the National Testing Agency over alleged exam irregularities in Mumbai on June 2, Photo: AFP

Southeast Asia

‘It’s exhausting’: Singapore’s young workers cling to side hustles to survive AI

Almost one-third of the city state’s workers say they need to combine a full-time job with another source of income.

Lifestyle & Culture

Millions visit Japan, yet few venture north of Tokyo. Here’s why

Tohoku is just a couple of hours north of Tokyo by bullet train, yet only 6 per cent of overseas visitors visited last year.

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Lifestyle & Culture

The underdog girl group putting the ‘K’ back in K-pop

While major labels chase global fame, Rescene won over South Korea by putting local culture front and centre.

Rescene members (from left) Zena, May, Minami, Woni and Liv. Photos: Instagram/rescene_official
Rescene members (from left) Zena, May, Minami, Woni and Liv. Photos: Instagram/rescene_official

East Asia

Japan courts India, Malaysia to escape US-China AI duopoly

Fears over foreign software curbs have pushed Tokyo to pitch its own tech to Asian partners and others.

Economics

‘A matter of survival’: Indonesia’s push for a financial hub in Bali

Luhut Pandjaitan wants investors to imagine kamikaze drones over Abu Dhabi, then picture themselves in Bali instead.

Economics

Can Southeast Asia survive more Iran war fuel shocks?

Analysts warn the region cannot fully insulate itself from an extended conflict if the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted.

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Black smoke rises following explosions near a military base hosting US forces in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil, on Friday. Photo: AP

Health & Environment

Tornado rips roofing from Indonesian construction site, sends workers fleeing

Officials say there were no fatalities from the brief incident in Batam, but warn that unstable conditions can trigger further sudden storms.

A tornado ripped roofing from workshop facilities at a construction site in Batam, Indonesia, on Wednesday. Photo: Facebook/Kurniawan Edi
A tornado ripped roofing from workshop facilities at a construction site in Batam, Indonesia, on Wednesday. Photo: Facebook/Kurniawan Edi

Economics

Smaller Asian airlines seek to add routes despite Middle East war, fuel costs

Akasa Air aims to raise its capacity while AirBorneo plans to connect more regional destinations as larger rivals face constraints to expand.

Politics

Malaysia’s refugee registration halt risks ‘ultimate disaster’ for new arrivals

The asylum seekers would be ‘susceptible to enforcement raids’ and ‘extortion by both authorities and locals’, an activist says.

Economics

Is it all economic doom and gloom for the Philippines?

The energy crisis and turmoil in the Senate are among factors threatening the Philippine economy’s recovery, observers warn.

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A vendor carries bottles of cooking oil to sell at a market in Quezon City, the Philippines, on July 7. Photo: EPA

Politics

Japan’s overworked defence ministry plans first new bureau since 2007

The ‘long overdue’ move is expected to boost the defence ministry’s capacity to work more closely with allies and ease operational strain.

Members of the Japanese Self-Defence Forces and US Marines during a joint live-fire drill as part of the annual Resolute Dragon exercises in Yufu, Oita prefecture, Japan, on June 28. Photo: Reuters
Members of the Japanese Self-Defence Forces and US Marines during a joint live-fire drill as part of the annual Resolute Dragon exercises in Yufu, Oita prefecture, Japan, on June 28. Photo: Reuters

People

As Laos’ methanol poisoning case begins, friend of victim slams ‘cover-up’

A British man who was blinded in the incident says he feels sorry for the families of the six victims who died, but is ‘not angry’ any more.

Economics

South Korea rethinks Yellow Envelope Act as labour union demands mount

Without clearer boundaries, the revised act could fuel labour disputes and create uncertainty for businesses and the economy, critics warn.

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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
Illustration: Huy Truong

Economics

Southeast Asian scammers’ new disguise: your leader’s face

The president is asking for your bank details. He isn’t, of course. But the AI wearing his face is.

Lifestyle & Culture

Is super-ageing Singapore headed for population decline?

With babies in short supply and its birth rate tanking, the city state is weighing a future of robots and immigrants.

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Lifestyle & Culture

Malaysia has never had so many Chinese tourists. It wants more

As Thailand loses its allure, Malaysia turns to viral algorithms to entice millions of independent Chinese travellers.

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Illustration: Huy Truong
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Highlights from
THIS WEEK IN ASIA

Economics

‘A matter of survival’: Indonesia’s push for a financial hub in Bali

Luhut Pandjaitan, chairman of Indonesia’s National Economic Council, at the Nusa Dua Forum in Bali, Indonesia, on July 17. Photo: Nora Tam

People

‘Defanging’ Aung San: Myanmar’s generals wage war on memory

A woman walks past a statue of Myanmar’s independence hero Aung San at Thu Mingalar Park in Yangon on July 16. Photo: AFP

Economics

Indonesia’s plan for a rival to Singapore starts to take shape

The sun sets over Kuningan business district in Jakarta. Indonesia wants to build a financial centre to rival Singapore, Hong Kong or Dubai. Photo: Shutterstock

Politics

India’s education minister quits in major win for youth protesters

videocam
Indian Youth Congress party workers hold placards of India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan during a protest against the National Testing Agency over alleged exam irregularities in Mumbai on June 2, Photo: AFP

Politics

Houthi blockade of Saudi trade threatens wider Middle East conflict

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Houthis and their supporters attend an anti-Saudi rally in Yemen’s capital Sanaa. Photo: Reuters
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MULTIMEDIA
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Filipino fishermen worry about Chinese nature reserve in disputed waters

Filipino fishermen worry about Chinese nature reserve in disputed waters
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Centenarian becomes oldest person to climb Mount Fuji

Centenarian becomes oldest person to climb Mount Fuji
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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
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