This Week in Asia

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Economics
People
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Health & Environment
Lifestyle & Culture
People in Sagaing, the epicentre of the March 28 earthquake, reach out for food aid being distributed on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Politics

Myanmar’s double disaster: an earthquake and a heartless junta

As quake survivors dig through the rubble for loved ones with their bare hands, the military bombs villages and seeks diplomatic openings.

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Lamborghini crash in India reignites debate over privilege and impunity

Close encounters: inside Japan’s growing fascination with UFOs

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Lifestyle & Culture

In South Korea, crushing academic pressures start in kindergarten

Forget play dates – in some parts of Seoul, four-year-olds are already training for the notorious Suneung college entrance exam.

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Kindergarteners listen to their teacher read a story in Seoul. South Korea’s current education system teaches children to ruthlessly compete against one another. Photo: Shutterstock
Kindergarteners listen to their teacher read a story in Seoul. South Korea’s current education system teaches children to ruthlessly compete against one another. Photo: Shutterstock

Politics

Sinking feeling: is Australia’s navy ready for a Pacific conflict?

For years, Australia assumed it had time on its side. But experts warn its maritime defences are woefully unprepared for a modern conflict.

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Economics

Vietnamese firms bemoan ‘absurdity’ of Trump’s higher tariff as US orders fall

As part of President Donald Trump’s move to impose ‘reciprocal’ tariffs, Vietnam will face a levy of 46 per cent on its exports to the US.

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Economics

Trump and Vietnam’s leader To Lam closer to tariff deal after ‘productive’ call

The US president says he spoke with Vietnamese leader To Lam, who is seeking to avoid punishing 46 per cent duties.

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Vietnamese leader To Lam and US President Donald Trump spoke on the phone earlier on Friday. Photos: AFP
Vietnamese leader To Lam and US President Donald Trump spoke on the phone earlier on Friday. Photos: AFP

Economics

Beyond the sea: Malaysia’s rail port project targets a trade corridor shake-up

Perlis Inland Port aims to offer Southeast Asia a viable land-based trade alternative to the instability of current shipping routes.

Lifestyle & Culture

Walk this way: Tokyo’s Ginza to get New York-like ‘High Line’ makeover

To promote a walkable city, Tokyo is converting a clogged motorway into a green pedestrian space, inspired by New York’s High Line.

Health & Environment

Japan rebuts criticism of its response to Myanmar earthquake rescue

A Japanese medical care unit arrived at the disaster site in Myanmar on Wednesday, four days after a Chinese team began its rescue work.

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Rescuers carry out work in Mandalay, Myanmar, on Monday after a devastating earthquake hit the country’s central region last week. Photo: Xinhua

Economics

Malaysia’s electronics sector at risk as experts call out Trump’s ‘voodoo’ tariffs

Analysts say Washington’s semiconductor exemption offers little relief as Malaysia’s broader electronics industry face steep import levies.

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A worker inspects semiconductor chips at the chip packaging firm Unisem (M) Berhad plant in Ipoh, Malaysia. Photo: Reuters
A worker inspects semiconductor chips at the chip packaging firm Unisem (M) Berhad plant in Ipoh, Malaysia. Photo: Reuters

Lifestyle & Culture

Jeju unsettled by rise in crime as Chinese tourists return in droves

Official data shows Chinese visitors accounted for 66 per cent of foreign crimes between 2019 and 2023 67 per cent in 2023 alone.

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Economics

Indonesia’s new coal pricing rule sparks uncertainty, rattles Chinese firms

Analysts warn Indonesia may lose its competitiveness over the new regulation amid concerns about lack of market flexibility.

People

‘Limits’ to Filipino hospitality: Russian vlogger arrested over harassment

Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, 33, faces a litany of complaints lodged against him, after he filmed himself verbally abusing locals and causing a nuisance.

Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, a Russian vlogger who went viral on social media for harassing Filipinos in Taguig City. Photo: Philippines Bureau of Immigration

Economics

Ahead of Trump’s tariffs, most MNCs in Singapore worry about slowdown: survey

The survey by AmChamSG, conducted before Trump’s 10 per cent universal tariff move, reveals fears over rising costs and supply disruptions.

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President Donald Trump holds a chart showing the reciprocal tariffs to be imposed on US’ trade partners at the White House on Wednesday. Photo: AFP
President Donald Trump holds a chart showing the reciprocal tariffs to be imposed on US’ trade partners at the White House on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

People

US tourist arrested after visit to forbidden Indian tribal island

Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov tried to make contact with the isolated Sentinelese tribe and left offerings on the island.

Politics

South Korea’s democracy shows ‘remarkable resilience’ as Yoon ousted by court

The ruling ends a divisive political chapter and paves the way for a presidential race that could stretch the nation’s social fabric.

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Politics

Myanmar’s double disaster: an earthquake and a heartless junta

As quake survivors dig through the rubble for loved ones with their bare hands, the military bombs villages and seeks diplomatic openings.

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People in Sagaing, the epicentre of the March 28 earthquake, reach out for food aid being distributed on Thursday. Photo: AFP
People in Sagaing, the epicentre of the March 28 earthquake, reach out for food aid being distributed on Thursday. Photo: AFP

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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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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Supporters of the opposition Worker’s Party wave party flags in Hougang during the counting of votes in the 2020 general election. Photo: AFP
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LATEST Asia NEWS

Southeast Asia

Indonesia will not retaliate against Trump tariff, minister says

Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto in 2022. Photo: Reuters

Lifestyle & Culture

Lamborghini crash in India reignites debate over privilege and impunity

Deepak Kumar is seen in a video of the incident. Photo: Handout

Politics

Sinking feeling: is Australia’s navy ready for a Pacific conflict?

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HMAS Parramatta, and Anzac-class frigate of the Royal Australian Navy. Photo: Shutterstock

Lifestyle & Culture

In South Korea, crushing academic pressures start in kindergarten

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Kindergarteners listen to their teacher read a story in Seoul. South Korea’s current education system teaches children to ruthlessly compete against one another. Photo: Shutterstock

Economics

Beyond the sea: Malaysia’s rail port project targets a trade corridor shake-up

A goods train arrives at a container terminal in Malaysia’s Perlis state. Photo: Joseph Sipalan
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OPINION
Michael Vatikiotis

Opinion | Whose lives matter? Navigating aid and ethics in a divided world

Francis E. Hutchinson

Asian Angle | Can Indonesia’s Batam hold its own against Johor-Singapore SEZ?

Francis E. Hutchinson
Maria Siow

My Take | Will Trump’s tariffs push Japan and South Korea closer to China?

Maria Siow
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
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MULTIMEDIA
Video

Singapore floats hi-tech fish farm to meet food demands

Singapore floats hi-tech fish farm to meet food demands
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Video

South Korea's Yoon Suk-yeol’s rise and fall

From president to political pariah: the rise and fall of South Korea’s Yoon Suk-yeol
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Video

Court upholds impeachment of South Korean leader Yoon

South Korean Constitutional Court removes Yoon from office, ending political deadlock
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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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