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This Week in Asia /

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Illustration: Kevin Wong
Tourists stroll down Walking Street in Pattaya, Thailand, in August. Photo: AP
Foreign tourists visit Wat Pho Temple, or the Temple of the Reclining Buddha in Bangkok, Thailand, in August. Photo: EPA
Thailand

Thailand has had enough of foreign tourists behaving badly

Viral misbehaviour, crimes and foreign-ownership scandals are exhausting the patience of a country famous for its hospitality.

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Indonesia

Indonesian coal deal fuels doubts over production quota approvals

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Singapore

From Suzhou to AI: Singapore, China eye new playbook for economic ties

India

What can Asia, Global South learn from India’s new digital payment fee?

The roll-out is a good test of whether the system can generate enough revenue to pay for its own maintenance and expansion, experts say.

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A customer makes a payment through the Unified Payments Interface at a shop in Srinagar, Indian Kashmir, on September 16. Photo: EPA
Paytm payment QR codes are displayed at a vegetable shop in Mumbai, India, on Sunday. Photo: Reuters
A payment QR code is displayed at a snack shop in Mumbai, India, on Sunday. Photo: Reuters
Thailand

Thailand’s solar scheme faces hurdles as low power users turned off by high cost

Even with a subsidy, the upfront installation cost still may not make up for future savings and income in poorer households.

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Singapore

Singapore’s entry-level job market shrinks despite salary growth, data shows

Aon data published last month shows a 3.2 per cent drop in entry-level headcount in the city state, amid a rise in AI use in the workplace.

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US, Israel war on Iran

Gulf tech firms turn to Hong Kong and Singapore as Iran war grinds on

Analysts point to growing adoption of a ‘dual-hub’ model, using secondary Asian bases to hedge against geopolitical risk.

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People take pictures with the city skyline of Singapore on September 14. The Iran conflict has accelerated Gulf businesses’ use of Asian financial hubs, insiders say. Photo: Reuters
People take pictures with the city skyline of Singapore on September 14. The Iran conflict has accelerated Gulf businesses’ use of Asian financial hubs, insiders say. Photo: Reuters
The Philippines

Philippines races to realise Pax Silica dreams as political changes loom

Philippines’ Marcos is due to leave office in 2028 while Trump faces US midterm elections next year that could change control of Congress.

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Indonesia

Indonesia to continue buying Russian oil despite ‘real risk’ of US penalties

Analysts say Jakarta made the ‘right decision’ for the country’s energy security but urge dialogue with Washington to maintain transparency.

The Philippines

Upgraded but underperforming: Philippines’ growth lags behind

High living costs and delayed public works drag growth projections down far behind regional front runners.

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People cross a road in Manila, the Philippines, on September 8. Photo: EPA
Singapore

Why AI giants are choosing Singapore to turn models into real-world tools

The city state is emerging as a regional hub for turning frontier AI models into practical applications.

Apps of Anthropic’s Claude and OpenAI’s ChatGPT displayed on an iPhone screen. Photo: dpa
Apps of Anthropic’s Claude and OpenAI’s ChatGPT displayed on an iPhone screen. Photo: dpa
South Korea

South Korea wants free ‘AI for All’. Is society ready?

Seoul’s roll-out of free, unlimited AI is set to shake up classrooms, careers and crime – for better or worse.

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US, Israel war on Iran

Saudi oil pipeline closure puts Asia’s economic resilience to the test

Experts say the loss will hit Asian refiners first before feeding through to inflation, currencies and economic growth across the region.

Singapore

Squeezed out: why Singapore’s big-box gyms are losing to niche studios

Traditional gyms are struggling to compete with 24-hour budget chains on price and specialised boutique studios on community experience.

True Fitness branch Velocity at Novena Square, Singapore. Photo: True Fitness
Malaysia

Bail out or downsize? Malaysia’s stark choice as AirAsia losses mount

Rival carriers lack commercial incentive to take over unprofitable routes, which could force the government into a subsidy dilemma, analysts say.

AirAsia planes stand on the tarmac at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, Malaysia, in January. Photo: Reuters
AirAsia planes stand on the tarmac at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, Malaysia, in January. Photo: Reuters
Singapore

US firm Waymo to launch robotaxi service in Singapore in 2028

Trained specialists will drive Jaguar I-Pace vehicles and help Waymo adapt its technology to Singapore’s road layouts and other conditions.

India

India and Vietnam aim to turn ‘China plus one’ rivalry into trade gains

New Delhi and Hanoi are looking to join market scale with manufacturing capacity to build new trade links, analysts say.

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Indonesia

How wildfires are threatening Indonesia’s economy and carbon market

Total economic and health costs from January to August as a result of the haze could reach US$6.9 billion, analysts warn.

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A drone view shows a barge being towed along the Kapuas River, shrouded in haze from wildfires, in Pontianak, Indonesia’s West Kalimantan province, Indonesia, on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters
A drone view shows a barge being towed along the Kapuas River, shrouded in haze from wildfires, in Pontianak, Indonesia’s West Kalimantan province, Indonesia, on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters
Indonesia

Who will shoulder the debts behind Indonesia’s China-backed Whoosh railway?

Jakarta plans to transfer the US$56.5 million annual debt into state accounts as critics warn taxpayers will subsidise the losses.

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Indonesia

Indonesia’s Prabowo appoints third finance minister in under 2 years

Suahasil Nazara takes over amid growing pressure on the budget, with analysts expecting a more cautious approach to fiscal management.

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Thailand

Southeast Asia weighs energy transition amid LNG supply crunch

At Gastech 2026, policymakers implore pragmatism over net-zero targets and closer cooperation to ensure affordable LNG supplies.

People attend Gastech Bangkok 2026, in Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday. Photo: Reuters
The Philippines

US-led Luzon corridor in Philippines faces growing scrutiny over real local benefits

Filipinos, especially Gen Z, are concerned that the corridor and other US-led projects are ‘more exploitative than beneficial’, analysts say.

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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr delivers a speech during the Luzon Economic Corridor Investment Forum in Manila on Thursday. Photo: EPA
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr delivers a speech during the Luzon Economic Corridor Investment Forum in Manila on Thursday. Photo: EPA
Malaysia

Who will look after ageing Asia when its carers grow old?

Asia’s care economy is booming, but its biggest supplier nations are ageing too, raising fears of a coming carer shortfall.

The Philippines

Philippines bets big on rail, but can it fix a broken transport network?

A US$4.8 billion transport budget will not end Manila’s gridlock unless bus and jeepney services also improve, analysts say.

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The Philippines

Why Marcos’ Brics trip is ‘low-risk’ chance for Philippines to make new friends

The president, attending in his capacity as Asean chair, should not miss the opportunity to diversify ties beyond the US, analysts say.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr (left) delivers a speech as US Trade and Development Agency Deputy Director Thomas Hardy looks on during the Luzon Economic Corridor Investment Forum in Taguig City on Thursday. Photo: EPA
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