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This Week in Asia /

Economics

A vehicle is seen on fire as protesting factory workers block a road in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on November 1. Photo: Zuma Press Wire/dpa
A demonstrator hurls back a tear gas shell fired by police following a clash with garment workers protesting for higher wages, in Narayanganj, Bangladesh, on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters
Bangladesh

‘There could be anarchy’: Bangladesh’s garment sector unrest threatens disaster

Striking garment workers want their wages doubled, imperilling an industry that brings in 80 per cent of export earnings.

Malaysia

Why Malaysia may still face trade uncertainty after US midterms

Singapore

How Singapore confronts AI fears of ‘broken’ career ladder, no pause button

South Korea

South Korea investigates 580 finance firms after massive data leaks

The Financial Services Commission warns banks against ignoring known security risks and unsafe practices.

A stack of 50,000 South Korea won cash bills. A total of 1 billion won (US$745,000) in funds held by various financial firms have been stolen due to data breaches, the South Korean financial regulator says. Photo: Shutterstock
A stack of 50,000 South Korea won cash bills. A total of 1 billion won (US$745,000) in funds held by various financial firms have been stolen due to data breaches, the South Korean financial regulator says. Photo: Shutterstock
India

India vows to dig its way out of China machinery curbs

The curbs have intensified calls for India to develop its own advanced tunnelling equipment and boost its manufacturing sector.

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Vietnam

Vietnam edges ahead of Indonesia on per-person GDP. Is Thailand next?

Indonesia’s US$1.5 trillion economy is still nearly triple that of Vietnam, whose marginal per capita lead may not last.

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US midterm elections 2026

Why a midterm mauling for Trump will not bring Asia trade relief

Asian exporters banking on a hostile Congress to undo Trump’s trade disruption are set for disappointment, analysts say.

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A election advert featuring US President Donald Trump and a sign referencing petrol prices is seen in the US state of Michigan on Monday. Photo: Reuters
A election advert featuring US President Donald Trump and a sign referencing petrol prices is seen in the US state of Michigan on Monday. Photo: Reuters
Singapore

Asean seeks to sign FTA with EU. Can Singapore help resolve the Myanmar hurdle?

As Asean chair next year, Singapore faces challenges such as existing sanctions on Myanmar, analysts say.

Video gaming

Game studios use AI to cut costs, but look to Southeast Asia for human touch

Gamers still want human-made art and studios are paying animators from Thailand to Malaysia to make it. But for how long?

Electric & new energy vehicles

Southeast Asia’s EV boom sidelines local car parts suppliers

Suppliers in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia grapple with falling demand, as Chinese carmakers favour their own networks.

Electric cars seen inside BYD’s first EV factory in Southeast Asia in Rayong, Thailand, in 2024. Photo: Reuters
Artificial intelligence

‘I’m terrified’: AI comes for Southeast Asia’s graduate jobs

From Bangkok to Singapore, AI dread grips young jobseekers as the bottom rung of the career ladder starts to buckle.

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Illustration: Huy Truong
Illustration: Huy Truong
Indonesia

Will diversifying fuel imports be enough to fix Indonesia’s energy shortfall?

Analysts say Indonesia will need to close its production gaps by stepping up refinery modernisation and investment in alternative fuels.

Malaysia

Malaysia’s ageing fighters get some relief as South Korean jets arrive

The ordered planes mark the Malaysian air force’s first fleet renewal in 19 years since the delivery of Russian Sukhois in 2007.

Asean

Can Lula’s re-election unlock Mercosur markets for Southeast Asia?

Analysts point to tariffs, agricultural access and political differences as potential hurdles but say individual industries could make gains.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva hugs his Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto during a joint press conference at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on October 23, 2025. Photo: Reuters
South Korea

South Korea’s chip giants ride record AI windfall, but can China catch up?

SK Hynix and Samsung are riding the AI chip frenzy to record profits, but Chinese competitors are coming for their market share.

South Korean memory chip giant SK Hynix has reported its sixth consecutive record quarter. Photo: Dreamstime/TNS
South Korean memory chip giant SK Hynix has reported its sixth consecutive record quarter. Photo: Dreamstime/TNS
Malaysia

The price of romance: young Malaysian men borrow to fund dates, study finds

Rising living costs and social media pressures are turning romance into a costly affair, forcing some young suitors into the red.

SCMP Highlights

Why paper straws are worse than plastic; haze in Indonesia: 7 Asia highlights

From Malaysian teen held after live-streaming axe attack to haze in Indonesia, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

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Asean

Southeast Asia’s housing paradox: too many homes, too few buyers

Analysts point to speculative investment, financing hurdles and poor locations as factors leaving properties empty.

People wait for the lift at a public housing building in Kuala Lumpur on October 19. Photo: AFP
People wait for the lift at a public housing building in Kuala Lumpur on October 19. Photo: AFP
The Philippines

Climate damage to Philippine ports could cost US$70b a year by 2100

Rising seas and fiercer typhoons threaten to paralyse trade lines, driving up food costs and devastating coastal communities.

South Korea

AI chip surge lifts South Korea to record surplus, behind only China

Soaring memory prices pushed quarterly earnings past Germany and Japan combined for the first time.

Saudi Arabia

Gulf economies accelerate diversification as recession looms over Iran war

Even as the region’s economic downturn is expected to worsen, Gulf states are slated to spend tens of billions of dollars on infrastructure.

Flames rise from King Khalid Airport, after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis said they attacked the airport, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on October 8. Photo: Social media/Reuters
Malaysia

‘Videos made me panic’: France unrest gives jitters to Southeast Asian tourists

Safety alerts and riots lead to itinerary changes at a time when tourism from the region to France is experiencing an uneven recovery.

A tourist uses his smartphone to film burnt cars in Paris, France, on Saturday. Photo: AFP
A tourist uses his smartphone to film burnt cars in Paris, France, on Saturday. Photo: AFP
Asean

What Indonesia’s warnings of energy cuts mean for Asean

Observers say the warnings reflect a broader trend towards resource sovereignty but are unlikely to hinder progress in regional frameworks.

Vietnam

Vietnam partners with Denmark to propel its wind energy ambition

Both sides will develop an offshore wind project in line with Vietnam’s goal to boost renewable electricity generation.

Indonesia

Can ‘Buy Indonesia’ economic nationalism restore investor trust?

Analysts say, however, that Indonesia will need concrete steps to improve market transparency and governance to save its bourse.

A woman walks past the Indonesia Stock Exchange building in Jakarta on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters
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