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This Week in Asia

Panadda "Boom" Wongphudee hugs a resident affected by flooding in a photo shared on her social media in October. Photo: Instagram/boompanadda

People

Ex-Miss Thailand arrested over claims charity donations funded luxury lifestyle

An audit of Thai foundations has been ordered as the high-profile celebrity faces outrage over siphoned funds and dumped aid supplies.

Why Democratic Congress may enhance US-Philippines alliance, pivot to Asia

EU’s Southeast Asia push hits funding crunch as China widens lead

Politics

Malaysia’s Najib begins house arrest as Umno pays US$12.3 million fine

The former prime minister’s party said it settled the court payment using funds collected from a donation drive.

Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak arrives at the Kuala Lumpur High Court complex last month. Photo: AP
Police officers guard the entrance to the house of former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak in Kuala Lumpur on Friday. Photo: EPA

Politics

Trump’s Israel aid cut reveals push to trade grants for tech cooperation

A shift towards joint technology development looks set to replace traditional grants with deeper, less scrutinised Pentagon funding.

China

Democrats’ win could squeeze China; star mathematician leaves US: 7 highlights

From activist Joshua Wong’s fresh sentence to the next US speaker’s China playbook, here are top stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.

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Politics

Malaysia’s Sarawak locks election date amid autonomy, resource control push

The ruling GPS aims to retain power in the December 12 race as petroleum sovereignty among issues expected to dominate the campaign.

Sarawak’s state assembly was dissolved on October 26, four months before its term was due to expire in February. Photo: Shutterstock
Sarawak’s state assembly was dissolved on October 26, four months before its term was due to expire in February. Photo: Shutterstock

Politics

Will Japan press Vietnam on labour rights or prioritise security goals?

Human Rights Watch’s Tokyo office has urged Takaichi to confront To Lam over Vietnam’s failure to deliver promised labour reforms.

Politics

Philippines’ project budget allocations spur accusations of pork barrel politics

Two budget watchdogs claim there are proposed projects whose coordinates show that they are located far away from the country.

People

Slums, day labour and forged IDs: how Japan’s 660 most wanted stay hidden

In a society ruled by red tape, police are still hunting murderers and radical bombers who slipped off the grid decades ago.

A makeshift settlement along the Tama River in Kawasaki, near Tokyo. Experts say Japan’s urban margins and cash-in-hand labour networks offer convenient cover for long-term fugitives. Photo: AP

People

South Korea apologises for classing gay teens as delinquents

A counselling manual put homosexuality in the same bracket as theft and drug abuse, triggering a hasty climbdown.

People pose for photos in front of anti-homosexuality slogans during a gay rights march in Seoul, South Korea, in 2017. Photo: AFP
People pose for photos in front of anti-homosexuality slogans during a gay rights march in Seoul, South Korea, in 2017. Photo: AFP

Economics

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

Minister Josephine Teo outlines five imperatives that guide Singapore’s AI policy at the Family Business Summit in Hong Kong.

Politics

Vietnam seeks Russia’s help for its nuclear ambition. Will sanctions stall it?

The two countries have agreed to let Vietnamese experts gain access to a Russian nuclear reactor under construction.

People

Malaysia Hindu rites row: live stream of Muslim youth’s repentance fuels fury

The public spectacle highlights the tightening boundaries of religious tolerance and state control over personal worship in multiracial Malaysia.

The Batu Caves temple complex in Selangor, outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A 21-year-old Muslim man was sentenced to faith rehabilitation after participating in Hindu rituals at the shrine. Photo: Shutterstock

Health & Environment

Inside Thailand’s race to save its last dugong herd – by testing its poop

Scientists are collecting poop samples to test for stress hormones and other health indicators in a bid to prevent the mammal’s extinction.

The dugong, a benign, snub-nosed marine mammal, is battling to survive. Photo: Shutterstock
The dugong, a benign, snub-nosed marine mammal, is battling to survive. Photo: Shutterstock

Politics

Philippine envoy says US immigration detention rules may change after midterms

Jose Manuel Romualdez says the potential rule change would ‘definitely’ ease the concerns of Filipinos with questionable visa status.

Politics

North Korea digs in for US stand-off as Democratic midterm wins dim summit hopes

Recent weapons tests signal Pyongyang will lean on Moscow and Beijing rather than bank on Washington talks amid shifting US politics.

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Economics

‘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.

8
Illustration: Huy Truong
Illustration: Huy Truong

People

Big dreams, growing pains in Indonesia: Prabowo’s turbulent 2 years in power

The president says he sees a ‘bright future for Indonesia’ even as citizens worry about rising costs and a lack of job opportunities.

7

Economics

Malaysia’s shoppers love Chinese e-commerce. But is the bargain worth it?

Pinduoduo’s arrival has thrilled bargain hunters, even as direct e-commerce shipments price out local firms and waste chokes landfills.

10

Politics

Southeast Asia battles Big Tech to protect children online

From Indonesia to Vietnam, governments are making platforms answerable for children’s safety – but bans can only do so much.

Illustration: Huy Truong
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LATEST Asia NEWS

People

Ex-Miss Thailand arrested over claims charity donations funded luxury lifestyle

Panadda "Boom" Wongphudee hugs a resident affected by flooding in a photo shared on her social media in October. Photo: Instagram/boompanadda

Politics

Why Democratic Congress may enhance US-Philippines alliance, pivot to Asia

US and Philippine soldiers participate in live‑fire drills at Barangay Aporawan, Aborlan, Palawan, during the annual Balikatan joint military exercises in April. Photo: Reuters

Politics

EU’s Southeast Asia push hits funding crunch as China widens lead

European Union flags fly outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, in 2025. Member states are locked in negotiations over the bloc’s next long-term budget. Photo: AP

Politics

Malaysia’s Najib begins house arrest as Umno pays US$12.3 million fine

Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak arrives at the Kuala Lumpur High Court complex last month. Photo: AP

Politics

Malaysia’s Sarawak locks election date amid autonomy, resource control push

Sarawak’s state assembly was dissolved on October 26, four months before its term was due to expire in February. Photo: Shutterstock
MORE Asia NEWS
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OPINION
Arnold Puyok

Asian Angle | In Malaysia’s largest state, ‘Sarawak First’ faces a Dayak election test

Arnold Puyok
Le Hong Hiep

Asian Angle | Can Vietnam sustain its high-growth ambitions amid capital constraints?

Le Hong Hiep
Hirokazu Omatsu,Kyi Sin

Asian Angle | Why Asean’s Myanmar peace push needs Japan’s ‘silent diplomacy’

Hirokazu Omatsu
Kyi Sin
Michael Vatikiotis

Opinion | Truth needs a treaty in this age of AI disinformation

Azmil Tayeb

Asian Angle | PAS wants urban Malaysia’s vote. Can it win over urban Malays?

Azmil Tayeb
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MULTIMEDIA
Video

Filipino fishermen worry about Chinese nature reserve in disputed waters

Filipino fishermen worry about Chinese nature reserve in disputed waters
03:09
Video

Centenarian becomes oldest person to climb Mount Fuji

Centenarian becomes oldest person to climb Mount Fuji
02:34
Video

Cambodia unveils new Chinese-built airport

Cambodia unveils new Chinese-built airport
02:02
Video

Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra to serve 1 year in jail

Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra to serve 1 year in jail
04:27
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