This Week in Asia /

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A North Korean propaganda speaker (top) is seen behind a South Korean military guard post (left) seen across the Demilitarised Zone separating the two countries. Photo: AFP
South Korea

Making treble: South Korean town battles North’s eerie broadcasts with noise map

North Korea has been broadcasting sinister noises almost daily from loudspeakers along the border since July, when tensions between the neighbours intensified.

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Myanmar

‘Junta in the way’: Myanmar quake crisis worsens amid air strikes, scarce UN aid

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India

India-Pakistan clash: ‘far from neutral’ Russia and China step in with arms

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India-Pakistan tensions

Could India-Pakistan conflict mean empty rice bowls around Asia?

India is the world’s biggest and Pakistan the fourth-largest exporters of rice to import-reliant Southeast Asian nations.

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Singapore chicken rice in Maxwell Food Centre. Rice is a staple in Southeast Asia. Photo: Shutterstock
Singapore chicken rice in Maxwell Food Centre. Rice is a staple in Southeast Asia. Photo: Shutterstock
India-Pakistan tensions

Backed by Chinese arms, Pakistan readies for retaliation after India’s strikes

Both countries can claim victory in the tit-for-tat clash, depending on how they frame their arguments, experts say.

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Singapore

Fujian gang photos cast shadow on lead-up to Singapore cabinet reveal

The city state awaits Prime Minister Wong’s government line-up amid controversy over images of Ong and Chee with a convicted money-launderer.

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Indonesia

Indonesian governor’s vasectomy plan sparks debate on poverty, ‘body politics’

West Java Governor’s suggested sterilisation for poor men to access social welfare criticised as coercive and discriminatory.

Dedi Mulyadi has proposed making vasectomy a prerequisite for men to receive state welfare. Photo: Government of West Java
Dedi Mulyadi has proposed making vasectomy a prerequisite for men to receive state welfare. Photo: Government of West Java
China-Philippines relations

Calls for sanctions over alleged China-funded influence campaign in Philippines

Allegations, if true, could lead to expulsion of embassy personnel and legal action under a law targeting subversive acts during peacetime, analysts say.

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India

India’s UK trade pact seen as fuelling momentum for bigger deals with US and EU

Experts say the agreement signals New Delhi’s growing leverage in trade and supply chain talks.

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Indonesia

Indonesia’s economy slows as US tariffs, fiscal strains challenge Prabowo’s goal

Analysts expressed concerns that fiscal pressures, weak consumer spending, and the impact of US tariffs could worsen Indonesia’s economic outlook.

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Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto speaks during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur in January. Photo: AP
India

India’s missile strikes on Pakistan fire up Modi’s base, alarm allies

China and the US have called for calm after the most serious military escalation in years between the two nuclear-armed rivals.

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India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a ceremonial reception for Angola’s President Joao Lourenco at the presidential palace Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on May 3. Photo: AFP
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a ceremonial reception for Angola’s President Joao Lourenco at the presidential palace Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on May 3. Photo: AFP
Malaysia

Rifts emerge over push for Malaysian PM’s daughter to become party No 2

Elevating Nurul Izzah poses a dilemma for PM Anwar Ibrahim, who has based his platform on principles of transparency, integrity, and a strong anti-corruption message.

The Philippines

Duterte’s ‘political son’ Bong Go gains ground in Philippines senate race: survey

The former president’s ICC arrest has led his indignant supporters to drum up support for Duterte-aligned candidates, analysts say.

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The Philippines

Philippines-US anti-drone drill signals rising threat of unmanned weapons

The drill involving two counter-drone systems comes after China’s reported use of drones in the disputed South China Sea in recent months.

A US air defence system fires at a drone during a joint drill with the Philippines in San Antonio, Zambales province, in April. Photo: AP
Myanmar

Myanmar-based warlord overseeing scam hub faces US sanctions

The US Treasury Department says the Karen National Army, run by Saw Chit Thu, is a ‘transnational criminal organisation’.

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The US has imposed sanctions on Myanmar-based warlord Saw Chit Thu over transnational crime activities. Photo: Kyodo
The US has imposed sanctions on Myanmar-based warlord Saw Chit Thu over transnational crime activities. Photo: Kyodo
South China Sea

Will Vietnam’s protest over Sandy Cay escalate South China Sea tensions?

Vietnam has urged China and the Philippines to ‘refrain from actions’ and respect its sovereignty over the archipelago.

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South Korea

As South Korea’s presidential nomination deadline looms, political rifts deepen

Conservatives are fighting among themselves over which candidate to field, while the liberal front-runner faces legal challenges.

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Japan

Will war break out in Asia? Survey shows more Japanese fear it is ‘likely’

Conflict in Ukraine and the growing assertiveness of China and North Korea are among the reasons for growing public anxiety, analysts say.

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Japanese stealth frigate FFM Mogami docks at Yokosuka Base near Tokyo last month. Photo: EPA-EFE
Japanese stealth frigate FFM Mogami docks at Yokosuka Base near Tokyo last month. Photo: EPA-EFE
South Korea

South Korean shamans slam Yoon over his ‘sacrilegious’ abuse of their practice

Their criticisms follow the arrest of Jeon Seong-bae, a spiritual adviser linked to Yoon, as part of a corruption probe.

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The Philippines

Philippines’ educational crisis: 18 million graduates ‘functionally illiterate’

One in five high-school graduates cannot comprehend or understand a simple story, survey shows.

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North Korea

As the Pyongyang marathon returns, North Korea’s tourism remains frozen

North Korea’s tourism is in decline as it shifts focus to Russia, prioritising military and economic ties over international visitors.

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An international marathon was held in Pyongyang on April 6 for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic. Photo: Kyodo
Singapore general election 2025

Singapore election: why can’t the opposition make inroads?

As the dust settles after a charged polling season, observers point to changing voter patterns among supporters, signalling the beginning of the end for some parties.

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Supporters of the opposition Workers’ Party listening to a speech on Saturday night as preliminary results trickled in. Photo: EPA-EFE
Supporters of the opposition Workers’ Party listening to a speech on Saturday night as preliminary results trickled in. Photo: EPA-EFE
Indonesia

How ‘preman’ gangsters hold Indonesia’s EV revolution hostage

From China’s BYD to Vietnam’s VinFast, foreign EV investors in Indonesia are reportedly facing disruption from shadowy local enforcers.

Malaysia

Malaysia’s evergreen Mahathir, older than Superman and sliced bread, eyes 100

The two-time PM who had planned to retire in his seventies is now approaching a century, having outlived political allies and foes alike.

Singapore general election 2025

Singapore election: how PAP scored big win, denying opposition’s breakthrough

The People’s Action Party’s bigger 65.57 per cent vote share reflects Singaporeans’ economic fears, analysts say.

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Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong of the People’s Action Party (PAP) celebrates the party’s general election results on Saturday. Photo: AFP
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