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Highlights from
THIS WEEK IN ASIA
A South Korean marine veteran gets his head shaved during a Seoul rally demanding President Yoon Suk-yeol’s removal from power. Photo: Reuters

Politics

US sharply criticises South Korea’s Yoon over ‘illegitimate’ martial law bid

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Vivy Yusof, co-founder of Malaysian e-commerce firm Fashion Valet. Photo: Instagram/vivyyusof

People

Malaysian celebrity couple deny embezzlement over failed e-commerce venture

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Ng Yu Zhi is accused of orchestrating one of Singapore’s biggest investment frauds. Photo: Reuters

People

How a brazen nickel scam allegedly ensnared some of Singapore’s brightest

Ananda Krishnan is credited with bringing satellite television into millions of Malaysian homes. Photo: Reuters

People

Billionaire Ananda Krishnan’s monk son returns to Malaysia for last goodbye

Traditional alcoholic drinks in Indonesia are typically made by fermenting rice, sugarcane, coconuts, or palm sugar. Photo: Handout/Risyiana Muthia

Politics

Indonesia’s battle with bootleg liquor reveals hidden health crisis

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MORE IN THIS WEEK IN ASIA
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OPINION
Andy Xie

Opinion | China knows how to handle Trump 2.0

Andy Xie
12
Nadira Asrifa,Hidayatul Mustafidah Rohmawati

Opinion | Indonesia can’t afford to abandon coal as it shifts to greener energy

Nadira Asrifa
Hidayatul Mustafidah Rohmawati
Melissa Moi

Opinion | Southeast Asia’s energy transition is lacking both finance and policy

Melissa Moi
Nicholas Spiro

The View | What ‘China problem’? Thai tourism post-Covid is in good health

Nicholas Spiro
Biman Mukherji

My Take | ‘Worse than before’: Bangladesh’s turmoil grows as Yunus tries to restore order

Biman Mukherji
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MULTIMEDIA
Video

Did South Korea’s Yoon commit ‘political suicide’?

03:49
Video

South Korea's past with authoritarianism

02:49
Video

South Korea’s history of presidents forcibly removed from power

03:56
Video

Thai army holds parade for king’s birthday

01:34
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Asia

Australasia
East Asia
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South Asia
This Week in Asia
A South Korean marine veteran gets his head shaved during a Seoul rally demanding President Yoon Suk-yeol’s removal from power. Photo: Reuters

Politics

US sharply criticises South Korea’s Yoon over ‘illegitimate’ martial law bid

Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell’s remarks also cast doubt on Yoon’s claims of threats from North Korea and anti-state forces.

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How a brazen nickel scam allegedly ensnared some of Singapore’s brightest

Malaysian celebrity couple deny embezzlement over failed e-commerce venture

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Politics

Indonesia’s battle with bootleg liquor reveals hidden health crisis

The country’s limited access to legal alcohol drives many, especially young people, to seek cheap, illicit alternatives, often laced with toxic methanol.

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Traditional alcoholic drinks in Indonesia are typically made by fermenting rice, sugarcane, coconuts, or palm sugar. Photo: Handout/Risyiana Muthia
Traditional alcoholic drinks in Indonesia are typically made by fermenting rice, sugarcane, coconuts, or palm sugar. Photo: Handout/Risyiana Muthia

People

Billionaire Ananda Krishnan’s monk son returns to Malaysia for last goodbye

Educated in the UK, Ven AJahn Sripanyo renounced his share of a US$5 billion inheritance more than 20 years ago.

East Asia

South Korea’s Yoon investigated for ‘insurrection’ ahead of impeachment vote

The decision came as Yoon replaced his defence chief and the ruling People Power Party said it would block the impeachment motion.

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Southeast Asia

Chinese man accused of kidnapping girl could face up to 7 years in Malaysia jail

Huang Xiaonan, a university student studying in Singapore, was charged with kidnapping the 15-year-old in Johor.

A Chinese national is accused of kidnapping a teenage girl in Malaysia. Photo: Shutterstock
A Chinese national is accused of kidnapping a teenage girl in Malaysia. Photo: Shutterstock

Politics

Impeaching Philippine VP Sara Duterte is ‘now or never’, analysts say

Delaying impeachment proceedings, which can be highly politicised, is likely to bolster Duterte-Carpio’s 2028 presidential run, observers note.

Politics

Will Trump’s tariff threat push Southeast Asian nations away from China-led Brics?

Analysts warn nations to consider the risks of joining Brics, which could bring economic gains but may alienate the US and lead to trade barriers.

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Politics

India’s BJP-led alliance tested by deal making to form Maharashtra government

Despite the coalition’s electoral win in the state, analysts say negotiations over government roles reveal the alliance’s weaknesses.

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Maharashtra’s chief minister contender and Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis (C) shows a victory sign after winning a majority in the Maharashtra state assembly elections, at the BJP head office in Mumbai, India, on November 23. Photo: EPA-EFE

People

Passenger at Sydney airport charged with assault and illegal plane entry

The case involving an Indian national comes after several incidents at other Australian airports in which passenger safety was threatened.

Passengers at Sydney airport. A man was charged over an incident in October involving alleged assault and illegal plane entry. Photo: Xinhua
Passengers at Sydney airport. A man was charged over an incident in October involving alleged assault and illegal plane entry. Photo: Xinhua

East Asia

Japanese court convicts Australian who says she was tricked into smuggling drugs

Donna Nelson, in custody for nearly two years, was arrested in 2023 with about 2kg (4.4 pounds) of hidden phenylaminopropane.

Southeast Asia

Nvidia to help build Thai ‘sovereign cloud’ in nation’s AI push

Data stored on Thailand’s sovereign cloud server could be used to power a local ‘AI ecosystem’ like a generative AI chatbot fed by Thai data.

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East Asia

Tokyo to propose 4-day work week for government staff in parenthood push

PM Shigeru Ishiba has called Japan ’s stubbornly low birth rate a ‘quiet emergency and has pledged policies like flexible working hours.

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A family at Tokyo’s Shibuya Sky. While many developed countries are struggling with low birth rates, the problem is particularly acute in Japan where the population has declined for 15 straight years. Photo: Reuters

Southeast Asia

Malaysia arrests Singaporeans in US$51 million fraud case

The couple were handed to Singapore on the same day of their arrest, and each given one holding charge in the State Courts.

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Ng Teck Lee, who was the CEO of then-listed recycling firm Citiraya Industries, and his wife Thor Chwee Hwa being handed over to CPIB officers. Photo: CPIB
Ng Teck Lee, who was the CEO of then-listed recycling firm Citiraya Industries, and his wife Thor Chwee Hwa being handed over to CPIB officers. Photo: CPIB

Politics

Why Yoon’s martial law bid poses ‘severe’ threat to South Korea’s democracy

Seoul’s lawmakers are calling for President Yoon Suk-yeol’s resignation or impeachment after his failed attempt to impose martial law.

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Politics

‘True courage’: South Korean politician hailed after taking on armed soldier

Social media users commended Ahn Gwi-ryeong’s act of courage after she scuffled with a soldier and attempted to snatch away his rifle.

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Politics

‘What’s in it for me’: will Trump 2.0 squeeze the Philippines for US support?

The US president-elect’s interest in containing China militarily and supporting the Philippines’ defence remains an open question.

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Donald Trump hugs and kisses the American flag during an event in February. His return to the White House will put US-Philippine ties to the test. Photo: AP
Donald Trump hugs and kisses the American flag during an event in February. His return to the White House will put US-Philippine ties to the test. Photo: AP

Economics

Will Trump’s ‘tariff tantrums’ spark a US-Southeast Asia trade war?

US protectionism was good for some Asian nations when China was the main target. But this time nowhere looks safe.

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Politics

As Singapore’s ruling PAP turns 70, can its dominance last?

Amid rising living costs and shifting voter sentiments, the People’s Action Party faces unprecedented challenges on its 70th anniversary.

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Health & Environment

‘Change is coming’: will Southeast Asia have to abandon universal healthcare?

Across Southeast Asia, rising costs and funding struggles are threatening the very foundations of public health systems.

Mounting healthcare challenges have raised fears of a creeping privatisation as overstretched and underfunded state facilities seek new revenue streams. Photo: Shutterstock