Indonesia's President-elect Prabowo Subianto, left, and Vice President-elect Gibran Rakabuming attend a ceremony in Jakarta on April 24. (Photo by Ismi Damayanti)
Indonesia election

Indonesia's Prabowo pledges to end poverty, create good jobs

Next president calls on politicians to unite ahead of October handover

24 April 2024
People fleeing violence in Myawaddy, Myanmar, arrive in Mae Sot on Thailand's side of the border on April 20.
Myanmar Crisis

Thailand downplays risk as Myanmar sends troops to key border town

Number of refugees in Thai temporary shelters falls to 600, foreign minister says

24 April 2024
An illuminated sign uses Arabic script to advertise an indoor night market in Bangkok's Nana district, a popular area for Middle Eastern visitors, on April 20. (Photo by Adryel Talamantes)
Tea Leaves

Saudis bask in Bangkok's mojo

Middle Eastern visitors flock to Thai capital and balmy beach resorts after diplomatic deal

24 April 2024
The maritime operations helicopter crashed on the steps of a stadium at Malaysia's Lumit naval base and the Fennec helicopter crashed in the swimming pool of a sports complex. (Housing and Local Government Ministry Malaysia)
Defense

Ten killed as two Malaysian military helicopters collide

Navy says midair accident took place in western state of Perak on Tuesday morning

23 April 2024
One in three cars on China's streets are expected to be electric by 2030. A BYD model is seen here in Beijing. 
Automobiles

IEA gives upbeat EV outlook with China seen driving the market

Electric car sales to hit 17mn in 2024 and demand rising in Southeast Asia: report

23 April 2024
Lawrence Wong, the 51-year-old deputy prime minister of Singapore, will succeed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on May 15. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Ken Kobayashi, Mayumi Tsumita and Reuters)
Asia Insight

Lawrence Wong, Singapore's next PM, seeks growth in 'troubled world'

From falling births to regional hub race, challenges will mount after May handover

23 April 2024
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaks at the KL20 Summit forum in Kuala Lumpur on April 22. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Startups

Malaysia rolls out 'Golden Pass' to lure unicorns and VC firms

New schemes offer exempted work visa fees, tax benefits and more

22 April 2024
Prabowo Subianto, left, and his running mate, Gibran Rakabuming, speak to supporters in Jakarta on the evening of Indonesia's presidential election on Feb. 14. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Indonesia election

Indonesian court rejects challenge against Prabowo's election win

Move eases uncertainty, with politician set to become president in October

22 April 2024
A VinFast VF8 model is displayed during a ceremony at the brand's factory in Haiphong province, Vietnam.
Automobiles

VinFast share plunge hits China's VW-backed battery partner Gotion

Vietnamese carmaker chief vows to work with China despite geopolitical friction

22 April 2024
The South Korean won ranks among the region's worst-performing currencies.
Bonds

'Tremendous' currency pressure tests Asia bond investors

Korean debt sees biggest outflow in over a year as players 'lose patience' for Fed cut

22 April 2024
A Filipino soldier practices holding a weapon as part of annual US-Philippines joint military exercises held in April 2023.
Your Week in Asia

Philippine-U.S. drills, South Korea GDP, Beijing revives auto show

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

21 April 2024
Zafrul Aziz, Malaysia's minister of investment, trade and industry. (Photo by Hiroki Endo)
Semiconductors

Malaysian trade minister touts 'neutrality' to grow chip industry

Zafrul says 'earthquake-free' location also attractive for multinationals

21 April 2024
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, fourth from left, poses for a photo with ASEAN leaders at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne on March 5. 
Comment

Australia shifts focus from ASEAN to individual Southeast Asian nations

Move reflects new international political and economic realities

21 April 2024
Scavengers collect plastic for recycling at a dump site in the northeastern Indian city of Guwahati: In Asia, women make up the majority of informal waste workers.
Opinion

Female Asian entrepreneurs key to tackling plastic waste

Government, investors and industry should support SMEs with solutions to offer

21 April 2024
Filipino Marines alight at a beach in the northern province of Cagayan on March 31, 2022, during the annual Balikatan exercises with the U.S.
South China Sea

Philippines and U.S. to 'sink' ships in South China Sea drills

16,700 Filipinos and Americans to enhance interoperability in annual Balikatan exercise

20 April 2024
A Laytu Chin woman in Myanmar's northern Rakhine state: German photographer Jens Uwe Parkitny has been documenting the facial tattoos of ethnic Chin women since 2001. (Photo by Jens Uwe Parkitny)
Life

Photographer documents disappearing face tattoos of Myanmar's Chin women

Traditional practice is often misunderstood by Western observers who regard them as ugly

20 April 2024
Lai Ching-te is expected to push for deeper relations with Southeast Asia when he becomes Taiwan's next president.
International relations

Taiwan's Lai poised to build on Tsai's Southeast Asia outreach

Expanding largely commercial ties may prove challenging as China's influence grows

20 April 2024
Tokyo stocks lost 3.4% at one point in morning trading on April 19 as other Asian bourses also declined.
Markets

Asian stocks fall as concern over Middle East spurs selling

Nikkei and KOSPI down by 3%; yen strengthens, other currencies weaken

19 April 2024
A soldier from the Karen National Liberation Army, a prominent resistance group in Myanmar, patrols on April 15 in Myawaddy, in an area hit by an airstrike by Myanmar's military regime.
Myanmar Crisis

ASEAN calls for halt to violence on Thai-Myanmar border

Malaysian, Thai lawmakers seek inclusive talks, preparations for refugees

19 April 2024
One of Myanmar's four Russian-made Su-30 jet fighters was on display at Myanmar's 78th Armed Forces Day in Naypyitaw on March 27, 2023. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar regime sends Russian aircraft to bomb lost territory

MiG-29 jets and Mi-35 helicopter gunships operating along Thai border

19 April 2024
China Coast Guard vessels fire water cannons towards a Philippine ship on a resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal.
South China Sea

China claims South China Sea deal with Philippines' Duterte

Manila denies saying Marcos administration cannot confirm agreement

19 April 2024
People gather at a restaurant in Hanoi: Euromonitor estimated deliveries at 8% of Asia's food service market in 2018, rising to 21% in 2023. 
Food & Beverage

Southeast Asia restaurants lose out as COVID delivery habit persists

Apps like Grab, Shopee gain users who no longer eat out, data shows

19 April 2024
Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati's drive against corruption and her measures to improve state finances have had positive effects across Indonesia. (Pool via Reuters)
Opinion

Indonesia's next finance minister will have big shoes to fill

Prabowo's spending plans would put fiscal targets at risk

19 April 2024
Passersby walk in front of a Takashimaya department store in Tokyo.
Retail

Japan's Takashimaya eyes 2026 opening for new Vietnam shopping center

Hanoi department store would be first overseas location in 8 years

19 April 2024
Holiday revelers in Mumbai. India is forecast to grow at 6.8% this year -- the fastest pace of any major economy.
Economy

Asia to drive 60% of global GDP growth in 2024, led by India: IMF

U.S. monetary policy and geoeconomic fragmentation pose external risks

19 April 2024