Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra arrives with her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, at the Pheu Thai Party headquarters in Bangkok on Aug. 18, ahead of a royal endorsement ceremony for her cabinet. 
Comment

Can new Thaksinist government save Thailand from economic malaise?

Cabinet led by Thaksin's daughter gives former PM a chance to prove his mettle

Chinese President Xi Jinping's books, in various languages, are displayed on the sidelines of a Belt and Road event in Hong Kong -- one of several international forums in the city this week. (Photo by Kenji Kawase)  
Hong Kong security law

Hong Kong hosts flurry of forums, cozying up to non-Western partners

U.S.-led democracies conspicuously absent as city woos mainland, ASEAN, Middle East

14 September 2024
Malaysia plans to introduce a heavier 'sugar tax' as the government tackles diabetes and other non-communicable diseases in the country.
Politics

Malaysia prepares heavier 'sugar tax' in bid to combat diabetes

Government to propose new levy on sweetened drinks in 2025 budget

14 September 2024
Ly Yong Phat, president of the L.Y.P. Group, far left, attends a ceremony marking the return of artifacts at Peace Palace in Phnom Penh on Aug. 22. 
13 September 2024
Malaysian police are investigating Global Ikhwan Services and Business based in Rawang, Selangor. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain
Crime

Malaysia probes Islamic business group over child sex allegations

Police rescue 400 abused children from 20 charity premises in two states

12 September 2024
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra delivers her government's policy proposal to parliament in Bangkok on Sept. 12. 
Economy

Thai PM Paetongtarn pleads for stability to stimulate economic revival

New leader guarantees medical marijuana, pitches casino complexes

12 September 2024
A Philippine supply boat sails near a China Coast Guard ship during a resupply mission for Filipino troops stationed at a grounded warship in the South China Sea in October 2023.
South China Sea

Philippines and China hold 'frank, candid' talks on South China Sea

Manila and Beijing meet again amid heightened tensions in Sabina Shoal

12 September 2024
Japanese automakers, like Toyota Motor, have been expanding their hybrid lineup in Indonesia. (Photo by Tomoyoshi Oshikiri)
Automobiles

Indonesia hybrid car incentives grind to halt amid political shakeup

Economic minister who backed measure gives up reins to major party

12 September 2024
A worker cuts iron rods outside a workshop at an iron and steel market in New Delhi.
Commodities

India to impose up to 30% tariffs on China, Vietnam steel pipe

Tax on imports from the countries to last for the next five years

11 September 2024
Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, left, is shown the way by Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 31.
Opinion

Malaysia and China won't be going to war over South China Sea drilling

Protest letter from Beijing to Kuala Lumpur points to cooperation on issue

11 September 2024
A Philippine coast guard vessel and a Chinese coast guard vessel sail next to each other during an incident in the South China Sea, in this screen grab obtained from a handout video released Aug. 19.
Opinion

Philippines needs robust response to China's Sabina Shoal threat

Strategic location is the latest flashpoint in the South China Sea

10 September 2024
Alice Guo, who is a former mayor of Bamban, Tarlac province and is also known as Chinese national Guo Hua Ping, attends a Senate hearing in Manila on Sept. 9.
Politics

Philippine Senate holds ex-mayor Alice Guo in contempt a second time

Case grips nation amid heightened tension with China

9 September 2024
Masato Kanda, Japan's former vice finance minister for international affairs, is being nominated to take over the presidency of the Asian Development Bank early next year.
International relations

ADB chief Asakawa to step down, 'Mr. Yen' Kanda likely successor

Japanese Finance Ministry veteran says it is time for new leadership

9 September 2024
All six ETFs, which made their market debuts in Hong Kong at the end of April, have posted negative returns as of the end of August. (Source photos by AP and Getty Images)
Market Spotlight

From Hong Kong to Singapore, crypto ETFs face chill

Market turbulence ahead of U.S. election weighs on digital asset funds

9 September 2024
Rohingya refugees gather in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, on Aug. 25 to mark the seventh anniversary of their fleeing from neighboring Myanmar.
International relations

Bangladesh calls for faster resettlement process for Rohingya

About 8,000 members of Muslim ethnic minority group have fled Myanmar

9 September 2024
Alibaba's office building in Beijing. The tech giant is joining Hong Kong's Stock Connect system that will let mainland investors trade its shares.
Your Week in Asia

Seoul military AI forum, Alibaba's mainland trading, Semicon India

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

8 September 2024
The drills simulated the recapture of a remote island. (Photo by Tomoyoshi Oshikiri)
Defense

U.S. and Indonesia wrap up multinational Indo-Pacific drills

Japan takes part in island recapture as part of Super Garuda Shield exercise

7 September 2024
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Sept. 5 in Singapore. (Photo from Modi's X account)
Semiconductors

India signs chip deal with Singapore during Modi visit

Indian PM meets counterpart Lawrence Wong to bolster supply chain

5 September 2024
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is keeping key ministers in her new cabinet. (Photo by Adryel Talamantes)
Politics

Key Thai ministers retain posts as king endorses new cabinet

Limited changes highlight government's continued focus on economic issues

4 September 2024
Pope Francis, left, and Indonesian President Joko Widodo meet with Indonesian officials, civil society representatives and diplomats at the presidential palace in Jakarta on Sept. 4.
Society

Pope, Jokowi call for peace efforts in 'historic' Indonesia visit

Pontiff's Asia tour includes stops in Papua New Guinea, East Timor, Singapore

4 September 2024
Alice Guo appears at a Philippine Senate hearing on May 22. (Philippine Senate)
Politics

Fugitive Philippine ex-mayor arrested in Indonesia

Alice Guo accused of links to Chinese crime syndicates

4 September 2024
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon speaks during an interview with Nikkei Asia in Kuala Lumpur on Sept. 3. (Photo by Fumika Sato)
Interview

New Zealand aims to double exports to ASEAN, Indo-Pacific

PM Luxon says trade agenda to focus on green economy and renewables

4 September 2024
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris attends a campaign event focused on Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities on July 9 in Nevada, one of seven key states that could decide the outcome of November's presidential election.
Asia Insight

Once neglected, Asian Americans now courted in knife-edge election

Tiny margins in battleground states spotlight voters like Wisconsin's Hmong community

3 September 2024
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, center, presents a Letter of Intent to fund Fulbright University Vietnam's construction in 2017. Critics blasted an ex-school official for focusing on U.S. suffering in the Vietnam War. 
International relations

U.S.-backed Vietnam university condemns rumors it foments 'color revolution'

Taboos about Vietnam War and one-party rule kick up social media furor around Fulbright

3 September 2024