Politics

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a press conference in Jakarta on July 14. 
International relations

Blinken says U.S. still committed to freedom in South China Sea

Top American diplomat and China's Wang Yi last met less than a month ago

15 July 2023
Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, center, speaks during the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Jakarta on July 14.
International relations

Indonesia's top diplomat warns of 'Cold War in hot places'

Foreign minister highlights Indo-Pacific risks, potential at ASEAN-led forum

14 July 2023
S. Iswaran speaks during a news conference in 2017, when he was Singapore's trade and industry minister.
14 July 2023
Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat meets journalists after conservative forces sunk his bid to become prime minister on July 13. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thailand shifts focus to Pheu Thai after Pita fails in PM bid

Country's latest bout of political uncertainty weighs on its biggest businesses

14 July 2023
Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai speaks during the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting in Jakarta on July 13. (Pool via Reuters)
Myanmar Crisis

Some ASEAN members support Thai diplomacy toward Myanmar

Bloc releases statement following foreign ministers' meeting amid policy divide

14 July 2023
A Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile is launched from an undisclosed location in North Korea in this image released July 13 by Pyongyang's Korean Central News Agency.
N Korea at crossroads

South Korea sanctions North Korea over latest missile launch

Move represents escalation of Seoul's increasingly tough approach to Pyongyang

14 July 2023
Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat reacts after he failed to win parliamentary support to become Thailand's prime minister on July 13. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Pita fails to secure majority in Thai PM vote

Move Forward leader 'will not give up' on second round next week

13 July 2023
Pita Limjaroenrat arrives at a parliament in Bangkok on July 13. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Pita pressed on royal reform ahead of Thailand's PM vote

Conservative camp slams Move Forward policy in parliamentary debate

13 July 2023
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks with his counterparts from ASEAN member countries in Jakarta on July 13. (provided by the Indonesian Foreign Ministry) 
International relations

Russia pitches use of local currencies in appeal to ASEAN

Trade with Indonesia rose 45% in 2022 as FTA talks progressed, Lavrov says

13 July 2023
Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thai court to rule whether Pita was eligible to run in election

Judicial move deals blow to Move Forward leader ahead of PM vote

12 July 2023
The 1MDB scandal rocked Malaysia's political and financial worlds. (File photo by AP)  
Crime

Malaysia arrests key 1MDB suspect linked to Jho Low

Jasmine Loo, wanted under Interpol red notice, was close associate of fugitive

12 July 2023
Thailand's Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, left, has confirmed a meeting with ousted and imprisoned Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi. (File photos by AP) 
Myanmar Crisis

Thai foreign minister says he met with Myanmar's Suu Kyi

Ousted leader 'in good health,' Don Pramudwinai says at ASEAN meeting

12 July 2023
Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of Move Forward, now Thailand's most popular political party, faces a critical vote on July 13. (Nikkei montage/Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

What to expect from Thailand's prime ministerial vote on Thursday

Prayuth's retirement shines brighter spotlight on political battle royal

12 July 2023
A Chinese Coast Guard ship allegedly obstructs a Philippine Coast Guard vessel providing support during a Philippine Navy operation in the disputed South China Sea on June 30.
South China Sea

Philippines launches website on South China Sea arbitration win

Manila tells its story as U.S. urges China to comply on anniversary of 2016 ruling

12 July 2023
A nickel mine in Indonesia. The Southeast Asian country is a leading producer of nickel, a key component in electric vehicle batteries.
Supply Chain

Japan and ASEAN plan new talks on bolstering supply chains

Two sides aim to upgrade partnership with eye on China

12 July 2023
Prayuth Chan-ocha speaks at a polling station in Bangkok on May 14. (Photo by Adryel Talamantes)
Thai election

Thailand PM Prayuth announces retirement from politics

Conservative parties in search of challenger to Pita ahead of Thursday's PM vote

11 July 2023
Temasek logged a one-year total shareholder return of minus 5.07% in Singapore dollar terms for the year through March, compared with a positive 5.81% annual return a year ago.
Companies

Singapore's Temasek reports $6bn loss as portfolio value shrinks

State investor says it will stay cautious amid bleak global conditions

11 July 2023
Foreign ministers from ASEAN member countries gather in Jakarta on July 11. (Pool photo/Reuters)
International relations

ASEAN meetings begin amid Myanmar crisis, 'complex' challenges

10-member bloc, China to adopt guideline for South China Sea code conclusion

11 July 2023
The official logo and catchphrase for the 50th year of ASEAN-Japan relations was unveiled at a foreign ministers' meeting in Phnom Penh in 2022.
Opinion

Japan will take forward its cooperation with ASEAN nations

New exchange initiatives will provide foundation for ties for next generation

11 July 2023
People in Yangon wait to take Japanese Language Proficiency Test on July 10.
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar urges citizens to work abroad to ease forex shortage

Military threatens to pull HR agencies licenses if they delay sending workers

11 July 2023
To achieve a clear victory in upcoming state elections, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his allies will have to secure Malay support.
Opinion

Malaysian state elections will test Anwar's balancing skill

Prime minister needs to show Malay support to keep reform on course

10 July 2023
Philippine nurses train with a dummy patient during a lesson on childbirth in Manila on Sept. 16, 2022.
Health Care

Philippines to hire unlicensed nurses as shortages bite

Many with nursing qualifications take jobs abroad for higher salaries

10 July 2023
The Asian financial flu of 1997, Japan's three decades with virtually no inflation and stronger capital markets in the region's emerging economies are helping Asian central banks break away from peers in the West.
Economy

Asia's central banks go easy as West ramps up inflation fight

Weak China demand triggers what some call a 'decoupling' in Asia monetary policy

10 July 2023
Thailand's household debt has swelled to 90% of its gross domestic product. 
Economy

Thailand's household debt swells amid policy stagnation concerns

Expert says next government must address long-standing problem

9 July 2023
A customer holds a cup of a legally brewed beer at the United Peoples Brewery in Bangkok. (Photo by Papangkorn Bamrungmuang)
Life

How craft beer helped turn Thai politics

By closing the lid on brewing, Bangkok's elite may have unseated itself

8 July 2023