alt

September 7th, 2023

Finding the lost sultans of Sulu

Inside Malaysia's $15 billion battle with the hereditary rulers of a lost Philippine kingdom

View all editions

The Big Story

Inside Malaysia's $15bn battle with the lost Sultanate of Sulu

Hereditary rulers of kingdom in the Philippines see court case as way back to former greatness

Inside Malaysia's $15bn battle with the lost Sultanate of Sulu
Higher corporate earnings account for half of inflation in Europe.
Datawatch

'Greedflation' still grips Europe

Corporate profit growth continues to outpace wage increases

A Country Garden construction site in Tianjin on Aug.18: The impact of a bursting bubble will be significantly affected by how quickly policy authorities react.
Opinion

China can avoid 'Japanification' with prompt action

Focus should be on fallout from bursting of asset bubbles and falling population

A rally in May in Hyderabad to show solidarity with Pakistan's army: New legislation criminalizes criticism of the country's armed forces.
Opinion

Pakistan's military can now legally do whatever it wants

To keep Imran Khan at bay, PML-N and PPP have further empowered the army

Samsung Electronics has made Vietnam a major part of its global strategy for smartphone production.
Business Spotlight

Samsung smartphone slump casts shadow over Vietnam

South Korean tech titan reluctant to meet Hanoi request for chip plant

Don Don Donki has made its mark on Asia's retail sector with cheap products imported straight from Japan. (Photo by Ryo Asayama)
Retail

Don Quijote spearheads Japan's discount store boom in Asia

Aeon and Kobe Bussan also look to expand in region

Singapore-based Princeton Digital Group is building new data centers in Malaysia and Indonesia. (Image courtesy of PDG)
Technology

Singapore data centers look to Malaysia, Indonesia to satisfy demand

Less space, more environment issues push operators into neighbor nations

An Atto 3 electric SUV made by Chinese carmaker BYD is displayed at an electric vehicle trade show in Farnborough, U.K.
Automobiles

BYD leads charge as China's share of EV exports grows eightfold

Japanese automakers face threat to Southeast Asian stronghold

Durian traders and exporters worry that dry conditions brought by the the El Nino weather pattern could curb output of the spiky-shelled fruit. (Photo by Takaki Kashiwabara)
Agriculture

China slowdown, El Nino cloud future for Thai durian exports

Deliveries to world's No. 2 economy surge due to China-Laos high-speed railway

Leaders of ASEAN and G20 nations gather this month with climate change, and how to finance tackling it, looming large after one of the hottest summers on record. Illustration by Hiroko Oshima
Asia Insight

Indonesia climate deal in $20bn gridlock as Vietnam, India on hold

'Breakthrough' funded by G7+ investors misses deadline; Hanoi's $15.5bn plan delayed

It is important to bolster defensive capabilities so that Japan is not "underestimated," said Gen. Yoshihide Yoshida, chief of staff of the Joint Staff. (Photo by Mayumi Tsumita)
Interview

Japan 'cannot maintain' security at current capabilities: SDF chief

Gen. Yoshihide Yoshida discusses Ukraine war's lessons, the U.S. alliance and more

Singapore's President-elect Tharman Shanmugaratnam greets supporters on Friday. Tharman won in a landslide with 70.4% of votes.
Politics

Singapore's Tharman clinches presidential election

Ruling party sees its former senior minister win over 70% of votes

Staff dressed in black and white livery serve customers at Britannia in Mumbai. The Irani cafe continues to draw diners despite its state of graceful dilapidation. (Photo by Anil Senior)
Life

Mumbai's last remaining 'Irani' cafes recall lost culture of Bombay

Iconic Britannia celebrates centenary as new saloons pay homage to fading legacy

A view of Tai O village at night: Governments have come and gone over the centuries, but the quiet Hong Kong village has stuck to its fishing roots throughout it all. 
Tea Leaves

Hong Kong's Tai O village offers political lessons

Over the centuries, locals have dealt with government changes