15 hrs ago

A major insurer in Singapore has suspended pre-treatment approval for policyholders seeking treatment in two private hospitals due to high costs, in a case that has prompted scrutiny of the city states reputable healthcare industry. Great Easterns move has spurred industry experts to call for calibrated adjustments to the healthcare insurance system involving the key stakeholders instead of an overhaul, and greater data transparency to help policyholders make informed decisions as expenses...

18 hrs ago

When US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday to extend a pause on reciprocal tariffs until August 1, it offered little comfort to China. Instead, Beijings policymakers may feel increasingly cornered, as Washington also moved to target 14 countries many of them Chinas close trading partners with tariffs of up to 40 per cent. This came despite breakthrough talks in London that laid the groundwork to remove most bilateral export controls from Chinas rare earth...

20 hrs ago

The United States has deployed its most advanced fighter aircraft, the F-35, to the Philippines for the first time, a move analysts say signals Washingtons intent to stress-test forward combat readiness in a region increasingly shaped by Chinas maritime assertiveness. The arrival of the stealth jets for the Cope Thunder joint air drills launched on Monday at Clark Air Base and running until July 18 reflects a more tangible form of deterrence, experts say, as the Philippines becomes further...

21 hrs ago

Former Malaysian first lady Rosmah Mansor has won 100,000 ringgit (US$23,600) in damages in a defamation case against a TikTokker who uploaded a video claiming that she had dabbled in black magic. The Kuala Lumpur High Court said on Tuesday that Rosmah had proven her claim against 35-year-old Ku Muhammad Hilmie Ku Din. This global award comprises general and aggravated damages, Justice Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh said during the damages assessment hearing, according to a report by local daily...

22 hrs ago

Malaysia will press ahead with talks towards a comprehensive trade agreement with the United States, its trade ministry has said, as Kuala Lumpur races to soften the blow of a newly imposed 25 per cent tariff on its exports unveiled by US President Donald Trump. On Monday, Trump revealed he had sent letters to leaders of 14 countries announcing tariffs ranging from 25 to 40 per cent, in an apparent gambit to accelerate trade negotiations. The new 25 per cent tariff on Malaysian goods is one...

1 day ago

We have selected seven stories from the SCMPs coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Malaysias new luxury taxes hit the middle class where it hurts 2. PMs suspension reignites debate on judicial activism of Thailands courts 3. Philippines Duterte ends womanising era, leaving 13 to 27 lovers behind 4. Chinese ambassadors grandstanding...

1 day ago

The sole surviving member of a family of seven who drowned when their car plunged into a river in Kedah last week has recalled seeing her father in a dream, telling her not to be sad, in a tragedy that has gripped Malaysia. Putri Qisya Nur Izzat, 12, had stayed behind at her grandmothers house on the day of the accident. She recounted on Monday dreaming of her father, 32-year- old Mohamad Azim Izat Ishak, who told her he could only watch over her from afar. Dad said, dont be sad or I wont be...

1 day ago

As East Timor edges closer to joining Asean, Myanmars military rulers are seeking to block its entry, in a warning to it and governments everywhere against engaging with the war-torn countrys opposition forces. Last week, sources cited by public broadcaster Thai PBS revealed that Myanmars military regime had formally notified Malaysia, the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, of its intent to withhold support for East Timors membership when the bloc convenes in...

1 day ago

US President Donald Trump, apparently impatient with the slow progress of negotiations, on Monday slapped 25 per cent unilateral tariffs on Japan and South Korea and equal or higher import taxes on several other nations ahead of a self-imposed Wednesday deadline. Analysts said the move shows that the mercurial American leader is using threats to jump-start negotiations. Trump sent two-page letters to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung saying the ..

1 day ago

A family of six in Malaysia, including four children aged between six months and nine years, were found dead on Monday in a car submerged in a river. A couple aged 32 and 31 and their children were found in the back seat of the Proton Iswara car in Sungai Korok in Kedah two days after they were reported missing, according to reports by the local newspaper The Star. Rescue personnel cut open the cars roof and broke its windows to retrieve the bodies. Family members at the scene were seen ..

1 day ago

More people in Southeast Asian countries could face health risks ranging from liver damage to poor brain development due to rising consumption of microplastics in their food, medical and regulatory experts have warned. Microplastics are formed when larger plastic items break down. As more animals, such as fish, eat microplastics due to plastic pollution, the near- invisible particles measuring less than 5mm (0.19 inch) can go up the food chain. If the microplastics are absorbed by fish and ..

1 day ago

Southeast Asian nations are scrambling to recalibrate their approach to US tariffs ahead of a key diplomatic gathering that starts in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, as Washingtons preference for one-on-one trade deals casts doubt over Aseans collective bargaining power. US President Donald Trump on Sunday announced a delay to the next round of his sweeping Liberation Day tariffs pushing the deadline from July 9 to August 1 to give time for finalising deals with 18 major trade partners,...

1 day ago

Senior Malaysian lawmakers are calling for both a royal inquiry and a parliamentary investigation into Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim over alleged irregularities in judicial appointments, warning that such actions risk plunging the countrys judiciary into scandal once again. Last week, Anwars administration declined to extend the tenure of widely respected chief justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and Court of Appeal president Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim. This leaves the future leadership of the...

1 day ago

We have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Trump wants to ground Chinas drones but have they flown too high to reach? 2. Can India block Chinas leadership in Global South-based alliances like the SCO? 3. Why Singapore refused to be a Third China and how Lee Kuan Yew made it clear 4. Chinese study uncovers cancer-fighting...

2 days ago

Malaysian police are on the hunt for a foreign man accused of sexually assaulting three boys and a teenager over the past three months in suburbs just outside the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. The crimes were allegedly carried out in two adjacent neighbourhoods in the city of Shah Alam, a predominantly Malay-Muslim enclave about 30km (19 miles) from the capital. Police believe the suspect, whose last known address was a flat in the city, is still in the country. To date, the number of victims...

2 days ago

Persistence is the lifeblood of the counterfeit trade an attribute Rahul* has in spades. On the bustling, neon-lit streets of Bangkok, the thirty-something from India hawks imitation Rolex watches with a practised ease. This is nearly as good as the real one, he says, grinning, before melting into the crowd, a bag of replica Swiss timepieces slung over his shoulder. His trade is illegal, yet it flourishes out in the open a mere ripple in Southeast Asias ocean of counterfeit goods. Now,...

2 days ago

The recent visit of Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to China reaffirmed the strategic depth of the ChinaSingapore relationship. His meetings with Chinese leaders underscored a readiness to work together to uphold the principles of free trade and multilateralism. But beyond symbolism, this visit raised critical questions. What role will Singapore now play on the global and regional stage? What new possibilities does this moment unlock? As geopolitical rivalry hardens and the risks of...

2 days ago

Brics leaders have called for stronger cohesion, expanded trade and increased use of local currency to improve the Global Souths clout as an alternative to Western power, even as the bloc of emerging markets maintains ties and partnerships with wealthier countries. As two new members joined the New Development Bank, also known as the Brics bank, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told business leaders and investors on Saturday that this delicate balancing act and bid for greater momentum...

Vietnam breathed a sigh of relief when US President Donald Trump announced a trade deal had been struck between Hanoi and Washington. The Vietnam Stock Index reached its highest level since April 2022, indicating confidence that export stability had been achieved. On the face of it, the deal is highly unbalanced, with US exports to Vietnam enjoying tariff-free market access, while Vietnamese exports in the other direction now face a 20 per cent rate, slightly over twice last years average ..

3 days ago

The stranglehold of political dynasties on Philippine democracy risks deepening public disillusionment and limiting political pluralism, the European Unions election mission has warned, as it called for sweeping reforms to the countrys outdated election code and party-list system. In its final report released on Thursday, the EU Election Observation Mission said political power in the Philippines remained concentrated within a small circle of elite families, even in institutions meant to...

3 days ago

In this excerpt from Ink and Influence: An OB Markers Sequel, Cheong Yip Seng, former editor-in-chief of The Straits Times, offers rare behind-the-scenes insights into the personalities who shaped post-independence Singapore. Through stories involving figures such as S.R. Nathan, a senior civil servant who later became president, and S. Rajaratnam, the countrys first foreign minister, Cheong reveals a founding leadership team unafraid to challenge even Lee Kuan Yew while remaining bound by a...

3 days ago

Expertly switching between woks as he whips up appam, the coconut and rice batter pancakes that draw morning commuters to his roadside stall in a Kuala Lumpur suburb, Raj Kumar harbours anxieties that simmer away beneath the calm: petrol subsidy cuts are looming and prices may soon rise again. At 44, Raj feels every shift in Malaysias rising cost of living both in the prices he pays for ingredients and the rueful faces of his customers. Our suppliers raised prices after diesel subsidies were...

4 days ago

In his new memoir Ink and Influence: An OB Markers Sequel, Cheong Yip Seng reflects on the intersection of geopolitics, media, and identity through the lens of his long career as editor-in-chief of The Straits Times. In this excerpt, Cheong recounts a revealing moment during an official visit to China in 1976 with then-prime minister Lee Kuan Yew. Among the officials present was S.R. Nathan, later Singapores sixth president, who witnessed Lee subtly rebuff a Chinese attempt to influence the...

4 days ago

In the calm of his kitchen, Christy Yoong once raised a glass to retirement good wine, imported cheese and the spoils of a lifes work. But as Malaysias new tax regime lands with a thud, even these modest pleasures are slipping out of reach. When Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim unveiled his unexpected tax on imported luxuries in June, he promised the pain would be felt only by the affluent. The intent was clear: shore up government coffers by targeting the better-off. Yet the reality, for many...

4 days ago

The Philippines maritime dispute with China has spilled into the courts after a top coastguard official filed a cyber libel case against a pro-Beijing influencer over explosive and, he claims, baseless allegations that he is a paid asset of the United States. Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesman for Philippine Coast Guard operations in the West Philippine Sea, lodged a complaint on Friday at the Manila prosecutors office against Sass Rogando Sasot, a popular vlogger currently based in...

4 days ago

The suspension of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has reignited debate over the Constitutional Courts growing influence in Thailands democratic system, amid concerns electoral mandates risk being curtailed by judicial and conservative power centres. While the courts decision on Tuesday to suspend Paetongtarn over a leaked phone call with Cambodias former leader Hun Sen was framed as a procedural response to an ethics complaint, observers say it fits into a broader trend of...

4 days ago

The bankruptcy of high-profile fashion designer Jovian Mandagie, the former son-in-law of Malaysias ex-prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, has brought renewed attention to the growing scandals surrounding the former leaders family. Jovian, once a household name in Malaysian and Indonesian fashion circles, was declared bankrupt by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Thursday for failing to repay a US$1.25 million loan to an engineering firm. The court ruling comes amid ongoing investigations by...

4 days ago

Malaysias long-delayed Aerotrain at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) has suffered fresh embarrassment after experiencing two service disruptions within three days, just a week after its US$100 million relaunch and a test ride by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The most recent incident occurred on Friday morning, when a flooded tunnel forced Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) to temporarily halt the 1.2km (0.75 miles) rail service linking the main terminal to its international...

4 days ago

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has issued nine banks, capital markets services licence holders and trust companies composition penalties totalling S$27.45 million (US$21.55 million) over breaches tied to a S$3 billion (US$2.36 billion) money-laundering case that shook the city state. MAS said on Friday the latest regulatory moves marked the end of enforcement action against financial institutions with connections to the case. All nine financial institutions have accepted the ..

4 days ago

A Sri Lankan man has been arrested at an airport in Thailand after allegedly trying to smuggle three snakes out of the country by concealing them in his underwear. The man was stopped at Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi Airport on Wednesday after a body search revealed three ball pythons, stored in net bags, hidden on his person. The suspect, identified only as Shehan, was apprehended by the Thailand Wildlife Enforcement Network (WEN), authorities said in a Facebook post on Thursday. Authorities ..

4 days ago

The presence of the USS George Washington aircraft carrier in the South China Sea this week and its port call at Manila signals renewed American commitment to the Philippines, though observers warn that Beijing could view the move as a containment effort and ramp up its own naval activity in the disputed waters. Flight deck operations were opened to the media aboard the Nimitz- class nuclear-powered vessel, with commanding officer Captain Timothy Waits telling reporters his ships mission...

4 days ago

Philippine lawmakers have refiled a long-delayed bill legalising divorce in the country just a few days into the new Congress after its passage fell short in the previous term, with divorce advocates hopeful that the legislation will finally see the light of day. Lawmakers have been trying to pass a divorce law since 2005, but continue to face resistance in the Catholic-majority country. Nearly 79 per cent of Filipinos are Roman Catholic and the Philippines and the Vatican are the only ..

The United States announced it had reached a trade deal with Vietnam on Wednesday, which will see Washington impose a 20 per cent tariff on Vietnamese goods. Businesses in Vietnams vast export sector initially reacted with relief to the news, as the 20 per cent rate is substantially lower than the 46 per cent so-called reciprocal tariff that the US threatened to impose on Vietnam in April. However, the agreement has a sting in the tail. US President Donald Trump also said in a social post...

4 days ago

Malaysian police believe a man gunned down in his Ipoh home last week was the victim of an international organised crime syndicate, marking the latest in a string of unresolved gang-related assassinations in public places that left five people dead and shocked the country last month. Gun violence is rare in Malaysia, where unlicensed gun ownership and even brandishing a firearm as intimidation are capital crimes. But a series of shootings over 12 days in June has sparked public fear as three...

5 days ago

Former president Rodrigo Duterte, a self-proclaimed womaniser, once bragged that he had a wife, a second wife and at least two girlfriends. Now, in The Hague facing a war crimes trial that could see him sentenced up to 30 years in jail, the 80-year-old has some advice for the women in his life. To all his girlfriends look for somebody else. Somebody with plenty of credit cards, his son, Congressman Paolo Duterte, told supporters in The Hague on Monday, relaying the patriarchs words after...

A week after announcing long-anticipated progress from high-level talks in London, China and the United States are taking concrete steps to clear export hurdles and issue licenses for strategic goods. The easing of trade restrictions signals a tentative reset between the worlds two largest economies. But the thaw remains fragile, as analysts warned that Washingtons new trade deal with Vietnam could provoke a response from Beijing. Still, for now, both sides have moved to restore access to...

5 days ago

Indonesia is banking on its rich reserves of critical minerals to persuade the United States to pull back steep looming tariffs an offer that could appeal to American strategic interests even as concerns remain about regulatory risks and Chinas entrenched role in the countrys mineral supply chains. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto has described Indonesias critical minerals proposal as its second-best offer to avert a looming 32 per cent tariff under President...

5 days ago

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio heads to Asia next week on a high-profile diplomatic tour, but his visit is not expected to ease growing anxiety in Southeast Asia, which is bracing itself for the return of steep US tariffs that threaten to derail growth and test ties with Washington. Rubio is expected to fly to Kuala Lumpur for meetings on July 10-11 with foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and other Asia-Pacific countries, according to media reports. ..

5 days ago

The potential of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) could be enhanced by leveraging on the pull of an Indonesian island grouping, according to Singapores Trade Minister Gan Kim Yong. The JS-SEZ was officially launched in January, with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong agreeing to develop various industries, including aerospace, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and electronics in the 3,571 sq km (1,379 square mile)...

Chinese manufacturers in Vietnam breathed a sigh of relief on Wednesday, after Washington and Hanoi agreed a better than expected trade deal that will reduce US tariffs to 20 per cent and bring an end to three months of uncertainty. Most Chinese exporters are likely to continue operating in the Southeast Asian nation in the wake of the agreement, with firms viewing the final tariff rate as manageable, analysts and businesspeople in the country told the Post. US President Donald Trump ..