Asia - South China Morning Post

Indonesia is pushing back against calls to tap the state budget to cover mounting debt from its China-backed high-speed railway, while Beijing has signalled it is open to repayment restructuring talks to ensure the line remains operational.

The dispute over who should shoulder the debt highlights deeper concerns about the project’s long-term viability, the role of Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund and whether the current financing model risks setting a troubling precedent for future...

Indonesia and Brazil agreed to boost ties and struck a series of agreements on Thursday as their leaders met in Jakarta, with Southeast Asia’s biggest economy looking to make further inroads into South American markets.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was greeted by a marching band and national anthems at a ceremony at the presidential palace in Jakarta before talks with Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto.

The pair witnessed the signing of agreements on oil, gas, electricity,...

Global cooperation is needed to help smaller and developing nations defend themselves against cyber threats, Singapore has warned, stressing that cybersecurity is “only as strong as its weakest link”.

Speaking on Thursday at the Singapore International Cyber Week – a week‑long gathering of global policymakers, industry leaders and cybersecurity experts to address digital governance and threat preparedness – Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said states with fewer resources remained the most...

A former wealth banker at Citigroup got the longest sentence in Singapore’s biggest money laundering case for his role in aiding the movement of illicit funds and obstructing justice.

Wang Qiming, a former relationship manager at Citibank Singapore, was sentenced to 24 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to four out of 10 charges. The prosecutor sought 24 to 30 months' imprisonment while Wang’s defence lawyer argued for seven to 11 months.

The prosecutor argued that Wang knew the importance...

A man in Singapore offered a woman S$5,000 (US$3,848) and a public apology after he was confronted with molesting her buttocks as he exited a lift with his wife.

Chinese national Hu Guisheng, 39, was jailed for six days upon pleading guilty on Wednesday to one charge of outrage of modesty in the March 8 incident.

The social visit pass holder was in a lift at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) – an extravagant tourist attraction – with his wife and friends when he targeted the woman.

Hu’s group was drinking...

A collector has offered Malaysia’s growing trading-card community a chance to own a piece of Pokemon “history,” putting part of his rare trove up for sale for 1.87 million ringgit (US$441,993) with an alternative deal: he is willing to trade it for a Porsche 911 Carrera 4S plus additional cash.

Damiral Imran listed his collection on social media, where he described it as “history, rarity and legacy in one vault”.

According to screenshots from Shiny, a global card-valuation tracker, Damiral’s...

South Korea’s former first lady Kim Keon-hee has again made headlines after revelations that she sat on a royal throne during a private palace visit – triggering ridicule that she must have fancied herself a queen, given her oversized influence over her husband.

Kim reportedly sat on the throne during a private tour of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the main royal compound of the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910), while accompanied by government officials in 2023.

Professor Lee Jun-han of Incheon National...

Millions of tonnes of discarded electronics from the United States are being shipped overseas, much of it to developing countries in Southeast Asia unprepared to safely handle hazardous waste, according to a new report released on Wednesday by an environmental watchdog.

The Seattle-based Basel Action Network (BAN) said a two-year investigation found at least 10 US companies exporting used electronics to Asia and the Middle East, in what it says is a “hidden tsunami” of electronic waste.

“This...

As Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office, she wasted no time extending an olive branch to South Korea, calling it an “important neighbour” and praising its culture.

But how long will the goodwill last? Concerns linger in South Korea that Takaichi, known for her nationalist leanings, may eventually adopt a more hawkish stance, risking again straining ties over long-standing issues such as Japan’s wartime history and territorial disputes.

“I would say there is optimism about the...

With an eye to transforming Cambodia into a Southeast Asian travel and cargo hub, a new US$2.3 billion airport – developed by a venture affiliated with one of the country’s wealthiest men – was opened at a grand ceremony near Phnom Penh, where officials and business leaders praised the project for enhancing regional connectivity and deepening links with Hong Kong and mainland China.

Techo International Airport (TIA), which has replaced the Cambodian capital’s previous facility, has been forecast...