A documentary film that Beijing sought to have banned chronicling the hazardous everyday lives of Filipino fishermen and soldiers in the South China Sea is set to open in cinemas in the Philippines this Wednesday.
Food Delivery by director Baby Ruth Villarama was denounced last month for being “rife with disinformation and false propaganda” by the Chinese consulate-general in Auckland, which called for a New Zealand festival not to screen the film, calling it a “political tool” for the…
India and Australia unite to challenge China’s rare earth reign
In the race to secure the building blocks of tomorrow’s technology, India and Australia are edging ever closer to a strategic minerals partnership, positioning themselves as a counterweight to China’s dominance.
Negotiations are ongoing, with both nations exploring avenues to build upon their critical minerals investment partnership – launched in 2022 – to establish joint ventures that could encompass not only sourcing but also collaborative processing of these elements that are essential to the…
Tariffs and truces: how Southeast Asia bargained with erratic US economic might
And so it has come to this. After months of threats, intensive shuttle diplomacy and last-minute trade negotiations, Washington’s new tariff regime has finally come into force.
For Southeast Asia, whose nations jostled for favour – and relief – from a White House wielding economic might with Donald Trump’s trademark unpredictability, this ledger of punitive levies has laid bare the US president’s vision for a new global trade order: one underpinned by “reciprocal” transactions.
The wide spectrum…
2 Malaysian tourists set on fire in Bangkok
Two Malaysian tourists were doused with paint thinner and set alight outside one of Bangkok’s busiest shopping centres earlier this week.
The victims are receiving medical treatment and are in a critical but stable condition, according to the Bernama news agency, which cited Chargé d’Affaires ad interim to Thailand, Bong Yik Jui.
Police have arrested a suspect, identified as Varakorn Pubthaisong, 30, who reportedly targeted the pair out of frustration over unemployment.
The suspect told police…
Green gold: the rise of Thailand’s coveted exotic plant trade
Bright, heart-shaped anthuriums spilled onto the walkways, as collectors expertly examined the intricate patterns of philodendrons, pausing for a moment to admire the rows of rare ferns that erupted in every imaginable shade of green between the bustling booths.
At June’s annual Bangkok International Exotic Plants Show, horticulturists revealed some of the secrets behind their “green gold” rush to This Week in Asia – a trade made possible by Thailand’s hothouse climate, rich soils and…
Malaysian PM Anwar says Asean summit to welcome China’s Xi
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has revealed that Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend the Asean summit to be held in Kuala Lumpur in October, potentially turning the annual talks into a stage for a high-stakes meeting between the leaders of the world’s two largest superpowers.
This is the first indication of a possible meeting venue between Xi and US President Donald Trump, who said on Tuesday that the two leaders could have a meeting “before the end of the year” if both…
Indonesia’s culture of mega speakers sparks uproar – and it’s getting louder
The practice of blasting towering speakers stacked on trucks and boats in Indonesia to celebrate events ranging from weddings to national holidays is increasingly drawing a chorus of public disapproval, even from religious leaders.
“Sound horeg” – from the Javanese word for “vibrate” – is a type of street entertainment involving very loud music systems that has taken off in East and Central Java in recent years.
Ahead of Indonesia’s August 17 Independence Day, officials and police are weighing…
Australian employers face redundancy complexities after redeployment ruling
A new ruling should spur employers in Australia to consider whether employees they intend to make redundant could be redeployed into roles being performed by other workers, experts have said.
England and Scotland crack down on ‘rogue’ non-surgical cosmetic procedures
New proposals to further regulate and licence non-surgical cosmetic procedures (NSCPs) in England and Scotland are welcome, but the governments must act quickly to ensure this “wild west” system has better safeguards, an expert says.
South African courts provide clarity on agricultural land development
Despite legislative change, recent developments underscore the continued relevance of South Africa’s primary piece of legislation influencing agricultural land development, highlighting the complexities of land classification and the need for early legal clarity in infrastructure and development projects.