World
Asia
Singapore in a mess as PM admits politics not as clean as country’s image
The city-state places as much stock in the cleanliness of its politics as it does in spotless streets. Recent events have threatened to sully that reputation.
- by Chris Barrett
Latest
‘It did not happen in Indonesia’: Jakarta at odds with Australia over cattle disease
Indonesian officials say Australian cattle with lumpy-skin disease showed symptoms before being unloaded from ships, heightening their suspicion over its origin.
- by Chris Barrett and Karuni Rompies
‘Barbenheimer’ memes trigger backlash in Japan, scene of real atomic explosions
One critical posting said many victims who died under the mushroom clouds were children the same age as those playing with Barbie dolls.
- by Mari Yamaguchi
Unexpected rains around Chinese capital leave dozens dead, missing
The severity of the flooding took the capital by surprise. Beijing usually has dry summers and had a stretch of record-breaking heat this year.
Global ‘rooftopping’ trend highlighted by gruesome death in Hong Kong
A 30-year-old French photographer plunged 68 floors to his death last week in a suspected extreme climbing escapade gone horribly wrong.
- by Lucy Cormack
Aung San Suu Kyi among 7000 to receive pardons
The 78-year-old Nobel laureate was jailed for 33 years after the Myanmar military staged a coup in 2021. The clemency means her jail time will be reduced.
- by Chris Barrett
‘Human in disguise’: Chinese zoo forced to deny bear is a person
Sun bears, originally from Malaysia, are smaller than other species, the Hangzhou Zoo insisted and assured visitors that their animals are the real thing.
- by David Child
Opinion
India
An economic miracle is shifting the global balance of power
India’s physical infrastructure boom is impressive enough, but its digital infrastructure expansion has been stunning in empowering its marginalised millions.
- by Peter Hartcher
Suicide bomber kills dozens at political rally in northwest Pakistan
The Bajur district near the Afghan border was once a stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban — a close ally of Afghanistan’s Taliban government.
- by Riaz Khan and Anwarullah Khan
North Korean leader flanked by Russian, Chinese delegates at missile parade
Kim Jong-un’s biggest weapons were saved for the end: new ICBMs that were flight-tested recently and demonstrated ranges that could reach deep into the US mainland.
- by Kim Tong-hyung
With Russia and China off limits, I went to the country sandwiched between them
Mongolia has managed to carve out a proud democratic identity over just three decades, despite its precarious position between two great authoritarian powers.
- by Eryk Bagshaw