KOTA KINABALU, Feb 23 — A strong earthquake measuring magnitude 6.8 struck the waters off the coast of Sabah at 12...

ILOILO CITY — An international aquaculture research center based in the municipality of Tigbauan in Iloilo is working to develop sustainable farming techniques for spiny lobster (Panulirus ornatus) and evaluate its viability as a livelihood for coastal fishers in the Philippines. The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD) has recognized the species, locally known

A wave of online backlash against South Korea is spreading across Southeast Asia, fuelled by a dispute over fan behaviour at a K-pop concert and intensified by controversial comments from public officials, highlighting how quickly digital tensions can take on a regional dimension. Posts accusing Koreans of discrimination have circulated widely on social media in recent days, with users from Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand sharing calls to boycott Korean products and culture. A hashtag invoki...

Southeast Asia is preparing for 'increasing divergence' in its economic performance following mixed growth results in 2025.

More than 8 out of 10 of respondents in an international survey expressed a favorable view of Korea, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The ministry’s 2025 Survey on Korea’s National Image showed that overall favorability rose 3.3 percentage points from the previous year to 82.3 percent, the highest level since the survey began in 2018. By region, people in the Middle East and Southeast Asia showed the strongest fondness for Korea. The United Arab Emirates ranked first at

Chinese diplomatic missions in Vietnam and Singapore have issued warnings to their citizens, urging them to avoid gambling following two deaths allegedly linked to gambling activities.

India’s environmental court has given the go-ahead to the strategically significant Great Nicobar infrastructure project despite widespread concerns of ecological damage to the island in the Andaman Sea. The National Green Tribunal on Monday dismissed a batch of petitions objecting to the megaproject on ecologically sensitive Great Nicobar island – around 160km (100 miles) northwest of Indonesia’s Aceh province – saying “adequate safeguards” had been taken into account. The infrastructure plan...

Reports detail various M&A activities, including a contested buyout bid, an acquisition in Southeast Asia, and a company sale.

UAE telecom provider du has partnered to invest in the Singapore-India-Gulf (SING) submarine cable system, a new undersea fiber-optic network linking the Middle East with South and Southeast Asia. This strategic move reinforces the UAE's position as a regional data hub, enhancing connectivity for AI, cloud services, and global digital growth.

Elon Musk's satellite internet service, Starlink, has been granted a license by Vietnam to commence operations, marking its expansion into the Southeast Asian country.

According to the latest PISA global mathematics results, students in an unnamed Southeast Asian country achieved the highest performance among the 81 economies that participated.

The acquisition of the Giuseppe Garibaldi would make Indonesia the second country in Southeast Asia, and the fifth in Asia, to operate an aircraft carrier.

Yik Wai Chee doesn’t think of himself as a believer. The 33-year-old senior executive at a Malaysia-based AI company is the kind of person who deals in data and decision-making frameworks, not destiny. Yet for years, he has consulted bazi, the ancient Chinese system of elemental forecasting, as a kind of strategic gut check on his life. “For me, it is just a long-term ‘luck check’ to see if there are general strategies I can adapt to get through some life challenges,” he said. “If it doesn’t...

The UN human rights agency on Friday called on governments to clamp down on scam centres, which have mushroomed in Southeast Asia and where hundreds of thousands of people have been trafficked into forced labour. The agency released a report documenting torture, sexual abuse, forced abortions, food deprivation, solitary confinement and other abuses. “The litany of abuse is staggering and at the same time heartbreaking,” UN Human Rights high commissioner Volker Turk said, calling on governments...

Singapore has no substantiated information that any Singaporean is or was fighting as part of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) during the war in Gaza, its Ministry of Home Affairs has said, after several media reports claimed two passport holders from the city state were among 200 Southeast Asians who had fought with Israeli troops. Qatari news outlet Al Jazeera reported on Sunday, citing information obtained by Israeli non-governmental organisation Hatzlacha under Israel’s Freedom of Information...

A report identifies a Southeast Asian country with a cost of living significantly lower than New York City, according to the 2026 Numbeo's Cost of Living Index.

This city's rising living costs are being shaped by heavy tourism, limited land, and growing demand for housing and services.

After deadly floods and landslides swept through Sumatra last year, Indonesia’s government has moved to revoke permits blamed for damaging forests – ensnaring a flagship China-backed hydropower project and rattling investor confidence in one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing renewable energy markets. The decision, unveiled last month by President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, has been welcomed by environmental groups as a long-awaited show of teeth. But it has also raised questions about...

Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat International Airport experienced a record surge in passengers ahead of Lunar New Year (Tet), as thousands of overseas Vietnamese return home for emotional reunions. While Tet is Vietnam's biggest festival, many other Southeast Asian countries do not observe it as a public holiday.

A new report sheds light on the plight of Indians being forced into cyber-scam factories in Southeast Asia, detailing how they are trapped and exploited in fraudulent operations.

Online communities from Southeast Asia, dubbed 'SEAblings,' are uniting to counter racist attacks originating from Korean netizens (Knetz).

Japanese companies Skylark and Watami are planning to establish new production facilities in Southeast Asia.

The Hong Kong government has started the year with initiatives that have far-reaching impacts on the city’s long-term growth. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced that he is spearheading Hong Kong’s inaugural five-year plan, which will promote broader integration with China’s five-year plan and ensure a bigger role for the city in the nation’s economic development. He also reaffirmed deeper engagement with countries in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia to open up new markets...

(ANSA) - ROMA, 19 FEB - The role of dance as a space for cultural dialogue and international collaboration was the focus of 'Lives on Pointe', a meeting hosted by the Italian Embassy in Singapore and dedicated to comparing the Italian and Southeast Asian dance scenes. The talk featured Italian dancer Marco Carrer, prima ballerina Myrna Kamara, and Chihiro Uchida, artistic director of the Kadence Ballet Academy and partner in the initiative. The dialogue explored the artists' professional paths, the challenges of contemporary ballet, and the opportunities associated with international mobility, while also offering a glimpse into the development of dance in Singapore and the region. In his speech, Ambassador Dante Brandi emphasized the strategic value of this cooperation: "Ballet," he said, "preserves an extraordinary tradition and continues to nurture outstanding talent, but today it must face profound changes that require openness and international collaboration. The dialogue between Italy and Singapore encourages the cross-fertilization of experiences, skills, and artistic visions, helping to strengthen a vital, contemporary, and evolving cultural ecosystem." The event is part of Italy's broader cultural diplomacy efforts to promote dance as a privileged area of exchange between Italy and Singapore. Read article...

Growing wariness and rivalry between major powers in the Southeast Asian region are identified as the primary threat to maritime security for ASEAN nations.

The Japanese government will provide support to four Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand and Cambodia, to combat transnational organized crimes such as special fraud originating from the region. A signing ceremony for this initiative has been held.

Many Southeast Asian countries, including Singapore and Malaysia, reported real GDP growth rates exceeding 5% in the last quarter of the previous year, primarily fueled by robust global AI demand boosting semiconductor exports.

A new report identifies a Southeast Asian city as having the highest cost of living in the region for 2026, excluding rent, with monthly expenses estimated at US$1,150 per person.

Human trafficking syndicates operating across Southeast Asia are increasingly leveraging cryptocurrency to launder their illicit profits. This shift reflects a growing trend in how criminal organizations manage their finances.