Judas Iscariot, played by Mitee John Sexciona, in Manila during the Philippines’ ‘Holy Week’. Photo: Raissa Robles

What is the Philippines’ ‘Holy Week’? A look at the religious fervour to Easter

In a country with the third-largest Catholic population in the world, the seven days from March 24 holds special significance till Easter Sunday.

21 minutes ago

Philippines fires back at ‘patronising’ China as sea tensions escalate

The defence ministry accused China of ‘intimidating’ smaller countries, saying Manila will not be cowed into submission.

The defence ministry accused China of ‘intimidating’ smaller countries, saying Manila will not be cowed into submission.

1 hour ago

Who is Truong My Lan? From market stall to Vietnam’s biggest fraud case

Truong My Lan ran eateries and hotels in her early career before coming under public scrutiny in a case totalling more than 10% of her country’s GDP.

Truong My Lan ran eateries and hotels in her early career before coming under public scrutiny in a case totalling more than 10% of her country’s GDP.

2 hours ago

Duterte-Xi allegedly made ‘gentleman’s agreement’ for status quo in disputed sea

Former president Duterte’s purported verbal pact with Xi intended to mitigate South China Sea disputes, yet China’s renewed hostility prompts scrutiny

Former president Duterte’s purported verbal pact with Xi intended to mitigate South China Sea disputes, yet China’s renewed hostility prompts scrutiny

2 hours ago

Malaysia’s luxury tax deferred to study its effect on economy, inflation

Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying said the government needed more time to engage with the industry to carefully formulate the tax principles.

Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying said the government needed more time to engage with the industry to carefully formulate the tax principles.

4 hours ago

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Taylor Swift performs at the National Stadium in Singapore on March 02. Photo: Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Chinese national jailed in Singapore for selling fake Taylor Swift tickets

Yang Chenguang, a Chinese national, was sentenced to three months’ jail, for cheating 3 travellers into thinking he gave them legitimate VIP tickets, and helped them gatecrash Taylor Swift’s concert.

29 Mar 2024 - 7:00AM

Singapore jails Myanmar maid who punched, bit 101-year-old woman for ‘no reason’

A domestic helper punched, slapped and bit the 101-year-old woman in her care. She also taped the woman’s mouth to prevent her screams of pain from being heard.

A domestic helper punched, slapped and bit the 101-year-old woman in her care. She also taped the woman’s mouth to prevent her screams of pain from being heard.

28 Mar 2024 - 7:10PM

Smelling a rat: conspiracies as Philippine airport fights vermin woes

The timing of the vermin outbreak led to speculation it could have been engineered in response to news of the airport’s privatisation, or an attempt to discredit the current government.

The timing of the vermin outbreak led to speculation it could have been engineered in response to news of the airport’s privatisation, or an attempt to discredit the current government.

28 Mar 2024 - 6:41PM

Singapore charges ex-Sembcorp Marine employees with bribing Brazilian officials

Former CEO Wong Weng Sun and ex-manager Lee Fook Kang face five charges of conspiring to offer incentives to a middleman to aid Sembcorp Marine’s Brazilian subsidiaries

Former CEO Wong Weng Sun and ex-manager Lee Fook Kang face five charges of conspiring to offer incentives to a middleman to aid Sembcorp Marine’s Brazilian subsidiaries

28 Mar 2024 - 6:00PM

Marcos Jnr says Philippines will not be ‘cowed into silence’ by China

The Philippines has been furious over what it calls repeated aggression by China’s coastguard and allied fishing vessels around disputed features located inside Manila’s exclusive economic zone.

The Philippines has been furious over what it calls repeated aggression by China’s coastguard and allied fishing vessels around disputed features located inside Manila’s exclusive economic zone.

28 Mar 2024 - 4:55PM

Asian scam rings now a global web making up to US$3 trillion yearly: Interpol

Interpol chief Jurgen Stock said the organised crime groups are now ‘working at a scale that was unimaginable a decade ago’.

Interpol chief Jurgen Stock said the organised crime groups are now ‘working at a scale that was unimaginable a decade ago’.

28 Mar 2024 - 8:15AM

‘Probably for the best’: Lion Air crash families welcome Boeing resignations

Victims’ families say few lessons have been learned since the 2018 crash, with Boeing aircraft continuing to suffer serious safety malfunctions.

Victims’ families say few lessons have been learned since the 2018 crash, with Boeing aircraft continuing to suffer serious safety malfunctions.

28 Mar 2024 - 5:53PM

China’s US$50 billion infrastructure gap puts belt and road pledges in doubt

An estimated US$50 billion pledged by China for infrastructure in Southeast Asia has yet to manifest in completed projects according to a recent study, raising questions over the efficacy of the country’s Belt and Road Initiative.

An estimated US$50 billion pledged by China for infrastructure in Southeast Asia has yet to manifest in completed projects according to a recent study, raising questions over the efficacy of the country’s Belt and Road Initiative.

27 Mar 2024 - 7:30PM

US should not ‘oppress and contain’ China: top Beijing official

Asia should guard against being ‘testing grounds for parallel systems’, says Liu Jianchao, who is tipped to be China’s next foreign minister.

Asia should guard against being ‘testing grounds for parallel systems’, says Liu Jianchao, who is tipped to be China’s next foreign minister.

28 Mar 2024 - 12:36AM

King warns Malaysians against exploiting ‘Allah’ socks scandal after attacks

Sultan Ibrahim urges Malaysians, especially community leaders, to ‘act with maturity’ and learn from the incident to strengthen unity.

Sultan Ibrahim urges Malaysians, especially community leaders, to ‘act with maturity’ and learn from the incident to strengthen unity.

27 Mar 2024 - 6:20PM

Dog-killing case in Philippines sparks anger, Senate debate for tougher laws

#JusticeforKillua went viral after a golden retriever named Killua was found dead by its owner after a neighbour allegedly bludgeoned it to death.

#JusticeforKillua went viral after a golden retriever named Killua was found dead by its owner after a neighbour allegedly bludgeoned it to death.

27 Mar 2024 - 5:27PM

Thailand passes bill to legalise same-sex marriage

When the changes come into force, Thailand will be the first Southeast Asian nation to guarantee marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples.

When the changes come into force, Thailand will be the first Southeast Asian nation to guarantee marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples.

28 Mar 2024 - 4:38PM

Singapore man accused of making bomb threats against 2 Taiwanese politicians

Loo Peng Seng, 53, was remanded to the city state’s Institute of Mental Health after being charged with making false bomb threats against legislative speaker Han Kuo-yu and another politician.

Loo Peng Seng, 53, was remanded to the city state’s Institute of Mental Health after being charged with making false bomb threats against legislative speaker Han Kuo-yu and another politician.

27 Mar 2024 - 2:02PM

Bangkok’s rubbish-choked river to be cleared of tonnes of plastic waste

Around 2 million tonnes of plastic waste is created each year in Thailand, according to official figures, in a nation seemingly addicted to plastic.

Around 2 million tonnes of plastic waste is created each year in Thailand, according to official figures, in a nation seemingly addicted to plastic.

27 Mar 2024 - 7:55PM

Suharto’s Australian mate and a secret emissary: just who was Clive Williams?

Clive Williams’ role as an unofficial cultural broker in Indonesia’s ties with foreign governments has been ‘very much obscured and underrated’ says his biographer

Clive Williams’ role as an unofficial cultural broker in Indonesia’s ties with foreign governments has been ‘very much obscured and underrated’ says his biographer

27 Mar 2024 - 12:00PM