A multimillion-dollar aviation deal at Clark highlights European economic investment as a tool of strategic power.

South Koreans are Chennai’s largest expat community. The series, The New Locals, follows three of them as they navigate culture shocks, friendships and belonging.

A new Interpol cyberthreat report found that cybercrime now accounts for more than 30 per cent of all recorded crime in over half of the countries surveyed across Asia and the South Pacific.

Parts of Myanmar – including areas further south – have continued to experience seismic activity since a devastating earthquake struck Mandalay last year.

Both stories were recognised at the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) Awards held in Hong Kong on Thursday. 

The blaze was extinguished after around three hours, with most of the 10 injured suffering from smoke inhalation.

The index provider said the downgrade reflected opacity in ownership data and market activity, which undermines proper price formation and constrains global investors' ability to assess the true free float of listed companies.

Two high-profile pet cases have reignited calls for a national animal protection law. While the scale of the public reaction adds pressure on the authorities to act, significant obstacles remain, say analysts.

Oil tankers have started sailing through the Strait of Hormuz after the United States lifted its blockade on Iran on Thursday as an interim deal to end the three-month war took effect.

The break between Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia could portend a major realignment of the country’s ethnic Malay-based parties, writes CNA’s Leslie Lopez.

Despite Johor's thriving economy, a North-South divide in wealth distribution means some Johoreans struggle to keep up with rising costs – a potential key issue in the Jul 11 state polls.

India’s increasing military footprint is largely welcomed in Southeast Asia, which sees India as relatively benign rather than aggressive or imperialist, says former foreign correspondent Nirmal Ghosh.

Hong Kong came in second and Taiwan was fourth in IMD’s World Competitiveness Rankings this year.

This comes as Beijing seeks to position itself as a champion of multilateralism amid growing geopolitical tensions.