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1. Malaysia’s Anwar eyes snap poll before fuel subsidy crunch truly bites

   Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is considering calling a snap election before a mounting fuel subsidy crisis forces him to make spending cuts that would strip him of the conditions needed to win one. A national vote is not due until early 2028, but the political logic of going early is becoming harder to dismiss. Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) alliance is fraying at the edges, coalition...

2. Ancient China elites used water fans, ice to cool down in summer; folks had bamboo pillows

   In ancient China, summer heat could be deadly long before the advent of air conditioning. To survive it, people resorted to remedies ranging from imperial ice sculptures and water-powered fans to the more carefree practice of dressing minimally. One of the most devastating examples occurred during the reign of Emperor Qianlong in the Qing dynasty (1644–1912), when an extreme heatwave swept...

3. Vodka, bullet train and boat rides: how Xi and Putin built up a personal rapport

   Few relationships among world leaders have been portrayed as personally as that between President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Xi, who rarely publicly reveals much about his personal life or emotions, once described Putin as his “best and most intimate friend”. Over the years, their rapport has been defined not only by summits and state visits, but also a growing...

4. Ride-hailing licence cap ‘must strike a balance’ in Hong Kong, John Lee says

   The number of ride-hailing vehicle licences will be determined based on Hong Kong’s unique conditions and the need to maintain passenger experience, the city’s leader has said, adding that the proposed subsidiary legislation will be submitted for approval on schedule. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also said on Tuesday that a mechanism would be established to monitor market operations and...

5. Indonesia’s oil hub plan collides with Asean’s trust deficit

   Indonesia has proposed hosting an Asean oil storage hub to reinforce the region’s emergency fuel reserves, as supply disruptions from the Middle East lay bare the region’s vulnerability to energy shocks. But analysts say the plan, while attractive in principle, is likely to be hampered by political distrust, uneven national priorities and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ record of...

6. Some Asian airlines could collapse like Spirit without help on rising fuel costs

   Asian airlines need government support to cope with the more than doubling of jet fuel prices that otherwise risks some carriers collapsing like US-based Spirit Airlines, according to the new head of the region’s industry body. Wong Hong, who took over as director general of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines last month, said carriers needed varying levels of help and relief, from direct...

7. Southeast Asia’s climate; Singaporeans and a work ethic stereotype: 7 Asia highlights

   We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. ‘Godzilla El Nino’: Southeast Asia warned of punishing climate whiplash Southeast Asia must brace itself for a punishing spell of climate whiplash, with an expected El...

8. Hong Kong set to benefit as Xi-Trump summit signals ‘more stability’, John Lee says

   Hong Kong’s economy and trade with the United States will benefit from greater stability and certainty brought by the summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump, the city’s leader has said. “Hong Kong is an externally oriented economy, susceptible to the influence of the main market,” Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday. “More certainty and...

9. Marcos says Philippines, because of proximity to Taiwan, likely involved in any conflict

   The Philippines is likely to be involved in any conflict over Taiwan because of its proximity and the nearly 200,000 Filipinos working there, President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr told Japanese media on Monday, ahead of a state visit to Japan next week. He said Manila did not want to be involved in any war over Taiwan, but would be forced to because of its geography. “Except that if there is actual...

10. Will Chinese become the king language for commanding AI on engineering tasks?

    A study from Tsinghua University has opened a new front in the global technology race by asking a question that may have profound implications for industrial powers. When commanding an artificial intelligence (AI) model to, say, design a better aircraft, does it matter whether you speak to it in English or Chinese? The answer, according to the research published in China’s top aviation journal...