In South Korea, school bullies may escape punishment in court, but not in court of public opinion
Classroom violence can lead to tainted reputation and other disadvantages in adulthood.
Special Report
In Indonesia, faith and fun collide after sexy ‘dangdut’ show at Islamic event
Critics condemned the mixing of solemn religious events with entertainment considered immoral, citing concerns over erotic dancing and gender mingling.
How far should abortion limits stretch in Korea?
Renewed deadlock fears and legal vacuum concerns rise amid stark differences across bills on punishment and abortion allowances.
Scrapping direct regional elections in Indonesia shifts power to elites, analysts warn
President Prabowo argues direct elections are costly and prone to vote buying, but surveys indicate 77.3% of Indonesians prefer direct elections.
Karachi’s Gul Plaza, SBCA, and the human cost of bad governance
Buildings become death traps not because the rules are unclear, but because enforcement has been deliberately neutralised.
China eyes rare earth foothold in Malaysia to maintain dominance
The Malaysian government estimates its domestic rare earth reserves at about 16.1 million tonnes.
Why everything costs more
Across Southeast Asia, economists and policymakers increasingly point out that domestic prices are shaped as much by global developments as by local decisions, particularly…
‘Funny is funny’: Indonesian comedians keep calm and carry on amid police report against Netflix show
Comedian Pandji Pragiwaksono faces a police report for jokes in his Netflix special "Mens Rea" about alleged government quid pro quo with Islamic organisations.
‘Tiger Tiger, burning bright’: The scourge of AI-generated wildlife videos in India
Experts warn that these fake videos distort animal behaviour understanding, increasing human-animal conflict and risking retaliatory killings.
Two cases reveal high cost of South Korea’s score obsession
Experts have long warned that Korea's exam-centered culture incentivizes unethical behavior.