People

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks during a cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Seoul on Tuesday. Photo: Yonhap/via EPA-EFE

‘Outrageous’ nostalgia for journalist’s stabbing puts Korean media on notice

A chilling warning from a senior presidential aide about possible terror attacks against dissenting journalists has put President Yoon Suk-yeol’s war on ‘fake news’ under the spotlight.

1 hour ago
Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh. Photo: Reuters

Singapore opposition chief pleads not guilty to charges of lying to parliament

Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh was charged with two counts of lying to a parliamentary committee in hearings involving his party’s former MP Raeesah Khan.

4 hours ago
An elderly Malaysian woman waits to cast her vote at a polling station in Kuala Lumpur during the general election in 2018. Photo: AFP

Poverty looms over Malaysia’s elderly as low pay bites back in retirement

Left unchecked, more than 6 million Malaysians could be left with less than US$9 a month to survive on in their old age, according to government estimates.

5 hours ago
A Filipino activist yells during a protest in Manila on International Women’s Day earlier this month. Photo: Reuters

In Philippines, alarm over mail-order bride scheme that trafficks women to China

Filipino women escorted by Chinese nationals posing as their husbands have been intercepted at the border, immigration officials say. Anti-trafficking experts suspect organised crime groups are involved.

18 Mar 2024 - 2:13PM
An activist holds a placard during a protest against the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act in Bengaluru, India, on March 13. Photo: AFP

India’s citizenship law slammed as anti-Muslim and Modi’s election ploy

New Delhi announces the long delayed implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act, which sparked violent protests in 2019 when it was unveiled.

17 Mar 2024 - 11:50PM
A groom puts a face mask on his bride before their wedding ceremony in Jakarta. Indonesia recorded only 1.79 million marriages in 2020. Photo: AFP

Shrinking families in Indonesia spark concern about impact on economy

Young people are putting off marriage due to ‘structural challenges’, as demographers say data shows fertility rates are likely to continue declining.

17 Mar 2024 - 9:30AM
Japanese primary school pupils on a field trip in Osaka. Photo: Shutterstock

Japan teachers demand end to ‘excessive’ hours as many are pushed to the brink

Some 900,000 Japanese educators have signed petitions calling for the government to address long hours of unpaid work and poor pay.

16 Mar 2024 - 6:00PM
The online ad for Kirin’s alcoholic drink featuring economist Yusuke Narita.  Photo: Handout/Kirin Brewery Co

Japan drink promotion axed over economist’s past remarks on ‘elderly suicides’

The promotion quickly fell apart after social media users resurfaced his past comments that senior people are a drain on Japan’s society and should ‘kill themselves’.

15 Mar 2024 - 6:15PM
Fans have flooded K-pop singer Huh Yun-jin’s Instagram page with critical comments after a photo of her sipping the brew was widely shared online. Photo: Instagram/jenaissante

Netizens slam K-pop singer for drinking Starbucks coffee: ‘educate yourself’

Some commenters said the episode could haunt her for the rest of her career and urged Huh to apologise and take accountability for endorsing the brand.

18 Mar 2024 - 5:56PM
A Kuala Lumpur vendor displays a variety of dates ahead of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, on July 31, 2011. Photo: AFP

‘Brands that fatten them up’: Israeli dates under Muslim boycott in Southeast Asia

Chat groups are warning Muslims to be alert when buying dates – a sweet fruit eaten to break fast during Ramadan – after some were repackaged in Malaysia to hide their origin.

15 Mar 2024 - 10:44PM
Doctors in Seoul chant slogans during a rally on March 3 to protest against government plans to increase medical school admissions. Photo: Reuters

South Korea doctors ask ILO to intervene as strike shows no signs of ending

The issue isn’t likely to be settled soon as President Yoon’s party has large public backing for the plan to increase medical school places, senior doctors say.

14 Mar 2024 - 7:17PM
A view of a relief camp in India’s northeastern state of Mizoram, where people who fled Myanmar stay. File photo: Reuters

‘Irresponsible’: India urged to stop deporting refugees to chaos-ravaged Myanmar

India is sending back thousands of Myanmar refugees, whom they blame for ethnic violence erupting in Manipur state.

12 Mar 2024 - 7:30PM
A woman feeds her baby at a Singapore park. Photo: Shutterstock

One and done: why more Singapore couples are saying ‘no thanks’ to big families

The trend means couples can ‘experience parenthood’ while maintaining a preferred lifestyle that includes work-life balance, holidays and date nights.

15 Mar 2024 - 2:11AM
Yu, not her real name, is a Japanese woman who previously visited a Kabukicho host club in Tokyo regularly, became heavily indebted and was forced to do sex work to repay her debts. Photo: Julian Ryall

Inside the Tokyo vice clubs tricking women into sex work: a victim’s story

Trapped in a cycle of debt and exploitation by the host clubs of Tokyo’s Kabukicho nightlife district, ‘Yu’ found herself forced to work in a ‘soapland’ brothel in Macau.

10 Mar 2024 - 9:30AM
Women across Asia are challenging bias to carve out entrepreneurial success. Photo: Shutterstock

How Asian women are challenging bias to carve out entrepreneurial success

Funding woes, work-life balance and prejudice remain hurdles for women entrepreneurs, who say having supportive business partners and spouses can be half the battle won.

14 Mar 2024 - 3:37PM
South Korea’s efficient digital connectivity and widespread social media networks provided fertile ground for online bullies hiding behind online anonymity. Photo: Shutterstock

Suicide of South Korean civil servant spotlights cyberbullying culture

Low-ranking government employees and celebrities are often easy prey for online bullies, analysts say, as bullies seek outlets for their ‘pent-up’ frustrations.

8 Mar 2024 - 5:52PM
A woman writes on the message board during the 10th annual remembrance event of missing flight MH 370 at a mall in Subang Jaya, Malaysia on March 3, 2024. Photo: AP

Flight MH370 10 years on: Malaysians unite in grief to remember the 239 on board

Malaysian authorities have promised to embark on a third search for the missing plane after two previous failed attempts.

8 Mar 2024 - 3:17PM
Philippine transgender beauty pageant participant Lars Pacheco denounced the Filipinos for “doing something serious” and hoped the fracas would not affect bilateral ties. Photo: Instagram/pachecolars

Philippine transgender beauty contestant soothes nerves over Bangkok brawl

Lars, who finished sixth in last year’s Miss International Queen pageant, denounced the Filipinos and hoped the fracas would not affect bilateral ties.

8 Mar 2024 - 2:28AM
Farmers hold placards and shout slogans during a protest against India’s central government to demand minimum crop prices in Amritsar on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

India’s protesting farmers close in on New Delhi with new travel strategy

The farmers have been advised to travel by buses and cars to avoid police blockades instead of marching in large groups.

7 Mar 2024 - 7:21PM
Japanese geisha visit Minamiza Theatre in Kyoto to watch a kabuki performance. Photo: Kyodo

Kyoto to ban visitors from geisha district area over ‘out-of-control’ incidents

Such incidents in Gion include tourists pulling kimonos worn by the geisha and forcing the traditional entertainers to pose for photos.

7 Mar 2024 - 11:45PM