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This Week in Asia
Visitors take selfies in front of the early-flowering cherry blossoms at Ueno Park in Tokyo on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

East Asia

Blooming marvellous: Tokyo’s cherry blossom season officially begins

The blooming was five days earlier than the average, possibly due to low rainfall and longer hours of sunshine in winter.

Beyond ‘lip service’: Philippines urged to act on air defence gaps

Anutin takes charge in Thailand as Mideast chaos pressures economy

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Lifestyle & Culture

Japan gets tough against teachers’ sexual misconduct, voyeurism after arrests

Sexual offences involving mostly male teachers targeting students remain high despite stricter rules against the menace in recent years.

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A man taking an upskirt photo. The wide use of mobile technology has encouraged misbehaviour among some Japanese teachers, analysts say. Photo: Shutterstock
A man taking an upskirt photo. The wide use of mobile technology has encouraged misbehaviour among some Japanese teachers, analysts say. Photo: Shutterstock

People

‘I’ll burn down my school’: Philippine police foil shooting plot by teens

The case involving radicalised students in Laguna province highlights the need for cyber safety and parental vigilance, analysts say.

People

Ashes for ransom: the bizarre rise of urn thefts in Malaysia

In the past month, 30 urns in Negeri Sembilan and 22 urns in Johor were reported stolen at two memorial parks.

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Politics

Nuclear or nothing: why North Korea’s Kim expects the US to come ‘cap in hand’

With Washington tied up in Iran, Kim Jong-un’s message is clear: if the US wants a summit, it must pay his nuclear price.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects a shooting competition to mark the army’s “Snipers’ Day” at a training base on March 3. Photo: KCNA/KNS/AFP/Getty Images/TNS
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects a shooting competition to mark the army’s “Snipers’ Day” at a training base on March 3. Photo: KCNA/KNS/AFP/Getty Images/TNS

Politics

Russian hypersonic jets buzz Japan’s coast in ‘thinly veiled threat’

The exercises send a message that Tokyo should avoid antagonising Moscow or risk ‘repercussions’, observers say.

East Asia

‘Cold-hearted’ South Korean cafe’s US$1 ‘toilet-only’ menu flush with criticism

Business owners cite restroom hygiene concerns and misuse by customers, while critics call the fee excessive.

Southeast Asia

Cambodia boosts Singapore and Malaysia fuel imports to survive energy crisis

Energy Minister Keo Rottanak says ‘an Asean power grid is the way to go’ as Vietnam and China restrict exports to Phnom Penh.

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An employee (second left) pumps fuel into the vehicle of a customer in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on March 9. Photo: AFP

Health & Environment

Too hot to handle? Southeast Asia’s AI data centre gold rush strains power grids

Data centres crave cold. Southeast Asia is anything but. Now, the AI boom is pushing tropical engineering to the limit.

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A technician works at a data centre in the United States last year. Photo: AWS/Reuters
A technician works at a data centre in the United States last year. Photo: AWS/Reuters

Economics

New US trade offensive threatens to test Asean ties

The trade probes may compel Southeast Asia to continue diversifying away from the US, with analysts predicting recent deals could unravel.

South Asia

Pakistan announces 5-day pause on Afghan strikes for Eid

The temporary ceasefire comes after Monday’s hospital strike, the deadliest in an escalating conflict between the two neighbours.

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People

Australian police officer’s ‘perverts’ remark against Indian man sparks outrage

An official from the community says no police department in Australia has implemented a set of anti-racism recommendations.

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Police officers patrol the Valley Mall in Brisbane. Photo: AFP

Health & Environment

Malaysia’s ‘shielded’ medical tourism sector to benefit from Iran war’s impact

With the war affecting the outlook of Dubai’s medical hub, Malaysia could draw more patients from the Middle East.

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A FlyDubai aircraft prepares for landing as smoke rises from an ongoing fire near Dubai International Airport on Monday. Photo: TNS
A FlyDubai aircraft prepares for landing as smoke rises from an ongoing fire near Dubai International Airport on Monday. Photo: TNS

Lifestyle & Culture

‘Even sultan would think twice’: the US$460 cake testing Malaysia’s sweet tooth

Sarawak bakery’s luxury treat sparks debate over its high price as Malaysians stock up on Eid sweets amid rising diabetes concerns.

People

Japanese atomic bomb survivor who hugged Obama in Hiroshima dies at 88

Earlier this month, Shigeaki Mori warned that the world was at risk of another nuclear attack over the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.

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Politics

Graft and gridlock: in Anwar’s Malaysia, reformist cracks widen

Malaysia’s prime minister can’t pass his own reform bills. His coalition appears to be cracking – and time is running out.

Illustration: Huy Truong
Illustration: Huy Truong

People

‘It’s inevitable’: Singapore’s workers brace for AI disruption

The city state wants 100,000 workers to become ‘AI bilingual’. But with entry-level roles already vanishing, time may not be on its side.

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Politics

Build fast, grow rich: To Lam’s blueprint for a rising Vietnam

Vietnam’s Communist Party chief is staking his legacy on 10 per cent growth, domestic megaprojects and an overseas charm offensive.

Economics

Philippines’ AI reckoning puts millions of jobs on the line

The US$30 billion outsourcing sector is fighting to adapt, leaving millions of workers with a stark choice: upskill or be left behind.

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Image: Kevin Wong
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Highlights from
THIS WEEK IN ASIA

Politics

Beyond ‘lip service’: Philippines urged to act on air defence gaps

The Philippine Air Force’s SPYDER system is designed to counter aircraft, drones and missiles. Photo: Philippine Air Force

Politics

Anutin takes charge in Thailand as Mideast chaos pressures economy

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Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul reacts at parliament in Bangkok on Thursday. Photo: AFP

People

Ashes for ransom: the bizarre rise of urn thefts in Malaysia

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The Xiao En memorial park in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Photo: YouTube/Xiao En Group

People

‘I’ll burn down my school’: Philippine police foil shooting plot by teens

Philippine police thwarted a school shooting plot by radicalised teens and seized offensive materials from the suspects. Photo: Handout

Lifestyle & Culture

Japan gets tough against teachers’ sexual misconduct, voyeurism after arrests

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A man taking an upskirt photo. The wide use of mobile technology has encouraged misbehaviour among some Japanese teachers, analysts say. Photo: Shutterstock
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OPINION
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Macroscope | China is weathering the Iran war oil shock better than others in Asia

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Opinion | US attack on IRIS Dena shows that wars know no borders

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MULTIMEDIA
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Filipino fishermen worry about Chinese nature reserve in disputed waters

Filipino fishermen worry about Chinese nature reserve in disputed waters
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Centenarian becomes oldest person to climb Mount Fuji

Centenarian becomes oldest person to climb Mount Fuji
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Cambodia unveils new Chinese-built airport

Cambodia unveils new Chinese-built airport
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Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra to serve 1 year in jail

Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra to serve 1 year in jail
04:27
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