This Week in Asia

Asia
Politics
Economics
People
Opinion
Health & Environment
Lifestyle & Culture
Japan has seen a rise in stalking cases. Photo: Shutterstock

Politics

Japan’s anti-stalking law under fire after tragic murder, record case numbers

Japan’s stalking cases hit record highs, sparking criticism of police handling and calls for improved mental health support for offenders.

Ex-girlfriend who blackmailed K-pop idol with sex video gets suspended sentence

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Thailand and Cambodia face rising tensions over Emerald Triangle dispute

Politics

Philippines aims to counter China’s drone swarm capacity, learn from Ukraine war

Its military says drones armed with explosives or used for surveillance have become a focus of joint exercises with allies such as the US.

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A US navy drone positioned beside a Philippine C130 plane at the airport of Zamboanga, southern Philippines on Tuesday. Photo: AP
A US navy drone positioned beside a Philippine C130 plane at the airport of Zamboanga, southern Philippines on Tuesday. Photo: AP

Politics

Chinese fugitive’s daring escape in Thailand ends in recapture 200km away

The Chinese fraud suspect jumped out of a second-floor window during his bold escape.

Economics

Malaysia orders telecoms firms to hand over user data, raising privacy concerns

The government claims it’s for a mobile project, but critics cite data security risks.

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Lifestyle & Culture

No more free rides: Japan’s health insurance crackdown on tourists

Visitors with unpaid medical bills may be stopped from leaving or face detention when entering the country.

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Foreign tourists walk in Tokyo’s Tsukiji area on May 21. Photo: Kyodo
Foreign tourists walk in Tokyo’s Tsukiji area on May 21. Photo: Kyodo

Politics

Former Singapore minister freed after serving time for graft-related offences

His case marked the first prosecution of its kind since Singapore’s independence in 1965.

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People

Widow slams Malaysian anti-graft agency’s ‘vindictive’ pursuit of Daim’s estate

The late politician and his widow had been charged with failing to declare US$473 million worth of assets in Malaysia and the UK.

Economics

Will Sri Lanka and China push for FTA or just engage in economic diplomacy?

Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao has called for a comprehensive free-trade agreement between the two countries ‘in one package’.

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A vendor selling clothes waits for customers in Colombo. Sri Lanka’s 2022 economic crisis has exposed structural weaknesses such as its import dependency and limited capacity for value-added exports, analysts say. Photo: AFP

Health & Environment

Indonesian villagers urge China to stop funding mine project after permit loss

Residents in the earthquake-prone area have been protesting against the underground project since 2019.

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Dairi residents protest in front of the Ministry of Environment to demand the revocation of an environmental permit for a proposed China-funded mine in their region on May 22. Photo: Monica Siregar
Dairi residents protest in front of the Ministry of Environment to demand the revocation of an environmental permit for a proposed China-funded mine in their region on May 22. Photo: Monica Siregar

Lifestyle & Culture

‘Unacceptable’: Thai teachers’ group slams deal on beer discounts

Teachers’ network calls for partnership between state agency and brewery to be withdrawn as it promotes harmful behaviour.

Health & Environment

Philippines urged to ratify UN marine resource treaty or risk being sidelined

France is seeking ratification of the High Seas Treaty by at least 60 countries ahead of the UN Ocean Conference in Nice next week.

Politics

South Korea’s Lee pledges warmer ties, but past tensions leave Japan ‘worried’

A minor bilateral misstep or the need to push a nationalist agenda could see ties spiral to the lows of 2019, analysts warn.

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South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung makes an arm heart gesture to supporters outside the National Assembly on Wednesday. Lee has pledged to foster warmer ties with Japan. Photo: AFP

Economics

Japan faces ‘critical’ demographic crisis as birth rate hits historic low

Record-low births and an ageing population are driving Japan to implement urgent measures to encourage marriage and boost fertility rates.

Japan’s birth rate plummets to historic lows, sparking fears of an accelerating demographic crisis. Photo: Shutterstock
Japan’s birth rate plummets to historic lows, sparking fears of an accelerating demographic crisis. Photo: Shutterstock

Economics

Pakistan’s bitcoin reserve plan aims to turn energy surplus into tech investment

The strategy to diversify the economy and hedge against currency volatility carries high risks, but the rewards could be great, analysts say.

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Politics

Malaysia’s Anwar faces more woes as sexual harassment case against him proceeds

A court has dismissed Anwar’s immunity application by citing his role as prime minister, saying there is no such constitutional provision.

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Politics

Battle for the Philippines’ 2028 presidency begins: ‘they’ve smelled blood’

A surprising Duterte-Marcos midterm stalemate has shifted focus to the vice-president’s impeachment fight – and the next presidential race.

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Illustration: Huy Truong
Illustration: Huy Truong

People

Anwar Ibrahim mints a dynasty – but Malaysia’s youth aren’t buying it

The rapid ascent of Anwar’s heir apparent Nurul Izzah has alienated many young Malaysians who are tired of old feuds and unfulfilled promises.

Economics

Silicon rally: can Malaysia reclaim its semiconductor glory?

Outpacing regional chip rivals won’t be easy for ‘Silicon Malaysia’, but insiders say it has the subsidies, labour and will to succeed.

Politics

Water wars: as India weaponises rivers, Pakistan thirsts for security

India’s suspension of a decades-old water treaty has left Pakistan’s farmers facing ruin. Rivers are becoming battlegrounds elsewhere, too.

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A parched stretch of the Indus River in Hyderabad, Sindh province, Pakistan. Photo: Shutterstock
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LATEST Asia NEWS

South Asia

‘Rising India celebration’: Modi opens ‘world’s highest railway bridge’

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India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a national flag during the inauguration of a significant new railway bridge on Friday. Photo: Indian Press Information Bureau via AFP

Politics

Japan’s anti-stalking law under fire after tragic murder, record case numbers

Japan has seen a rise in stalking cases. Photo: Shutterstock

Lifestyle & Culture

Ex-girlfriend who blackmailed K-pop idol with sex video gets suspended sentence

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A woman has been sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for two years, for her threats to her ex-boyfriend, a K-pop singer. Photo: Shutterstock

Politics

Thailand and Cambodia face rising tensions over Emerald Triangle dispute

Thai police officers stand guard in front of the Cambodian embassy in Bangkok on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Politics

Philippines aims to counter China’s drone swarm capacity, learn from Ukraine war

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A US navy drone positioned beside a Philippine C130 plane at the airport of Zamboanga, southern Philippines on Tuesday. Photo: AP
MORE Asia NEWS
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OPINION
Biman Mukherji

My Take | Can Southeast Asia contain growing threat of cyber scams?

Biman Mukherji
Alexander M. Hynd

Opinion | Will South Korea’s next president be able to heal a fractured nation?

Alexander M. Hynd
Chandran Nair

Opinion | Why US exceptionalism, export of crassness are losing their shallow appeal

Chandran Nair
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Biman Mukherji

My Take | Is India poised to rival US universities in a global academic shift?

Biman Mukherji
Lee Hwok-Aun

Asian Angle | Preparing Malaysia’s toolkit to weather Trump’s tariff storm

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MULTIMEDIA
Video

Japanese Nintendo fans get their hands on Switch 2

Nintendo launches highly anticipated Switch 2 amid heavy demand in Japan
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Video

At least 11 killed in India stampede

At least 11 killed in India after stampede at cricket victory celebrations
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Video

Mass jailbreak after earthquake in Pakistan

Hundreds of prisoners break out of Pakistani jail after earthquake
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Video

South Korea inaugurates new president Lee Jae-myung

South Korea’s new president Lee Jae-myung vows to fix economy, hold talks with North Korea
03:17
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