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Tokyo’s Sanja Matsuri festival often resembles a rowdy, chaotic street party. Photo: Ronin de Goede
Asia travel

Tokyo’s Sanja Matsuri festival – a raucous celebration not for the prudish

One of Japan’s most colourful festivals, the Sanja Matsuri is a rowdy mix of religious ritual and wild street party

Malaysia

Malaysian man who assaulted bodyguards for fasting jailed for 6 years

Malaysia

Malaysia arrests Muslim preacher as temple relocation row rages on

Pakistan

Pakistan’s Parsi community shrinks as young migrate

Many young and skilled Pakistanis want to leave a country wracked with political uncertainty, security challenges and a struggling economy.

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Garbage pickers sort waste strewn around the corner of the formerly clean and tidy Sohrab Katrak Parsi Colony, which was nearly deserted by its original inhabitants, in Karachi. Photo: AFP
Malaysia

Relocation of Hindu temple in Malaysia fuels accusations of special privileges

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is set to lay the foundation stone for a new mosque on the current site of the Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur.

Pakistan

Scent of scandal: Pakistani YouTuber’s perfume stirs religious controversy

Rajab Butt was charged with blasphemy after launching a perfume named ‘295’, referring to blasphemy legislation in Pakistan’s penal code.

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Indonesia

Bali to crack down on ‘naughty’ foreigners with new rules and tourism levy

The new guidelines for foreign tourists were issued to curb their misbehaviour.

Foreign tourists relax on Kuta Beach on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali in November 2023. Photo: AFP
Malaysia

Malaysia’s Perlis port vows faster halal deliveries to China, but Thai support key

Malaysia’s Perlis mega-port aims to revolutionise halal cargo delivery to China, contingent on Thai rail agreements and regional stability.

Japan

Court orders dissolution of Unification Church in Japan after Abe killing probe

The man accused of killing former PM Shinzo Abe resented the South Korea-based sect, which had decades of cosy ties to Japan’s ruling party.

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Malaysia

Malaysian minister’s claim of ‘Yolo’ mindset driving HIV cases draws ridicule

Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni says the ‘you only live once’ mindset encourages individuals ‘to try something new’.

A diagnostician holds a positive HIV test. Photo: Shutterstock
Fame and celebrity

What is the controversial Churchome, where Justin Bieber goes to worship?

The Biebers formerly belonged to Hillsong, hit by scandals concerning inappropriate behaviour and pastor infidelity; fellow church attendees included Chris Pratt and the Kardashians.

Justin Bieber and wife Hailey Bieber, apparently together thanks to their faith. Photo: @justinbieber/Instagram
India

India probes comedian over jokes about Modi ally, sparking free speech debate

The investigation into Kunal Kamra’s jokes about Eknath Shinde have sparked vandalism and raised concerns over free speech.

Malaysia

Bid to relocate Hindu temple for mosque in Malaysia’s capital stirs debate

The government land on which the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman temple sat was sold to Jakel in 2014.

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Pope Francis

Pope Francis back home after 5-week hospital stay for double pneumonia

The 88-year-old pope made his first public appearance since February 14.

Pope Francis leaves the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, Italy on his way back to the Vatican on Sunday. Photo: AP
Pope Francis

Pope Francis will be released from hospital on Sunday, doctors say

The pontiff will need at least two months of rest after spending nearly 40 days battling a life-threatening case of pneumonia in both lungs.

Pope Francis waves as he arrives for his weekly general audience at the Vatican in February. Photo: AP
Bangladesh

Trump’s US aid cuts to add to Rohingya refugees’ misery as food rations bite

UN World Food Program said that without additional funds, it would have to cut food rations to US$6 a month from US$12.50 in Cox’s Bazar.

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Indonesia

Indonesian reporter receives pig’s head in incident condemned as ‘terror attack’

The severed head was found in a cardboard box delivered to Francisca Christy Rosana, who works for the Tempo magazine.

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Malaysia

Slap heard around Malaysia: viral Ramadan altercation sparks memes, debate

Social media users are poking fun at the absurdity of the viral video of an elderly Malay man confronting a non-Muslim for not fasting.

Verdi Kornelis Omjai posts a photo of himself eating with his identity card on the table to prove he isn’t Malay on social media. Photo: Facebook/Verdi Kornelis Omjai
India

Are Indian films tapping Hindu nationalism to achieve box-office success?

The blockbuster Chhaava, which has led to violent protests, has sparked debate on whether Indian directors have forsaken historical accuracy.

Malaysia

Fast fashion: food waste from Malaysian Ramadan bazaars hits the runway

A food waste-reduction group collected over 46,000kg of unsold food over the first two weeks of Ramadan this year, but said the actual wastage was likely to be much higher.

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Malaysia

Call by Malaysia’s DAP for 2-term limit for prime minister draws PAS’ rebuke

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has ordered the cabinet to study the Democratic Action Party’s proposal for a two-term limit.

Members of the Malaysian Islamic Party wait outside the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya for a decision by the federal court. Photo: AP
Japan

30 years on, Tokyo sarin attack victims seek justice against Aum cult offshoots

The cult behind the attack has yet to compensate its victims, while its offshoots continue to gain followers and amass wealth.

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An anti-terrorist drill is conducted at a Tokyo Metro facility on Friday, ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Aum Shinrikyo cult’s sarin nerve gas attack. Photo: Kyodo
Malaysia

Malaysian retiree claims trial to slapping non-Muslim for not fasting in Ramadan

The 65-year-old initially pleaded guilty but contested some of facts so the judge rejected his plea.

The Philippines

Mother of slain Filipino comedian Goldenier Dagal slams killers as ‘cowards’

Dagal, who was known for his bold jokes, was performing at a bar in Pampanga when a suspect shot him before fleeing.

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Indonesia

Jailing of Indonesian trans woman for Jesus’ hair remark raises rights concerns

Ratu Thalisa was convicted in Medan under a controversial blasphemy law and jailed for almost three years.

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Indonesian influencer Ratu Thalisa has been jailed for making remarks about Jesus’ hair on social media. Photo: Instagram/@ratuentokreal
Malaysia

‘Provocation’: Malaysians angry after non-Muslim assaulted for eating during Ramadan

The victim claimed the assailant slapped him several times after he refused to show his identity card to prove he was not a Muslim.

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Screengrab from Elijah’s social-media video showing his encounter with an elderly man in a black robe. Photo: X/bingbing656
Catholic Church

Vatican releases first photo of Pope Francis in hospital

The 88-year-old pope has been receiving treatment at a Rome hospital since February 14, and has not been seen in public since then.

Malaysia

Sugar highs and waistline woes: in Malaysia, a Ramadan reality check

Sugar-laden delights have become an integral part of many diets in one of Asia’s most obese nations, despite the growing health risks.

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