This Week in Asia /

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Students in a classroom in Vietnam. Photo: AFP
Vietnam

Vietnam city to ban evening classes to ease academic stress, boost well-being

Advocates say Ho Chi Minh City’s move would also help to reduce demand and rein in its unchecked private tuition sector.

Malaysia

Malaysian durian farmers prickly over claims of encroachment on state land

Japan

Fading optimism in Japan as only 13% satisfied with quality of life: survey

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Indonesia

Indonesia’s Bali raises alarm over rise in sham marriages to evade legal curbs

Lawmakers urge action after viral social media posts alleging that foreigners are exploiting legal loopholes to acquire land and property.

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Tourists shop at an art market during the Eid al-Fitr holidays in Bali, Indonesia earlier in April. Photo: EPA-EFE
Tourists shop at an art market during the Eid al-Fitr holidays in Bali, Indonesia earlier in April. Photo: EPA-EFE
Malaysia

Controversial Malaysian series on Islamic cult tops 1 billion streams

‘Bidaah’ echoes a real-life case in Malaysia of a shadowy cult hit by allegations of human trafficking and abuse.

Singapore

Singapore’s flavour face-off: mainland Chinese cuisine vs local food culture

The rise of Chinese food brands in Singapore and their impact on local cuisine has sparked debates on cultural preservation and coexistence.

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Japan

Japanese worker arrested for mailing used condom to colleague ‘to satisfy urges’

The incident has sparked safety concerns and an investigation into similar cases.

A Japan Post worker was arrested for sending a condom filled with semen to a colleague. Photo: Shutterstock
A Japan Post worker was arrested for sending a condom filled with semen to a colleague. Photo: Shutterstock
South Korea

In South Korea, digital sex crimes soar amid rise in AI, deepfake technology

Support centre for victims notes disturbing trend of young people using AI-generated deepfake images for entertainment.

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Malaysia

‘Stamp out cross-dressing’: Malaysian sarong event under fire for LGBTQ exclusion

The organiser of Keretapi Sarong is facing backlash after saying gender-nonconforming participants are not welcome.

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Japan

Japan’s Kyoto offers natural disaster survival tips for foreign visitors

The move comes as more foreign travellers have been visiting the ancient Japanese capital in recent years.

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Visitors to Kyoto can find tips on how to cope with a major natural disaster in the prefecture via a website set up by local authorities. Photo: AFP
Malaysia

Surge in sex cases involving minors in Malaysia exposes child protection flaws

In one shocking case in Kelantan, a 15-year-old girl became pregnant after she had sex with her 11-year-old cousin.

A surge in sex cases involving minors in Malaysia has led to child rights activists warning about grooming and abuse. Photo: Shutterstock
A surge in sex cases involving minors in Malaysia has led to child rights activists warning about grooming and abuse. Photo: Shutterstock
South Korea

Seoul palace restroom gets hi-tech spy-cam detector to combat ‘molka’ filming

The installation addresses South Korea’s struggle with illegal filming, driven by the ease of access to small, hidden cameras known as ‘molka’.

Japan

Babies conceived in winter less likely to become obese adults: Japan study

A person’s brown fat, one of two types of body fat, and cold weather appear to be linked to a lower possibility of weight gain in adulthood.

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Japan

Japan’s biggest yakuza gang ends internal feud as membership hits historic low

Japan’s largest yakuza gang, declared an end to a decade-long feud amid dwindling membership and tougher policing.

A retired Japanese yakuza crime boss, who does not want to be identified, smokes a cigarette at his residence in Tokyo. Photo: AFP
South Korea

South Korean man jailed for stabbing business partner after Chinese insult

The incident occurred when one business partner in Seoul called the other Chinese, reflecting ongoing national identity tensions.

A South Korean man has been jailed for attempted murder after stabbing his business partner for calling him Chinese. Photo: Shutterstock
A South Korean man has been jailed for attempted murder after stabbing his business partner for calling him Chinese. Photo: Shutterstock
Japan

Work with a smile? But that’s harassment, say nearly half of Japanese polled

45.7 per cent of respondents say they think asking store staff to smile is harassment, suggesting growing sensitivity to pressures on service workers.

India

In India, cyber scams targeting elderly fuel digital safety concerns

One 82-year-old victim lost nearly US$400,000 after fraudsters convinced him of their credentials by fabricating Supreme Court letters.

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South Korea

K-pop remains top global symbol of South Korean culture, survey shows

Nearly 1 in 5 global fans say K-pop comes to mind first, beating out Korean food, TV dramas and beauty products.

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Korean boy band BTS at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards on April 3, 2022, in Las Vegas. Photo: AP
Korean boy band BTS at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards on April 3, 2022, in Las Vegas. Photo: AP
Japan

Japanese bar district gets bilingual wristbands to gauge revellers’ mood

Six colour-coded wristbands help drinkers start or avoid conversations in Noge, a neighbourhood in Yokohama dotted with bars and pubs.

Malaysia

Second pygmy elephant corpse find in Malaysia raises fears of ivory poaching

The practice of giving tusks as dowry in neighbouring Indonesia may be behind the killings, conservationists say.

India

Lamborghini crash in India reignites debate over privilege and impunity

The car’s driver was released on a bail of US$300 after critically injuring two construction workers, sparking accusations of unequal justice.

Deepak Kumar is seen in a video of the incident. Photo: Handout
Japan

Close encounters: inside Japan’s growing fascination with UFOs

Politicians claim sightings, museums report rising visitor numbers – and ‘contact events’ draw thousands seeking alien encounters.

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Japan’s fascination with unidentified flying objects has surged in recent years. Photo: Shutterstock
Japan’s fascination with unidentified flying objects has surged in recent years. Photo: Shutterstock
South Korea

In South Korea, crushing academic pressures start in kindergarten

Forget play dates – in some parts of Seoul, four-year-olds are already training for the notorious Suneung college entrance exam.

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Japan

Walk this way: Tokyo’s Ginza to get New York-like ‘High Line’ makeover

To promote a walkable city, Tokyo is converting a clogged motorway into a green pedestrian space, inspired by New York’s High Line.

South Korea

Jeju unsettled by rise in crime as Chinese tourists return in droves

Official data shows Chinese visitors accounted for 66 per cent of foreign crimes between 2019 and 2023 67 per cent in 2023 alone.

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A view of Seongsan Ilchulbong mountain on Jeju Island, South Korea. Photo: Shutterstock
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