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Andrew Chiang You-ching, the great-grandson of Taiwan’s former leader Chiang Kai-shek, announced on social media that he is moving to Hangzhou to build a career and promote cross-strait ties. Photo: Douyin/Andrew Chiang
SCMP Highlights

Chiang Kai-shek’s great grandson, Coldplay ticketing mess: 7 highlights

From a cross-straits move to Coldplay’s ticketing mess, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

Malaysia

Alamak! 12 words in Malaysia, Singapore enter Oxford dictionary

Australia

Australia to warn young travellers about methanol poisoning after Laos deaths

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Japan

Japanese Alps see record rescue numbers amid rising tourist risk

Experts blame hikers and skiers overestimating their abilities and underestimating harsh terrain and weather.

Japan’s Kobushi mountain region straddling part of Tokyo, and Saitama, Yamanashi and Nagano prefectures. The Nagano mountains saw record number of rescues in 2024. Photo: Kyodo
Japan’s Kobushi mountain region straddling part of Tokyo, and Saitama, Yamanashi and Nagano prefectures. The Nagano mountains saw record number of rescues in 2024. Photo: Kyodo
Japan

Japan’s Kyoto approves higher lodging tax from March 2026 to curb overtourism

The city plans to use the additional revenue from the tax in areas such as improving infrastructure and repairing cultural sites.

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The Philippines

Brewing justice: Philippines cafe offers healing and hope after Duterte’s ICC arrest

The coffee shop, dedicated to victims of the former president’s drug war, described his arrest as ‘the first step’ towards justice.

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The Philippines

Piracy threat prompts dark sail for cruise ship in Philippine waters

For passengers aboard the Queen Anne, their cruise holiday took a dramatic turn as they approached the Philippines.

The Queen Anne is a veritable floating city capable of hosting nearly 3,000 passengers and more than 1,200 crew members. Photo: Shutterstock
The Queen Anne is a veritable floating city capable of hosting nearly 3,000 passengers and more than 1,200 crew members. Photo: Shutterstock
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.

Japan

Japan welcomes cherry blossom season but China sands threaten to spoil views

The season began in Tokyo on Monday, while Nagasaki, Kochi and other prefectures have also reported their first sakura blossoms.

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Thailand

Bangkok brawls: Thai minister calls for tougher mall security after fights

Latest fracas between rival students of two schools near MBK Centre sparks vow from education official to ‘do whatever it takes’.

A brawl between rival students inside a Bangkok shopping centre popular with tourists, left five injured, and has prompted calls for tougher security measures. Photo: SCMP
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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Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman devotees are hoping to save the temple in central Kuala Lumpur from eviction. Photo: Facebook/Tang Ah Chai
Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman devotees are hoping to save the temple in central Kuala Lumpur from eviction. Photo: Facebook/Tang Ah Chai
Thailand

‘Scared of dark skin’ no more? Young Thais reject stigma as beauty norms evolve

With a new generation of Thais challenging biases and redefining beauty norms, fair skin’s once-unquestioned dominance appears to be fading.

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Malaysia

In Malaysia, one chef’s daily grind preserves Melaka Peranakan food traditions

Sharon Ann De Souza’s mission is to preserve Malacca Peranakan cuisine, by embracing traditional methods in a modern world.

Singapore

Cosmetic cravings: Asia’s Gen Z risk it all to keep their youthful looks

Young Southeast Asians are running a gauntlet of bootleg botox, fake fillers and clandestine clinics in their quest to defy ageing.

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Gen Z beauty seekers appear undeterred by harrowing tales of disfiguring infections, scarring and deaths caused by botulism. Photo: Shutterstock
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
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
Malaysia

Malaysian ‘budgie smuggler’ caught on camera stuffing Labubu toys down his shorts

A Malaysian shoplifter, dubbed the “blind box bandit”, was filmed smuggling Labubu toys down his trousers at a Kuala Lumpur megamall.

Singapore

Is Singapore still smiling after a drop in the world happiness report?

Singapore remains Southeast Asia’s happiest nation despite its lowest global ranking in a decade, with strong GDP but weak social support affecting citizens.

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Bhutan

Bhutan’s life sentences for political prisoners is illegal, UN says

The UN report noted that it was ‘discriminatory’ to single out members of a minority group for expressing political opinions.

The Punakha Dzong Fortress in Bhutan. Photo: Tim Pile
The Punakha Dzong Fortress in Bhutan. Photo: Tim Pile
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.

New Zealand

Fin-tastic: world’s ugliest animal wins New Zealand’s fish of the year

The quirky deep-sea blobfish beat the orange roughy to claim the honour.

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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Volunteer models wearing suits filled with discarded food hold up placards urging the public to reduce food wastage during the launch of MySaveFood’s #BazirRamadan campaign in Kuala Lumpur last week. Photo: MySaveFood
Japan

Japan’s PM ‘will not tolerate’ Assassin’s Creed cultural disrespect of shrine

Japan’s PM criticised Assassin’s Creed: Shadows for cultural disrespect, sparking debate on historical accuracy and the game’s portrayal of shrines.

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Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, set in 16th century Japan and focusing on real-life black samurai Yasuke, is the latest entry in the hugely popular historical science fiction video game series. Photo: Ubisoft
Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, set in 16th century Japan and focusing on real-life black samurai Yasuke, is the latest entry in the hugely popular historical science fiction video game series. Photo: Ubisoft
Indonesia

Can Jakarta’s ‘cat island’ boost tourism and solve its stray cat problem?

Jakarta’s innovative “cat island” plan aims to solve its stray cat crisis, promote tourism and establish a safe feline haven.

Japan

Low pay, long hours: why workers are shunning Japan’s booming tourism industry

The country may have to tap foreign workers to fill the staffing gap if it wants to welcome 60 million tourists by 2030, travel players say.

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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
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