This Week in Asia /

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Students of Japanese nursing schools attend a candlelight procession before a Florence Nightingale Medal awarding ceremony in Tokyo. Photo: AFP
Japan

Biting, kicking, sex harassment: inside the abusive world of Japanese nursing

Japan’s nurses hope a high-profile case will finally force change in their abusive workplaces.

The Philippines

Remembering Nora Aunor: actress, ‘rebel’ and the Philippines’ ‘Superstar’

Malaysia

Malaysians poor? ‘We have free healthcare, grandpa,’ they tell Bill O’Reilly

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Japan

Japan’s World Expo struggles with low visitor figures amid a litany of woes

Despite hitting 1 million visitors, Osaka Expo 2025 has been plagued by a bomb scare, methane explosion and long queues.

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Visitors walk past the Japan Pavilion at the Osaka 2025 Expo on Tuesday. Photo: EPA-EFE
Visitors walk past the Japan Pavilion at the Osaka 2025 Expo on Tuesday. Photo: EPA-EFE
South Korea

Police suspect noise dispute behind deadly South Korea flat fire

The 61-year-old is suspected of having set fire to his former neighbours’ flats after nearly two years of conflicts over noise issues.

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Malaysia

Malaysian journalist in bribe scandal returns, vows to report ‘without fear’

B. Nantha Kumar has been allowed back to Malaysiakini after an internal inquiry cleared him, although he still faces a criminal trial.

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Malaysia

Malaysia’s plan to teach Asean languages in schools sparks parental backlash

Critics argue that the languages of other Asean countries have less relevance than Mandarin or Tamil to Malaysian students.

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Malaysian students seen with their bags during the first day of schooling for the 2020 session at the Taman Tun Dr Ismail National School. Photo: DPA
Malaysian students seen with their bags during the first day of schooling for the 2020 session at the Taman Tun Dr Ismail National School. Photo: DPA
India

Indian man mistakenly operated on, hospital investigated for mix-up

The elderly man unknowingly raised his hand when staff called out for a patient with a similar name and was taken into the operating theatre.

Thailand

‘Do not be racist’: Thai park ranger sacked after ‘ni hao’ tourist clash

The viral video has stirred debate on whether he was right to be offended or overreacted to the Mandarin greeting.

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Malaysia

Malaysian teen’s seizure after vaping reignites debate on device ban

Only two states have imposed a blanket ban on e-cigarettes and vapes so far, as the health ministry flip-flops on a decision.

Usage of e-cigarettes and vapes is a growing concern in Malaysia. Photo: Dickson Lee
South Korea

In South Korea, videos aiming to ‘help women get home safely’ spark outrage

Netizens slam the videos for mocking the fear and panic that women feel when approached or followed by unknown men at night.

A combination of images from a video by Korea University’s Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering shows a university student chasing random girls to “help them get home safely”. Photo: Handout
A combination of images from a video by Korea University’s Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering shows a university student chasing random girls to “help them get home safely”. Photo: Handout
Malaysia

Will red tape snarl Malaysia’s concert hub plans to emulate Singapore?

Rights to host mega concerts came into stark focus last year after Singapore secured an exclusive deal with US superstar Taylor Swift.

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South Korea

‘The law didn’t protect me’: South Korea’s losing battle against AI sex crimes

Victims lament a lack of police help to resolve their cases, while sex educators call for a change in gender attitudes to tackle the scourge.

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Indonesia

Amid ‘Jumbo’ success, can Indonesia become an animation powerhouse?

The Indonesian film has become Southeast Asia’s biggest ever animation release in terms of revenue, at US$10 million as of April 14.

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The Indonesian hit cartoon film “Jumbo” has become the highest-grossing Southeast Asian animation release in history. Photo: Visinema Group
Malaysia

‘It stinks’: Malaysian deodorant ad pulled over racial insensitivity claims

The ad featured a dark-skinned man with a religious marking and a light-skinned man with body odour, sparking accusations of racial insensitivity.

LRT advertisement for deodorant manufacturer Hygr. Photo: hygr
LRT advertisement for deodorant manufacturer Hygr. Photo: hygr
Thailand

Viral video of topless tourist’s brawl with guards in Pattaya sparks probe

A video showed a shirtless tourist being knocked down with a single punch by a bouncer after the foreigner allegedly behaved inappropriately towards female bar staff.

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South Korea

Korea part of Southeast Asia? Seoul flags embassies over foreign textbook errors

A government audit found that embassies failed to correct foreign textbook claims such as Korea once being part of Genghis Khan’s empire.

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South Korea

South Korean man arrested for killing 5 family members due to fears over debt

The deaths have sparked calls for harsher penalties for familicides, which make up a significant proportion of murders in the country.

A South Korean man has been arrested for murdering five family members. Photo: Shutterstock
A South Korean man has been arrested for murdering five family members. Photo: Shutterstock
Japan

Japan weighs new legislation to tackle illegal gambling via online casinos

High-profile scandals involving baseball stars and comedians have exposed a ‘shocking’ lack of public awareness about the law, observers say.

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Japan

Oh, deer: Japan’s Nara boosts police patrols to curb animal abuse

The move follows a video of a tourist in Nara’s main park kicking one of the animals, considered sacred in the ancient city.

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Singapore

4 arrested in Japan over sales of AI-generated porn in first such case

One of the suspects was reportedly making sales of as much as US$70,000 over about a year from the images.

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In the first such case in Japan, four suspects who allegedly sold artificial intelligence-generated explicit images have been arrested. Photo: Shutterstock
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.

Students in a classroom in Vietnam. Photo: AFP
Students in a classroom in Vietnam. Photo: AFP
Malaysia

Malaysian durian farmers prickly over claims of encroachment on state land

The confrontation came to a head when a lawmaker was arrested for preventing the felling of trees in a key durian-growing state.

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Japan

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

Experts say a deepening sense of crisis has overwhelmed young Japanese amid rising living costs, demographic strain and political inertia.

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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
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