Asia - South China Morning Post

Malaysia’s largest coffee chain has thrown its support behind a barista involved in a viral confrontation with a customer, saying it has launched a full investigation and will stand by the employee while reviewing the incident.

Zus Coffee confirmed on Monday that it had begun an internal investigation after a 14-second video of the altercation, believed to have taken place on Sunday at one of its outlets, drew millions of views on TikTok and sparked intense online debate.

In the video, a female...

An Australian woman who allegedly stole a box of anti-ageing supplements at the transit area of Changi Airport earlier this year was arrested when she returned to Singapore several months later.

The police were alerted to the theft on May 7 when a box of supplements that cost S$507.30 (US$390) was discovered missing from the display shelf of a Guardian outlet in the transit area of Terminal 1.

The suspect was seen on CCTV allegedly leaving the pharmacy outlet with the unpaid item on April 14....

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) posted its slowest monthly revenue growth in more than a year, lending credence to concerns that the artificial intelligence stock rally is not justified by the industry’s business prospects.

TSMC, the main contract manufacturer to AI chip leader Nvidia, posted a 16.9 per cent rise in sales for October, the slowest pace since February 2024.

Still, that tracks with the average analyst estimate for a 16 per cent sales increase in the current quarter....

Barely two weeks after US President Donald Trump proclaimed “peace” between Thailand and Cambodia, the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord he presided over now teeters on the edge of collapse.

On Monday, Thailand’s armed forces suspended the truce agreement, accusing Cambodia’s military of laying fresh landmines in contested border territory.

Thai defence minister Natthaphon Narkphanit confirmed on Tuesday that Thailand was halting implementation of the pact and would not be returning 18 Cambodian...

Loan sharks in Malaysia’s Johor state set fire to a house in Kluang belonging to the parents of a 33-year-old assistant manager after she changed her mind about taking a 10,000 ringgit (US$2,407) loan.

The victim, who only wanted to be identified as Lam and works in Singapore, said she was harassed by the loan sharks who demanded S$20,000 (US$15,348) after she decided not to take the loan.

Speaking at a press conference organised by MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Michael...

We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.

1. Chinese tourists flock to Singapore for ‘da ka’ moments, despite the high prices

Melody Liu had been in Singapore for just three days when she blew past her 5,000 yuan (HK$5,450) travel budget – and reached for her long-sleeved hooded shirt with attached visor to brave...

Two female bodyguards have set Malaysian social media abuzz after a video showing them leaping onto a moving SUV during the recent Asean summit went viral – a moment the police have since defended as standard and professionally executed security protocol.

The widely shared clip shows the pair – dressed in formal black suits and headscarves – jogging after a sport utility vehicle carrying foreign delegates before each opening a rear door, stepping onto the footboard and taking position with the...

Air passengers departing Singapore will pay a green fuel levy of as much as S$41.60 (US$31.95) from next year as the city state locks in a major step in its effort to cut the aviation industry’s emissions.

Travellers flying in economy and premium economy, as well as those on short-haul routes, will be charged far less.

Those customers will pay an additional S$1 for trips to Southeast Asia and S$10.40 for flights to the Americas, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore said on Monday. Business...

Indian police are investigating a car explosion in New Delhi under the country’s primary anti-terrorism law as a pall of gloom descended over the capital on Tuesday.

Exasperated families at a hospital were anxiously waiting for news of their loved ones after the blast near the landmark Red Fort killed at least nine people on Monday evening.

The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act is used to investigate and prosecute acts related to “terrorism” and activities that threaten India’s sovereignty...

South Korea’s former president Yoon Suk-yeol, removed from office and arrested earlier this year for attempting to impose martial law, is facing new charges alleging he sought to provoke North Korea to justify his failed power grab.

Prosecutors say Yoon and senior aides orchestrated risky military operations near the border to draw a retaliation from Pyongyang, which they hoped would legitimise the emergency decree Yoon signed on December 3 while still in office.

Those operations allegedly...