Asia - South China Morning Post

Indonesia is struggling to stamp out illegal mining that has ravaged forest land around its new capital Nusantara, in a challenge environmentalists say will test the government’s resolve to enforce the law and rein in powerful mining interests.

The crackdown comes as doubts persist over the future of the 466 trillion rupiah (US$27.8 billion) project – a centrepiece of former leader Joko Widodo’s legacy that now faces waning political support under his successor, President Prabowo Subianto, and a...

Malaysian rapper Namewee was detained by Kuala Lumpur police on Wednesday in connection with the death of Taiwanese influencer Iris Hsieh, in a stunning twist to a tale that has gripped the country.

Namewee, whose real name is Wee Meng Chee, took to his social media on Tuesday night to confirm his voluntary surrender to city authorities after returning from his southern home state of Johor, vowing to fully cooperate with the police investigation.

“I will not run away. I voluntarily reported to...

A bill restricting private English tuition for young children is gaining traction in South Korea, with both liberal and conservative authorities uniting to tackle excessive academic pressure on preschoolers.

Representative Kang Kyung-sook of the minor liberal Rebuilding Korea Party, who is leading the legislative effort, said passage of the bill appeared likely amid rising support from superintendents of education offices across the country.

“We are viewing the possibility of passing this bill...

An international student has been fined A$35,000 (US$22,700) after he was caught trying to smuggle 125 spiders and insects out of Australia, as the country continues to crack down on a growing illegal wildlife trade with links to organised crime.

Australian Border Force officers detained Zhang Qiran, a 22-year-old Chinese national, at Sydney International Airport on January 26 after they found 34 packages hidden inside his checked-in and carry-on luggage, the Department of Climate Change,...

India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is bracing for a fiercely contested state election in Bihar starting on Thursday, in a race analysts say could determine the stability of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s coalition and reveal the limits of his influence in key battleground states.

Voting in Bihar will take place in two phases, on Thursday and next Tuesday, with results due next Friday. The outcome will not only decide Bihar’s leadership but could also set the tone for a series of key...

South Korea is grappling with an intense influenza season, with infections more than tripling from a year ago and showing pronounced peaks among school-aged children and adults over 50.

Official data suggests a potentially severe season ahead.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the national outpatient influenza-like illness rate for the 43rd week of the year (October 19-25) climbed to 13.6 cases per 1,000 patients, a significant leap from the previous week’s 7.9...

A fried chicken restaurant in South Korea has introduced a one-hour time limit for the table used by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang during his casual dinner with Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun last week.

“The table occupied by Jensen Huang can be used for only an hour,” said a notice posted in front of the store near Samseong station in southern Seoul.

Since Huang’s visit last Thursday, crowds have lined up in front of the store...

US President Donald Trump’s claim that Pakistan has resumed underground nuclear testing – alongside China, Russia and North Korea – has been met with scepticism by arms control experts and denials from the countries named, raising concerns about the credibility and consequences of Washington’s nuclear posture.

Pakistan, which has not conducted a nuclear explosion since 1998, issued a firm rebuttal, with a senior security official telling CBS News the country “was not the first to carry out...

A spate of fatal bear attacks across Japan has dominated local news for weeks, prompting the government to send soldiers to one of the most affected areas. Meme traders have piled into the shares of two little-known companies whose products offer some protection for hikers and rural residents.

At least 12 people have been killed by bears so far in the year starting April, exceeding the previous high of six in 2023, according to government data. Most of the victims have been elderly people in the...

The death toll from Typhoon Kalmaegi in the Philippines climbed past 100 on Wednesday as the devastating impact on hard-hit Cebu province became clearer after the worst flooding in recent memory.

Floodwaters described as unprecedented had rushed through towns and cities, sweeping away cars, trucks and even massive shipping containers.

On Wednesday, Cebu spokesman Rhon Ramos said that 35 bodies had been recovered from flooded areas of Liloan, a town that is part of the provincial capital Cebu...