Asia - South China Morning Post

An unprecedented early surge in influenza cases has compelled Japan’s health authorities to declare a nationwide epidemic, as medical experts warn the virus may be evolving faster and spreading more easily than ever before.

The outbreak, which has caused hospital wards to fill up and schools across the country to close their doors, arrived five weeks ahead of schedule compared with last year.

Such an early and rapid spread suggests the influenza virus is adapting at an unprecedented pace. But...

India’s civil aviation minister denied on Tuesday there was any “manipulation” in an official investigation into the crash of an Air India Dreamliner in June, after the father of the flight’s captain complained about the actions of investigators.

It was the first official reaction to a complaint by Pushkar Raj Sabharwal sent to a pilots’ union last month, in which he said investigators had visited his home and implied that his son had cut the fuel to the plane’s engines after...

Malaysia’s top state energy official has apologised after facing backlash at home for taking part in a champagne-spraying celebration at the Singapore Grand Prix, in the latest controversy over Islamic norms and the conduct of government-linked companies.

Tengku Muhammad Taufik Tengku Aziz, the president and group chief executive of Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas), joined the podium celebrations on Sunday as the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team – which the company sponsors – clinched...

US President Donald Trump has asked to preside over the signing of a peace deal between Cambodia and Thailand when he attends the Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur later this month, according to four government and diplomatic sources.

Southeast Asia is hoping to negotiate concessions to punishing tariffs imposed by Washington when they meet in the Malaysian capital from October 26 to 28, adding significance to Trump’s request for a peace signing ceremony.

At least 43 people were killed over five days...

Indonesia has pledged tighter management of Islamic boarding schools after the tragic collapse of one that killed at least 67 people, with the incident drawing attention to long-standing concerns about the lack of oversight and funding for the country’s vast network of faith-based schools.

The disaster – Indonesia’s deadliest so far this year – occurred on September 29, when a three-storey mosque inside the Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School complex in Sidoarjo, East Java, caved in during...

A Thai court jailed 11 former leaders of the “red-shirt movement” protest on Tuesday over their role in 2010 anti-government demonstrations which culminated in an army crackdown that left scores dead.

The supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, were found guilty of violating state of emergency rules imposed during the protests, which sought to oust then prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Tens of thousands of red-shirt movement protesters, known by the colour of their attire, took...

Malaysian paramilitary police and drones have joined the search for a Chinese couple who have been missing for over 48 hours at a popular dive island in Sabah.

Yu Xiaopeng, 25, and his girlfriend Fan Qin, 28, checked into the Sutera Mantanani Resort on Saturday and were scheduled to check out the following day. But the couple failed to reappear, leaving their belongings in the room.

Kota Belud District Police Chief Superintendent Shahrudin Mat Husain said the resort’s security team only noticed...

Japan’s exotic animal cafes – where visitors can pet owls, hold otters and sip coffee surrounded by sloths – are under fresh scrutiny after a study found troubling lapses in hygiene and infection control, including the presence of harmful bacteria.

The joint study, carried out by WWF Japan and Hokkaido University’s Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, surveyed 25 establishments in Tokyo and surrounding areas that allowed direct interaction with non-domesticated animals. It found multiple...

Sabah’s state poll is expected to be a critical gauge of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s popularity beyond his traditional base in the peninsula, analysts say, as the country enters the election season marked by fears over an economic slowdown, job insecurity and culture wars.

Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor announced the dissolution of the state assembly on Monday, paving the way for the first in a series of state elections over the next two years that could influence Anwar’s presumed...

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has appointed an ally to lead the nation’s independent anti-corruption watchdog, as his administration continues a clampdown on corruption in infrastructure projects.

As ombudsman, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla was “expected to uphold transparency, strengthen anti-corruption measures, and ensure that justice is administered fairly and efficiently,” Marcos’ communications office said in a statement on Tuesday.

“There will be no sacred cows, no...