Asia - South China Morning Post

Thousands of Filipinos gathered on Sunday in Manila to express their anger over a ballooning scandal involving bogus flood-control projects believed to have cost taxpayers billions of dollars.

Rage over the so-called ghost infrastructure projects has been mounting in the Southeast Asian country since President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr put them centre stage in a July state of the nation address that followed weeks of deadly flooding.

On Monday, Marcos said he did not blame people for protesting “one...

On a crisp morning just north of Seoul, Ryu Da-yeon hands over her smartphone to her teacher – a ritual so familiar she barely notices it.

Next spring, this routine will become law as South Korea embarks on a sweeping attempt to stem the tide of digital distraction in its schools.

The nationwide ban on smartphone use in primary and middle schools is aimed at addressing rising concerns over technology’s impact on young minds.

The legislation was passed by the National Assembly last month with...

In Japan’s ramen-loving heartland, researchers have stirred the pot with a study suggesting that slurping down the beloved noodle dish three or more times a week might carry health risks.

The joint study, conducted by universities in northeastern Yamagata prefecture, home to some of the nation’s highest ramen consumption, found that frequent ramen eaters faced about 1.5 times the risk of death compared with those enjoying it just once or twice a week.

The researchers stressed, however, that the...

Japan will not recognise a Palestinian state at a UN meeting next week amid concerns that doing so could worsen the situation in the Middle East and hurt its ties with the United States, a move one analyst described as “embarrassing”.

Several US allies including Britain, Australia, Canada and France have said they will back the formal recognition of a Palestinian state during the United Nations General Assembly summit that begins on Monday.

But Tokyo’s position was influenced by the US, which...

When Ding Xiaohan, a software engineer from Shanghai, took her 18-year-old son to Japan for a weeklong holiday this summer, she did not hold back.

The 47-year-old spent freely as they explored the affluent neighbourhood near the Tokyo Tower and the tea-producing city of Shizuoka, splashing out on sushi lunches, barbecue dinners and dolls modelled on iconic Studio Ghibli anime characters.

“Japanese food and merchandise are different, higher quality – like if you buy clothing it’s more...

A sweeping review by the United States of the landmark Aukus submarine pact could usher in stricter conditions on technology transfers, cost-sharing and fresh concessions from Australia, raising questions about the future of the trilateral deal.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had privately assured Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles that the pact would not be terminated, The Washington Post reported earlier this month, citing sources familiar with the discussions.

The Aukus...

Relations between India and the US have steadily deteriorated since May. Initially, the rift was merely diplomatic: US President Donald Trump claimed credit for averting nuclear war between India and Pakistan, but New Delhi dismissed it. Tensions escalated as Washington hurled harsh words at India, followed by punitive tariffs.

While New Delhi has expressed its discontent, it also strives to avoid a slide towards open confrontation. India still struggles to comprehend why the Trump...

A man accused of shooting dead a 17-year-old TikTok star at her home in Pakistan after she had repeatedly rejected his advances was formally indicted on Saturday, a journalist in court saw.

Sana Yousaf’s murder in June drew nationwide condemnation and reignited debate over women’s safety, after some online comments – alongside condolences – blamed her for her own death.

The 22-year-old accused, Umar Hayat, pleaded not guilty in Islamabad’s district court on Saturday.

“All the allegations made...

At first glance, Gita Sjahrir is often mistaken for just another secretary or typist. It’s only when her surname is mentioned that colleagues realise she is, in fact, a managing director of one of Indonesia’s leading power companies.

Earlier this year, the 43-year-old assumed responsibility for investor relations at TBS Energi, which was founded by her uncle, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, chairman of Indonesia’s National Economic Council and a former coordinating minister.

Her entry into the firm was...

The Australian government said on Saturday that telecoms firm Optus “let Australians down” after three people died during a network outage that prevented calls to emergency services.

Amid a growing outcry, two of the dead were identified as an eight-week-old boy and a 68-year-old woman, police in South Australia said. The two other fatalities were men aged 74 and 49, police in Western Australia said.

Optus CEO Stephen Rue said in a statement late on Saturday that he was “deeply saddened” at news...