News From © SCMP News
 | China offers rewards for reporting rare earth export control violations Beijing is sharpening the tools it uses to police rare earth and other strategic mineral exports, announcing fresh measures that will reward companies and individuals for reporting suspected violations. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Singapore aims to lead Asia’s wellness race with US$770 million complex As Singapore bets on becoming Asia’s leading wellness destination, tourism experts say the city state must prove that its attractions can draw international visitors in a region replete with spas, retreats and hot springs. Source: © SCMP News |
 | How Indonesia’s coal policies left its own citizens in the dark A wave of power outages across Indonesia’s Java island has left millions of residents and business owners in the dark, igniting public fury and raising questions as to how the world’s largest coal exporter is failing to keep its own lights on. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Chinese-Filipino groups downplay Sinophobia over earthquake aid in Philippines Chinese-Filipino business groups have sent aid to earthquake-hit residents in the southern Philippines, continuing their tradition of providing disaster relief at a time when worsening Manila-Beijing ties have complicated public perceptions of people and organisations linked to China. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Philippines’ worst school shooting puts social media, games in the dock After two teenagers opened fire at a Philippine high school this week, the first question lawmakers asked was not about gun control, but the internet. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Singaporean woman jailed for slapping, punching helper over job performance Upset with the way that her domestic worker had performed tasks such as hanging the laundry or cleaning bottles, a 67-year-old woman slapped, punched and scratched her, drawing blood. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Thai officials caught altering exam scores for bribes of up to US$24,000 Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered an investigation into allegations of mass cheating in civil service exams to attain government jobs, after thousands of tests were allegedly tampered with to boost scores in exchange for fees of up to US$24,000 each time. Source: © SCMP News |
 | US Pacific Command name change risks damaging India ties: ‘senseless’ A Pentagon decision to strip “Indo” from the name of its largest unified military command eight years after it was initially added has raised questions about the United States’ continuing commitment to India. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Malaysian police officer faces disciplinary probe over viral ‘smelly’ Chinese video Malaysia’s police chief has opened a disciplinary inquiry into a police officer who posted viral videos showing Malaysian tourists mocking people in China as “smelly” after the clips triggered anger in both countries and prompted a public apology. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Anti-war protesters jeer Japan’s Takaichi over softening pacifist stance Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was heckled at a World War II memorial event by protesters angry about Tokyo’s further shift away from its decades-long pacifist stance, television footage showed. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Property was Australia’s favourite wealth builder. A tax overhaul aims to end that Just a short stroll from Sydney’s famous Bondi Beach, auctioneer Clarence White struggles to drum up bids for an airy three-storey home that boasts five bedrooms and an alfresco lounge – price tag, A$5.2 million (US$3.64 million). Source: © SCMP News |
 | India’s military self-reliance push hits private sector tech deficit India’s private defence companies are poised to expand their footprint in the sector, but analysts warn they still lack the technology and capabilities needed to produce cutting-edge weapons for the country’s military or export markets. Source: © SCMP News |
 | ‘Durian tsunami’ sweeps Malaysia, making premium Musang King dirt cheap Malaysia’s durian lovers are in for a treat as prices for the “king of fruits” will remain low from now until August. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Kim says North Korea to arm navy with nuclear weapons, build bigger warships North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said his country was “equipping the navy with nuclear weapons”, state media reported on Wednesday, as he also unveiled plans to build 10,000-tonne warships. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Australian town crier crowned as world’s loudest person, at 122.4 decibels Joseph McGrail-Bateup, an Australian professional air conditioner cleaner and honorary town crier, has been recognised as the world’s loudest person. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Royal succession crisis strains Malaysia’s governing alliance ahead of polls Malaysia’s rare postponement of a meeting of its royal council has pushed a throne dispute in the state of Negeri Sembilan beyond palace walls, threatening to turn a customary succession row into an electoral liability for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s uneasy governing alliance ahead of snap polls. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Indonesia hails China’s backing for panda bond amid investor concerns over rules Indonesia’s efforts to woo back Chinese investors may be gaining traction after Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa returned from Beijing with a multibillion-dollar funding commitment and political backing for the Southeast Asian country’s debut yuan-denominated sovereign bond. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Australia refuses release of climate fund reports for Pacific nation Tuvalu Australia has refused to release internal papers about a trust fund for a climate-vulnerable Pacific nation, telling Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the documents could inflict diplomatic “damage”. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Are India-US trade talks nearing ‘last-mile bargaining’ amid strained ties? US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer’s two-day visit to India this week could bring both sides closer to clinching a broad trade bargain after months of tariff wrangling, even as the South Asian nation’s protected farm sector remains a major sticking point. Source: © SCMP News |
 | US tops Philippine tourism market, propelled by strong ties, even stronger dollar The US has overtaken South Korea as the Philippines’ top source of foreign tourists this year, helped by diaspora travel and closer ties between the long-time allies, giving Manila a boost as it tries to close the gap with more popular destinations in Southeast Asia. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Singapore hotel rates skyrocket ahead of sold-out BTS concerts Hotel bookings in Singapore are surging ahead of K-pop boy band BTS’ highly anticipated concerts in December, with some reporting demand jumping by as much as 50 times. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Malaysian MP takes swipe at ‘most Hollywood’ populist label Malaysian lawmaker Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has responded with a thinly veiled jab at Tunku Ismail Ibrahim after the Johor crown prince hinted at the former sports minister being the “most Hollywood” among populist politicians. Source: © SCMP News |
 | How Japan seeks to win over allies by refuting China’s militarism claim Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi’s pushback against China signals a calculated bid to fend off accusations of Tokyo’s “new militarism” by Beijing to ensure that the label does not stick and slow Japan’s security reforms. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Why Singapore lawyers don’t last beyond courtship phase: ‘so much pressure’ The breaking point for former Singaporean lawyer Dominic Low was when he had just got home past midnight and his boss asked him to respond to an international client. This meant he had to return to the office and work till 2am. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Tourists in China call locals smelly, Philippine school shooting: 7 Asia highlights 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. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Thailand auctions US$18 million superyacht linked to supersized fraud A luxury superyacht seized from fugitive financier Benjamin Mauerberger is due for auction at a starting price of US$18 million on Tuesday, as authorities seek to claw back money from powerful money laundering networks across Thailand. Source: © SCMP News |
 | From paint to petrol bombs: Malaysian loan sharks get more brazen Victims of violent acts and threats by loan sharks have been urged to come forward under a nationwide initiative led by the Malaysian Chinese Association’s Public Services and Complaints Department. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Malaysian woman’s moving hospital honour walk spurs conversation on organ donation A Malaysian donor whose organs and tissues went to five patients has drawn tributes online after a local hospital corridor send-off was shared widely on social media. Source: © SCMP News |
 | North Korea’s Kim says ‘defeated’ Japan transforming into a ‘war state’ North Korean leader Kim Jong-un criticised Japan as turning into a “war state”, in a speech during a three-day meeting held through Monday, according to official news media. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Indian man jailed for molesting flight attendant on Singapore Airlines plane A passenger on a Singapore Airlines flight molested an air stewardess, with his friends laughing in response. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Why South Korea’s AI chip boom is a ‘serious concern’ for its economy South Korea’s AI-driven semiconductor boom has sent exports, corporate profits and stock prices to record highs, but a senior policymaker has warned that the windfall could fuel property speculation and deepen inequality if its gains remain narrowly concentrated. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Can Quad break China’s mineral monopoly amid US-India rift? The US strike on an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman earlier this month did more than kill three Indian sailors and severely undercut US-India relations. It has also cast further doubt on the unity of the Quad, an informal bloc made up of the United States, Japan, Australia and India, and the group’s ambitious agenda aimed at loosening China’s dominant grip on critical minerals. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Fatal shooting exposes ‘systemic failures’ in Philippine schools A rare shooting at a public high school in the central Philippines that left three students dead and seven injured has gripped the country amid concerns over campus safety and the mental well-being of young people. Source: © SCMP News |
 | What does US Pacific Command name change mean for China and India? In a layered signal to Indo-Pacific nations and America’s domestic audience, the Trump administration last week said the US Indo-Pacific Command would revert to its long-used name, the US Pacific Command. The Honolulu-headquartered command was renamed in 2018 during Donald Trump’s first presidency. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Malaysian woman sorry for ‘excessive’ behaviour in video mocking locals in China A woman who appeared in videos allegedly showing a group of Malaysian tourists mocking locals in China as “smelly” has apologised after days of criticism from social media users in Malaysia and China. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Elephants’ transfer to Japan sparks Malaysia’s corruption inquiry Three elephants whose transfer from Malaysia to Japan earlier this year sparked public anger over their alleged mistreatment are now at the centre of a corruption investigation over claims that Putrajaya did not receive the money linked to the move. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Will Philippines’ new bill entrench the political dynasties it aims to curb? A long-delayed bill meant to curb political dynasties in the Philippines – where powerful families dominate elected offices from Congress to local government – has moved closer to becoming law, but critics say the measure could end up protecting the clans it claims to restrain. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Singaporean man traumatised over ex-schoolmate’s AI photos of them as family At first glance, the images looked like those of a happy family in Singapore. There were photos of the couple during their school days and on dates, the woman pregnant and the man holding their supposed newborn with a caption that read: “My boys”. Source: © SCMP News |
 | What retail apocalypse? Southeast Asia’s malls are sitting pretty A cursory look at the ranking of the world’s largest shopping centres shows the scale of the decline in the US retail property market. The US has only one, the Mall of America near Minneapolis, Minnesota, among the top 20. This is not surprising given that virtually no shopping centres were built in the last two decades. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Bangladesh urges Malaysia to ease labour hiring curbs amid exploitation concerns Bangladesh’s new leader has urged Malaysia to reopen its labour market to more Bangladeshi workers, even as migrant rights groups warned that both governments must first address years of recruitment abuse, debt and stranded-worker cases. Source: © SCMP News |
 | South Korea’s ex-justice minister jailed for 25 years over martial law bid A court has sentenced a former South Korean justice minister to 25 years in prison for his role in ex-president Yoon Suk-yeol’s brief and disastrous declaration of martial law in 2024. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Why Wong-Putin meeting doesn’t mean Singapore’s going soft on Russia Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s trip to Russia as part of an Asean delegation to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin was a pragmatic move that showed the city state could uphold its sanctions against Moscow while keeping diplomatic channels open, analysts said. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Did Myanmar-China talks spawn a more emboldened junta? A recent meeting between the leaders of Myanmar and China has given the military junta an opening to persuade Asean to allow it to return to the bloc’s summits. Source: © SCMP News |
 | 3 teens die in Philippines school, 7 injured, after attack by 2 shooters At least three teenagers were killed and seven others wounded on Monday in a rare school shooting in the central Philippines, police said. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Malaysia’s nationwide diesel subsidy gets citizens all pumped up Malaysian consumers and small business owners have welcomed the government’s decision to introduce subsidised diesel at 2.10 ringgit (50 US cents) per litre (0.3 gallons) nationwide from July 1, although some are seeking greater clarity on fuel allocations under the MyKad-based scheme. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Australia makes record cocaine bust after 2.7 tonnes found buried in Sydney Australian police seized a record 2.7 tonnes of cocaine hidden in plastic tubs buried underground on the outskirts of Sydney, detectives said on Monday. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Canada steps up at Rimpac to rebut Trump’s freeriding charge Canada is deploying two frigates and a submarine to the world’s largest multinational naval exercise this week, in what analysts describe as both a display of Indo-Pacific seriousness and a pointed rebuttal to Washington’s “freeriding” charge. Source: © SCMP News |
 | China-Asean relations are bigger than mere geopolitics China-Asean relations are usually described in two ways. One emphasises danger: the South China Sea, US-China rivalry, military pressure and risk of Southeast Asia being pulled into China’s orbit. The other emphasises opportunity: trade, infrastructure, investment, supply chains and shared growth. Source: © SCMP News |
 | China’s Iran strategy an exercise in power without projection The spectacle of US President Donald Trump thanking China for staying “neutral” with regard to the US-Israeli war against Iran would have been unthinkable a year ago. Source: © SCMP News |
 | Iran, US claims conflict over Hormuz as 3 Indian crude tankers emerge Three fully laden India-linked supertankers have re-emerged in the Gulf of Oman, adding to increased reports of traffic moving both ways across the northern and southern routes of the Strait of Hormuz, while conflicting narratives over the status of transits persist. Source: © SCMP News |