Filipino beauty queens: A new weapon in war on communism

Actress Arci Munoz is also a member of the Philippine air force reserves.Internet For millions of young girls living in poverty in the Philippines, becoming a beauty queen is the rags-to-riches fantasy of choice when it comes to plotting a way out of the shanties. They dream of becoming the next Catriona Gray or Pia Wurtzbach, much...

Asean envoy must recognise us over junta, Myanmar’s parallel civilian government says

Thousands of people join anti-coup protests across Myanmar.Twitter/AFP The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) must ensure that any plan to appoint a special envoy to mediate in Myanmar's post-coup crisis does not lead to recognition of the junta as a legitimate authority, an official from the country's parallel civilian government and regional rights advocates said...

Backlash to Japan’s Fukushima waste water plan quietens as South Korea, China assess the real cost

The storage tanks for treated water are seen at the tsunami-crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Okuma town, Fukushima prefecture, Japan, on March 1 2021.Reuters After rebuking Japan last week over its plan to discharge contaminated water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean and threatening to petition an international court, South Korea...

‘What is wrong with Indonesia’: Trolls flood Thai couple’s gay wedding photos with death threats in cross-cultural flame war

Suriya Koedsang pictured with his husband Bas at their wedding, in a photo that was uploaded to Facebook.Facebook When Suriya Koedsang uploaded photos of his wedding to Facebook on April 4, the 28-year-old Thai never could have imagined the hate his heartwarming post would soon receive from online trolls in Indonesia. Within days, the pictures of Koedsang...

South Korea orders closure of nightclubs, karaoke bars amid concern over fourth Covid-19 wave

People walk past closed pubs and restaurants as tougher social distancing rules to prevent the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) that have been announced on the last Friday (April 2) continue, in Seoul, South Korea, Aug 31, 2020.Reuters South Korea will reimpose a ban on nightclubs, karaoke bars and other nightly entertainment facilities, authorities said on Friday (April...

For India’s wealthy singletons, millionaire matchmaking services promise perfect partners – for a price

A handout photo. A wedding organised by Ultra Rich Match.South China Morning Post When the son of a wealthy Indian politician returned home in 2019 after acquiring an Ivy League education in the United States, his search for a prospective partner soon stalled as he realised he had no way of meeting someone suitable. “I was abroad...

Taiwan truck driver appears in court over fatal train crash

The train was carrying almost 500 people.FACEBOOK/鄭榮貴 A Taiwanese construction site manager whose truck rolled down a hill and collided with a train appeared in court on Saturday (April 3), local media reported. The accident on Friday killed 51 passengers and crew and injured nearly 180, making it the island’s worst rail disaster in 7 decades. The...

Taiwan loses 2 fighter jets in apparent collision, third such crash in 6 months

The F-5E jets crashedReuters Two Taiwanese fighter jets crashed on Monday (March 22) in the third such incident in the past half-year, at a time when the Beijing-claimed island's armed forces are under increasing pressure to intercept Chinese aircraft on an almost daily basis. While Taiwan's air force is well trained and well equipped, mostly with US-made equipment,...

Is North Korea’s move to cut ties with Malaysia a ‘test’ for Joe Biden?

Twitter/imnormgoh A move by Pyongyang to sever ties with Malaysia, following the extradition of a North Korean national to the United States on money-laundering charges, could be aimed at testing the administration of US President Joe Biden, according to analysts. Pyongyang announced on Friday that it was cutting diplomatic ties after a Malaysian Federal Court panel earlier...

Bali to stay closed to foreign travellers till end of 2020

Plans to reopen Bali to international tourists on Sept. 11 have been reconsidered following the government's decision to wait until the end of this year before welcoming foreign visitors. "The government is still prohibiting its citizens from traveling abroad at least until the end of 2020. In line with the policy, we also cannot open the gate to international travelers...