Prosecutors have questioned the leader of the Unification Church, Han Hak-ja, over her alleged involvement in bribing the wife of ousted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol as part of a criminal probe into the couple. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/17/asia-pacific/crime-legal/unification-church-south-korea-first-lady/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #crimelegal #unificationchurch #hanhakja #yoonsukyeol #southkorea

India's online gamblers may turn to measures such as virtual private networks and proxy credit cards for placing a bets in the wake of a gambling ban in the country. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/17/asia-pacific/society/india-gaming-illegal-sites-gambling/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #society #india #gambling #apps

Australia and Papua New Guinea have postponed signing a major mutual defense treaty, Canberra’s latest stumble as it seeks to counterbalance Beijing’s expanding presence and clout in the Pacific region. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/17/asia-pacific/politics/australia-papua-new-guinea-defense-treaty/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #australia #indopacific #papuanewguinea #defense #china #anthonyalbanese #jamesmarape

Hong Kong vetoing a bill that would have allowed limited legal rights for same-sex couples shows how the city lags internationally on human rights, one couple says. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/17/asia-pacific/society/hong-kong-same-sex-rights-bill/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #society #hongkong #lgbtq #china

After the worst election setback of his career over a year ago, speculation grew that Prime Minister Narendra Modi could lose power, but as he celebrates his 75th birthday, his grip on India seems more secure than ever. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/17/asia-pacific/politics/modi-succession-india-setbacks/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #india #narendramodi

Ahn Hak-sop was captured during the Korean War by the South and imprisoned for more than 40 years. Now 95, he wants to return to the North to die. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/16/asia-pacific/politics/north-korea-communist-warrior/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #southkorea #northkorea #us #pow

A Chinese man crossed dangerous jungles to enter the United States, in a failed bid for asylum. After being deported home in 2023, he faced a choice: stay or try to leave again? https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/16/asia-pacific/society/china-us-deportation-freedom/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #society #china #us #immigration #surveillance

China’s Defense Ministry on Tuesday offered the latest hint that its third and largest aircraft carrier could soon enter service, after it undergoes further testing and training in the disputed South China Sea. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/16/asia-pacific/china-fujian-aircraft-carrier-south-china-sea/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #china #aircraftcarriers #pla #southchinasea #taiwan #disputedislands #chinajapanrelations #defense #defenseministry

Poorly paid and largely uninsured, Indonesia's gig workers increasingly angry at the government over its failure to create enough jobs for the country’s workforce are planning more protests. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/16/asia-pacific/politics/indonesia-protests-gig-drivers/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #indonesia #southeastasia

China's coast guard said that a Philippine vessel had “deliberately rammed” one of its ships Tuesday, alleging that Manila had organized more than 10 vessels to “illegally intrude” into a South China Sea flash point. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/16/asia-pacific/philippines-china-scarborough-shoal-clash/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #philippines #china #disputedislands #southchinasea

Poorly paid and largely uninsured, Indonesia's gig workers increasingly angry at the government over its failure to create enough jobs for the country’s workforce are planning more protests. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/16/asia-pacific/politics/indonesia-protests-gig-drivers/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #indonesia #southeastasia

At least 72 people in Nepal were killed during chaos beginning on Sept. 8 as youth rallied against a government ban on social media, with the veteran prime minister ending up stepping down. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/16/asia-pacific/politics/wounded-nepali-protesters/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #nepal #kathmandu

Australia is confident its wide-ranging AUKUS security agreement will push ahead despite a Pentagon review, sources said, with Canberra recently announcing at least $9 billion in related defense investments. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/16/asia-pacific/aukus-us-review/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific#aukus #us #donaldtrump #australia #uk #defense #china #anthonyalbanese

Interim Nepali Prime Minister Sushila Karki has named three figures with reformist and anti-graft credentials to her Cabinet to lead the Himalayan nation after deadly violence led to parliament's dissolution. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/15/asia-pacific/politics/nepal-interim-cabinet-picks/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #nepal #sushilakarki#kpsharmaoli

Students killed at Myanmar boarding school as junta escalates air war https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/15/asia-pacific/politics/myanmar-school-junta-air-war/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #myanmar #junta #arakanarmy #unicef #minaunghlaing

The U.S. says China is intentionally mischaracterizing World War II-era documents to put pressure on and isolate Taiwan. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/15/asia-pacific/politics/us-china-wwii-taiwan/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #china #taiwan #us #wwii

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. says he does not blame people for taking part in street protests "one bit" as anger mounts over a corruption scandal involving phony flood-control projects. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/15/asia-pacific/politics/philippines-president-corruption-protests/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #ferdinandmarcosjr #corruption #philippines #southeastasia

North Korean hackers have used ChatGPT to help forge deepfake identification document for use in a phishing target in South Korea, according to cybersecurity researchers. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/15/asia-pacific/crime-legal/north-korean-hackers-chatgpt-deepfake/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #crimelegal #northkorea #hacking #ai #chatgpt #deepfakes #southkorea

A former DJ and his obscure Nepalese nonprofit used a social media app popular with video gamers to drive massive protests and become the unlikely power brokers in installing the country's new interim leadership. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/14/asia-pacific/politics/activists-nepal-government-new-leaders/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #sushilakarki #nepal

In removing Indonesia's finance minister and U-turning on protester demands, Prabowo Subianto is scrambling to restore public trust while installing install loyalists after deadly riots. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/14/asia-pacific/politics/prabowo-subianto-indonesia-analysis/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #indonesia #prabowosubianto #southeastasia