A young Philippine journalist who spent nearly six years in a crowded provincial prison was found guilty of terror financing in a case rights groups and a U.N. expert labeled a "travesty of justice." https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/22/asia-pacific/crime-legal/philippines-journalist-terror-charge/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #crimelegal #philippines #journalism #terrorism #pressfreedom
With chips, investments and planned defense spending hikes, Taiwan is aiming to win over U.S. President Donald Trump and avert a crisis. Will it work? https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/22/asia-pacific/politics/taiwan-trump-china-appeasement/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #china #taiwan #us #uschinarelations #pla #laichingte #donaldtrump #defense #chipmakers #budgets
Australians are observing a national day of mourning on Thursday for the 15 people killed by gunmen who opened fire at a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach in December. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/22/asia-pacific/australia-mourning-bondi-shooting/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #australia #terrorism #massshootings
Several people are missing after a landslide struck a campsite at Mount Maunganui, a popular New Zealand holiday destination, following a tropical storm that triggered severe flooding across the North Island. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/22/asia-pacific/new-zealand-storms-landslide/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #newzealand #landslides #floods
Hong Kong's High Court is set to start the landmark national security trial of three former leaders of a now disbanded group that organized annual vigils marking Beijing's 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/22/asia-pacific/politics/hong-kong-security-trial-tiananmen/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #hongkong #china #tiananmensquare
Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh’s biggest Islamist party, is reinventing itself and attracting new support ahead of parliamentary polls next month, unsettling moderates and minority communities. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/21/asia-pacific/politics/islamist-party-bangladesh-moderates/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #bangladesh #southasia #sheikhhasina
Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte is facing new accusations of plunder and graft from a civil group, amid growing signs that the nation’s politics is headed into a new bout of internecine feuding. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/21/asia-pacific/politics/sara-duterte-philippine-battles/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #philippines #sarahduterte #southeastasia
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boosted
A South Korean court sentenced former prime minister Han Duck-soo to 23 years in prison on Wednesday for aiding and abetting a declaration of martial law that briefly suspended civilian rule. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/21/asia-pacific/south-korea-han-jail-martial-law/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #southkorea #handucksoo #yoonsukyeol
A South Korean court sentenced former prime minister Han Duck-soo to 23 years in prison on Wednesday for aiding and abetting a declaration of martial law that briefly suspended civilian rule. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/21/asia-pacific/south-korea-han-jail-martial-law/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #southkorea #handucksoo #yoonsukyeol
India plans to launch over 50 spy satellites and add night-time imaging to enhance its national security capabilities after a border conflict last year with Pakistan. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/21/asia-pacific/india-space-surveillance-border/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #india #satellites #surveillance #pakistan
South Korean investigators raided the offices and homes of three civilians on Wednesday over their alleged role in sending drones into the North, police said. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/21/asia-pacific/politics/south-korea-raids-drone-north/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #southkorea #northkorea #drones
Australia's lower house of parliament passed new laws for a gun buyback, tighter background checks and a crackdown on hate crimes, in response to its worst mass shooting in decades. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/20/asia-pacific/politics/australia-gun-laws-hate-crimes-bondi/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #australia #guns #hatecrimes #massshootings
The 11-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations will not send observers to army-ruled Myanmar's ongoing three-stage election and will therefore not endorse the poll. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/20/asia-pacific/politics/asean-myanmar-election-malaysia/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #myanmar #malaysia #asean
Pitching an agenda of "clean politics,” former Thai leader Abhisit Vejjajiva expects to play a kingmaker’s role in any coalition that seeks to rule the nation after next month’s election. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/20/asia-pacific/politics/thai-anti-scammer-kingmaker/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #thailand #abhisitvejjajiva #southeastasia
China's birth rate fell last year to its lowest level on record, official data showed, as its population shrank for a fourth straight year despite efforts to slow the decline. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/19/asia-pacific/society/china-birth-rate-lowest/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #society #china #population #children
The Philippines has discovered a new natural gas source for the first time in over a decade, extending the life of its depleting gas field. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/19/asia-pacific/pps-gas-discovery/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #gas #philippines #southeastasia #energy
An impeachment complaint was filed against Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the House of Representatives, which is dominated by his allies. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/19/asia-pacific/politics/philippines-marcos-impeachment-house/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #philippines #ferdinandmarcosjr #southeastasia
A former security enforcer who has turned his axe on red tape, Vietnam's top leader To Lam is a classical music lover with a sometimes controversial taste for fine steak. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/19/asia-pacific/politics/vietnam-to-lam-secret-policeman/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #vietnam #tolam #southeastasia
The number of firearms in Australia reached an all-time high of more than 4 million in 2025. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/18/asia-pacific/crime-legal/australian-firearms-hit-a-record-high/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #crimelegal #bondibeach #australia #guns #firearms
A Chinese reconnaissance drone briefly flew over the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands at the top end of the South China Sea on Saturday, in what Taiwan's Defense Ministry called a "provocative and irresponsible" move. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/18/asia-pacific/taiwan-china-drone-pratas/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #pla #taiwan #us #usmilitary #southchinasea