We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.
1. US’ 500 military personnel in Taiwan an ‘open test’ of Beijing’s red lines
Washington’s disclosure that around 500 US military personnel are stationed in Taiwan signals more open and substantial defence support for the island – a…
Malaysia’s first AI preacher stirs debate on Islamic principles
The launch of artificial intelligence-powered Islamic preachers has raised questions in Malaysia over the technology’s potential to distort local Islamic teachings and undermine the role of qualified scholars.
In Malaysia, where Islam is the state religion, religious discourse is tightly regulated and preachers must obtain official credentials and strictly adhere to state-sanctioned interpretations of the faith – or risk infringing sharia court rulings of “deviant teachings”.
But AI avatars are…
UK government confirms crackdown on knife content online
The UK government has confirmed it will proceed with introducing legislation aimed at removing online content related to illegal knives and other offensive weapons.
Can Asean overcome Trump’s tariffs and become fourth-largest economy by 2045?
Members of the Asean bloc have laid out an ambitious plan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2045, but analysts warn the region must first overcome deep-rooted trade barriers, domestic implementation woes and a shifting global trade order.
Released on Tuesday during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Kuala Lumpur, the five-year strategy to achieve the economic goal aims to boost regional integration and better address complex issues.
“Carrying on with business as…
Fashion retailers issued warning on potential greenwashing
Twenty consumer authorities worldwide, including Ireland’s Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), have endorsed an open letter calling on the fashion retail sector and textile industry to ensure their environmental claims comply with consumer law.
Ex-Philippine lawmaker’s arrest in East Timor seen as linked to Asean membership
A former Philippine lawmaker who is accused of orchestrating a political assassination has been arrested in East Timor, in a move that analysts say is a sign of Dili’s desire to resolve an extradition dispute with Manila ahead of its expected entry into Asean.
Arnolfo Teves Jnr was apprehended in Dili in a joint operation by East Timorese police and immigration officials at his residence in the capital on Tuesday night, his son confirmed in a post on social media on Wednesday.
Teves, who has…
South China Sea tensions ‘won’t stop’ Asean’s blue economy growth: official
Southeast Asia’s plans to grow its blue economy – especially its fisheries sector – will not be hindered by tensions in the South China Sea, according to a senior Asean official, despite warnings from observers that ongoing maritime disputes with China could threaten the region’s economic and environmental progress.
Satvinder Singh, deputy secretary general of the Asean Economic Community, said disputes involving claimant states such as the Philippines and Vietnam would not hamper the bloc’s…
‘It’s not fair’: Indonesia’s Lion Air crash families decry Boeing 737 Max deal
Relatives of Indonesians killed in the 2018 Lion Air crash have condemned a proposed deal between the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and Boeing, calling it a fresh example of how powerful corporations can evade criminal accountability through financial settlements and leave grieving families without closure.
The outcry came after US prosecutors filed court documents on Friday outlining a tentative agreement that would shield the American aircraft manufacturer from criminal prosecution over…
Riyadh Region publishes infrastructure projects guide to boost standards
The launch of a new infrastructure projects guide in the Riyadh Region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) aims to improve standards and enhance efficiency across the city’s construction market, an expert has said.
Cold, or fried with XO sauce? Creative ways to serve sticky rice dumplings
Tuen Ng Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, is one of the biggest annual celebrations in Hong Kong. It takes place on May 31 this year.
As well as dragon boat races, sticky rice dumplings, or zongzi, are a big feature of the festival.
Sticky rice dumplings can be sweet and sprinkled with sugar or savoury and dipped in soy sauce. But either way, they are traditionally steamed.
We asked chefs in Hong Kong, and one in Macau, for creative suggestions for other ways to prepare…