Kelly Ng

Record rainfall in Japan’s Chiba prefecture killed at least eight people, triggered flooding and landslides, cut power to more than 20,000 households and led authorities to issue their highest emergency warning. More than 100,000 households were asked to evacuate, rail services and highways were disrupted, and thousands of travelers were stranded overnight at Narita Airport. Officials warned that flooding and landslide risks remained, while Japan and neighboring countries faced further disruption from an unusually active series of storms.

Singapore and South Korea have removed Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel seasoning from online marketplaces because it contains poppy seeds, which are prohibited in both countries due to possible opiate contamination. South Korean testing reportedly detected morphine and codeine, while Singapore’s Central Narcotics Bureau urged consumers to dispose of the product and warned that controlled-drug offences apply even to trace amounts. Some people in South Korea had brought the seasoning home as souvenirs and listed it for resale.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is facing calls to apologise after joking about two crown melons gifted to him by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Former Japanese ambassador Shingo Yamagami called the remarks sexist and insulting, while Australian opposition leader Angus Taylor demanded a personal apology. Albanese rejected the criticism and said Australia-Japan relations had never been closer. Labor ministers defended him, arguing that his comments had been misinterpreted. The controversy follows Albanese's earlier apology for crude remarks about entertainer Kylie Minogue on the same podcast.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is facing demands for an apology after remarks about two premium Japanese crown melons gifted by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi were interpreted as a sexist joke. Former Japanese ambassador Shingo Yamagami condemned the comments as an insult that undermined Japan-Australia relations, while opposition leader Angus Taylor and other opposition MPs also criticized Albanese. Albanese rejected the call for an apology and said Australia and Japan had never been closer; Labor ministers defended him, arguing that the exchange had been misinterpreted. The controversy follows Albanese's earlier apology for sexually suggestive comments about entertainer Kylie Minogue on the same podcast.

South Korea is responding to a record heatwave that has pushed temperatures to 42.5C, killed at least 23 people and sent nearly 2,500 to emergency rooms since mid-May. Authorities are using drones with loudspeakers and thermal cameras to warn farmers, distributing chilled water, spraying roads and cancelling outdoor events. Air-conditioned airports have become refuges for vulnerable residents, while a student-developed app directs users along shaded routes. Temperatures may ease to around 36C this weekend, but forecasts suggest unusually hot conditions could persist into September and October.

South Korea is confronting a historic heatwave, with temperatures reaching a record 42.5C and at least 23 heat-related deaths reported this year. Authorities are using drones with loudspeakers and thermal cameras to warn farmers, distributing chilled water, spraying roads, cancelling outdoor events and games, and urging public agencies to mobilise resources. Air-conditioned airports have become refuges for homeless and elderly people, while the Geuneulro app helps residents find shaded routes. Experts expect some easing soon but warn that hot conditions may persist and that temperatures could remain above average into autumn.

Philippine officials condemned an AI-generated China Daily video portraying the country as a monkey coerced by the US and Japan amid ongoing South China Sea tensions. Manila described the depiction as racist propaganda that worsens distrust, while Defence Secretary Gilbert Teodoro denounced China’s messaging and highlighted recent confrontations involving Chinese vessels. The video remains online as China continues to reject the 2016 international tribunal ruling invalidating its expansive maritime claims. Recent incidents, including barriers installed at Scarborough Shoal and travel bans targeting Philippine officials, underscore escalating hostilities between the two nations.

A US seismologist, Chen Youlin, has been detained in China on espionage charges since November 2024, according to his family and advocacy groups. Chen, who studies nuclear tests and has worked on US-funded projects involving Asian seismic data, was allegedly interrogated repeatedly and denied access to a lawyer for over a year. China rejects accusations of wrongful detention, stating that legal procedures are being followed. Advocacy groups and US officials express concern over Chen’s health and suggest his arrest may be linked to sensitivities around nuclear test monitoring. The case follows China’s recent detention of another US scholar on similar charges, adding tension to US-China relations.

Thai authorities are investigating safety failures at a Bangkok bar where a fire killed at least 28 people, with survivors reporting locked doors, poor emergency signage and obstructed exits. Experts say flammable decorations and a likely electrical short circuit accelerated the fire and produced toxic smoke. The venue was registered as a restaurant rather than an entertainment venue, allowing the use of combustible materials. Bangkok officials are reviewing regulations, and reports indicate the owner previously operated another pub that also burned down in 2019.

A rapid, intense fire at the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao bar in Bangkok killed at least 28 people and injured dozens during a live performance by the indie band Thotsakan. Witnesses described smoke emerging behind the keyboardist before the blaze engulfed the venue within seconds. Several band members died, and many victims were found near a likely obstructed emergency exit. Officials noted that flammable ceiling decorations may have accelerated the fire’s spread. The tragedy prompted renewed calls for stronger fire‑safety standards, improved staff training, and better‑designed evacuation routes in nightlife establishments.

An Australian court granted the Christian Brothers a temporary halt on payouts to child sexual abuse victims after the order claimed insolvency, citing liabilities far exceeding its cash and property holdings. The pause allows victims to consider a proposed settlement plan funded through property sales, while hundreds of active cases and redress applications are suspended until September. Government concerns have emerged over past property transfers to Edmund Rice Education Australia that may have weakened the order’s financial position. The proposed liquidation of real estate has caused uncertainty for associated schools, as scrutiny intensifies over allegations of asset shielding and the order’s long history of abuse cases.

A small aircraft crashed into Beijing’s 109‑storey CITIC Tower, killing the pilot and injuring 13 people, while Chinese authorities have released almost no details and have tightened censorship, removing even unrelated images and jokes from social media. The lack of information has fueled speculation about how the plane entered one of the world’s most restricted airspaces near the country’s political center. Aviation companies reported being told to halt light‑aircraft operations without explanation. Analysts argue that the incident exposes significant security vulnerabilities and may carry political sensitivities for the Chinese government. Experts suggest possibilities ranging from pilot error to mechanical failure or deliberate action, while comparisons were drawn to past incidents that revealed major air‑defense weaknesses.