26 h. ago Who will be Japan’s next PM? Ruling party grapples with a ‘poisoned chalice’

Less than 24 hours after Shigeru Ishiba announced his resignation as prime minister, Japan’s ruling party faces a leadership contest that few seem eager to win and even fewer to survive, as it lays bare internal rivalries. Few within Japanese politics were truly taken aback when Ishiba confirmed his decision to step down as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in a televised address on Sunday evening. On Monday, former LDP secretary general Toshimitsu Motegi became the first to throw his...

Politics

6 d. ago ‘No easy solutions’: did Indonesia’s Prabowo inherit a poisoned chalice?

Indonesia’s wave of unrest has put President Prabowo Subianto under intense pressure less than a year into his term, as he grapples with deep-seated public anger and economic anxiety amid attempts to stop the “deep rot” in his sprawling political coalition. While frustration over inequality, elite privilege and economic hardship has long been simmering, observers say Prabowo’s ambitious spending, coupled with a corrupt coalition “inherited” from his predecessor, may also have limited his room to...

Politics

9 d. ago Taiwan’s opposition KMT has an opportunity, but who will take charge?

After Taiwan’s main opposition Kuomintang survived two mass recall votes, the party’s supporters are hoping it can make more gains in next year’s local polls – and even potentially regain power in 2028. But the party is not celebrating. Instead it is consumed by anxiety over who will succeed Eric Chu Li-luan when he steps down as chairman in October, a role seen by some as a poisoned chalice. It is a volatile time in Taiwanese politics. The proportion of voters with a favourable view of the...

Politics

2 w. ago Lowrys Farm owner, My Jewelry slammed as 138,000 Hongkongers hit in data leaks

Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog has ruled that three retailers, including the local branch of a Japanese multinational company that owns fashion brands Lowrys Farm and “Niko and ”, have violated data protection rules in two cybersecurity breaches that compromised the private information of more than 138,000 people. Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data Ada Chung Lai-ling said investigations by her office discovered that Adastria had failed to activate any security measures provided by its software...

Events

3 w. ago Japanese idol Kenshin Kamimura convicted of molesting interpreter in Hong Kong

Japanese pop idol Kenshin Kamimura has been convicted of molesting an interpreter working with him during a fan event in Hong Kong earlier this year. West Kowloon Court on Wednesday found that Kamimura, 26, assaulted the woman by patting and stroking her thigh at a Mong Kok restaurant on March 2. He was fined HK$15,000 (US$1,910). The presiding magistrate dismissed the defence’s allegations targeting the prosecution witness’ credibility and ruled the Japanese star could not have genuinely...

Politics

3 w. ago Japanese idol Kenshin Kamimura convicted for molesting interpreter in Hong Kong

Japanese pop idol Kenshin Kamimura has been convicted for molesting an interpreter working with him during a fan event in Hong Kong earlier this year. West Kowloon Court on Wednesday found that Kamimura, 26, assaulted the woman by patting and stroking her thigh at a Mong Kok restaurant on March 2. He was fined HK$15,000 (US$1,910). The presiding magistrate dismissed the defence’s allegations targeting the prosecution witness’ credibility and ruled the Japanese star could not have genuinely...

Politics