SCMP’s Asia desk

North Korea has halted visits by foreign tourist groups to its Rason special economic zone in a decision that is said to reflect Pyongyang’s concerns over negative perceptions of the country generated by social media posts of influencers among such […]

The call by Azree Nazri, president of the Artificial Intelligence Society Malaysia, comes as Malaysia aims to use AI to help tackle a rise in commercial offences. Azree said police officers must understand the functions of generative AI and how

South Korea’s Constitutional Court ruled on Monday to reinstate Prime Minister Han Duck-soo’s powers, marking the latest twist in the country’s turbulent politics after his impeachment as acting president more than two months ago. Han took over as acting leader

A former surgeon was sentenced to death in Vietnam after he was found guilty of murdering and dismembering his mistress in a case that has shocked the country. A local court of Dong Nai province in southern Vietnam convicted Danh

The blobfish may not win any beauty contests, but it has taken the crown as New Zealand’s fish of the year. How the tide has turned for what was declared the world’s ugliest animal in 2013. The competition, organised by

The release of the latest video game in the blockbuster Assassin’s Creed series has ignited controversy in Japan, prompting Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to assert that the country “will not tolerate any acts” of cultural disrespect following backlash over its

Thailand’s authorities have pledged not to extend an arrangement that allows foreign pilots to be deployed on domestic flight routes after Thai pilots filed a lawsuit against the government last week. The country’s pilot association had expressed cautious optimism about

A British woman died in a fire on a dive boat off Koh Tao, Thailand, on Sunday. She was reportedly inside the toilet when the blaze started. Alexandra Clarke, 26, was aboard the Davy Jones Locker when she died, Surat

Businesses in South Korea have scrambled to pull down advertisements featuring scandal-hit actor Kim Soo-hyun, as the embattled star’s agency denied his relationship with a late actress when she was underage. Tous Les Jours, a bakery chain owned by one

Heartbroken Lady Gaga fans in Indonesia have blamed religious hardliners for driving the American pop sensation away from Jakarta after the 14-time Grammy Award winner revealed that Singapore was the only regional stop of her tour. The singer will perform