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South China Morning Post
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
K-pop's Bain breaks taboos as ‘first' openly gay idol: ‘not an easy path'
Bain, a member of boy band Just B, has become the first South Korean K-pop idol to publicly come out as gay, a landmark move that challenges deep-rooted taboos in the country's entertainment industry – and, as he told This Week in Asia in an exclusive interview, one that came after intense personal struggle. Advertisement 'I am proud to be a part of the LGBTQ community,' the 23-year-old, whose real name is Song Byeong-hee, declared during a packed concert in Los Angeles on April 22, before dedicating a cover of Lady Gaga 's Born This Way to 'anyone still figuring it out'. Waving a rainbow flag as the crowd erupted into cheers, Bain added: 'You are seen, you are loved, and you were born this way.' The moment sent shock waves across the K-pop world, with fans flooding social media platforms with messages of admiration and solidarity. 'Wow! Hats off to Bain. People like him make K-pop even more wonderful. I love you,' wrote one fan on social media. Advertisement 'I admire your courage. I support you and I hope you shine even brighter!' wrote another.
South China Morning Post
02-05-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Mistrust of Malaysian healthcare among Orang Asli minority grows after teen's leprosy death
An indigenous minority group in Malaysia is experiencing profound grief and seeking answers after the death of an 18-year-old from leprosy after receiving public healthcare, highlighting the ongoing mistrust between the Orang Asli community and the government. Advertisement Numbering around 200,000 people, the Orang Asli – which roughly translates to Original People in Malay – are a loose coalition of 18 indigenous tribes living in villages across most states in the peninsula, primarily near national parks or forest reserves. But their struggle to uphold generational hunter-gatherer traditions, along with a deep understanding of jungle medicinal herbs, has largely excluded them from mainstream access to education, power and clean drinking water. They also face regular conflicts over land ownership due to government and business expansion into forested areas. A recent outbreak of leprosy in two Orang Asli villages in the southern state of Negeri Sembilan brought these issues back into stark focus, with the family of the 18-year-old victim questioning how she could have died from the disease. 'The girl did not die of leprosy. Nobody in this day and age dies of leprosy,' Colin Nicholas, founder of the Centre for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC), told This Week in Asia. Advertisement
South China Morning Post
01-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
How India is waiting in the wings to seize China-rejected Boeing planes
India 's airlines are circling dozens of Boeing jets rejected by Chinese carriers , in what aviation analysts describe as a rare convergence of geopolitics and market timing that could give Indian aviation a decisive edge amid global supply constraints and surging passenger demand. Advertisement The potential deal – led by Air India , which aims to acquire up to 10 of the 737 Max jets – could offer a windfall for Indian carriers facing capacity shortfalls and delivery delays from both Boeing and rival manufacturer Airbus. An industry executive familiar with the ongoing negotiations told This Week in Asia that talks between Indian operators and Boeing were at a 'serious stage, if not the final phase' of reaching an agreement. Air India declined to comment, but Boeing told This Week in Asia that the national carrier was potentially one of several options under consideration for the diverted aircraft. 'The deal appears quite bright at this stage, and it'll be a bounty for Indian aviation as it will add more planes with literally no waiting time. However, specifics need to be ironed out,' said the industry expert, who was not authorised to speak to the media. Advertisement Senior government officials in New Delhi are believed to be aware of the negotiations.
South China Morning Post
01-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Japan urged to reduce US reliance amid Trump uncertainty, and embrace Global South
The head of the influential Japan Association of Corporate Executives business lobby has urged the country and its companies to reduce their reliance on the US as their main trading partner and instead bolster supply chains with emerging and developing nations in the Global South Advertisement While economists who spoke to This Week in Asia broadly agreed that Japanese firms need to diversify their markets and partnerships, they cautioned that no other market can match the size and significance of the US – even amid the disruptions caused by President Donald Trump' s trade policies. In an interview with the Yomiuri newspaper published on Tuesday, association chairman Takeshi Niinami said it had become clear that the tariffs announced by Washington meant it was 'no longer the same as it used to be, and other nations should not rely on it'. As countries worldwide scrambled to reinforce their economies and forge new trade alliances, Japan 'must act immediately to enhance its competitiveness with a sense of urgency,' Niinami said. He added that the response from world markets to the on-again, off-again tariffs has reflected their chaotic implementation, increasing uncertainty in the global economy. Advertisement While some anticipate that the US may return to normality after Trump leaves office, Niinami noted that this was not guaranteed since Trump was elected by individuals who were angry because they believed that globalisation had cost them jobs, widened the gap between rich and poor, and exacerbated societal divisions.
South China Morning Post
01-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Japan's faith in US falters as ‘erratic' Trump raises doubts on security commitments: poll
Seventy-seven per cent of Japanese citizens do not believe the United States would come to their aid in a military crisis – a stark indication of how the turmoil of President Donald Trump 's first 100 days has eroded public confidence in the security pact between the two nations. Advertisement An Asahi newspaper poll conducted in the weeks following Trump's inauguration found that only 15 per cent of 3,000 Japanese people surveyed were confident that the US 'will protect' the nation in the event of a crisis. The paper reported on Monday that previous surveys indicated more than 40 per cent of respondents had confidence the US would uphold the 1960 Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. 'It is clear that there is more pessimism about the US under Trump in general,' said Stephen Nagy, a professor of international relations at Tokyo's International Christian University. 'But this is an extremely high number, and the Japanese government should be concerned by how many people here have such little faith in the alliance.' The results were not surprising, as the 'Trump administration continues to be erratic,' Nagy told This Week in Asia. Advertisement
