Top Asian News 4:38 a.m. GMT

Man who attacked Japan’s ex-Prime Minister Kishida convicted and sentenced to 10 years, reports say

TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese court on Wednesday convicted a man who threw a homemade pipe bomb at Japan’s former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at a 2023 campaign event, sentencing him to 10 years in prison, according to local media reports. Ryuji Kimura, 25, was charged with attempted murder for the April 15, 2023 attack on Kishida at a small fishing port in the western city of Wakayama, as well as four other charges including violations of laws on explosives and other weapons. In the ruling, the Wakayama District Court sentenced Kimura to 10 years in prison, according to Japan’s public television and other media, without specifying which of the five charges he was found guilty of.

Chinese navy helicopter flies within 10 feet of Philippine patrol plane over disputed shoal

OVER THE SCARBOROUGH SHOAL, South China Sea (AP) — A Chinese navy helicopter flew within 10 feet (3 meters) of a Philippine patrol plane on Tuesday in a disputed area of the South China Sea, prompting the Filipino pilot to warn by radio: “You are flying too close, you are very dangerous.” The Chinese helicopter was attempting to force a Cessna Caravan turboprop plane belonging to the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources out of what China claims is its airspace over the hotly disputed Scarborough Shoal off the northwestern Philippines. An Associated Press journalist and other invited foreign media on the plane witnessed the tense 30-minute standoff as the Philippine plane pressed on with its low-altitude patrol around Scarborough with the Chinese navy helicopter hovering close above it or flying to its left in cloudy weather.

Leading Myanmar opposition organization blames local resistance group for killing of Catholic priest

BANGKOK (AP) — The main organization coordinating resistance to Myanmar’s military government says its forces have arrested 10 members of a local resistance group suspected in the killing of a Catholic village priest last week in the country’s northwest. Father Donald Martin Ye Naing Win, 44, is believed to be the first Catholic priest targeted for killing in the civil war that erupted after the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi four years ago. He served in a village church in Shwebo township in Sagaing region, a stronghold of the armed resistance. The Home Affairs and Immigration Ministry of the shadow National Unity Government, the leading opposition organization, said in a statement Monday that the suspects were captured by the Shwebo branch of its armed People’s Defense Force and other local resistance groups on Friday, the day of the killing.

Cook Islands gives some detail of its China deal that has upset close partner New Zealand

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The South Pacific country of Cook Islands on Tuesday unveiled the details of a deal with China to boost cooperation on matters including mining seabed minerals, after the pact provoked a rare diplomatic clash with the nation’s chief benefactor, New Zealand, and protests at home. The public quarrel between New Zealand and Cook Islands — which share a passport, a military and constitutional ties — was a victory for Beijing’s efforts to woo Pacific leaders and a blow to Western countries’ efforts to counter China’s sway, analysts said. The deal does not mention joint security initiatives, unlike others China has made with small South Pacific nations.

More than 150 false killer whales stranded on a beach in Australia’s Tasmania state

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — More than 150 false killer whales are stranded on a remote beach on Australia’s island state of Tasmania, officials said on Wednesday. Marine experts including veterinarians were at the scene near Arthur River on Tasmania’s northwest coast, a Department of Natural Resources and Environment statement said. Of the 157 beached whales, only 90 appeared to still be alive, department liaison officer Brendon Clark said. A few hours earlier, the department had said 136 had survived. The inaccessibility of the beach, ocean conditions and challenges to getting specialist equipment to the remote area were complicating a response. Authorities had yet to determine on Wednesday if any of the whales — which can weigh from 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds) to 3 metric tons (3.3 U.S.

Beauty market shifts to target the young at heart in a rapidly aging Japan

TOKYO (AP) — Yoshiko Abe is about to turn 89, but that hasn’t stopped her from going to the gym every day and trying the free-of-charge makeup course at her housing complex. “It was really helpful,” she said, all smiles and glowing after putting on foundation and pink lipstick, something she hadn’t done in years. Japan is the fastest-aging society in the world, where more than a quarter of its population is 65 and older, at 36 million people. In about a decade, the ratio will be one in three. No wonder the young-at-heart, like Abe, is a growing target for Japan Inc.

Japan’s exports and imports grew in January, as tariff worries loom

TOKYO (AP) — Japan recorded a trade deficit of 2.76 trillion yen ($18 billion) in January, the Finance Ministry reported Wednesday, as worries continue to grow about looming tariffs from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Japan also had a trade deficit, which measures the value of exports minus imports, a year ago, but the amount rose 60% last month from January 2024. Exports totaled 7.86 trillion yen ($52 billion) last month, up 7% on-year, rising in a variety of products including machinery, medical goods and ships. Imports, totaling 10.62 trillion yen ($70 billion), rose 16.7% from the same month last year.

Vietnam’s strict new social media regulations strangle free speech, report says

BANGKOK (AP) — New government regulations on social media in Vietnam give authorities increased powers to prevent dissent and control the news, along with the tools to more easily track down critics and silence them, according to an analysis released Tuesday. Vietnam’s authorities implemented “Decree 147” in December, tightening regulations on social media companies like Facebook, X, YouTube and TikTok in a bid to further stifle criticism, said Ben Swanton, one of the authors of the report by The 88 Project, a group focused on human rights and free speech issues in Vietnam. “Any challenge to the government and the Communist Party, any significant challenge to their official narrative of events, is perceived by them as a situation that is getting out of control,” he said in an interview from Thailand.

Japan adopts new carbon reduction targets as it plans to boost nuclear and renewable energy by 2040

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s government adopted on Tuesday new decarbonization targets aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 70% from 2013 levels over the next 15 years, approving a renewed energy plan to help meet the goal. This is part of an updated climate plan expected to help the country achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Here is what to know about the Japanese climate goals: Under the new climate plan adopted by the Cabinet, Japan aims to reduce carbon emissions by 60% by 2035 from the 2013 levels, and by 73% by 2040. Japan has previously set a 46% reduction target for 2030.

Cambodia passes bill toughening penalties for denial of Khmer Rouge genocide

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodian lawmakers on Tuesday unanimously approved a bill that will toughen penalties for anyone denying that atrocities were carried out in the late 1970s under the rule of the communist Khmer Rouge, whose brutal policies are blamed for the deaths of 1.7 million people. A statement issued by the National Assembly said that all 115 members voted in favor of the law, which was said to be intended to prevent the recurrence of such events and to provide justice for victims of the Khmer Rouge. The seven-article bill makes violation of its terms punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of between $2,500 and $125,000.