Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja was sentenced today for making donations to former first lady Kim Keon Hee. Yun Young-ho, former head of the Unification Church’s global headquarters, was also given six months. Critics slam the political nature of the sentence and call for religious freedom.
The success of artists like Yoasobi and Fujii Kaze has prompted the government to approve a bill that also recognises royalties for singers, musicians, and producers. This change aligns Tokyo with international standards and could generate billions of yen for artists. Concerns remain about the costs to venues, while a three-year preparatory phase is planned.
AsiaNews will host an evening of reflection to mark the World Day of Prayer for the Church in China. The event on May 21, in Milan will rediscover the testimony of Fr Robert Greene, a Maryknoll missionary imprisoned in Guangxi in the 1950s, and highlight the challenges faced by today’s Catholic communities in Beijing.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te responded to US President Donald Trump's statement that he is “not looking to have somebody go independent”, made after the summit with Xi Jinping in Beijing. Concerns are growing in Taiwan about Washington’s possible "transactional" approach, with Beijing leveraging these concerns to promote political reunification.
Following the scandal involving the abbot of the Shaolin Temple, a new storm has erupted with Hu Chenglin, president of the Shaanxi Taoist Association – the cradle of this ancient religious tradition deeply rooted in China – being publicly accused. All this despite the emphasis on ‘moral rigour’ in the government’s directives to religions. But when faith is reduced to a ritualised political exercise, the exchange of interests becomes an even stronger temptation.
The US president's long-awaited visit to the Chinese capital was marked by optimistic tones, but no joint statement on what the two leaders discussed. There is talk of deals on soybeans and new Boeing aircraft, but competition over artificial intelligence remains. Chinese analysts stress Xi Jinping’s notion of “constructive strategic stability”.
The water management project for the Himalayan river is back at the centre of discussions between Bangladesh, China and India. The Bangladeshi government, currently led by Tarique Rahman, is seeking support from Beijing, reigniting tensions with New Delhi over water resources and Chinese influence in the region. At stake are 1.5 million tonnes of rice a year that Dhaka loses due to poor irrigation.
Kim Yong-beom, President Lee's chief of staff for policy, calls for sharing excess tax revenue from business giants like Samsung and SK hynix, generated by global chip demand. The proposal was inspired by Norway's sovereign wealth fund based on oil revenues. Kim warns that without it, inequality will worsen. After markets react negatively to the proposal, presidential office says Kim’s views are personal.
The activist is currently held at a detention centre over her visa. The UNHCR office in the Thai capital had granted her protection status. Hong Kong authorities accuse her of "subversion" under the territory’s national security law. Her "crime" is membership in the Hong Kong Parliament group of exiles.
The Seoul Welfare Foundation is launching a digital transformation programme in six facilities, introducing artificial intelligence and robotic assistance to reduce staff workload and improve elderly safety. The initiative is part of South Korea's broader effort to address its aging population and growing shortage of caregivers.
Malaysian activists criticise what they describe as the country’s “selective” approach to humanitarian issues. Support for Muslims in the Middle East is counterbalanced by silence regarding violations committed in Myanmar and by China. The call to maintain “moral consistency” in the fight for causes and freedoms.
Data from provincial statistical yearbooks reveal a crisis in the Chinese capital that is not just demographic. While the percentage of residents aged 20 to 29 was higher than the national average in the past, it now lags behind other metropolises like Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Chengdu. Only 42 per cent of Peking University graduates remain in a city where small and medium-sized businesses are declining and housing prices are sky-high.
In a joint appeal, the bishops of Nagasaki, Hiroshima, Seattle, and Santa Fe talk about the fate of the treaty, which they see as “frayed” and at risk of collapse. While the UN review conference is currently underway, the world seems to be moving in the opposite direction. The prelate speak out against the lack of commitment to disarmament. Citing Leo XIV, they say that deterrence “is based on the irrationality of relations between nations.”
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