The country’s finance minister, Taro Aso, said he was sorry if anyone found “unpleasant” his remark that it was “problematic that people did not have enough babies.”
Author: MIKE IVES
At Least 28 Haitian Migrants Dead After Their Boat Sinks Off Bahamas
An official said the ship appeared to be an American vessel engaged in people-smuggling.
Data Breaches Dent Singapore’s Image as a Tech Innovator
Experts say security concerns are a pitfall for countries that are pushing to make vast troves of data more accessible and centralized.
Singapore Says Records for 14,200 H.I.V. Patients, Held by an American, Were Leaked
The medical records were illegally disclosed online, the Ministry of Health said, in the second major breach of Singapore’s health records since July.
A Thai Singer Wore a Swastika. Was It Prejudice or Ignorance?
The episode is one of several Nazi-related controversies to crop up in Asia, where Holocaust awareness is patchy, swastikas resemble an ancient symbol, and some see Hitler as a model of strength.
Too Ugly to Be Saved? Singapore Weighs Fate of Its Brutalist Buildings
A few landmarks of so-called Brutalist architecture are on the verge of being sold to private developers, prompting a last-ditch scramble by enthusiasts to have the buildings protected.
A Rogue Mascot Causes Headaches for a Japanese City
Chiitan, an unauthorized mascot for the city of Susaki, raised eyebrows with its non-child-friendly stunts, like swinging a weed whacker and tipping over a car.
Why Vietnam Appeals as Possible Host for Trump-Kim Summit
Vietnam is a former enemy of South Korea and the United States. But it has become a strategic ally and robust trading partner for both countries.
Mayor in Poland Is Stabbed on Stage at Charity Event
Pawel Adamowicz, the mayor of Gdansk, survived the attack but remained in what a doctor called “a very serious condition.”
Malaysia’s King, an Unusual Monarch, Abruptly Leaves His Job
Malaysian kings only serve five-year terms, but Sultan Muhammad V lasted only two years, prompting widespread speculation about his departure.