South Korean weapon outdoes US rival, Singapore’s secret to aging well: 7 Asia highlights

We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.1. Why Philippines struggles to tap its US$1 trillion mineral wealthAs the Philippines forms partnerships with several countries to harness its potentially huge wealth of critical minerals, analysts have called for a coherent road map to develop the country’s mining industry to globally competitive standards.2. South Korea’s cut-price interceptor outshines US Patriot in Iran war debutSouth Korea built the Cheongung-II to stop North Korean missiles. Now the system is stopping Iranian ones – and in doing so, has turned Seoul into one of the most sought-after defence suppliers on the planet.3. ‘I’ve never held my son’: the Rohingya families Malaysia keeps apartFarouk’s wife gave birth in a Malaysian immigration detention centre a day after the family was arrested. Photo: Ushar DanieleIn a quiet suburb of the Malaysian city of Klang, Farouk* scrolls through his phone, replaying videos of a toddler learning to walk, laugh and reach out to steady himself – milestone moments of a son whom he is forced to love through a screen.