Singapore’s Hormuz stance, Manila-Hong Kong housing gap: 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. Singapore’s refusal to negotiate over Hormuz creates waves in MalaysiaSingapore’s pushback against negotiating with Iran over access to the Strait of Hormuz has triggered a backlash from Malaysian politicians, who saw its statements as “lecturing” them on how best to secure safe passage through the vital waterway.2. Manila vs Hong Kong: the 2 sides of Asia’s housing affordability crisisChildren walk through a flooded area in Baseco, one of the biggest slums in Manila, the Philippines. Photo: AFPHong Kong and Singapore routinely top global rankings of unaffordable cities. Yet it is the residents of Manila, Colombo and Yangon who are far more likely to tell pollsters they cannot afford shelter.3. UAE pulls US$3.5 billion from Pakistan after Iran war mediationDays before Pakistan had helped to secure a ceasefire in the Iran war this week, the United Arab Emirates was seeking repayment of a US$3.5 billion deposit from Islamabad’s central bank.4. ‘Making a racket in Chinese’: Japan’s cherry blossom season stirs cultural riftPeople gather for cherry blossom viewing, also known as “hanami”, at Kinshi Park in Tokyo on March 30. Photo: AFPJapan’s famed cherry blossom season has become the latest battleground in a broader debate over overtourism, etiquette and how foreign visitors are portrayed when trouble flares.5. What Pakistani jets in Saudi Arabia mean for Gulf security in Iran warPakistan Air Force’s JF-17 fighter jets fly past during a multinational naval exercise near Karachi in February 2025. Photo: AFPPakistan’s deployment of an air force contingent at a base on Saudi Arabia’s Gulf coast, coming as it mediated talks between Iran and the US, could force Tehran to reconsider its strategy of attacking critical energy infrastructure in the kingdom, analysts say.6. Singapore’s Shanmugam slams Bloomberg’s ‘venomous’ emails in defamation hearingSingapore ministers Tan See Leng (left) and K. Shanmugam are suing Bloomberg for defamation. Photo: Facebook/HandoutA defamation lawsuit filed by Singapore cabinet ministers K Shanmugam and Tan See Leng against financial news outlet Bloomberg on Tuesday opened with heated exchanges over an article that mentioned their personal property transactions.7. Japan’s deportation drive strikes fear into asylum seekers, foreign residentsJapan’s tougher deportation drive is deepening fear among asylum seekers and long-term foreign residents, rights groups say, warning that the government’s push to remove more undocumented migrants is clashing with its duty to protect refugees.Further Reading