Asia News Wrap: Storm Wipha kills 3 in Veitnam, and more

Here are a few stories from around Asia you may have missed this week.

Tropical storm Wipha kills 3, displaces 100,000 in Vietnam

Heavy rains caused by tropical storm Wipha have resulted in at least three deaths and one person missing due to severe flooding in Nghe An, a central Vietnamese province. Wipha, the sixth typhoon this year, made landfall in Vietnam on Tuesday after impacting Hong Kong, China, and increasing monsoon rains and flooding in the Philippines. Flooding from Tropical Storm Wipha left hundreds of families stranded in villages across central Vietnam on Wednesday, according to authorities. Approximately 12,500 people were evacuated from high-risk areas over the weekend ahead of the storm. The typhoon damaged around 720 houses and submerged 3,848 others across northern and central Vietnam. Nghe An was the hardest hit, with over 9,000 households experiencing prolonged power outages. Authorities reported that the Ban Ve hydropower plant, the largest in the region, was forced to release water from its reservoir.

Cash handout for all adults in Malaysia: PM Anwar Ibrahim

Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced on Wednesday a cash handout for all adult citizens and a promise to lower fuel prices.

The new measures are meant to address growing complaints about the rising cost of living. The prime minister said. In celebration of Merdeka Day (Independence Day) on August 31, all Malaysians aged 18 and above will each receive a one-off payment of RM100 ($24).

He said this assistance will be available for use from August 31 until December 31 and can be spent on essential goods at more than 4,100 stores across Malaysia.

Participating retailers include major supermarkets as well as retail shops in every district in the country. Ibrahim's government has carried out a number of measures to boost revenue and productivity in 2025, including a minimum wage hike, increased electricity tariffs on heavy power users, and new sales taxes on imported fruits and luxury goods.

Japan temple's foreigner-only entrance fee sparks criticism

A temple in southwestern Japan is drawing criticism for charging admission fees exclusively to foreign tourists. Nanzoin Temple in Fukuoka Prefecture, famous for its 41-meter-long reclining Buddha statue, has been imposing a 300 yen ($2) entrance fee on foreign visitors for the past two months, citing the need to address nuisance behavior.

Security guards confirm verbally, asking questions like "Are you from Japan?". Kakujo Hayashi, the temple's head monk, said the number of foreign guests has surged since Japan lifted COVID-19 restrictions, bringing more littering, drinking and fireworks use on the grounds, as well as misuse of bathroom facilities. "We want someone to take responsibility for the extra costs" of cleaning and security, said Hayashi, adding, "It is not discrimination.” Japanese far-right parties had ramped up their anti-foreigner rhetoric during the recent election campaign. Foreign workers “disrespect Japanese culture, ignore the rules, assault Japanese people, and steal their belongings,” Naoki Hyakuta, leader of the right-wing Conservative Party of Japan, said ahead of the election.

Torrential rain kills dozens in Pakistan's Punjab

Torrential rains in Pakistan's Punjab province have killed at least 63 people and injured 290 in 24 hours since downpours started on Wednesday morning.

Most of the victims were crushed by collapsing buildings, while the rest either drowned or were electrocuted, according to the National Disaster Management Authority.

Authorities in the city of Rawalpindi, next to the capital Islamabad, declared Thursday a public holiday to keep people at home, while those living near a swelling river that runs through the city have been asked to evacuate.

The latest deaths take the nationwide toll to nearly 180 since the monsoon started in late June. The floods have closed several expressways throughout Punjab and either cancelled or delayed dozens of flights.

On Thursday, the province's Chief Minister, Maryam Nawaz said an emergency had been declared in a number of areas. "Government institutions are working with utmost effort," she wrote in a post on X, urging residents to abide by safety guidelines.

At least 14 killed and more than 100,000 displaced as Thailand-Cambodia troops clash

At least 14 people were killed and more than 100,000 people have fled the area in what is seen as the bloodiest border fighting between Thailand and Cambodia in a decade. A long-running border dispute erupted into intense fighting with jets, artillery, tanks, and ground troops on Thursday.

"We have used air power against military targets as planned," Thai army deputy spokesman Richa Suksuwanon told reporters. Thailand also closed its border with Cambodia.

"Cambodian forces have conducted sustained bombardment utilizing heavy weapons, field artillery and BM-21 rocket systems," the Thai military said in a July 25 statement. "Thai forces have responded with appropriate supporting fire in accordance with the tactical situation."

The skirmishes came after Thailand recalled its ambassador to Cambodia on Wednesday and said it would expel Cambodia’s envoy in Bangkok, after a second Thai soldier in the space of a week lost a limb to a land mine that Bangkok alleged had been laid recently in the disputed area.

China is deeply concerned about the current development of the border clash between Thailand and Cambodia and hopes that the two sides will resolve the issue properly through dialogue and consultation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a news briefing on Thursday.

(Cover:  A person on a motorbike wading through a flooded street in Thanh Hoa, about 150 kilometers south of Hanoi, Vietnam, 22 July 2025. /CFP)