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

Malaysia considers banning teenagers from having social media accounts

Malaysia’s Ministry of Communications is considering a possible ban on social media accounts for children under 13, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil. “Most platforms already do not allow children below 13 to have an account,” he said. “Unfortunately, if you go to any school and ask students under 13 whether they have TikTok accounts, many will say yes,” he told Parliament on Tuesday. He added that the ministry is exploring ways to more effectively enforce the age restriction, emphasizing that protecting children online is a shared responsibility among the government, social media platforms and parents. Fadzil mentioned that from January 1, 2022, to July 15, 2025, a total of 1,443 pieces of harmful or extreme content involving children were removed by service providers following requests from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission. 

Japan sees record high temperatures

Japan on Wednesday logged a record-high temperature of 41.2 Celsius in Tamba in the western prefecture of Hyogo, the weather agency said. Temperatures exceeded 35 degrees Celsius at 271 of the 914 observation points nationwide, with new highs recorded in 39 locations, the agency said. The previous record of 41.1 degrees Celsius was set in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, in August 2020, and in Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo, in July 2018.

Myanmar transfers power to interim government, lifts emergency ahead of election

Myanmar handed over power to an interim government on Thursday ahead of a planned election. A nationwide state of emergency was also lifted. The decision was announced after a meeting of the National Defence and Security Council. Under Myanmar's 2008 Constitution, emergency rules must be lifted before elections can be held, which the leadership had pledged to conduct in December. Zaw Min Tun, a government spokesperson, said, "The interim president and commander in chief, Min Aung Hlaing, said this upcoming six months are the time to prepare and host the election.”

New arrest warrant issued for former South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol

A South Korean court on Thursday issued a new arrest warrant for former president Yoon Suk-yeol, allowing prosecutors to forcibly bring him in for questioning after he refused to appear at his summons. The special counsel investigating Yoon and his wife, former first lady Kim Keon-hee, stated that “an arrest warrant has been issued today for former president Yoon Suk-yeol.” The team sought to take Yoon to their office for questioning over allegations that he and his wife, Kim Keon-hee, meddled in candidate nominations for the 2022 parliamentary by-elections. The detention warrant was issued after the former president twice defied the special counsel's summons earlier this week, citing health problems.

Intense rainstorms kill 44 in Beijing

Intense rainstorms have resulted in 44 deaths and left nine others missing in Beijing, according to a government press conference on Thursday. The fatalities occurred in Beijing's northern districts of Miyun and Yanqing, according to local authorities. In Miyun District, one of the worst-hit areas, a makeshift supply hub in Xizhuangzi Village was bustling on Wednesday morning, with stacks of bottled water, noodles, sausages and preserved eggs ready for dispatch. More than 60 tonnes of emergency supplies were distributed across Miyun on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday morning, four helicopters were deployed to continue airdropping relief materials. Repair crews were also dispatched to restore damaged communication and power lines. In Yanqing, more than 4,200 people were relocated. 488 rescue teams, comprising over 8,300 personnel, were dispatched to carry out relief efforts.

(Cover: FILE: The Facebook logo is seen on a cell phone. October 14, 2024 /CFP)