Asia News Wrap: Thailand gets a new prime minister, and more

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

Anutin Charnvirakul elected Thai PM

Thailand’s Anutin Charnvirakul was elected prime minister on Friday after easily winning a parliamentary vote, beating the candidate from the Shinawatra family's once-dominant ruling party to end a week of political deadlock. With strong opposition support, Anutin surpassed the majority of votes needed from the lower house to become prime minister, ending days of drama and a power struggle in which he outmaneuvered Thailand's most successful political party. 

The decisive blow was the court's dismissal of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Anutin’s victory came after reaching a deal with the opposition People's Party, the largest group in parliament, in which he promised to hold a referendum on amending the constitution and call an election within four months.

Nepali PM quits after protests kill 25

Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was forced to resign on Tuesday after protests turned violent, following the deaths of 25 people over two days. The unrest was sparked by a social media ban, which Oli's government reversed after police used tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters attempting to storm parliament. 

Nepal's Health Ministry confirmed that the death toll from the protests had risen to 25 by Wednesday, with 633 people injured. Burned vehicles and twisted metal were scattered around the parliament area. TV footage showed youths cleaning up damaged buildings and clearing debris from roads and near the parliament.

Japanese PM resigns 

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba resigned on Sunday, saying he was taking responsibility for tough elections that caused his ruling coalition to lose its majority in both houses of parliament amid voter anger over rising living costs. 

He told his Liberal Democratic Party, which has governed Japan for most of its post-war history, to hold an emergency leadership election. The party plans to hold the vote on October 4. "The LDP is facing its worst crisis since its founding," former foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Monday as he announced his plan to run for the leadership.

Bangladesh battles spread of dengue and chikungunya 

Bangladesh is facing a rapidly worsening public health crisis as mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya spread simultaneously, overwhelming hospitals and public health centers. 

According to the Directorate General of Health Services, the country has reported over 33,800 dengue cases and 132 deaths this year. In the first week of September alone, at least 10 people died, and more than 1,500 were admitted to hospitals with fever. Hospitals are struggling to manage the influx. At Dhaka Medical College Hospital, the country’s largest public hospital, wards are overflowing, with more than three times the number of patients they were designed to hold.

(Cover: Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul attends a press conference at the Bhumjaithai party's headquarters after the royal endorsement ceremony in Bangkok, September 5, 2025 /CFP)