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Punch the orphan macaque is outgrowing his orangutan plushie and making friends

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BTS fans stream to Seoul café, restaurant that once served as bases for the K-pop superstars

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Thailand’s "Death Fest" invites visitors to embrace mortality

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From The Asian Reporter, V36, #4 (April 6, 2026), page 2.

Man arrested after climbing into Moo Deng’s enclosure

BANGKOK (AP) — A man has been arrested after he was caught climbing into the enclosure of Moo Deng, the adorable pygmy hippo who became a social media sensation, zoo officials said. The Thai man allegedly entered the enclosure while a keeper was away and no other visitors were around, the Khao Kheow Open Zoo’s director, Narongwit Chodchoy, told The Associated Press. Security footage widely shared online shows a man wearing a black beanie, sunglasses, a green tank top, and brown shorts approaching Moo Deng and her mother Jona while holding a tablet, apparently recording or taking photos. The man remained inside the enclosure for a minute or two before staff noticed him, Narongwit said, adding that he did not attempt to flee while the zoo called for police. Moo Deng soared to stardom shortly after she was born in 2024, largely thanks to a keeper who shared adorable pictures and videos of the baby hippo on social media. Since then, she has drawn large crowds from Thailand and abroad who want to witness her charm in person and shoot photos and videos of her cute moments for themselves. Police have initially charged the man with trespassing, but the investigation is still ongoing and Narongwit said the zoo intends to pursue all available legal action. Police did not identify the suspect. The man has been released on bail, Narongwit said. He said Moo Deng and Jona were safe as the man did not try to touch them. In a statement posted on the zoo’s official Facebook page, it said both animals appeared slightly startled by the encounter and would be monitored closely by a veterinarian. The zoo also urged visitors to "strictly follow all rules and instructions from staff for the safety of both themselves and the wildlife." The Khao Kheow Open Zoo, which is about 60 miles southeast of Bangkok, sits on almost 2,000 acres of land and is home to more than 2,000 animals.

Cambodia advances online scam center law

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodian lawmakers unanimously adopted a new law targeting online scam operations with up to life in prison, following a government pledge to shut them down by the end of April. All 112 members of parliament present voted to approve the legislation, which marks Cambodia’s first legal framework specifically aimed at a lucrative, illicit industry that has transformed the country into a global hub for cybercrime. The scam operations typically involve bogus investment schemes and feigned romances that collectively extort tens of billions of dollars from victims around the world every year. Justice Minister Keut Rith noted that thousands of people, especially from other Asian nations, are lured with fraudulent job offers and forced to work in scam centers in conditions of near-slavery. Keut Rith told lawmakers that these crimes threaten public security and significantly damage Cambodia’s global reputation. The legislation awaits review by the senate and final approval by King Norodom Sihamoni. Directing what’s described as a technology fraud site would carry five to 10 years in prison and fines reaching $250,000. For cases involving human trafficking, illegal confinement, or violence, the prison term is 10 to 20 years. If a worker dies, as is often associated with failed escape attempts, offenders face 15 to 30 years or even life imprisonment. Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith, who leads the Commission for Combating Online Scams, recently announced that authorities have targeted 250 suspected locations since July, successfully shutting down 200. He said the enforcement efforts resulted in 79 legal cases against nearly 700 ringleaders and associates. Over the same period, the government has repatriated nearly 10,000 scam center workers from 23 countries. Experts are skeptical. Jacob Sims, a visiting fellow at Harvard University’s Asia Center, pointed out in response to Chhay Sinarith’s remarks that past crackdowns often failed because they left financial and protection networks intact, allowing criminal operations to quickly start again.

Japan, Indonesia to boost energy security cooperation

TOKYO (AP) — Japan and resource-rich Indonesia have agreed to deepen economic ties and cooperation in energy security as the two Asian countries face growing uncertainty over oil and gas supplies prompted by the war in the Middle East. "In the wake of the Iran situation, the importance of resources and energy security is being recognized globally," said Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in a joint news conference after holding talks with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Tokyo. The details of the agreement are yet to be made public. The two countries signed a deal this month to boost economic collaboration on critical minerals and nuclear energy, Takaichi said. Under the memorandum signed on March 15, the two sides will cooperate in building a new nuclear power plant, possibly in Indonesia’s West Kalimantan, using Japanese expertise, with potential funding by development banks, according to a document released by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry. Probowo also said his country invited Japanese cooperation in processing critical minerals such as rare earth elements, as well as in renewables and nuclear power. Japan, despite the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, is now promoting nuclear energy and seeking to expand cooperation with Southeast Asian nations as part of its zero-carbon emissions initiative. Indonesia is looking to nuclear power to meet surging energy demands. Indonesia last year announced plans to build two small modular reactors on a southern Indonesian island by 2034. Officials there say Canada and Russia have issued formal cooperation proposals. Takaichi and Prabowo also agreed to deepen cooperation to help stabilize supply chains, including liquefied natural gas (LNG), Japan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Resource-scarce Japan is among the world’s top importers of LNG.

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