The Two Deluges: Flood, Corruption, and Youth Uprising in the Philippines

Enough is enough. That was the resounding cry in the Philippines as a massive rally erupted on Sunday. Sparked by revelations of large-scale corruption in flood-control projects, the protest has become more than just outrage over stolen funds — it’s a generational reckoning, with young Filipinos demanding accountability and systemic change.

Reporting Taiwan: Lessons from a Kiwi Intern at TaiwanPlus

During her three-month internship at TaiwanPlus in Taipei, Asia Media Centre’s Media Intern, Lauren Pattemore, immersed herself in Taiwan’s vibrant politics and culture. From grilling visiting parliamentarians at press conferences to profiling a 99-year-old athlete, she gained a front-row seat to the island’s newsroom energy, people-to-people ties, and daily rhythms of life.

What interesting stories about our region are being reported? Here's a roundup from the past week:

TYPHOON BURSTS TAIWAN LAKE AS STRONGEST STORM BARRELS TOWARDS CHINA | BBC

Two people have died in eastern Taiwan and scores more are trapped or missing after a super typhoon caused a mountain lake to burst its banks, fire officials said. The barrier lake, formed by previous landslides, broke on Tuesday afternoon, sending water surging into the nearby township of Guangfu in Hualien county.

Rescuers from across Taiwan are heading to the area. Super Typhoon Ragasa is the strongest storm of 2025 and is now bearing down on China's southern coast.

TARIFF HIT LOOMS OVER MEETING OF U.S. TRADE REP WITH SOUTHEAST ASIAN COUNTERPARTS | REUTERS

Hefty U.S. tariffs imposed on Southeast Asian countries will loom over a meeting between U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and his regional counterparts in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday that is meant to discuss a trade and investment agreement.
Southeast Asian countries rely heavily on exports to drive economic growth, and there is great concern about the impact of the U.S. tariffs, which have been set at 19% and 20% for most of the region. Laos and Myanmar have been hit with a 40% rate, while Singapore has a 10% tariff.

INDIA’S TECH SECTOR FEARS IMPACT OF TRUMP’S US$100,000 H-1B VISA ON US MARKET | SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST

US President Donald Trump’s announcement of an up to fifty-fold increase in the cost of skilled worker permits under the H-1B visa programme has rattled India’s tech industry, which has provided highly qualified manpower and services to American enterprises for decades.
On Friday, Washington announced that the H-1B fee would be raised to US$100,000, from a range of US$2,000 to US$5,000 previously, based on the manpower strength of the company applying for the visa.

NZ’S AMATEUR FOOTBALL LEAGUE IS ATTRACTING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS IN OFFSHORE BETTING | STUFF

New Zealand's national football league has become a magnet for offshore betting, raising alarm bells for sport integrity experts. Figures obtained by RNZ reveal $212 million was wagered on the New Zealand men's domestic football league in 2024 through overseas sports betting platforms - the majority of them based in Asia.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has stepped down after back-to-back election defeats left his party weakened. Come October, the country will choose its fourth leader in five years.

Come October, Japan will choose its fourth PM in five years.

On September 7, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced that he would step down in response to mounting pressure within his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

Ishiba has stepped down after less than a year in office, following two major election defeats that left his LDP without a majority in either house of parliament. According to the BBC, his colleagues were preparing to vote him out, so his resignation came before the inevitable.

Ishiba’s downfall is quick but not unusual in Japan. As Al Jazeera reported, many inside the LDP felt he was too soft on China and struggled to manage relations with the United States. For voters, the bigger issue was the rising cost of living. Prices have gone up, wages have not kept pace, and a weaker yen has made people feel poorer.

According to reports, part of Ishiba’s trouble was his decision to call a snap election soon after becoming prime minister in 2024. He said it was important for the people to judge his government. They did - handing the LDP its worst result in over a decade. When the party was defeated again in July’s upper house election, Ishiba’s position became impossible to defend.

Who next?

The race to succeed him is already taking shape.

Shinjiro Koizumi, the agriculture minister and son of a popular former PM, is seen as a fresh and media-friendly option. Sanae Takaichi, a staunch conservative, would be Japan’s first woman prime minister if elected.

Yoshimasa Hayashi  the experienced chief cabinet secretary, offers steadiness and experience but less flair.

Continue to read the full story on the website.

-Asia Media Centre

Spice Beta 2025 - Thailand

The Asia Media Centre is offering four New Zealand-based journalists the opportunity to attend the Splice Beta 2025 Media Conference in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

This opportunity will support a small delegation of journalists, web editors, and media startups to join the Splice Beta in November 2025. The conference is the only event in Asia that brings together the full media ecosystem — including startup founders, investors, journalists, NGOs, CEOs, and academics.

Attending will give New Zealand journalists the chance to:

• Build and expand professional networks across Asia
• Learn about innovative media models and emerging practices
• Exchange insights with peers working at the cutting edge of media

Travel dates: November 24-29, 2025

🗓️ Applications close on 1 October 2025

👉 More information here

For applications. Email your CV and Expression of Interest (EOI) letter to AMC Media Adviser Carla Teng-Westergaard at cteng@asianz.org.nz

Media Travel Grant

Asia Media Centre Media Travel Grants support New Zealand journalists to travel independently in Asia to research and produce stories that bring greater understanding of the region to New Zealand audiences.

🗓️ Applications close on 20 October 2025

Grants are awarded competitively to applicants with a clear, well-defined story plan. Strong applications include:

• Details of proposed features and interviewees
• Confirmed media outlets for publication
• Supporting letters from editors or producers
• Estimated costs and a draft itinerary

The grants are offered through the Asia Media Centre, established to strengthen New Zealand media coverage of Asia.

👉 More information here

👉 Apply now

Media internships

The Asia Media Centre’s Media Internship Programme is back! This initiative gives New Zealand senior journalism students, recent graduates and early-career journalists the chance to gain first-hand experience in leading newsrooms across Asia.

Internships run for 6 weeks to 3 months, usually between November and June (with flexibility to arrange dates directly with the host newsroom).

🗓️ Applications close on 13 October 2025

Explore the host newsrooms and learn more about each:

• Deccan Herald (India)
• Sri Lanka Rūpavāhinī Corporation TV (Sri Lanka)
• Thai PBS (Thailand)
• Bangkok Post (Thailand)
• Rappler (Philippines)
• The Philippine Star (Philippines)
• Taipei Times (Taiwan)
• TaiwanPlus (Taiwan)
• JoongAng Daily (South Korea)

👉 More information here

👉 Apply now