In a lengthy report, Sixth Tone explores how emigration from China to Papua New Guinea has changed. The Oceanic country is a major destination for infrastructure projects, mining, and construction. While some immigrants are trying to integrate with the local community, others keep their distance fearful of robberies and holdups.

The South Korean government has banned travel to some Cambodian provinces following the killing of a young South Korean abducted and forced to work in an online scam centre. A South Korean delegation has asked Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet to repatriate its citizens still held in the compounds, while the US and the UK have imposed sanctions on Chen Zhi's Prince group, accused of links to criminal networks, which, despite Phnom Penh's statements, continue to thrive in Cambodia.

Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa's visit to New Delhi marks a new impetus in the strategic partnership between India and Mongolia. Indian Prime Minister Modi announced a training programme for Mongolian border forces, free e-visas, and deeper cultural exchanges based on Buddhism. The two countries are united by a shared desire to reduce trade and energy dependence on China and Russia.

The split between the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito, allies in the coalition that has governed Japan almost continuously since 1999, ushers in a new phase of political instability in Japan. The recently elected LDP leader, conservative Sanae Takaichi, now risks failing to secure the majority needed to become the country's first female prime minister. The opposition, led by the Constitutional Democratic Party, is trying to join forces to block her election.

China is the world's largest producer and consumers of tobacco, with 300 million smokers and over a million deaths per year. Dozens of provincial divisions have already tightened regulations, and the “Healthy China 2030” plan aims to reduce adult smokers to 20%. For months, Shanghai has been experimenting with bans even in outdoor sensitive areas. Meanwhile, civic activism is growing, and students are also pushing for smoke-free campuses.

Thailand’s National Security Council laid down the principles to manage the border crisis with Cambodia. Concerns remain over Chinese military support for Phnom Penh, even though Beijing downplays the issue. The murderer of Lim Kimya, a former Cambodian lawmaker who opposed Hun Sen, has been sentenced to life in prison. The reasons for the act are still unknown.