Asia Weekly

An astrologer who defied the junta

Well-known Burmese astrologer and long-time political prisoner Min Theinkha has died in Rangoon, says Agence France-Presse. He was 70. Before becoming an astrologer, Min Theinkha spent years fighting the ruling junta, only dropping his pro-democracy campaign after being imprisoned twice, from 1965-1970 and 1989-1992. Around 200 followers would visit his home on a daily basis to hear his readings of the stars, and he trained more than 10,000 astrology students from across Burma. Deeply religious, many Burmese use astrology to determine the best dates to hold momentous events such as weddings.

A fighter for Cambodian justice

The world knew Dith Pran as a "powerful voice for the ghosts of the Cambodian killing fields," says Newhouse News Service. Dith, a photojournalist for The New York Times whose ordeal in his native country was recreated in the 1984 film The Killing Fields, used that prominence to "tenaciously press for his people's rights," says the paper.

Basketball legend succumbs

A "household name" in China due to his exceptional basketball talent, Mu Tiezhu died of a heart attack in Beijing at the age of 59, reports Xinhua News Agency. As the legendary centre of his generation, Mu, at 2.28 metres, was the "main force behind the Chinese basketball team in the 1970s," leading his country to the Asian Basketball Championship in 1977 and a gold medal at the Asian Games in 1978. Mu held a domestic record of scoring 80 points in one game.

The man Singapore politicians loved to hate

Unrelenting Singaporean opposition politician Joshua B Jeyaretnam died before he had the chance to "fulfill his greatest dream of returning to parliament," writes Meera Vijayan in The Star (Malaysia). Faced with countless defamation lawsuits mounted by Singapore's undefeated People's Action Party.....

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‘Gag' manga pioneer who amused a nation

Japanese manga artist Fujio Akatsuka regularly made Japanese people laugh with his comical works, which had "vitality and a certain sense of liberation," says the Mainichi Daily News.

More than a reporter

Although a pivotal figure of Malaysian journalism, Abdul Samad Ismail who died at age of 84, was much more than simply a first-rate reporter, says the state-run Bernama news agency.

Heart attack fells Philippine director at 48

Veteran Philippine film and television director Gilbert "Manong" Perez has died at 48, reports ABS-CBN News. He had suffered a heart attack on July 1 while directing a scene for the upcoming television series A Time for Us, starring Jericho Rosales and Malaysian actress Carmen Soo, says the Sun.Star.

Taiwan's auto industry ‘Iron Lady'

Wu Shun-wen was a legend in the Taiwanese automobile industry and one of the island's wealthiest women, says Agence France-Presse. Also called Vivian, she died of heart and lung failure at 94. As chairwoman of Yulon Group Wu was known as the Iron Lady of the auto industry, having taken over the business after the death of her husband Yen Ching-ling in 1981, says Bloomberg.

Bankruptcy drove actor to suicide

The end of South Korean actor-turned-businessman Ahn Jae-hwan's life reads like one of the TV dramas he starred in. It is believed the 36-year-old Tears of Diamonds star took his own life after mounting pressure from investors became unbearable, says Bae Ji-sook in The Korea Times.