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

Vietnam Assembly approves slashing of government

Vietnamese members of parliament attend the National Assembly's extraordinary session opening in Hanoi, February 12, 2025. /CFP

Vietnam's National Assembly approved a bureaucratic reform plan on Tuesday that will slash up to a fifth of government bodies as the country tries to cut costs and improve administrative efficiency. The number of government ministries will be reduced to 14 from the current 18. The new plan will take effect from March 1, the assembly said in a statement. More than 97 percent of the lawmakers present approved the plan.

The move would "not only save money for the state budget but, more importantly, boost the system's efficiency," General Secretary of Vietnam's ruling Communist Party To Lam told parliament.

The assembly also passed an amendment to a law on organizing government, paving the way for approval of the planned cut of the state apparatus, which includes four agencies and five state television channels.

South Korea's impeached president appears in court

South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol (L) attends the hearing of his impeachment trial over his short-lived imposition of martial law at the Constitutional Court in Seoul, February 20, 2025. /CFP

South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared at a Seoul court on Thursday for the first hearing of his criminal trial over insurrection charges, during which his lawyers demanded his release from jail. They argued that the investigation had been conducted illegally and that there was no risk of Yoon trying to destroy evidence. 

Prosecutors last month indicted Yoon after accusing him of leading an insurrection with his short-lived imposition of martial law on December 3, 2024.

Thailand mulls law effectively blocking locals from casinos

Gambling cubes and chips seen in front of a Thailand flag in this illustration taken on February 11, 2025. /Reuters

Thailand has proposed tough entry requirements for local gamblers in casinos as it plans to build a major gaming industry to boost tourism, a new draft regulation released on Monday showed. 

Thai nationals must have at least 50 million baht ($1.5 million) in fixed deposits for at least six months to be able to enter casinos, according to the draft issued by the Office of the Council of State. The requirements, which also include an entry fee capped at 5,000 baht (almost $150), will effectively block a large portion of the population, where per capita gross domestic product is about $7,300. 

The Bangkok Post wrote, "An entry fee as high as 5,000 baht would restrict casino access to upper middle class and wealthier Thais." Fresh public hearings for the new draft law are to be held up to March 1. 

India launches new space technology cooperation fund

India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C45, carrying Electromagnetic Spectrum Measurement satellite 'EMISAT' and 28 other satellites, lifts off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India, April 1, 2019. /Reuters

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) on Wednesday launched a 5 billion rupee ($57.58 million) fund to help early-stage space technologies go commercial and reduce reliance on imports as the country seeks to boost its market share in the global space industry. 

"The fund will offer financial support of up to 60 percent of the project cost for startups and medium and small businesses, and 40 percent for larger industries, with a maximum funding cap of 250 million rupees per project," said Pawan Goenka, chairman of IN-SPACe. 

The Technology Adoption Fund will also connect government bodies with the private sector, aiming to position India as a partner in the increasingly competitive market, the space regulator said in a statement. India opened its space industry to private investment last year as the government pushed for greater monetization of the sector, dominated by the state-run Indian Space Research Organisation.

Sri Lankan budget aims to resume debt repayments in 3 years

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake presents the 2025 budget in Parliament in Colombo, February 17, 2025. /CFP

Sri Lanka aims to transform its crisis-hit economy to prepare to resume debt repayments from 2028, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said on Monday as he unveiled the national budget that is seen as a key step towards durable, long-term growth. Dissanayake, who is also finance minister, was elected last year on his campaign promise of fixing the island nation's economy after a meltdown in 2022 that led to its first international debt default.

In a three-hour speech to parliament, Dissanayake pledged reforms aligned with conditions set out in a $2.9 billion International Monetary Fund bailout. "Never has Sri Lanka had a chance like this to catch up with the modern world," Dissanayake said. "Most countries go through what is known as a 'lost decade' following a sovereign default. However, we have achieved stability to a certain extent." 

He said he expected the economy to grow five percent this year and at about the same rate in the medium term. The government aimed to keep inflation low and exchange rates stable, he said.

(Cover: A man rides a motorcycle past the National Assembly building in Hanoi, Vietnam, February 18, 2025. /CFP)

Source: CGTN