Seven top Asia stories, including South Korea's leading weapon and the Philippines' potential mineral wealth, are highlighted in this article. These stories shed light on topical issues in the region, from critical minerals to aging secrets. For more of the SCMP's reporting, consider subscribing.

We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Why Philippines struggles to tap its US$1 trillion mineral wealth As the Philippines forms partnerships with several countries to harness its potentially huge wealth of critical minerals, analysts have called for a coherent road map to develop the country’s mining...