Saturday, 1 Nov 2025

Stay ahead of Asia’s biggest stories. Get our weekly news digest delivered to your inbox – it’s free!

Economy
EconomyShow More

Deloitte China commits HKD500 million and 1,000 hires to power Hong Kong fintech, AI and capital markets
A strategic bet on Hong Kong growthDeloitte China will add about 1,000…

November 1, 2025

Hong Kong opens visa free short term entry to five more professional sectors, total now 17
Hong Kong widens short term entry for visiting professionalsHong Kong will broaden…

November 1, 2025

China’s Secret Stockpiles: A Strategic Success
Inside a Quiet Buildout of ReservesFrom the air, a cluster of giant…

November 1, 2025

Indian Refiners Face Higher Costs as Russian Oil Imports Decline
Sanctions squeeze forces a rethink in Indian refiningIndia’s refining sector is moving…

October 31, 2025

Cheap Fares Keep China’s Big Three Airlines Under Pressure Despite Summer Profit Boost
Cheap tickets spur travel, but margins stay thinInternational airfares for Chinese travelers…

October 31, 2025
Education
EducationShow More

Record School Absences in Japan Prompt Calls for Educational Reform
Why the absenteeism spike matters nowJapan has recorded a new high in…

November 1, 2025

China mobilizes retired teachers to narrow the urban rural education gap
Why retired teachers are heading to county schoolsWhen many peers were easing…

November 1, 2025

Mandarin classes get green light in national secondary schools, 200 teachers planned for 2025
A policy tied to demand, access, and teacher supplyMalaysia has taken a…

November 1, 2025

Hundreds Fall Ill in Indonesia After Free School Meals
Indonesia free meal program faces a safety reckoningHundreds of students in Indonesia…

October 31, 2025

Hong Kong Universities Attracting More Students Than Tsinghua
Why Hong Kong is drawing record student interestHong Kong's universities are experiencing…

October 31, 2025
Entertainment
EntertainmentShow More

How Hong Kong Can Reclaim Its Halloween Hub Status
Why Halloween still matters for Hong KongHalloween has become a reliable spark…

October 31, 2025

Candles debut as Starbucks Japan rolls out Christmas 2025 goods and drinkware
Holiday cheer lands in Japan with candles and collectiblesStarbucks Japan is ringing…

October 31, 2025

How Osaka Expo Mascot Myakumyaku Went From Creepy to Beloved Icon
From backlash to breakout starWhen Osaka set its sights on hosting a…

October 27, 2025

Why Gen Z in South Korea Is Embracing Retro K Dramas
Why the past on screen feels safe right nowA growing number of…

October 27, 2025

Hong Kong Unlocks Historic Movie Sites for Visitors
Why cinema sites are opening their doorsHong Kong is turning its own…

October 20, 2025
Environment
EnvironmentShow More

Delhi turns to artificial rain to clear toxic air as experts warn benefits are brief
A high stakes bid to wash the airNew Delhi entered its peak…

October 29, 2025

China to Lead Global Offshore Wind Capacity Growth by 2030
Why China is racing ahead in offshore windChina is expanding offshore wind…

October 28, 2025

Air Pollution Could Cost Southeast Asia Up to 600 Billion by 2050 Despite Cleaner Skies
Why a cleaner region could still see more deathsA major new analysis…

October 27, 2025

Indonesia and the Tropical Forests Forever Facility at COP30
Indonesia faces a turning point for forest financeThe debate over how to…

October 25, 2025

Indonesia military takeover of palm oil estates shakes a global supply chain
A sweeping move with global consequencesSoldiers in fatigues walked into palm oil…

October 25, 2025
Health
HealthShow More

Social Media Craze Over Carbide Guns Blinds Children Across North India
A Festival Night Turns Into Emergency RoomsDiwali nights usually end with family…

October 29, 2025

Malaysia Closes Some Schools As 6,000 Students Catch Flu Ahead of SPM Exams
Closures Hit As Cases Surge Ahead of ExamsMalaysia is contending with a…

October 15, 2025

Why South Korea’s Anti Aging Boom Is Attracting a New Wave of Medical Tourists
Inside Seoul's glow up boomOn a first visit to Seoul in 2023,…

October 15, 2025

Indonesia suspends problem kitchens and tightens oversight of free meals program after mass poisonings
Crisis tests Indonesia free meals programIndonesia has shut kitchens tied to its…

October 10, 2025

Indonesia’s Military Produces Multivitamins for Free Meals Program
A new push blending defense and public healthIndonesia has opened a new…

October 3, 2025
International
InternationalShow More

China’s UN Remarks on Okinawa Target Militarisation, Not Sovereignty
What Beijing's statement means for OkinawaChina used a United Nations human rights…

November 1, 2025

Competing Rules at Sea: Why a South China Sea Code of Conduct Remains Elusive
A test of rules and resolve in the South China SeaConfrontations near…

November 1, 2025

Lukoil agrees to sell international assets to Gunvor after new US sanctions
Why Lukoil is unloading its global portfolioRussia’s second largest oil producer, Lukoil,…

October 31, 2025

Protests, summits and strategy as Seoul hosts rival powers
A capital on edge as rival leaders arriveChants of "No Trump! No…

October 30, 2025

Trump approves South Korean nuclear powered submarine plan tied to trade and shipbuilding
Fresh approval puts South Korea on track for nuclear powered submarinesPresident Donald…

October 30, 2025
Politics
PoliticsShow More

BBC urges Vietnam to return passport and let journalist leave as To Lam visits UK
Why this case matters for press freedom and UK Vietnam relationsA Vietnamese…

October 29, 2025

Nusantara at a Crossroads: Money, mandates and the making of Indonesia’s new capital
Funding cuts and a pivot in purposeIndonesia’s new capital, Nusantara, was conceived…

October 29, 2025

Aung San Suu Kyi Spends 80th Birthday in Myanmar Jail
An 80th birthday marked by silence and steel doorsAung San Suu Kyi…

October 27, 2025

China Fourth Plenum charts tech drive, market cleanup, and a sweeping military purge
Why this plenum matters nowChina has closed a consequential political gathering in…

October 25, 2025

Kinmen and Matsu: Taiwan’s Frontline Islands Face Pressure and Integration Pitches
Islands at the edge of Taiwan sovereigntyTaiwan is closely watching whether Beijing…

October 23, 2025
Science
ScienceShow More

China closes in on US scientific leadership across AI, quantum, and biotech
A shifting center of gravity in scienceChina is moving toward parity with…

October 30, 2025

Philippines Investigates Source of Radioactive Shipment to Indonesia
How a radioactive shipment linked the Philippines and IndonesiaThe Philippines has launched…

October 18, 2025

ImpacFat launches cultivated fish fat in Japan, linking Singapore science with Tokyo innovation
A milestone for cultivated seafood in TokyoSingapore startup ImpacFat has begun operations…

October 2, 2025

David Baltimore and the Making of a China US Life Sciences Bridge
A scientist who built bridges across bordersDavid Baltimore, Nobel Prize winning American…

September 27, 2025

One Million Year Old Chinese Skull Recasts the Human Family Tree
A skull from China pushes human origins deeper in timeA crushed cranium…

September 27, 2025
Society
SocietyShow More

Why Singapore needs a transition lane for mid career reinvention
A nation in transition, and a group left outSingapore is investing heavily…

November 1, 2025

Bukit Bintang Glow Up Plan Sparks Backlash Over Flooding and Basics
A facelift for Bukit Bintang meets a storm of criticismMalaysia’s plan to…

November 1, 2025

The Risks and Realities of Maids Caring for Babies at Night in Singapore
A growing reliance on overnight childcare at homeIn apartments across Singapore, domestic…

October 31, 2025

World Bank urges Malaysia to expand social pensions for ageing population
A rapidly aging nation faces a thin safety netMalaysia has been warned…

October 30, 2025

Hong Kong to Require Child Restraints in Private Cars from November 2025
Why Hong Kong is tightening child safety rulesHong Kong will require child…

October 30, 2025
Sports
SportsShow More

National Games 2025 set to turn Hong Kong into a city of sport and culture
A citywide celebration of sport and cultureHong Kong is preparing for a…

October 31, 2025

IOC tells federations to avoid events in Indonesia after Israeli gymnasts barred
IOC freezes Indonesia as host after Israeli gymnasts denied visasThe International Olympic…

October 23, 2025

How S Vegiyathuman Turned Walks and Runs Into a National Bond
Unity on foot across a diverse nationFor half a century, scenes of…

September 16, 2025

Tokyo Police Boost Security Ahead of World Athletics Championships
A city on alert as global athletics returns to TokyoTokyo has tightened…

September 13, 2025

Singapore to Host 2026 MotoGP Season Launch
A new stage for MotoGP in SingaporeMotoGP will open the 2026 campaign…

September 9, 2025
Technology
TechnologyShow More

China unveils AI powered robot dinosaurs for museums and classrooms
From factory floors to prehistoric starsChina’s fast maturing robotics sector just gave…

November 1, 2025

Singapore trials new traffic cameras that flagged more than 6,000 violations in one month
Why these cameras are appearing nowSingapore is testing a new generation of…

November 1, 2025

China Eases Chip Export Ban to Europe After Netherlands Dispute
Beijing moves to grant exemptions as carmakers warn of shortagesChina said it…

November 1, 2025

SAS ends direct operations in China after 25 years, shifts to partner model and cuts about 400 jobs
A sudden retreat highlights a changing China marketUS analytics company SAS Institute…

November 1, 2025

Taiwan aims to turn chip leadership into a quantum advantage
Why Taiwan's chip lead matters for quantum computingTaiwan's chipmaking strength is central…

October 31, 2025
Travel
TravelShow More

Kamakura in Autumn: From Temple to Temple Among Crimson Maples and Golden Ginkgo
Why Kamakura Shines in AutumnKamakura rewards slow travel, especially when the leaves…

October 31, 2025

Singapore GST on Overseas Shopping: What Travellers Must Declare in 2025
Why GST still applies to your holiday shoppingIf you plan to shop…

October 31, 2025

K hiking attracts global travelers to Korea’s peaks and city trails
A new draw for international visitorsFree entry and well maintained trails are…

October 31, 2025

Phu Quoc approves 360 million dollar metro to link airport and APEC center by 2027
A fast track plan for a growing islandPhu Quoc is moving ahead…

October 28, 2025

Okinoshima Battery No. 3, from Meiji stronghold to Tomogashima landmark
A fortress turned open air museumOn Okinoshima, the largest of the Tomogashima…

October 27, 2025

Saturday, 1 Nov 2025

Stay ahead of Asia’s biggest stories. Get our weekly news digest delivered to your inbox – it’s free!

Economy
EconomyShow More

Deloitte China commits HKD500 million and 1,000 hires to power Hong Kong fintech, AI and capital markets
A strategic bet on Hong Kong growthDeloitte China will add about 1,000…

November 1, 2025

Hong Kong opens visa free short term entry to five more professional sectors, total now 17
Hong Kong widens short term entry for visiting professionalsHong Kong will broaden…

November 1, 2025

China’s Secret Stockpiles: A Strategic Success
Inside a Quiet Buildout of ReservesFrom the air, a cluster of giant…

November 1, 2025

Indian Refiners Face Higher Costs as Russian Oil Imports Decline
Sanctions squeeze forces a rethink in Indian refiningIndia’s refining sector is moving…

October 31, 2025

Cheap Fares Keep China’s Big Three Airlines Under Pressure Despite Summer Profit Boost
Cheap tickets spur travel, but margins stay thinInternational airfares for Chinese travelers…

October 31, 2025
Education
EducationShow More

Record School Absences in Japan Prompt Calls for Educational Reform
Why the absenteeism spike matters nowJapan has recorded a new high in…

November 1, 2025

China mobilizes retired teachers to narrow the urban rural education gap
Why retired teachers are heading to county schoolsWhen many peers were easing…

November 1, 2025

Mandarin classes get green light in national secondary schools, 200 teachers planned for 2025
A policy tied to demand, access, and teacher supplyMalaysia has taken a…

November 1, 2025

Hundreds Fall Ill in Indonesia After Free School Meals
Indonesia free meal program faces a safety reckoningHundreds of students in Indonesia…

October 31, 2025

Hong Kong Universities Attracting More Students Than Tsinghua
Why Hong Kong is drawing record student interestHong Kong's universities are experiencing…

October 31, 2025
Entertainment
EntertainmentShow More

How Hong Kong Can Reclaim Its Halloween Hub Status
Why Halloween still matters for Hong KongHalloween has become a reliable spark…

October 31, 2025

Candles debut as Starbucks Japan rolls out Christmas 2025 goods and drinkware
Holiday cheer lands in Japan with candles and collectiblesStarbucks Japan is ringing…

October 31, 2025

How Osaka Expo Mascot Myakumyaku Went From Creepy to Beloved Icon
From backlash to breakout starWhen Osaka set its sights on hosting a…

October 27, 2025

Why Gen Z in South Korea Is Embracing Retro K Dramas
Why the past on screen feels safe right nowA growing number of…

October 27, 2025

Hong Kong Unlocks Historic Movie Sites for Visitors
Why cinema sites are opening their doorsHong Kong is turning its own…

October 20, 2025
Environment
EnvironmentShow More

Delhi turns to artificial rain to clear toxic air as experts warn benefits are brief
A high stakes bid to wash the airNew Delhi entered its peak…

October 29, 2025

China to Lead Global Offshore Wind Capacity Growth by 2030
Why China is racing ahead in offshore windChina is expanding offshore wind…

October 28, 2025

Air Pollution Could Cost Southeast Asia Up to 600 Billion by 2050 Despite Cleaner Skies
Why a cleaner region could still see more deathsA major new analysis…

October 27, 2025

Indonesia and the Tropical Forests Forever Facility at COP30
Indonesia faces a turning point for forest financeThe debate over how to…

October 25, 2025

Indonesia military takeover of palm oil estates shakes a global supply chain
A sweeping move with global consequencesSoldiers in fatigues walked into palm oil…

October 25, 2025
Health
HealthShow More

Social Media Craze Over Carbide Guns Blinds Children Across North India
A Festival Night Turns Into Emergency RoomsDiwali nights usually end with family…

October 29, 2025

Malaysia Closes Some Schools As 6,000 Students Catch Flu Ahead of SPM Exams
Closures Hit As Cases Surge Ahead of ExamsMalaysia is contending with a…

October 15, 2025

Why South Korea’s Anti Aging Boom Is Attracting a New Wave of Medical Tourists
Inside Seoul's glow up boomOn a first visit to Seoul in 2023,…

October 15, 2025

Indonesia suspends problem kitchens and tightens oversight of free meals program after mass poisonings
Crisis tests Indonesia free meals programIndonesia has shut kitchens tied to its…

October 10, 2025

Indonesia’s Military Produces Multivitamins for Free Meals Program
A new push blending defense and public healthIndonesia has opened a new…

October 3, 2025
International
InternationalShow More

China’s UN Remarks on Okinawa Target Militarisation, Not Sovereignty
What Beijing's statement means for OkinawaChina used a United Nations human rights…

November 1, 2025

Competing Rules at Sea: Why a South China Sea Code of Conduct Remains Elusive
A test of rules and resolve in the South China SeaConfrontations near…

November 1, 2025

Lukoil agrees to sell international assets to Gunvor after new US sanctions
Why Lukoil is unloading its global portfolioRussia’s second largest oil producer, Lukoil,…

October 31, 2025

Protests, summits and strategy as Seoul hosts rival powers
A capital on edge as rival leaders arriveChants of "No Trump! No…

October 30, 2025

Trump approves South Korean nuclear powered submarine plan tied to trade and shipbuilding
Fresh approval puts South Korea on track for nuclear powered submarinesPresident Donald…

October 30, 2025
Politics
PoliticsShow More

BBC urges Vietnam to return passport and let journalist leave as To Lam visits UK
Why this case matters for press freedom and UK Vietnam relationsA Vietnamese…

October 29, 2025

Nusantara at a Crossroads: Money, mandates and the making of Indonesia’s new capital
Funding cuts and a pivot in purposeIndonesia’s new capital, Nusantara, was conceived…

October 29, 2025

Aung San Suu Kyi Spends 80th Birthday in Myanmar Jail
An 80th birthday marked by silence and steel doorsAung San Suu Kyi…

October 27, 2025

China Fourth Plenum charts tech drive, market cleanup, and a sweeping military purge
Why this plenum matters nowChina has closed a consequential political gathering in…

October 25, 2025

Kinmen and Matsu: Taiwan’s Frontline Islands Face Pressure and Integration Pitches
Islands at the edge of Taiwan sovereigntyTaiwan is closely watching whether Beijing…

October 23, 2025
Science
ScienceShow More

China closes in on US scientific leadership across AI, quantum, and biotech
A shifting center of gravity in scienceChina is moving toward parity with…

October 30, 2025

Philippines Investigates Source of Radioactive Shipment to Indonesia
How a radioactive shipment linked the Philippines and IndonesiaThe Philippines has launched…

October 18, 2025

ImpacFat launches cultivated fish fat in Japan, linking Singapore science with Tokyo innovation
A milestone for cultivated seafood in TokyoSingapore startup ImpacFat has begun operations…

October 2, 2025

David Baltimore and the Making of a China US Life Sciences Bridge
A scientist who built bridges across bordersDavid Baltimore, Nobel Prize winning American…

September 27, 2025

One Million Year Old Chinese Skull Recasts the Human Family Tree
A skull from China pushes human origins deeper in timeA crushed cranium…

September 27, 2025
Society
SocietyShow More

Why Singapore needs a transition lane for mid career reinvention
A nation in transition, and a group left outSingapore is investing heavily…

November 1, 2025

Bukit Bintang Glow Up Plan Sparks Backlash Over Flooding and Basics
A facelift for Bukit Bintang meets a storm of criticismMalaysia’s plan to…

November 1, 2025

The Risks and Realities of Maids Caring for Babies at Night in Singapore
A growing reliance on overnight childcare at homeIn apartments across Singapore, domestic…

October 31, 2025

World Bank urges Malaysia to expand social pensions for ageing population
A rapidly aging nation faces a thin safety netMalaysia has been warned…

October 30, 2025

Hong Kong to Require Child Restraints in Private Cars from November 2025
Why Hong Kong is tightening child safety rulesHong Kong will require child…

October 30, 2025
Sports
SportsShow More

National Games 2025 set to turn Hong Kong into a city of sport and culture
A citywide celebration of sport and cultureHong Kong is preparing for a…

October 31, 2025

IOC tells federations to avoid events in Indonesia after Israeli gymnasts barred
IOC freezes Indonesia as host after Israeli gymnasts denied visasThe International Olympic…

October 23, 2025

How S Vegiyathuman Turned Walks and Runs Into a National Bond
Unity on foot across a diverse nationFor half a century, scenes of…

September 16, 2025

Tokyo Police Boost Security Ahead of World Athletics Championships
A city on alert as global athletics returns to TokyoTokyo has tightened…

September 13, 2025

Singapore to Host 2026 MotoGP Season Launch
A new stage for MotoGP in SingaporeMotoGP will open the 2026 campaign…

September 9, 2025
Technology
TechnologyShow More

China unveils AI powered robot dinosaurs for museums and classrooms
From factory floors to prehistoric starsChina’s fast maturing robotics sector just gave…

November 1, 2025

Singapore trials new traffic cameras that flagged more than 6,000 violations in one month
Why these cameras are appearing nowSingapore is testing a new generation of…

November 1, 2025

China Eases Chip Export Ban to Europe After Netherlands Dispute
Beijing moves to grant exemptions as carmakers warn of shortagesChina said it…

November 1, 2025

SAS ends direct operations in China after 25 years, shifts to partner model and cuts about 400 jobs
A sudden retreat highlights a changing China marketUS analytics company SAS Institute…

November 1, 2025

Taiwan aims to turn chip leadership into a quantum advantage
Why Taiwan's chip lead matters for quantum computingTaiwan's chipmaking strength is central…

October 31, 2025
Travel
TravelShow More

Kamakura in Autumn: From Temple to Temple Among Crimson Maples and Golden Ginkgo
Why Kamakura Shines in AutumnKamakura rewards slow travel, especially when the leaves…

October 31, 2025

Singapore GST on Overseas Shopping: What Travellers Must Declare in 2025
Why GST still applies to your holiday shoppingIf you plan to shop…

October 31, 2025

K hiking attracts global travelers to Korea’s peaks and city trails
A new draw for international visitorsFree entry and well maintained trails are…

October 31, 2025

Phu Quoc approves 360 million dollar metro to link airport and APEC center by 2027
A fast track plan for a growing islandPhu Quoc is moving ahead…

October 28, 2025

Okinoshima Battery No. 3, from Meiji stronghold to Tomogashima landmark
A fortress turned open air museumOn Okinoshima, the largest of the Tomogashima…

October 27, 2025

Korean folklore imagery

Pop Culture Revives a Controversial Sejong Statue Once Branded the Grim Reaper

September 7, 2025