Wednesday, 15 Oct 2025

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

Economy
EconomyShow More

Malaysia’s Property Market: Johor and Penang Surge, Kuala Lumpur Slows
What is driving a split market in Malaysia in 2025?Malaysia’s property market…

October 15, 2025

China shipping sanctions jolt markets as rare earth curbs and tariff fight intensify
What just happenedGlobal stocks fell after China escalated its trade confrontation with…

October 15, 2025

Singapore Investors Drive Gold Demand Amid Record Rally
Why gold is back in the spotlightIn mid October 2025, gold pierced…

October 15, 2025

Queues, Record Prices and Empty Shelves as Vietnam Ends Gold Monopoly
A market opening meets a rush for goldVietnam’s decision to end its…

October 15, 2025

How Indonesian Palm Oil Underpins Pakistan’s Food Security and Price Stability
Why Indonesian palm oil sits at the heart of Pakistan's food basketAcross…

October 15, 2025
Education
EducationShow More

Hong Kong and Singapore Compete for International Students as Study Choices Shift
Why student choices are shifting toward AsiaThe global map of student mobility…

October 15, 2025

A scholarship keeps undocumented high school students in Japan on track
A safety net that keeps education within reachA quiet but determined effort…

October 15, 2025

Gordonstoun to Open Japan Campus in Wakayama in 2027
A new chapter for British boarding education in JapanGordonstoun, the Scottish boarding…

October 15, 2025

University of Tokyo reaches record 26th in Times Higher Education world ranking
A new milestone for TodaiThe University of Tokyo has reached a record…

October 12, 2025

Hong Kong Moves to Rein In Private and International Schools With New Code of Practice
Oversight push gains momentumHong Kong plans a new code of practice for…

October 10, 2025
Entertainment
EntertainmentShow More

Ghibli unveils Kiki tea blend and Hario glass mugs in Japan
A cozy new Ghibli tea ritual arrives in JapanStudio Ghibli has brewed…

October 15, 2025

JR East Stops SixTONES Song as Shinkansen Departure Melody Due to Safety Concerns
A promotion meets the limits of platform safetyEast Japan Railway Co. has…

October 15, 2025

Choi Hyun-seok and the Global Rise of Korean Cuisine
A chef at center stage in a global Korean food momentChoi Hyun-seok…

October 15, 2025

Crunchyroll launches new manga app for fans
A new home for digital manga arrivesCrunchyroll is moving beyond anime streaming…

October 15, 2025

Singapore Cinemas Shutter as Moviegoing Slumps: COVID 19, Streaming and Costs Reshape a National Pastime
A national pastime at a crossroadsFor decades, Singaporeans counted on the cinema…

October 10, 2025
Environment
EnvironmentShow More

Ancient Arctic Microbes Are Waking Up And They Could Speed Up Warming
Why ancient microbes matter nowIn frozen ground across the Arctic, microbes that…

October 15, 2025

Java’s Giant Sea Wall, Custom Defenses and the Communities Caught Between Floods and Change
A new wall rising along Java's coastOn many mornings in Bedono village…

October 15, 2025

Wildlife Cafes Under Fire in Japan: Hidden Bacteria, Injury Risks, and Links to Illegal Trade
Why a popular pastime is facing scrutinyWildlife cafes in Japan promise intimate…

October 15, 2025

Hong Kong weighs Sharp Island tourism pressure as officials downplay reef damage
Why a holiday surge sparked a coral debateDuring the National Day Golden…

October 11, 2025

Indonesia nickel boom powered by Chinese workers faces safety and environmental tests
Inside the nickel surge in IndonesiaOn remote islands in eastern Indonesia, the…

October 11, 2025
Health
HealthShow More

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

Inside South Korea Hangover Cure Boom: From Hovenia to Human Trials
Why the market grows while drinking slowsSouth Korea has turned the morning…

September 28, 2025
International
InternationalShow More

North Korea and Vietnam seal new cooperation pacts across defense, health, and media
Why this rare signing matters nowNorth Korea and Vietnam signed a new…

October 15, 2025

Vietnam’s Young Generation Warms to China as Leaders Pursue Pragmatic Deals
A parade, a platform, and a pivotRows of young Vietnamese gathered along…

October 15, 2025

Ghost Sounds Across the Cambodia Thailand Border Spark Trauma and UN Appeal
A night of fear in Prey Chan and Chouk CheySince the night…

October 15, 2025

North Korea’s Parade Puts Hypersonic and Intercontinental Missiles in the Spotlight
A showcase of new missiles and deeper ties with China and RussiaNorth…

October 15, 2025

Deadly Clashes Close Pakistan Afghanistan Border as Airstrikes Trigger Retaliatory Fire
A night of shelling on a long and bitter frontierDozens of fighters…

October 15, 2025
Politics
PoliticsShow More

MACC Officer Tells Court Penang Tunnel Deal Was Direct Negotiation, Alleges Land Scam and 10 Percent Kickback
A project under scrutiny in Kuala Lumpur courtThe RM6.3 billion Penang undersea…

October 15, 2025

Hot mic at Gaza summit as Indonesia’s Prabowo asks Trump for meeting with Eric Trump
A private exchange becomes publicAt a Gaza peace summit in Sharm el…

October 15, 2025

Indonesia Parliament Faces Fresh Fury as Recess Allowance Nearly Doubles
Why a new allowance sparked a backlashIndonesia is again in the grip…

October 15, 2025

Sanae Takaichi set to become Japan’s first female prime minister amid party upheaval
A historic first collides with harsh political mathJapan's governing Liberal Democratic Party…

October 11, 2025

Hayashi Proposal to Separate Class A War Criminals at Yasukuni Stirs a National Debate
How a new proposal reopened an old woundJapan's ruling party leadership race…

October 3, 2025
Science
ScienceShow More

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

Netherlands to Return Java Man Fossils to Indonesia
A Homecoming for the First Known Homo erectusThe Netherlands has agreed to…

September 27, 2025

Scandium Doping Revolutionizes Sodium-Ion Battery Performance
A practical leap for sodium batteriesResearchers at Tokyo University of Science report…

September 22, 2025
Society
SocietyShow More

Aging wave is reshaping housing in Taiwan
Why this matters nowTaiwan is entering a new housing era driven by…

October 15, 2025

In scorching Japan, men turn to parasols to stay cool
Heat, health, and shifting habits in Tokyo and beyondA small change on…

October 15, 2025

Women journalists confront Taliban minister in Delhi as India weighs ties with Kabul
A rare confrontation in DelhiThree days after being shut out of a…

October 15, 2025

Tokyo’s Railway Expansion Fuels Metro Area Growth
How new rail projects keep the region movingTokyo didn’t become the world’s…

October 15, 2025

Osaka World Expo 2025 Ends With 27 Million Visitors and a Lasting Legacy
A six month showcase reaches the finish lineJapan brought down the curtain…

October 15, 2025
Sports
SportsShow More

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

No New JRA Jockeys in 2026 as Weight Limits and Phone Rules Bite
A rare gap year for new jockeys in JapanJapan’s central horse racing…

September 5, 2025

Hong Kong National Games Ticket Sales Begin Without English Option, Prompting Concerns Among Expats and Tourists
Hong Kong National Games Ticket Sales Begin Without English Option, Prompting Concerns…

August 31, 2025
Technology
TechnologyShow More

Netherlands Takes Control of China Owned Chipmaker Nexperia as Security Tensions Rise
Europe's rare intervention in a critical chip supplierThe Netherlands has taken the…

October 15, 2025

Malaysia Courts Brazil and India for Semiconductor Partnerships as US Trade Risks Mount
Malaysia pivots to new chip partnersMalaysia is moving to broaden its semiconductor…

October 15, 2025

Netherlands Moves to Control Nexperia to Secure Chip Supply and Economic Security
Why the Netherlands took control of a key chip supplierThe Dutch government…

October 15, 2025

Indonesia Restores TikTok License After Data Dispute Over Protest Livestreams
Why TikTok Was Suspended, Then ReinstatedIndonesia has restored TikTok's legal status as…

October 15, 2025

OpenAI bets on Singapore as Asia base while it scouts data center sites to power ChatGPT
Singapore emerges as OpenAI's Asia launchpadOpenAI is accelerating its global infrastructure buildout…

October 15, 2025
Travel
TravelShow More

KLIA Again Named World Top Low Cost Megahub While Infrastructure Gaps Persist
How KLIA rose to the top of low cost connectivityKuala Lumpur International…

October 15, 2025

Japan sets 2028 launch for JESTA approval for visa free travelers
What is changing for trips to JapanJapan will add a digital pre…

October 15, 2025

Viral video of Chinese guide in Thailand prompts probe into forced shopping and zero dollar tours
Viral video triggers Thai probe and revives fears of forced shoppingA video…

October 15, 2025

Three Days of Momijigari: Experiencing Japan’s Fiery Autumn Foliage
A season of color and a tradition called momijigariAutumn in Japan arrives…

October 15, 2025

Saitama Seeks Greater Recognition from Overseas Tourists
Why Saitama is stepping into the spotlightNorth of Tokyo, Saitama Prefecture is…

October 15, 2025

Wednesday, 15 Oct 2025

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

Economy
EconomyShow More

Malaysia’s Property Market: Johor and Penang Surge, Kuala Lumpur Slows
What is driving a split market in Malaysia in 2025?Malaysia’s property market…

October 15, 2025

China shipping sanctions jolt markets as rare earth curbs and tariff fight intensify
What just happenedGlobal stocks fell after China escalated its trade confrontation with…

October 15, 2025

Singapore Investors Drive Gold Demand Amid Record Rally
Why gold is back in the spotlightIn mid October 2025, gold pierced…

October 15, 2025

Queues, Record Prices and Empty Shelves as Vietnam Ends Gold Monopoly
A market opening meets a rush for goldVietnam’s decision to end its…

October 15, 2025

How Indonesian Palm Oil Underpins Pakistan’s Food Security and Price Stability
Why Indonesian palm oil sits at the heart of Pakistan's food basketAcross…

October 15, 2025
Education
EducationShow More

Hong Kong and Singapore Compete for International Students as Study Choices Shift
Why student choices are shifting toward AsiaThe global map of student mobility…

October 15, 2025

A scholarship keeps undocumented high school students in Japan on track
A safety net that keeps education within reachA quiet but determined effort…

October 15, 2025

Gordonstoun to Open Japan Campus in Wakayama in 2027
A new chapter for British boarding education in JapanGordonstoun, the Scottish boarding…

October 15, 2025

University of Tokyo reaches record 26th in Times Higher Education world ranking
A new milestone for TodaiThe University of Tokyo has reached a record…

October 12, 2025

Hong Kong Moves to Rein In Private and International Schools With New Code of Practice
Oversight push gains momentumHong Kong plans a new code of practice for…

October 10, 2025
Entertainment
EntertainmentShow More

Ghibli unveils Kiki tea blend and Hario glass mugs in Japan
A cozy new Ghibli tea ritual arrives in JapanStudio Ghibli has brewed…

October 15, 2025

JR East Stops SixTONES Song as Shinkansen Departure Melody Due to Safety Concerns
A promotion meets the limits of platform safetyEast Japan Railway Co. has…

October 15, 2025

Choi Hyun-seok and the Global Rise of Korean Cuisine
A chef at center stage in a global Korean food momentChoi Hyun-seok…

October 15, 2025

Crunchyroll launches new manga app for fans
A new home for digital manga arrivesCrunchyroll is moving beyond anime streaming…

October 15, 2025

Singapore Cinemas Shutter as Moviegoing Slumps: COVID 19, Streaming and Costs Reshape a National Pastime
A national pastime at a crossroadsFor decades, Singaporeans counted on the cinema…

October 10, 2025
Environment
EnvironmentShow More

Ancient Arctic Microbes Are Waking Up And They Could Speed Up Warming
Why ancient microbes matter nowIn frozen ground across the Arctic, microbes that…

October 15, 2025

Java’s Giant Sea Wall, Custom Defenses and the Communities Caught Between Floods and Change
A new wall rising along Java's coastOn many mornings in Bedono village…

October 15, 2025

Wildlife Cafes Under Fire in Japan: Hidden Bacteria, Injury Risks, and Links to Illegal Trade
Why a popular pastime is facing scrutinyWildlife cafes in Japan promise intimate…

October 15, 2025

Hong Kong weighs Sharp Island tourism pressure as officials downplay reef damage
Why a holiday surge sparked a coral debateDuring the National Day Golden…

October 11, 2025

Indonesia nickel boom powered by Chinese workers faces safety and environmental tests
Inside the nickel surge in IndonesiaOn remote islands in eastern Indonesia, the…

October 11, 2025
Health
HealthShow More

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

Inside South Korea Hangover Cure Boom: From Hovenia to Human Trials
Why the market grows while drinking slowsSouth Korea has turned the morning…

September 28, 2025
International
InternationalShow More

North Korea and Vietnam seal new cooperation pacts across defense, health, and media
Why this rare signing matters nowNorth Korea and Vietnam signed a new…

October 15, 2025

Vietnam’s Young Generation Warms to China as Leaders Pursue Pragmatic Deals
A parade, a platform, and a pivotRows of young Vietnamese gathered along…

October 15, 2025

Ghost Sounds Across the Cambodia Thailand Border Spark Trauma and UN Appeal
A night of fear in Prey Chan and Chouk CheySince the night…

October 15, 2025

North Korea’s Parade Puts Hypersonic and Intercontinental Missiles in the Spotlight
A showcase of new missiles and deeper ties with China and RussiaNorth…

October 15, 2025

Deadly Clashes Close Pakistan Afghanistan Border as Airstrikes Trigger Retaliatory Fire
A night of shelling on a long and bitter frontierDozens of fighters…

October 15, 2025
Politics
PoliticsShow More

MACC Officer Tells Court Penang Tunnel Deal Was Direct Negotiation, Alleges Land Scam and 10 Percent Kickback
A project under scrutiny in Kuala Lumpur courtThe RM6.3 billion Penang undersea…

October 15, 2025

Hot mic at Gaza summit as Indonesia’s Prabowo asks Trump for meeting with Eric Trump
A private exchange becomes publicAt a Gaza peace summit in Sharm el…

October 15, 2025

Indonesia Parliament Faces Fresh Fury as Recess Allowance Nearly Doubles
Why a new allowance sparked a backlashIndonesia is again in the grip…

October 15, 2025

Sanae Takaichi set to become Japan’s first female prime minister amid party upheaval
A historic first collides with harsh political mathJapan's governing Liberal Democratic Party…

October 11, 2025

Hayashi Proposal to Separate Class A War Criminals at Yasukuni Stirs a National Debate
How a new proposal reopened an old woundJapan's ruling party leadership race…

October 3, 2025
Science
ScienceShow More

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

Netherlands to Return Java Man Fossils to Indonesia
A Homecoming for the First Known Homo erectusThe Netherlands has agreed to…

September 27, 2025

Scandium Doping Revolutionizes Sodium-Ion Battery Performance
A practical leap for sodium batteriesResearchers at Tokyo University of Science report…

September 22, 2025
Society
SocietyShow More

Aging wave is reshaping housing in Taiwan
Why this matters nowTaiwan is entering a new housing era driven by…

October 15, 2025

In scorching Japan, men turn to parasols to stay cool
Heat, health, and shifting habits in Tokyo and beyondA small change on…

October 15, 2025

Women journalists confront Taliban minister in Delhi as India weighs ties with Kabul
A rare confrontation in DelhiThree days after being shut out of a…

October 15, 2025

Tokyo’s Railway Expansion Fuels Metro Area Growth
How new rail projects keep the region movingTokyo didn’t become the world’s…

October 15, 2025

Osaka World Expo 2025 Ends With 27 Million Visitors and a Lasting Legacy
A six month showcase reaches the finish lineJapan brought down the curtain…

October 15, 2025
Sports
SportsShow More

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

No New JRA Jockeys in 2026 as Weight Limits and Phone Rules Bite
A rare gap year for new jockeys in JapanJapan’s central horse racing…

September 5, 2025

Hong Kong National Games Ticket Sales Begin Without English Option, Prompting Concerns Among Expats and Tourists
Hong Kong National Games Ticket Sales Begin Without English Option, Prompting Concerns…

August 31, 2025
Technology
TechnologyShow More

Netherlands Takes Control of China Owned Chipmaker Nexperia as Security Tensions Rise
Europe's rare intervention in a critical chip supplierThe Netherlands has taken the…

October 15, 2025

Malaysia Courts Brazil and India for Semiconductor Partnerships as US Trade Risks Mount
Malaysia pivots to new chip partnersMalaysia is moving to broaden its semiconductor…

October 15, 2025

Netherlands Moves to Control Nexperia to Secure Chip Supply and Economic Security
Why the Netherlands took control of a key chip supplierThe Dutch government…

October 15, 2025

Indonesia Restores TikTok License After Data Dispute Over Protest Livestreams
Why TikTok Was Suspended, Then ReinstatedIndonesia has restored TikTok's legal status as…

October 15, 2025

OpenAI bets on Singapore as Asia base while it scouts data center sites to power ChatGPT
Singapore emerges as OpenAI's Asia launchpadOpenAI is accelerating its global infrastructure buildout…

October 15, 2025
Travel
TravelShow More

KLIA Again Named World Top Low Cost Megahub While Infrastructure Gaps Persist
How KLIA rose to the top of low cost connectivityKuala Lumpur International…

October 15, 2025

Japan sets 2028 launch for JESTA approval for visa free travelers
What is changing for trips to JapanJapan will add a digital pre…

October 15, 2025

Viral video of Chinese guide in Thailand prompts probe into forced shopping and zero dollar tours
Viral video triggers Thai probe and revives fears of forced shoppingA video…

October 15, 2025

Three Days of Momijigari: Experiencing Japan’s Fiery Autumn Foliage
A season of color and a tradition called momijigariAutumn in Japan arrives…

October 15, 2025

Saitama Seeks Greater Recognition from Overseas Tourists
Why Saitama is stepping into the spotlightNorth of Tokyo, Saitama Prefecture is…

October 15, 2025

male parasol adoption

In scorching Japan, men turn to parasols to stay cool

October 15, 2025