Sunday, 12 Oct 2025

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

Economy
EconomyShow More

Shein to Open Six Permanent Stores in France, Sparking Backlash and Legal Scrutiny
A brick and mortar move in FranceShein, the ultra fast fashion giant…

October 11, 2025

Taiwan Becomes Largest Importer of Russian Naphtha in 2025
Why Taiwan's buying spree mattersTaiwan has emerged as the world's largest buyer…

October 11, 2025

Malaysia’s Flower Belt Under Strain as Labor Gaps and Cheaper Imports Test a Once Booming Trade
Inside Malaysia's flower beltOn the coastal plains of Muar, workers tend to…

October 10, 2025

South Korea’s four and a half day workweek plan faces a productivity test
Why a shorter week is back on the agendaSouth Korea is moving…

October 10, 2025

China’s Vanishing Executives: Liuzhi Detentions, Investor Jitters and the New Business Reality
A new wave of detentions hits the private sectorOn September 22, Great…

October 10, 2025
Education
EducationShow More

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

Why Japanese Teachers Still Work the Longest Hours in the OECD
Long hours persist despite reformsJapanese teachers once again reported the longest working…

October 10, 2025

Korea Considers Ban on English Kindergartens Amid Parental Backlash
A new proposal tests Koreas approach to early English educationA sweeping bill…

October 10, 2025

Japan to roll out integrated five year bachelor and master degrees from 2026
A faster route from campus to graduate credentialsJapan is moving to reshape…

October 10, 2025
Entertainment
EntertainmentShow More

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

Starbucks Japan unveils Halloween 2025 black cat collection and acai berry Frappuccino
Halloween arrives in Japan with a playful black catStarbucks Japan has lifted…

October 10, 2025

Cold Stone returns to Tokyo in vending machine form at Meidaimae Station
A vending machine revives a favorite in TokyoCold Stone Creamery is no…

October 2, 2025

One Million Gather as Seoul International Fireworks Festival Lights the Han River
A night of color, music and meticulous crowd controlThe Seoul International Fireworks…

September 28, 2025

Seoul International Fireworks Festival 2025: Date, Show Highlights, and How to Navigate the Crowds
A blockbuster night on the Han RiverThe Seoul International Fireworks Festival returns…

September 24, 2025
Environment
EnvironmentShow More

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

North Korea’s Wildlife Faces Extinction Due to Hunting and Black Markets
A silent forest and a warning from new researchFrom tigers and leopards…

October 10, 2025

Indonesia Transfers 1.8 Million Hectares of Seized Palm Oil Land to State Firm
A sweeping transfer in the worlds top palm oil producerIndonesia has begun…

October 10, 2025

Indonesia radioactive shrimp crisis traced to cesium contamination at industrial hub
A contamination scare that crossed oceansIt began with routine radiation screening at…

October 10, 2025
Health
HealthShow More

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

Suicide Becomes Leading Cause of Death for Koreans in Their 40s
A record year exposes a widening mental health emergencySuicide now leads midlife…

September 27, 2025

Halal Concerns Fuel Measles Vaccine Hesitancy in Indonesia
Inside a nine month outbreak on Madura IslandEvery day in Sumenep, a…

September 27, 2025
International
InternationalShow More

China posts bounties for alleged Taiwan psychological operations officers as Taipei hardens defenses
Tense new phase in the China Taiwan information battleChina has offered cash…

October 12, 2025

Why the Philippines Is Now the Southern Anchor of Taiwan Defense
Why Manila Matters in a Taiwan CrisisThe Philippines has moved from the…

October 12, 2025

US Typhon Missile Deployment in Japan Alters Regional Balance
Why this matters nowThe United States has brought its Typhon missile system…

October 10, 2025

Afghanistan goes dark as Taliban imposes 48 hour internet and phone shutdown
How a 48 hour shutdown froze a connected nationAfghanistan went offline without…

October 10, 2025

Pentagon Nominee Urges Bigger South Korean Role in Deterring China
Why this matters nowA senior Pentagon official has told Congress that many…

October 10, 2025
Politics
PoliticsShow More

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

China drafts ethnic unity law to expand ideological control at home and abroad
A sweeping new law to engineer unityChina has unveiled a draft Law…

September 29, 2025

Why Singapore Turned Away Exiled Hong Kong Activist Nathan Law
A Sudden Turn at Changi AirportNathan Law, one of the most widely…

September 29, 2025

Gen Z Uprising in Nepal Leaves Dozens Dead and Brings a New Interim Leader
A nation stunned by its deadliest unrest in decadesAt least 72 people…

September 16, 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

How Social Dining Apps Are Changing Hong Kong’s Restaurant Scene
A new kind of weeknight out in Hong KongOn a typical Wednesday…

October 10, 2025

Nepal Selects New Living Goddess Kumari
Inside Kathmandu, a child ascends to living goddessOn a packed festival day…

October 10, 2025

Hong Kong to Phase Out Substandard Shoebox Flats Under New Law
Why Hong Kong Is Moving to Regulate Shoebox FlatsHong Kong is moving…

October 10, 2025

Lanterns in the sky as KL Tower sets Malaysia record for Mid Autumn parade
Lanterns above Kuala Lumpur set a new height markMenara Kuala Lumpur, also…

October 10, 2025

Breakdowns and safety lapses force pause for Seoul river bus
A troubled launch for a high profile river transit planSeoul s new…

October 10, 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

Alibaba Unveils Qwen3-Omni: Open Source Multimodal AI Model
Why this matters now: open multimodal AI goes mainstreamAlibaba has released Qwen3-Omni,…

October 12, 2025

Singapore and Vietnam open innovation talent exchange for young professionals
Why this cross border scheme matters nowSingapore and Vietnam have switched on…

October 12, 2025

Paper and fax keep Asahi beer moving after ransomware attack
Manual workarounds keep beer flowing after a crippling cyberattackAsahi Group Holdings, Japan's…

October 11, 2025

Japan’s Maglev Chooses Nonreclining Seats for Space and Speed
A design choice shaped by a 40 minute rideJapan is preparing a…

October 10, 2025

China’s AI Chip Challenge to Nvidia Accelerates
Why China's AI chip race matters nowChina is racing to reduce its…

October 10, 2025
Travel
TravelShow More

From screen to street: how K culture is remaking travel to South Korea
A surge powered by stories, music and foodWhen London author Polly Faber…

October 11, 2025

Golden Week crowds in China test tourism safety as travel surges and spending shifts
Holiday rush stretches safety systems across ChinaAt Beijing Happy Valley, workers begin…

October 10, 2025

Everest Hikers Rescued After Blizzard Traps Hundreds
A sudden whiteout in Karma ValleyA powerful snowstorm swept the eastern slopes…

October 10, 2025

Record Golden Week Travel in China as Cost Conscious Tourists Seek Value at Home and Abroad
A holiday rush that broke recordsChina kicked off its extended National Day…

October 10, 2025

K Beauty Tourists Are Turning Korean Pharmacies Into Global Skincare Destinations
How skincare tourism turned pharmacies into destinationsIn South Korea, the humble neighborhood…

October 10, 2025

Sunday, 12 Oct 2025

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

Economy
EconomyShow More

Shein to Open Six Permanent Stores in France, Sparking Backlash and Legal Scrutiny
A brick and mortar move in FranceShein, the ultra fast fashion giant…

October 11, 2025

Taiwan Becomes Largest Importer of Russian Naphtha in 2025
Why Taiwan's buying spree mattersTaiwan has emerged as the world's largest buyer…

October 11, 2025

Malaysia’s Flower Belt Under Strain as Labor Gaps and Cheaper Imports Test a Once Booming Trade
Inside Malaysia's flower beltOn the coastal plains of Muar, workers tend to…

October 10, 2025

South Korea’s four and a half day workweek plan faces a productivity test
Why a shorter week is back on the agendaSouth Korea is moving…

October 10, 2025

China’s Vanishing Executives: Liuzhi Detentions, Investor Jitters and the New Business Reality
A new wave of detentions hits the private sectorOn September 22, Great…

October 10, 2025
Education
EducationShow More

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

Why Japanese Teachers Still Work the Longest Hours in the OECD
Long hours persist despite reformsJapanese teachers once again reported the longest working…

October 10, 2025

Korea Considers Ban on English Kindergartens Amid Parental Backlash
A new proposal tests Koreas approach to early English educationA sweeping bill…

October 10, 2025

Japan to roll out integrated five year bachelor and master degrees from 2026
A faster route from campus to graduate credentialsJapan is moving to reshape…

October 10, 2025
Entertainment
EntertainmentShow More

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

Starbucks Japan unveils Halloween 2025 black cat collection and acai berry Frappuccino
Halloween arrives in Japan with a playful black catStarbucks Japan has lifted…

October 10, 2025

Cold Stone returns to Tokyo in vending machine form at Meidaimae Station
A vending machine revives a favorite in TokyoCold Stone Creamery is no…

October 2, 2025

One Million Gather as Seoul International Fireworks Festival Lights the Han River
A night of color, music and meticulous crowd controlThe Seoul International Fireworks…

September 28, 2025

Seoul International Fireworks Festival 2025: Date, Show Highlights, and How to Navigate the Crowds
A blockbuster night on the Han RiverThe Seoul International Fireworks Festival returns…

September 24, 2025
Environment
EnvironmentShow More

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

North Korea’s Wildlife Faces Extinction Due to Hunting and Black Markets
A silent forest and a warning from new researchFrom tigers and leopards…

October 10, 2025

Indonesia Transfers 1.8 Million Hectares of Seized Palm Oil Land to State Firm
A sweeping transfer in the worlds top palm oil producerIndonesia has begun…

October 10, 2025

Indonesia radioactive shrimp crisis traced to cesium contamination at industrial hub
A contamination scare that crossed oceansIt began with routine radiation screening at…

October 10, 2025
Health
HealthShow More

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

Suicide Becomes Leading Cause of Death for Koreans in Their 40s
A record year exposes a widening mental health emergencySuicide now leads midlife…

September 27, 2025

Halal Concerns Fuel Measles Vaccine Hesitancy in Indonesia
Inside a nine month outbreak on Madura IslandEvery day in Sumenep, a…

September 27, 2025
International
InternationalShow More

China posts bounties for alleged Taiwan psychological operations officers as Taipei hardens defenses
Tense new phase in the China Taiwan information battleChina has offered cash…

October 12, 2025

Why the Philippines Is Now the Southern Anchor of Taiwan Defense
Why Manila Matters in a Taiwan CrisisThe Philippines has moved from the…

October 12, 2025

US Typhon Missile Deployment in Japan Alters Regional Balance
Why this matters nowThe United States has brought its Typhon missile system…

October 10, 2025

Afghanistan goes dark as Taliban imposes 48 hour internet and phone shutdown
How a 48 hour shutdown froze a connected nationAfghanistan went offline without…

October 10, 2025

Pentagon Nominee Urges Bigger South Korean Role in Deterring China
Why this matters nowA senior Pentagon official has told Congress that many…

October 10, 2025
Politics
PoliticsShow More

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

China drafts ethnic unity law to expand ideological control at home and abroad
A sweeping new law to engineer unityChina has unveiled a draft Law…

September 29, 2025

Why Singapore Turned Away Exiled Hong Kong Activist Nathan Law
A Sudden Turn at Changi AirportNathan Law, one of the most widely…

September 29, 2025

Gen Z Uprising in Nepal Leaves Dozens Dead and Brings a New Interim Leader
A nation stunned by its deadliest unrest in decadesAt least 72 people…

September 16, 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

How Social Dining Apps Are Changing Hong Kong’s Restaurant Scene
A new kind of weeknight out in Hong KongOn a typical Wednesday…

October 10, 2025

Nepal Selects New Living Goddess Kumari
Inside Kathmandu, a child ascends to living goddessOn a packed festival day…

October 10, 2025

Hong Kong to Phase Out Substandard Shoebox Flats Under New Law
Why Hong Kong Is Moving to Regulate Shoebox FlatsHong Kong is moving…

October 10, 2025

Lanterns in the sky as KL Tower sets Malaysia record for Mid Autumn parade
Lanterns above Kuala Lumpur set a new height markMenara Kuala Lumpur, also…

October 10, 2025

Breakdowns and safety lapses force pause for Seoul river bus
A troubled launch for a high profile river transit planSeoul s new…

October 10, 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

Alibaba Unveils Qwen3-Omni: Open Source Multimodal AI Model
Why this matters now: open multimodal AI goes mainstreamAlibaba has released Qwen3-Omni,…

October 12, 2025

Singapore and Vietnam open innovation talent exchange for young professionals
Why this cross border scheme matters nowSingapore and Vietnam have switched on…

October 12, 2025

Paper and fax keep Asahi beer moving after ransomware attack
Manual workarounds keep beer flowing after a crippling cyberattackAsahi Group Holdings, Japan's…

October 11, 2025

Japan’s Maglev Chooses Nonreclining Seats for Space and Speed
A design choice shaped by a 40 minute rideJapan is preparing a…

October 10, 2025

China’s AI Chip Challenge to Nvidia Accelerates
Why China's AI chip race matters nowChina is racing to reduce its…

October 10, 2025
Travel
TravelShow More

From screen to street: how K culture is remaking travel to South Korea
A surge powered by stories, music and foodWhen London author Polly Faber…

October 11, 2025

Golden Week crowds in China test tourism safety as travel surges and spending shifts
Holiday rush stretches safety systems across ChinaAt Beijing Happy Valley, workers begin…

October 10, 2025

Everest Hikers Rescued After Blizzard Traps Hundreds
A sudden whiteout in Karma ValleyA powerful snowstorm swept the eastern slopes…

October 10, 2025

Record Golden Week Travel in China as Cost Conscious Tourists Seek Value at Home and Abroad
A holiday rush that broke recordsChina kicked off its extended National Day…

October 10, 2025

K Beauty Tourists Are Turning Korean Pharmacies Into Global Skincare Destinations
How skincare tourism turned pharmacies into destinationsIn South Korea, the humble neighborhood…

October 10, 2025

Philippines defense strategy

Why the Philippines Is Now the Southern Anchor of Taiwan Defense

October 12, 2025