Friday, 3 Oct 2025

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

Economy
EconomyShow More

China Seeks Guaranteed Palm Oil From Indonesia as Demand Climbs and Jakarta Eyes B50
Why China Wants Certainty on Palm Oil SuppliesChina has asked Indonesia to…

October 3, 2025

CapitaLand courts China shoppers with new brands and a Shanghai retail REIT
Why CapitaLand is refreshing its China mallsCapitaLand Investment, the Singapore based real…

October 3, 2025

Indonesia palm oil exports surge 35 percent as prices rise and biodiesel policy reshapes trade
Exports surge as prices climb and volumes expandIndonesia booked strong growth in…

October 3, 2025

China’s $3 Trillion Stock Rally Surges Ahead of Economic Data
Why this rally arrived nowChina’s equity markets have roared back to life…

October 3, 2025

Inside Gujarats Little Tokyo: Japanese auto expats reshape Vithalapur and its hotels
Inside the Japanese hotel boom in rural GujaratIn Vithalapur, a dusty industrial…

October 2, 2025
Education
EducationShow More

Vietnamese Students Keep Winning the University of Toronto Pearson Scholarship
Vietnamese students keep winning one of Canada's toughest scholarshipsAgainst formidable odds, Vietnamese…

October 3, 2025

Vietnam considers allowing foreign students to work part time
A cap of 20 hours and a bid to attract talentVietnam is…

October 2, 2025

Vietnam Plans Massive Workforce for High-Speed Rail Expansion
Why Vietnam is racing to build a rail talent pipelineVietnam is moving…

October 2, 2025

South Korea passes 250,000 international students as Study Korea 300K gains pace
A new milestone for Korean campusesSouth Korea has crossed a long anticipated…

September 29, 2025

Hong Kong to lift non local student cap to 50 percent, housing and integration in focus
Why the quota is rising nowChief Executive John Lee Ka chiu’s latest…

September 29, 2025
Entertainment
EntertainmentShow More

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

Tempest ignites China backlash as Jun Ji Hyun and K culture come under fire
Early hopes for a thaw collide with a new storm over TempestDisney+'s…

September 23, 2025

Starbucks Japan teams with Gelato Pique for pajama inspired latte and cozy goods
A cozy collaboration that taps into Japans love of cute comfortStarbucks Japan…

September 23, 2025
Environment
EnvironmentShow More

China’s Great Green Wall, gains, tensions, and the reshaping of Inner Mongolia
A vast experiment in slowing the sandsAcross northern China, an immense ecological…

October 3, 2025

Indonesia moves to legalize community run oil wells with safety rules and a four year deadline
Why artisanal oil in Indonesia is back in the spotlightAcross Indonesia, thousands…

October 3, 2025

Green Hydrogen Proving Ground in Japan’s Yamanashi Prefecture
Why Yamanashi is becoming Japan's hydrogen laboratoryAt the foot of Mt. Fuji,…

September 29, 2025

Japan Widens Nankai Trough Megaquake Risk to 60 to 90 Percent, Stresses Readiness
New risk range, same urgencyJapan has widened its estimate of the chance…

September 28, 2025

How Japan’s LNG Bets Ripple Through Aboriginal Communities in Australia’s Northern Territory
A remote coastline at the center of a global gas tradeOn a…

September 27, 2025
Health
HealthShow More

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

Vietnam Confronts Food Safety Gaps Across the Food Chain
A silent threat in daily mealsCounterfeit labels, banned chemicals, and food with…

September 25, 2025
International
InternationalShow More

Mavulis Island and the Taiwan contingency: stakes in the Bashi Channel
A frontline outpost in the Bashi ChannelFrom the highest rise on Mavulis…

October 3, 2025

China Sentences 11 Ming Family Figures to Death in Myanmar Scam Crackdown
Inside the verdict that targeted a Myanmar scam empireA court in eastern…

October 3, 2025

China’s Offshore EV Investments Shift Focus to Asia Amid Slowdown
A strategy reset for China's EV pushChina's race to build an electric…

October 2, 2025

JICA Withdraws Japan-Africa Hometown Exchange Program
Why JICA withdrew the Africa hometown planJapan’s international aid agency has scrapped…

September 25, 2025

China edges the US in Southeast Asia as economies and diplomacy tilt toward Beijing
A narrow lead with wide reachChina has taken a slim but consequential…

September 25, 2025
Politics
PoliticsShow More

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

Flood Scandal Ignites Nationwide Protests in the Philippines as Marcos Backs a Sweeping Probe
Outrage builds as flood control scandal sparks nationwide ralliesRising public anger over…

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

Taiwan’s Migrant Workers Confront Rising Tensions and Uncertain Rescue Plans
Life and work in a flashpointTaiwan relies on a vast community of…

October 3, 2025

Singapore’s Elderly Population Surpasses 20% Milestone
A tipping point for Singapore and the regionSingapore crossed a demographic threshold…

October 3, 2025

Matcha Boom Presents Opportunity for Japanese Tea Ceremony
A global craze meets a centuries old ritualMatcha is having a moment…

October 3, 2025

Japan Launches Subsidy Program to Revitalize Vacant Homes Amid Aging Population
Why Japan is subsidizing renovations of soon to be empty homesJapan will…

October 3, 2025

Japan to Subsidize Renovations of Vacant Homes to Help Families and Aging Cities
Why this plan matters nowJapan is preparing a new model project to…

October 3, 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

Inside China’s plug and play AI boom: convenience, cost hurdles, and a race to standardize
Why plug and play AI is taking off in ChinaA new wave…

September 30, 2025

Pangyo Techno Valley at a Crossroads in South Korea’s Global Tech Push
A tech magnet just beyond SeoulA short subway ride south of Seoul…

September 30, 2025

Alibaba Unveils Open Source Qwen3 Omni Multimodal AI Model
A new open source contender in multimodal AIAlibaba has introduced Qwen3 Omni,…

September 30, 2025

Hong Kong Considers Fridge Door Sensors to Monitor Elderly Living Alone
Why a simple fridge door ping could save a lifeAfter a string…

September 29, 2025

US judge upholds Pentagon listing of DJI as Chinese military company
Why a US court let the Pentagon keep DJI on its military…

September 29, 2025
Travel
TravelShow More

Octopus and PayPay bring HKD payments in Japan with zero fees for Hong Kong travelers
HK travelers can now pay in Japan with Octopus through PayPayHong Kong…

October 3, 2025

Japan 2025 Autumn Leaves Forecast Released
Later peaks expected as warm autumn lingers across JapanJapan’s famed autumn foliage…

October 3, 2025

South Korea Welcomes Chinese Group Tours With Visa Waiver as Retail and Hotels Gear Up
A test of tourism and ties as Chinese groups returnSouth Korea has…

October 2, 2025

Korea Autumn Foliage 2025 Guide: Peak Dates, Best Spots and Smart Planning
Why Korea in Autumn Captivates TravelersAutumn in Korea invites slow walks, crisp…

September 30, 2025

Japanese Travelers Are Rediscovering Hong Kong, From Nostalgia to Kawaii Culture
A brisk rebound amid headwindsJapanese visitors are returning to Hong Kong in…

September 28, 2025

Friday, 3 Oct 2025

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

Economy
EconomyShow More

China Seeks Guaranteed Palm Oil From Indonesia as Demand Climbs and Jakarta Eyes B50
Why China Wants Certainty on Palm Oil SuppliesChina has asked Indonesia to…

October 3, 2025

CapitaLand courts China shoppers with new brands and a Shanghai retail REIT
Why CapitaLand is refreshing its China mallsCapitaLand Investment, the Singapore based real…

October 3, 2025

Indonesia palm oil exports surge 35 percent as prices rise and biodiesel policy reshapes trade
Exports surge as prices climb and volumes expandIndonesia booked strong growth in…

October 3, 2025

China’s $3 Trillion Stock Rally Surges Ahead of Economic Data
Why this rally arrived nowChina’s equity markets have roared back to life…

October 3, 2025

Inside Gujarats Little Tokyo: Japanese auto expats reshape Vithalapur and its hotels
Inside the Japanese hotel boom in rural GujaratIn Vithalapur, a dusty industrial…

October 2, 2025
Education
EducationShow More

Vietnamese Students Keep Winning the University of Toronto Pearson Scholarship
Vietnamese students keep winning one of Canada's toughest scholarshipsAgainst formidable odds, Vietnamese…

October 3, 2025

Vietnam considers allowing foreign students to work part time
A cap of 20 hours and a bid to attract talentVietnam is…

October 2, 2025

Vietnam Plans Massive Workforce for High-Speed Rail Expansion
Why Vietnam is racing to build a rail talent pipelineVietnam is moving…

October 2, 2025

South Korea passes 250,000 international students as Study Korea 300K gains pace
A new milestone for Korean campusesSouth Korea has crossed a long anticipated…

September 29, 2025

Hong Kong to lift non local student cap to 50 percent, housing and integration in focus
Why the quota is rising nowChief Executive John Lee Ka chiu’s latest…

September 29, 2025
Entertainment
EntertainmentShow More

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

Tempest ignites China backlash as Jun Ji Hyun and K culture come under fire
Early hopes for a thaw collide with a new storm over TempestDisney+'s…

September 23, 2025

Starbucks Japan teams with Gelato Pique for pajama inspired latte and cozy goods
A cozy collaboration that taps into Japans love of cute comfortStarbucks Japan…

September 23, 2025
Environment
EnvironmentShow More

China’s Great Green Wall, gains, tensions, and the reshaping of Inner Mongolia
A vast experiment in slowing the sandsAcross northern China, an immense ecological…

October 3, 2025

Indonesia moves to legalize community run oil wells with safety rules and a four year deadline
Why artisanal oil in Indonesia is back in the spotlightAcross Indonesia, thousands…

October 3, 2025

Green Hydrogen Proving Ground in Japan’s Yamanashi Prefecture
Why Yamanashi is becoming Japan's hydrogen laboratoryAt the foot of Mt. Fuji,…

September 29, 2025

Japan Widens Nankai Trough Megaquake Risk to 60 to 90 Percent, Stresses Readiness
New risk range, same urgencyJapan has widened its estimate of the chance…

September 28, 2025

How Japan’s LNG Bets Ripple Through Aboriginal Communities in Australia’s Northern Territory
A remote coastline at the center of a global gas tradeOn a…

September 27, 2025
Health
HealthShow More

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

Vietnam Confronts Food Safety Gaps Across the Food Chain
A silent threat in daily mealsCounterfeit labels, banned chemicals, and food with…

September 25, 2025
International
InternationalShow More

Mavulis Island and the Taiwan contingency: stakes in the Bashi Channel
A frontline outpost in the Bashi ChannelFrom the highest rise on Mavulis…

October 3, 2025

China Sentences 11 Ming Family Figures to Death in Myanmar Scam Crackdown
Inside the verdict that targeted a Myanmar scam empireA court in eastern…

October 3, 2025

China’s Offshore EV Investments Shift Focus to Asia Amid Slowdown
A strategy reset for China's EV pushChina's race to build an electric…

October 2, 2025

JICA Withdraws Japan-Africa Hometown Exchange Program
Why JICA withdrew the Africa hometown planJapan’s international aid agency has scrapped…

September 25, 2025

China edges the US in Southeast Asia as economies and diplomacy tilt toward Beijing
A narrow lead with wide reachChina has taken a slim but consequential…

September 25, 2025
Politics
PoliticsShow More

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

Flood Scandal Ignites Nationwide Protests in the Philippines as Marcos Backs a Sweeping Probe
Outrage builds as flood control scandal sparks nationwide ralliesRising public anger over…

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

Taiwan’s Migrant Workers Confront Rising Tensions and Uncertain Rescue Plans
Life and work in a flashpointTaiwan relies on a vast community of…

October 3, 2025

Singapore’s Elderly Population Surpasses 20% Milestone
A tipping point for Singapore and the regionSingapore crossed a demographic threshold…

October 3, 2025

Matcha Boom Presents Opportunity for Japanese Tea Ceremony
A global craze meets a centuries old ritualMatcha is having a moment…

October 3, 2025

Japan Launches Subsidy Program to Revitalize Vacant Homes Amid Aging Population
Why Japan is subsidizing renovations of soon to be empty homesJapan will…

October 3, 2025

Japan to Subsidize Renovations of Vacant Homes to Help Families and Aging Cities
Why this plan matters nowJapan is preparing a new model project to…

October 3, 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

Inside China’s plug and play AI boom: convenience, cost hurdles, and a race to standardize
Why plug and play AI is taking off in ChinaA new wave…

September 30, 2025

Pangyo Techno Valley at a Crossroads in South Korea’s Global Tech Push
A tech magnet just beyond SeoulA short subway ride south of Seoul…

September 30, 2025

Alibaba Unveils Open Source Qwen3 Omni Multimodal AI Model
A new open source contender in multimodal AIAlibaba has introduced Qwen3 Omni,…

September 30, 2025

Hong Kong Considers Fridge Door Sensors to Monitor Elderly Living Alone
Why a simple fridge door ping could save a lifeAfter a string…

September 29, 2025

US judge upholds Pentagon listing of DJI as Chinese military company
Why a US court let the Pentagon keep DJI on its military…

September 29, 2025
Travel
TravelShow More

Octopus and PayPay bring HKD payments in Japan with zero fees for Hong Kong travelers
HK travelers can now pay in Japan with Octopus through PayPayHong Kong…

October 3, 2025

Japan 2025 Autumn Leaves Forecast Released
Later peaks expected as warm autumn lingers across JapanJapan’s famed autumn foliage…

October 3, 2025

South Korea Welcomes Chinese Group Tours With Visa Waiver as Retail and Hotels Gear Up
A test of tourism and ties as Chinese groups returnSouth Korea has…

October 2, 2025

Korea Autumn Foliage 2025 Guide: Peak Dates, Best Spots and Smart Planning
Why Korea in Autumn Captivates TravelersAutumn in Korea invites slow walks, crisp…

September 30, 2025

Japanese Travelers Are Rediscovering Hong Kong, From Nostalgia to Kawaii Culture
A brisk rebound amid headwindsJapanese visitors are returning to Hong Kong in…

September 28, 2025

Philippines Taiwan contingency

Mavulis Island and the Taiwan contingency: stakes in the Bashi Channel

October 3, 2025