Friday, 10 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’s Panda Bond Market Expands Beijing’s Political Influence
A turning point for yuan bonds issued by foreign borrowersChina’s panda bond…

October 10, 2025

Vietnam fast tracks dual international financial centers in Ho Chi Minh City and Danang
Inside Vietnams plan to build a global facing financial hubOn a stretch…

October 10, 2025

From Big Loans to Competitive Bids How Chinese Builders Are Evolving in Africa
Why Chinese construction power in Africa enduresChinese banks have sharply reduced support…

October 10, 2025

Indonesia pursues new China backed rail as Whoosh debt forces hard choices
Why Indonesia wants more rail, and why debt is back in focusOn…

October 10, 2025

Shinkansen Train Cuts Japan-Singapore Goods Transport Time by 20%
A new fast lane for Japanese products bound for SingaporeJapan’s shinkansen has…

October 10, 2025
Education
EducationShow More

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

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
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

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

Record Fire Ant Infestation at Tokyo Port Spurs Emergency Response and Border Action
Why this discovery matters nowTokyo authorities have confirmed the largest find of…

October 10, 2025

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
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

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

Japan protests Chinese survey ship in its EEZ near Amami Oshima, renewing boundary dispute
Fresh friction over a Chinese survey ship near Amami OshimaJapan lodged a…

October 6, 2025

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
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

Japan two hour phone guideline sparks Gen Z trials and debate
Toyoake tests a two hour smartphone guidelineIn a country where phones are…

October 10, 2025

The volunteer shaping how the world reads about South Korea on Wikipedia
A volunteer mission to rebalance how Korea is described onlineSearch results for…

October 10, 2025

Japan Overhauls Foreign Trainee System for 2027 With Job Mobility and a Path to Skilled Visas
A major reset for a critical workforce pipelineJapan will dismantle its three…

October 6, 2025

First withdrawal tests Hong Kong land sharing program
A rare retreat in a scheme built for speedFor the first time…

October 5, 2025

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
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

How Adi Vaani uses AI to revive India’s tribal languages
A new digital bridge for tribal languagesIn a primary school in central…

October 10, 2025

Tokyo data center boom collides with neighborhoods and spurs calls for rules
A city meets the data surge near its homesAcross Tokyo, the infrastructure…

October 10, 2025

Malaysia Data Center Boom Accelerates as Johor Rises, Power and Policy Crunch Looms
Malaysia's breakout moment in the data center raceMalaysia is in the middle…

October 10, 2025

Section 337 at the USITC, How It Works and Why Chinese Companies Face Rising Risk
Why Section 337 Matters NowSection 337 investigations have become one of Washington’s…

October 10, 2025

Hong Kong travelers seek refunds after Octopus PayPay glitches in Japan
A rocky start for Octopus payments in JapanA new feature that lets…

October 10, 2025
Travel
TravelShow More

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

Hong Kong hotels fill up for National Day, yet early finishes spur same day trips
A surge in arrivals, a shift in behaviorHong Kong welcomed a strong…

October 5, 2025

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

Friday, 10 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’s Panda Bond Market Expands Beijing’s Political Influence
A turning point for yuan bonds issued by foreign borrowersChina’s panda bond…

October 10, 2025

Vietnam fast tracks dual international financial centers in Ho Chi Minh City and Danang
Inside Vietnams plan to build a global facing financial hubOn a stretch…

October 10, 2025

From Big Loans to Competitive Bids How Chinese Builders Are Evolving in Africa
Why Chinese construction power in Africa enduresChinese banks have sharply reduced support…

October 10, 2025

Indonesia pursues new China backed rail as Whoosh debt forces hard choices
Why Indonesia wants more rail, and why debt is back in focusOn…

October 10, 2025

Shinkansen Train Cuts Japan-Singapore Goods Transport Time by 20%
A new fast lane for Japanese products bound for SingaporeJapan’s shinkansen has…

October 10, 2025
Education
EducationShow More

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

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
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

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

Record Fire Ant Infestation at Tokyo Port Spurs Emergency Response and Border Action
Why this discovery matters nowTokyo authorities have confirmed the largest find of…

October 10, 2025

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
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

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

Japan protests Chinese survey ship in its EEZ near Amami Oshima, renewing boundary dispute
Fresh friction over a Chinese survey ship near Amami OshimaJapan lodged a…

October 6, 2025

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
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

Japan two hour phone guideline sparks Gen Z trials and debate
Toyoake tests a two hour smartphone guidelineIn a country where phones are…

October 10, 2025

The volunteer shaping how the world reads about South Korea on Wikipedia
A volunteer mission to rebalance how Korea is described onlineSearch results for…

October 10, 2025

Japan Overhauls Foreign Trainee System for 2027 With Job Mobility and a Path to Skilled Visas
A major reset for a critical workforce pipelineJapan will dismantle its three…

October 6, 2025

First withdrawal tests Hong Kong land sharing program
A rare retreat in a scheme built for speedFor the first time…

October 5, 2025

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
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

How Adi Vaani uses AI to revive India’s tribal languages
A new digital bridge for tribal languagesIn a primary school in central…

October 10, 2025

Tokyo data center boom collides with neighborhoods and spurs calls for rules
A city meets the data surge near its homesAcross Tokyo, the infrastructure…

October 10, 2025

Malaysia Data Center Boom Accelerates as Johor Rises, Power and Policy Crunch Looms
Malaysia's breakout moment in the data center raceMalaysia is in the middle…

October 10, 2025

Section 337 at the USITC, How It Works and Why Chinese Companies Face Rising Risk
Why Section 337 Matters NowSection 337 investigations have become one of Washington’s…

October 10, 2025

Hong Kong travelers seek refunds after Octopus PayPay glitches in Japan
A rocky start for Octopus payments in JapanA new feature that lets…

October 10, 2025
Travel
TravelShow More

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

Hong Kong hotels fill up for National Day, yet early finishes spur same day trips
A surge in arrivals, a shift in behaviorHong Kong welcomed a strong…

October 5, 2025

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

private education regulation

Korea Considers Ban on English Kindergartens Amid Parental Backlash

October 10, 2025