Wednesday, 12 Nov 2025

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

Economy
EconomyShow More

TSMC awards NT$25,000 Sports Day bonus to every employee worldwide as profits surge
A bigger thank you after a banner yearTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company will…

November 11, 2025

Thai Households Cut Luxuries and Spend on Health as Costs Rise in 2025
Why Thai consumers feel squeezed in 2025Thai households are walking a tightrope…

November 11, 2025

Maersk Bets 118 Million on Malaysia as Tariffs Reshape Global Supply Chains
Southeast Asia steps into a new trade eraOn the edge of a…

November 10, 2025

Thailand Looks to Seniors to Ease Labour Shortages and Power the Silver Economy
Why Thailand is Aging and Short of WorkersThailand has entered aged society…

November 10, 2025

Singapore dining industry faces heavy churn as 2,431 outlets shut in 2025
Closures surge as costs climb and spending coolsSingapore’s dining landscape is in…

November 10, 2025
Education
EducationShow More

Toddlers on Trial: Inside Hong Kong’s Preschool Interview Culture
A high pressure starting line for familiesWhen Singaporean mother Mrs Lim moved…

November 11, 2025

Concerns Over Compulsory English From Grade 1 in Vietnam
A sweeping shift to early English in every classroomVietnam has set a…

November 10, 2025

Vietnamese 10 year old earns IELTS 8.5 with no coaching
How a 10 year old reached an IELTS 8.5 without formal coachingA…

November 10, 2025

10 Inspiring Singapore Spots That Turn Family Outings Into Learning
Why learning outside the classroom worksWhen children learn with their hands, eyes,…

November 9, 2025

Tokyo sets school rules for monster parents with recordings and 30 minute meetings
Why Tokyo is drawing a line on parent harassmentTokyo is moving to…

November 9, 2025
Entertainment
EntertainmentShow More

Square Enix Announces Mass Layoffs Amid Reorganization
A reshaped Square Enix enters a leaner eraSquare Enix is cutting staff…

November 11, 2025

Anime Studio Bankruptcies Keep Rising in Japan Despite Record Demand
A record market with shrinking marginsJapan’s anime engine has rarely been busier,…

November 7, 2025

Silla Gold Crowns Reunited in Gyeongju, Visitor Cap Set Amid Surging Demand
A rare reunion draws crowds and a capGyeongju National Museum has set…

November 5, 2025

G Dragon Hangzhou exhibition signals possible easing of the hallyu ban
A landmark art show meets a rare political openingG Dragon is set…

November 5, 2025

Inside the 15,947 drone spectacle that set two world records in Liuyang
A festival sky rewritten by softwareLiuyang in Hunan Province is famous for…

November 3, 2025
Environment
EnvironmentShow More

China withholds funding for Brazil forest fund, urges rich countries to lead at COP30
A test for forest finance at COP30Brazil used the first week of…

November 11, 2025

Private projects keep Chinas overseas coal alive despite green pledge
The state of play in 2025Chinas promise to stop building coal power…

November 10, 2025

Japan delivery companies slow routes and equip drivers as bear attacks climb
Why couriers are changing routes nowDelivery drivers in northern Japan are changing…

November 9, 2025

Italy Targets Shein After France’s Move
Why Italy is tightening scrutiny of ultra fast fashionItaly is moving to…

November 9, 2025

Arsenic crisis on Salween and Mekong tied to Myanmar mining threatens Thai communities
Arsenic alarms on the Salween spur urgent calls in ThailandRecent lab tests…

November 8, 2025
Health
HealthShow More

Indonesia’s Free School Meals Under Fire as Food Poisoning Cases Surge
Crisis in a program designed to fight child hungerWhen Rini Irawati rushed…

November 10, 2025

Chongqing aims to become a novel drug hub by 2027 with new clusters and annual approvals
From factory floors to biotech labs: Chongqing bets on novel medicinesChongqing, a…

November 8, 2025

Skepticism Surrounds Pyongyang General Hospital World Class Claims
A showcase hospital with missing core technologyNorth Korea has begun admitting patients…

November 7, 2025

Nepal Faces Shortage of Birth Control Shots in Health Facilities
A nationwide scramble for basic contraceptivesAcross Nepal, public clinics and hospitals report…

November 7, 2025

Sushiro Hong Kong rebuts TVB smuggling claims and threatens legal action amid food safety concerns
A new controversy over seafood safety in Hong KongA prominent Japanese sushi…

November 4, 2025
International
InternationalShow More

Bombs and Raids Fail to Stop Myanmar Border Scam Machine
Inside a border crackdown that shook Mae Sot and MyawaddyAfter sunset on…

November 11, 2025

Indonesia presses US to lift radiation yellow list for shrimp as certified exports resume
Why US scrutiny rose on Indonesian shrimpIndonesia is pushing Washington to remove…

November 11, 2025

Nepal rejects Malaysia’s new recruitment criteria, calls for bilateral solution
Nepal and Malaysia at odds over new recruitment rulesNepal has formally informed…

November 11, 2025

China Pauses Critical Mineral Export Controls to U.S. After Trump and Xi Talks
Why a fragile truce is reshaping the critical minerals tradeChina has moved…

November 10, 2025

Thai Border Arrest Uncovers 1,000 SIM Cards Tied to Myanmar Scam Hubs
Before dawn arrest exposes a SIM pipeline at Thailand's eastern borderThai border…

November 9, 2025
Politics
PoliticsShow More

Indonesia names Suharto national hero, sparking protests and debate
A contested honor on National Heroes DayIndonesia has awarded the title of…

November 10, 2025

Protests Mount in Jakarta Over Plan to Honor Suharto as National Hero
A New Hero List Reopens Old WoundsAround 100 activists gathered in central…

November 7, 2025

Bihar election 2025: Gen Z weighs job pledges, exams, and migration
Youth vote shapes a high stakes Bihar contestBihar, home to one of…

November 7, 2025

Jilin-1 Satellite Images of Taiwan Spark Pride, Criticism, and Strategic Debate
What triggered the latest focus on Taiwan from spaceOn October 25, the…

November 6, 2025

Takaichi seeks landmark summit with North Korea to resolve abductions
A new opening on a decades old riftJapan's new prime minister, Sanae…

November 4, 2025
Science
ScienceShow More

Ammonia to Hydrogen: How South Korea is building a cleaner fuel supply chain
Why South Korean researchers are betting on ammonia to unlock clean hydrogenSouth…

November 10, 2025

Taiwan Wins 12 Gold Medals at Nuremberg Invention Exhibition
A strong showing in NurembergTaiwan’s delegation at the Inventors' and Innovation Exhibition…

November 7, 2025

China’s Rise as a Global Science Power and Europe’s Response
A turning point in global scienceGlobal research is passing through a rare…

November 7, 2025

Ancient Malay vessel unearthed on Pulau Melaka points to 13th century maritime power
A landmark find on Pulau MelakaArchaeologists in Malaysia have uncovered the remains…

November 7, 2025

Singapore Cautious as ASEAN Neighbors Weigh Nuclear Power Timelines and Technologies
Rising Nuclear Interest, Limited ClaritySingapore has sounded a note of caution: despite…

November 7, 2025
Society
SocietyShow More

Dhaka Rally Puts Malaysia Wage Claims in Spotlight as Workers Press Global Brands for Remedy
New push for justice as unpaid wages and abuse claims mountAbout 100…

November 11, 2025

Malaysia faces renewed calls to reform foreign worker system amid trafficking concerns
Why pressure to reform is mountingMalaysia is again facing sharp scrutiny over…

November 11, 2025

Taipei bazaar spotlights Hong Kong creators and a widening freedom gap
A weekend market with a deeper messageThe voices at Taipei’s Huashan 1914…

November 11, 2025

Branding Backfire in China as People’s Cafe Restores Yao Chao Name
A branding play that hit a political tripwireA cafe brand that leaned…

November 10, 2025

Thailand New Alcohol Law Fines Drinkers and Tightens Advertising
What changed under Thailand's new alcohol lawThailand has put drinkers on notice.…

November 9, 2025
Sports
SportsShow More

From Village Lanes to a World Cup: How India’s Women Lifted a Nation
A Breakthrough Win Years in the MakingIndia won its first Women’s Cricket…

November 7, 2025

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
Technology
TechnologyShow More

North Korean Konni group exploits Google Find Hub and KakaoTalk to wipe phones and spread malware in South Korea
How North Korean operatives turned trusted apps against South KoreansNorth Korean state…

November 11, 2025

Cryo-ET Reveals Photoresist Clusters, Cutting DUV Defects by 99 Percent but Hurting EUV
What the researchers discoveredA research team in China has captured one of…

November 11, 2025

Singapore Ranks Second Worldwide for Stolen Payment Cards as Dark Web Trade Grows
Singapore's high digital adoption brings exposure, not weaknessSingapore ranks second worldwide by…

November 11, 2025

China Bars Foreign AI Chips from State Funded Data Centers
What Changed and Why It MattersChina has issued new guidance requiring any…

November 9, 2025

AI Boom Squeezes Japan PC Parts Market as Akihabara Shops Ration SSDs, HDDs and RAM
Shortages hit Akihabara as shops ration storage and memoryJapan’s signature electronics district,…

November 9, 2025
Travel
TravelShow More

Malaysia’s Passport Surges to Third in 2025 Passport Index, Outpacing the US
How Malaysia joined the passport power eliteMalaysia has entered the top tier…

November 11, 2025

Revival and Heritage of Hongcun: Chinas Living Masterpiece
A living village in an ink paintingIn the calm light of autumn,…

November 10, 2025

Inside Tokyo’s Off Limit Tours, From Airport Tarmac to Market Floors
Why Restricted Access Is Becoming a Big Draw in TokyoAcross Tokyo, travelers…

November 9, 2025

Why Chinese travelers are choosing Singapore despite high prices
Visa waivers, social media and a strong brand pull young travelersSingapore is…

November 9, 2025

Thailand sets five day New Year break in 2026 to boost travel and spending
A longer New Year to kick start travel and the economyThailand will…

November 7, 2025

Wednesday, 12 Nov 2025

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

Economy
EconomyShow More

TSMC awards NT$25,000 Sports Day bonus to every employee worldwide as profits surge
A bigger thank you after a banner yearTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company will…

November 11, 2025

Thai Households Cut Luxuries and Spend on Health as Costs Rise in 2025
Why Thai consumers feel squeezed in 2025Thai households are walking a tightrope…

November 11, 2025

Maersk Bets 118 Million on Malaysia as Tariffs Reshape Global Supply Chains
Southeast Asia steps into a new trade eraOn the edge of a…

November 10, 2025

Thailand Looks to Seniors to Ease Labour Shortages and Power the Silver Economy
Why Thailand is Aging and Short of WorkersThailand has entered aged society…

November 10, 2025

Singapore dining industry faces heavy churn as 2,431 outlets shut in 2025
Closures surge as costs climb and spending coolsSingapore’s dining landscape is in…

November 10, 2025
Education
EducationShow More

Toddlers on Trial: Inside Hong Kong’s Preschool Interview Culture
A high pressure starting line for familiesWhen Singaporean mother Mrs Lim moved…

November 11, 2025

Concerns Over Compulsory English From Grade 1 in Vietnam
A sweeping shift to early English in every classroomVietnam has set a…

November 10, 2025

Vietnamese 10 year old earns IELTS 8.5 with no coaching
How a 10 year old reached an IELTS 8.5 without formal coachingA…

November 10, 2025

10 Inspiring Singapore Spots That Turn Family Outings Into Learning
Why learning outside the classroom worksWhen children learn with their hands, eyes,…

November 9, 2025

Tokyo sets school rules for monster parents with recordings and 30 minute meetings
Why Tokyo is drawing a line on parent harassmentTokyo is moving to…

November 9, 2025
Entertainment
EntertainmentShow More

Square Enix Announces Mass Layoffs Amid Reorganization
A reshaped Square Enix enters a leaner eraSquare Enix is cutting staff…

November 11, 2025

Anime Studio Bankruptcies Keep Rising in Japan Despite Record Demand
A record market with shrinking marginsJapan’s anime engine has rarely been busier,…

November 7, 2025

Silla Gold Crowns Reunited in Gyeongju, Visitor Cap Set Amid Surging Demand
A rare reunion draws crowds and a capGyeongju National Museum has set…

November 5, 2025

G Dragon Hangzhou exhibition signals possible easing of the hallyu ban
A landmark art show meets a rare political openingG Dragon is set…

November 5, 2025

Inside the 15,947 drone spectacle that set two world records in Liuyang
A festival sky rewritten by softwareLiuyang in Hunan Province is famous for…

November 3, 2025
Environment
EnvironmentShow More

China withholds funding for Brazil forest fund, urges rich countries to lead at COP30
A test for forest finance at COP30Brazil used the first week of…

November 11, 2025

Private projects keep Chinas overseas coal alive despite green pledge
The state of play in 2025Chinas promise to stop building coal power…

November 10, 2025

Japan delivery companies slow routes and equip drivers as bear attacks climb
Why couriers are changing routes nowDelivery drivers in northern Japan are changing…

November 9, 2025

Italy Targets Shein After France’s Move
Why Italy is tightening scrutiny of ultra fast fashionItaly is moving to…

November 9, 2025

Arsenic crisis on Salween and Mekong tied to Myanmar mining threatens Thai communities
Arsenic alarms on the Salween spur urgent calls in ThailandRecent lab tests…

November 8, 2025
Health
HealthShow More

Indonesia’s Free School Meals Under Fire as Food Poisoning Cases Surge
Crisis in a program designed to fight child hungerWhen Rini Irawati rushed…

November 10, 2025

Chongqing aims to become a novel drug hub by 2027 with new clusters and annual approvals
From factory floors to biotech labs: Chongqing bets on novel medicinesChongqing, a…

November 8, 2025

Skepticism Surrounds Pyongyang General Hospital World Class Claims
A showcase hospital with missing core technologyNorth Korea has begun admitting patients…

November 7, 2025

Nepal Faces Shortage of Birth Control Shots in Health Facilities
A nationwide scramble for basic contraceptivesAcross Nepal, public clinics and hospitals report…

November 7, 2025

Sushiro Hong Kong rebuts TVB smuggling claims and threatens legal action amid food safety concerns
A new controversy over seafood safety in Hong KongA prominent Japanese sushi…

November 4, 2025
International
InternationalShow More

Bombs and Raids Fail to Stop Myanmar Border Scam Machine
Inside a border crackdown that shook Mae Sot and MyawaddyAfter sunset on…

November 11, 2025

Indonesia presses US to lift radiation yellow list for shrimp as certified exports resume
Why US scrutiny rose on Indonesian shrimpIndonesia is pushing Washington to remove…

November 11, 2025

Nepal rejects Malaysia’s new recruitment criteria, calls for bilateral solution
Nepal and Malaysia at odds over new recruitment rulesNepal has formally informed…

November 11, 2025

China Pauses Critical Mineral Export Controls to U.S. After Trump and Xi Talks
Why a fragile truce is reshaping the critical minerals tradeChina has moved…

November 10, 2025

Thai Border Arrest Uncovers 1,000 SIM Cards Tied to Myanmar Scam Hubs
Before dawn arrest exposes a SIM pipeline at Thailand's eastern borderThai border…

November 9, 2025
Politics
PoliticsShow More

Indonesia names Suharto national hero, sparking protests and debate
A contested honor on National Heroes DayIndonesia has awarded the title of…

November 10, 2025

Protests Mount in Jakarta Over Plan to Honor Suharto as National Hero
A New Hero List Reopens Old WoundsAround 100 activists gathered in central…

November 7, 2025

Bihar election 2025: Gen Z weighs job pledges, exams, and migration
Youth vote shapes a high stakes Bihar contestBihar, home to one of…

November 7, 2025

Jilin-1 Satellite Images of Taiwan Spark Pride, Criticism, and Strategic Debate
What triggered the latest focus on Taiwan from spaceOn October 25, the…

November 6, 2025

Takaichi seeks landmark summit with North Korea to resolve abductions
A new opening on a decades old riftJapan's new prime minister, Sanae…

November 4, 2025
Science
ScienceShow More

Ammonia to Hydrogen: How South Korea is building a cleaner fuel supply chain
Why South Korean researchers are betting on ammonia to unlock clean hydrogenSouth…

November 10, 2025

Taiwan Wins 12 Gold Medals at Nuremberg Invention Exhibition
A strong showing in NurembergTaiwan’s delegation at the Inventors' and Innovation Exhibition…

November 7, 2025

China’s Rise as a Global Science Power and Europe’s Response
A turning point in global scienceGlobal research is passing through a rare…

November 7, 2025

Ancient Malay vessel unearthed on Pulau Melaka points to 13th century maritime power
A landmark find on Pulau MelakaArchaeologists in Malaysia have uncovered the remains…

November 7, 2025

Singapore Cautious as ASEAN Neighbors Weigh Nuclear Power Timelines and Technologies
Rising Nuclear Interest, Limited ClaritySingapore has sounded a note of caution: despite…

November 7, 2025
Society
SocietyShow More

Dhaka Rally Puts Malaysia Wage Claims in Spotlight as Workers Press Global Brands for Remedy
New push for justice as unpaid wages and abuse claims mountAbout 100…

November 11, 2025

Malaysia faces renewed calls to reform foreign worker system amid trafficking concerns
Why pressure to reform is mountingMalaysia is again facing sharp scrutiny over…

November 11, 2025

Taipei bazaar spotlights Hong Kong creators and a widening freedom gap
A weekend market with a deeper messageThe voices at Taipei’s Huashan 1914…

November 11, 2025

Branding Backfire in China as People’s Cafe Restores Yao Chao Name
A branding play that hit a political tripwireA cafe brand that leaned…

November 10, 2025

Thailand New Alcohol Law Fines Drinkers and Tightens Advertising
What changed under Thailand's new alcohol lawThailand has put drinkers on notice.…

November 9, 2025
Sports
SportsShow More

From Village Lanes to a World Cup: How India’s Women Lifted a Nation
A Breakthrough Win Years in the MakingIndia won its first Women’s Cricket…

November 7, 2025

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
Technology
TechnologyShow More

North Korean Konni group exploits Google Find Hub and KakaoTalk to wipe phones and spread malware in South Korea
How North Korean operatives turned trusted apps against South KoreansNorth Korean state…

November 11, 2025

Cryo-ET Reveals Photoresist Clusters, Cutting DUV Defects by 99 Percent but Hurting EUV
What the researchers discoveredA research team in China has captured one of…

November 11, 2025

Singapore Ranks Second Worldwide for Stolen Payment Cards as Dark Web Trade Grows
Singapore's high digital adoption brings exposure, not weaknessSingapore ranks second worldwide by…

November 11, 2025

China Bars Foreign AI Chips from State Funded Data Centers
What Changed and Why It MattersChina has issued new guidance requiring any…

November 9, 2025

AI Boom Squeezes Japan PC Parts Market as Akihabara Shops Ration SSDs, HDDs and RAM
Shortages hit Akihabara as shops ration storage and memoryJapan’s signature electronics district,…

November 9, 2025
Travel
TravelShow More

Malaysia’s Passport Surges to Third in 2025 Passport Index, Outpacing the US
How Malaysia joined the passport power eliteMalaysia has entered the top tier…

November 11, 2025

Revival and Heritage of Hongcun: Chinas Living Masterpiece
A living village in an ink paintingIn the calm light of autumn,…

November 10, 2025

Inside Tokyo’s Off Limit Tours, From Airport Tarmac to Market Floors
Why Restricted Access Is Becoming a Big Draw in TokyoAcross Tokyo, travelers…

November 9, 2025

Why Chinese travelers are choosing Singapore despite high prices
Visa waivers, social media and a strong brand pull young travelersSingapore is…

November 9, 2025

Thailand sets five day New Year break in 2026 to boost travel and spending
A longer New Year to kick start travel and the economyThailand will…

November 7, 2025

Square Enix layoffs

Square Enix is Laying Off Over 100 People

Square Enix Announces Mass Layoffs Amid Reorganization

November 11, 2025