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

Hong Kong Pension Scheme Improves but Trails Singapore
Hong Kong rises in global pension index as Singapore keeps its leadHong…

October 15, 2025

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
Education
EducationShow More

Fukuoka arrest exposes yearslong teacher license forgery and hidden misconduct
How a parent complaint exposed a hidden pastA 66-year-old man who worked…

October 15, 2025

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
Entertainment
EntertainmentShow More

Fifty Fifty Sets November Comeback With Too Much Part 1 After Pookie Surge
A November comeback with fresh momentumFifty Fifty will return on November 4,…

October 15, 2025

When Designs Collide: QWER, The Boyz, and the Ethics of K-pop Light Sticks
Why the design mattersIn K-pop, the official light stick is a powerful…

October 15, 2025

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
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

China Seizes 60,000 Maps Over Taiwan Labelling Dispute
A new clash over borders on paperChinese customs officers in Shandong province…

October 15, 2025

South Korean Student’s Death in Cambodia Sparks Diplomatic Crisis
A case that shocked two countriesSouth Korea has launched an urgent diplomatic…

October 15, 2025

Timor-Leste Becomes ASEAN’s 11th Member
How Timor-Leste won a seat at ASEANOn October 26, 2025, Timor-Leste will…

October 15, 2025

Seoul Honors Seo Gap ho, the Textile King Who Gave Land for Koreas Embassy in Tokyo
A gift that shaped a mission in TokyoSeoul has honored entrepreneur and…

October 15, 2025

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
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

Chocolat the Cat Retires as Stationmaster in Yamagata After Years of Smiles
A Farewell Fit for a Local StarA crowd gathered on September 14…

October 15, 2025

JR Hokkaido disciplines driver seen reading during scheduled stop at Otaru Station
A quiet eight minutes that sparked a policy debateA routine pause at…

October 15, 2025

Ex UOB Staff Convicted for Leaking Data of More Than 1,000 Customers in Police Impersonation Scam
A conviction that tests bank data safeguardsA former junior officer at United…

October 15, 2025

Xi Jinping’s Crackdown on Chinese Feminists Amid Women’s Rights Summit
Celebration in Beijing, constraints on the groundAt a high profile global meeting…

October 15, 2025

Thai troops foil trafficking of 11 youths bound for Cambodia call center scam
Rescue near the Cambodia border after a parent alertThai troops intervened in…

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

Malaysia to roll out biometric identity and advance screening for all foreign visitors
Why Malaysia is moving to full biometric checksMalaysia is preparing one of…

October 15, 2025

Passport Only SIM Signups Expose Weak Links in Korea Mobile ID Checks
Why foreigner verification is under scrutinySome foreign nationals can secure South Korean…

October 15, 2025

AI brings a 1,600 year old Chinese love scroll back to life
An ancient love poem returns to viewA Chinese research team has digitally…

October 15, 2025

China Blocks Nexperia Exports After Dutch Seizure, Raising Stakes in Chip Dispute
A new flashpoint in the chips contestChina has prohibited exports of specific…

October 15, 2025

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
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

Hong Kong Pension Scheme Improves but Trails Singapore
Hong Kong rises in global pension index as Singapore keeps its leadHong…

October 15, 2025

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
Education
EducationShow More

Fukuoka arrest exposes yearslong teacher license forgery and hidden misconduct
How a parent complaint exposed a hidden pastA 66-year-old man who worked…

October 15, 2025

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
Entertainment
EntertainmentShow More

Fifty Fifty Sets November Comeback With Too Much Part 1 After Pookie Surge
A November comeback with fresh momentumFifty Fifty will return on November 4,…

October 15, 2025

When Designs Collide: QWER, The Boyz, and the Ethics of K-pop Light Sticks
Why the design mattersIn K-pop, the official light stick is a powerful…

October 15, 2025

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
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

China Seizes 60,000 Maps Over Taiwan Labelling Dispute
A new clash over borders on paperChinese customs officers in Shandong province…

October 15, 2025

South Korean Student’s Death in Cambodia Sparks Diplomatic Crisis
A case that shocked two countriesSouth Korea has launched an urgent diplomatic…

October 15, 2025

Timor-Leste Becomes ASEAN’s 11th Member
How Timor-Leste won a seat at ASEANOn October 26, 2025, Timor-Leste will…

October 15, 2025

Seoul Honors Seo Gap ho, the Textile King Who Gave Land for Koreas Embassy in Tokyo
A gift that shaped a mission in TokyoSeoul has honored entrepreneur and…

October 15, 2025

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
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

Chocolat the Cat Retires as Stationmaster in Yamagata After Years of Smiles
A Farewell Fit for a Local StarA crowd gathered on September 14…

October 15, 2025

JR Hokkaido disciplines driver seen reading during scheduled stop at Otaru Station
A quiet eight minutes that sparked a policy debateA routine pause at…

October 15, 2025

Ex UOB Staff Convicted for Leaking Data of More Than 1,000 Customers in Police Impersonation Scam
A conviction that tests bank data safeguardsA former junior officer at United…

October 15, 2025

Xi Jinping’s Crackdown on Chinese Feminists Amid Women’s Rights Summit
Celebration in Beijing, constraints on the groundAt a high profile global meeting…

October 15, 2025

Thai troops foil trafficking of 11 youths bound for Cambodia call center scam
Rescue near the Cambodia border after a parent alertThai troops intervened in…

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

Malaysia to roll out biometric identity and advance screening for all foreign visitors
Why Malaysia is moving to full biometric checksMalaysia is preparing one of…

October 15, 2025

Passport Only SIM Signups Expose Weak Links in Korea Mobile ID Checks
Why foreigner verification is under scrutinySome foreign nationals can secure South Korean…

October 15, 2025

AI brings a 1,600 year old Chinese love scroll back to life
An ancient love poem returns to viewA Chinese research team has digitally…

October 15, 2025

China Blocks Nexperia Exports After Dutch Seizure, Raising Stakes in Chip Dispute
A new flashpoint in the chips contestChina has prohibited exports of specific…

October 15, 2025

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
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

Studio Ghibli merchandise

Ghibli unveils Kiki tea blend and Hario glass mugs in Japan

October 15, 2025