As victims are counted and efforts are underway to save hydroelectric plant workers in Nepal, questions are mounting about the sustainability of the development model adopted in recent years in the shadow of the Himalayas. For its part, the Nepali government is demanding “climate compensation”.
The governor of Niigata Prefecture approved the partial restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, marking a turning point in Japan's energy strategy, spearheaded by Sanae Takaichi’s government. The prime minister is also considering a revision of the country’s three historic non-nuclear principles, sparking outrage among survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
India wants China to open a flight corridor over Xinjiang, even though the area is highly militarised. Tensions with India have led Pakistan to close its airspace to Indian aircraft, causing Air India losses estimated at over US$ 450 million a year. Meanwhile, closures of land crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan are paralysing regional trade, leading Ariana Afghan Airlines to lower fares to Indian markets.
An 18-year-old man died of cardiac arrest after he was turned away by several hospitals due to a lack of paediatric specialists. The case reignites the debate over the severe shortage of medical doctors in South Korea, which former President Yoon Suk-yeol had tried to address, but which specialists opposed in a lengthy strike. Paediatrics, in particular, faces serious issues due to the country's low birthrate.
The blogger who reported on the Wuhan pandemic - sentenced two months ago to another four years in prison - has been taken to a new detention centre for ‘education’ sessions. Meanwhile, the former abbot of Shaolin Temple, who fell from grace in July for being too ‘independent’, has now been sent to prison on charges of corruption.
A meeting in Beijing between senior officials from the two foreign ministries failed to solve the heated dispute. The number of tourist cancellations over the weekend reaches early COVID-19 levels. Beijing is also putting pressure on Chinese students, who, faced with visa difficulties in the United States, increasingly opted for Japanese universities.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption has arrested two men and one woman on charges of sharing messages urging people to boycott or invalidate their votes in the upcoming legislative elections on 7 December, the second to be held under the ‘patriotic only’ electoral system imposed by Beijing. While 35 MPs will not seek re-election, the government has stepped up activities in the city to increase turnout after the collapse in turnout in 2021.
At the age of 13, working in a glove factory, his hand and arm were crushed under a press. Now the South Korean president is relaunching the fight against workplace accidents. The country records 3.9 deaths per 100,000 workers, with a 4.1% increase in victims over the last five years. The government is increasing funds for prevention in 2026, with inspections in companies and protection for subcontracted workers. Meanwhile, the opposition accuses Lee of populism and ineffective measures.
On the day celebrating the Jubilee of the Poor, a priest from the Diocese of Tokyo reflects on how he included the night-time “tent city” in St. Peter's Square in the Holy Year itinerary with a group of fellow countrymen. ‘An invitation not to judge, but to set out on a journey in our poverty together with others.’
In prison for a year along with a local shop owner, the former "official" head of a diocese in Zhejiang province has denied corruption charges, maintaining that he acted as a priest. Pressure has ben put on Catholics who wanted to be in court to support him. Some argue that his real 'fault' lies in a pilgrimage to Rome or the failure to support the nomination of a bishop imposed by the Communist Party.
To combat overtourism, the Japanese government will increase the tax paid by foreign tourists when they leave the country: from 1,000 to 3,000 yen. Mass tourism affects mostly Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hokkaido, and Fukuoka. This is yet another step to limit overcrowding, help regional economies, and promote more sustainable tourism. Overall, tourism revenue remains a pillar of the Japanese economy.
A new, large-scale mining facility, 75 per cent owned by Chinese companies, began operations this week in the hills of southern Guinea. It is expected to have a major impact on the global mining industry, not least because of the quality of the extracted material, which is more suitable for low-carbon steel production.
From a niche hobby introduced by Japan, the trend of dressing up as comic book characters or historical figures from ancient times continues to grow among young people in China, fuelling a market that is now worth over $12 billion. The local variant of “Hanfu” is spreading Chinese national identity among Generation Z.
Subscribe to the newsletter to receive verified news, analysis and insights from Asian countries every week.
Subscribeto the newsletter
