Asia

Street Food in Dhaka - Top Snacks and Where to Find Them

There's a vibrant street-food culture in Dhaka that blends spicy, sour, and sweet flavors into snacks eaten at any hour, from dawn tea stalls to late-night lanes. Top snacks include fuchka (puchka/pani puri) - crisp hollow shells filled with tamarind

Phuket Travel Guide - Beaches, Routes, Island Access

Phuket is Thailand's largest island and a gateway to Andaman Sea islands, offering a mix of bustling beach towns, serene coves, and easy transport links for short trips and longer stays. Patong Beach provides lively nightlife, beachfront dining, and

Laos Reshapes Governance for a Modern Era

Across the landlocked nation of Laos, a measured but meaningful evolution in governance is taking shape. Political institutions that have long operated within a tightly structured single-party framework are increasingly embracing administrative modernization, community-level engagement, and transparency initiatives that reflect a broader ambition: to make the state more efficient, more accessible, and more attuned to the needs of a young and rapidly urbanizing population.

Pakistan's Governance Reforms Signal a New Era

Across Pakistan, a quiet but consequential transformation is taking shape within its political institutions and governance structures. In recent months, policymakers, civil society actors, and provincial administrations have collectively moved toward a model of governance that prioritises accountability, digital integration, and citizen participation — a shift that observers across Asia are watching with considerable interest.

Politics

Digital Governance Revolution Transforms Southeast Asia

Southeast Asian governments are increasingly embracing digital transformation initiatives that fundamentally reshape how citizens interact with public institutions. This technological evolution represents a significant departure from conventional administrative approaches, creating more accessible a

Sri Lanka Rebuilds Its Governance From the Ground Up

Across Sri Lanka, a quiet but consequential transformation is reshaping the relationship between citizens and the state. In recent months, efforts to strengthen democratic institutions, decentralize administrative authority, and foster greater public engagement have gained visible momentum, marking a period of meaningful evolution in how governance is practiced and perceived on the island.

Sri Lanka's Digital Democracy Platform Transforms Citizen Engagement

Sri Lanka has emerged as a pioneering force in digital democracy, implementing an innovative online platform that fundamentally transforms how citizens engage with their government and participate in policy-making processes.

Sri Lanka Rebuilds Trust Through Civic Reform

Across Sri Lanka, a quiet but meaningful transformation is underway. Political institutions that once struggled under the weight of public skepticism are increasingly being reshaped by a new generation of policymakers, civil society actors, and engaged citizens determined to build a more accountable and responsive state. The momentum, visible from Colombo's administrative corridors to provincial councils in the north and east, signals a genuine shift in how governance is understood and practiced.

Economy

Microfinance was supposed to save Asia’s poor. Why has it failed to live up to its promise?

For the poorest households in Asia, even small loans can lead to expensive debt traps.

India's Heritage Artifacts in Global Auction Markets

India's cultural treasures command significant presence in international auction houses, reflecting both the nation's rich artistic heritage and complex challenges around artifact repatriation. The movement of Indian heritage items through global mar

China's AI Revolution Transforms Asian Entertainment Landscape

Artificial intelligence is reshaping how entertainment content is created, distributed, and consumed across Asia, with China emerging as a central innovator in this transformation. Government policies, technological infrastructure, and private sector

Bangladesh's Garment Sector Adapts to Shifting Regional Trade Dynamics

Bangladesh's garment industry stands at a critical inflection point as regional trade patterns evolve and supply chain strategies shift across Asia. The sector, which employs millions and anchors the nation's export economy, faces both structural pre

Business

WIPO Appoints Thailand's Princess Sirivannavari as Ambassador for Fashion and Design

The World Intellectual Property Organization has appointed Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya of Thailand as its Ambassador for Fashion and Design, citing her 541 IP assets and her work connecting Thai artisans with global markets. The appointment, announced in Geneva on 28 May 2026, underscores Thailand's growing ambitions as a creative economy and its royal family's long engagement with intellectual property.

Geopolitics

Nuclear Tests Shatter Trust, Not Prove Strength, UN Chief Warns on International Day against Nuclear Tests

UN Secretary-General António Guterres marked the International Day against Nuclear Tests on 29 August with a call for all nuclear-armed states to maintain existing moratoria and bring the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty into force without delay. Guterres framed nuclear testing not as a demonstration of power but as an act that shatters trust, invites reciprocal tests, and fuels a nuclear arms race.

Accountability on Trial: How International Bodies Are Confronting Human Rights Violations in Pakistan and Beyond

The European Parliament's adoption of resolutions targeting human rights abuses in Sudan, Nigeria, and Pakistan has renewed scrutiny of international mechanisms designed to protect vulnerable minorities. The case of a 13-year-old Pakistani Christian girl abducted and forcibly married has become a flashpoint in a broader diplomatic reckoning over how effectively global institutions can hold governments accountable.

Artificial Intelligence Patents in Asia: The Race to Dominate Tomorrow's Technology Landscape

New data from the World Intellectual Property Organization reveals that generative AI patent publications nearly tripled in two years, with Asian nations — led by China and Japan — positioning themselves at the forefront of one of the fastest-moving innovation races ever recorded. Patent trends expose a deepening strategic competition for intellectual property dominance in generative AI across the Asia-Pacific region.

North Korea grows stronger as South Korea reckons with fading US support

South Korea continues push for peace with the north, as Pyongyang’s military strength grows.

Travel

Sundarbans Wildlife Tours - Best Routes and Safety Tips in Bangladesh

Sundarbans covers the largest mangrove forest on the planet and hosts Royal Bengal tigers, estuarine crocodiles, spotted deer, and hundreds of bird species, making wildlife tours here unforgettable. Popular entry points for tours include Godkhali (ne

Ancient Temples of Angkor - History and Visitor Information

Over 1,000 surviving Angkor temples reveal Khmer engineering, religious art, and imperial history; practical visitor information covers best seasons, entry rules, local etiquette, and top sites such as Angkor Wat and Bayon. Iconic Monuments of the An

Pakistan Travel Guide - Lahore, Hunza, Skardu Routes

Travel to Pakistan rewards with rich Mughal history in Lahore and dramatic mountain scenery in Hunza and Skardu, offering cultural immersion, culinary highlights and adventurous drives along the Karakoram Highway. Lahore offers the Lahore Fort, Badsh

Ha Long Bay Travel Guide - Cruises, Routes, Access

Just consult this Ha Long Bay Travel Guide - Cruises, Routes, Access for clear comparisons of cruise types, route choices and access points to plan an efficient, informative trip. Selecting the Ideal Cruise Experience Choosing a cruise depends on iti

Culinary

Street Food in Jakarta - Top Snacks and Safe Eating Spots

There's a thriving street food culture in Jakarta offering signature snacks like bakso, nasi goreng, and martabak, with recommended safe vendors and hygiene tips to enjoy authentic flavors confidently. Iconic Jakarta Street Food Specialties Kerak Tel

Bangkok Street Food Guide - Yaowarat Dining Spots

StreetFood in Yaowarat pulses with neon-lit stalls and a mix of Chinese-Thai flavors that attract locals and visitors alike. Yaowarat Road serves as Bangkok's Chinatown artery where vendors push carts selling noodles, grilled seafood, dim sum, and sw

Galle Restaurants Guide - Seafood, Coastal Dining

You can explore a vibrant seafood scene in Galle where fresh catches and coastal flavors define the dining options. Galle's culinary identity centers on tuna, kingfish, crab, cuttlefish and prawns that arrive daily from nearby fishing boats. Small fa

North Korea Food Guide - Naengmyeon, Kimchi, Dishes

The Mastery of Pyongyang Naengmyeon Pyongyang naengmyeon emphasizes clear, cold broth, precise noodle texture and sparing garnishes, where subtle balance between savory stock and bright acidity defines the dish's refined, refreshing character. Buckwh

Health

Do we really need 10,000 steps a day?

The infamous 10,000 steps per day recommendation didn’t come from a research laboratory.

Culture

Thingyan Festival Myanmar - Traditions and Cultural Events

It's Myanmar's most exuberant New Year celebration, observed in mid-April with lively water-throwing, religious rites, and community gatherings that mark purification and renewal. Thingyan traces its origins to ancient Buddhist and Hindu myths, inclu

Vietnam Festivals Guide - Tet, Mid-Autumn Traditions

With concise historical context and practical guidance, this guide outlines Tet rituals, Mid-Autumn customs, regional variations, and etiquette for respectful participation. Tet Nguyen Dan: The Vietnamese Lunar New Year Families gather to celebrate T

Philippines Festivals Guide - Sinulog, Ati-Atihan Events

Just months of preparation and devotion build toward two of the Philippines' most electrifying January celebrations: Sinulog in Cebu and Ati-Atihan in Kalibo. Sinulog honors the Santo Niño and centers in Cebu City, peaking on the third Sunday of Janu

South Korea Culture Guide - Hanbok, Etiquette, Customs

Just wearing a hanbok connects modern visitors with centuries of Korean tradition through flowing lines, layered fabrics, and symbolic colors. Hanbok refers to traditional Korean clothing worn by men, women, and children. Jeogori (jackets) pair with

Science

Megalodon’s legendary life revealed by fossil rediscovery

Previously lost fossils sometimes reemerge, but how do palaeontologists end up losing specimens in the first place?

Nasa’s new space telescope will tackle some of the universe’s biggest mysteries

The Nancy Grace Roman telescope will probe dark energy and discover exoplanets.

The ‘robot Olympics’ were spectacular – but will this technology end up helping humans?

Getting a robot to run 100m faster than Usain Bolt is impressive. But how about a humanoid that can make you a cup of tea in your own kitchen?

When a teenager makes the ‘stupid choice’, their brain is working exactly as designed

If a young person trusts the system to deliver a just outcome, their brain’s urgent need for retribution is dialled down.