Asia

by Anup Sharma Security was tightened Friday in the Indian state of Assam for the release of a citizens’ list that could potentially lead to several million people becoming stateless, most of them Muslims, in a process the government wants to replicate nationwide. Those left off the National Register of Citizens (NRC), due to be […]

South Korean boy group BTS’ Jungkook is the most searched K-Pop idol on Google based on Global Google searches with an index score of 10.43 per cent for the 1st to 2nd quarter of 2019, becoming the most popular K-Pop idol worldwide right now. The data was collected by global measurements and data analytics company […]

Taiwanese actress Ady An’s husband knows how to win her heart. Last September during her 38th birthday Levo Chan bought her a diamond necklace that costs HK$15 million (SGD$2.7 million) Chan who is the chief executive of Tak Chun Group which owns and operates gaming clubs in hotels has bought her four villas in Macau that […]

Is there trouble in paradise for celebrity couple Faye Wong and Nicholas Tse? The rumour mill started after each of them celebrated their respective birthdays separately. Queen of Cantopop Wong was nowhere in sight during now turned TV chef Tse’s 39th birthday on 29 Aug, having chosen to accompany her daughter with ex-husband Li Yapeng […]

Leading Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong was arrested Friday, his party said, a day ahead of a planned rally in the city that has been banned by police. His arrest came just hours after the reported detention at Hong Kong’s airport of a vocal independence campaigner, and as Beijing continues to pile pressure on […]

South Korean singer Lee Jong Hyun is withdrawing from the band CNBLUE. After a further controversy over his direct messages to a YouTuber on 28 Aug, Lee Jong Hyun’s agency FNC Entertainment conveyed his following statement: Hello. This is Lee Jong Hyun. I once again apologize to the people I’ve hurt through my inappropriate words […]

Taiwanese pop singer Jay Chou caused a stir at a cafe in Japan recently when his appearance caused other customers to leave the shop, according to Oriental Daily. The customers did not recognise the King of Mandopop and he was also mistaken for a Yakuza boss. The 41-year-old was dressed in a dark print shirt […]

After the claims of Russian interference in US elections, the Chinese are attemptings to recruit spies in the Western world. China is allegedly using LinkedIn to recruit spies in the west. Western intelligence officials believe Chinese agents are contacting thousands of foreign citizens using LinkedIn. LinkedIn is also the only major American social media platform […]

Acting has certainly helped Meghan Markle in her role of duchess when she married Prince Harry even though she has left her acting career behind. As an actor, there are ups and downs, success and rejection and one needs to develop a thick skin. This type of experience is serving Markle well especially since she […]

South Korean actress Goo Hye Sun has donated 20 million won ($16,485) to pets in need. Goo Hye Sun posted photos of her pet on Aug 27 with the message, “A World Without You, Is Loneliness to Me,” ‘Jinsan Gallery – Goo Hye Sun Preview’ has wrapped up successfully. The 20 million won in profits […]

Taiwanese pop star Elva Hsiao has not made a public appearance for more than 18 months. During this time, she has been romantically linked to a man who is 16 years younger than her. Hsiao was first spotted with him together in late 2017 but she said that she was merely playing host to him […]

Leading palm oil players in Indonesia will see a hit in palm production capacity in the short to medium term. The world’s top grower of the edible oil is facing drought across major planting regions. This will delay fruit ripening, resulting in lower output, says Reuters. Indonesia is facing a prolonged dry season that left seven provinces in the […]

India’s central bank has announced a $24-billion windfall for the cash-strapped government, giving a much-needed boost to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he seeks to kickstart growth in Asia’s third-biggest economy. But the payout will likely stoke fresh concerns about the Reserve Bank of India’s independence following a standoff that has seen top officials quit […]

To accelerate the entry of electric vehicles in Indonesia, the government of President Jokowi Widodo plans to allow manufacturers to bring completely built units or CBU parts. With this plan, the government hopes the sale of these vehicles in the market will stimulate the buyers to own them. But the chair of the Indonesian Automotive Industries Association (Gaikindo), Yohanes Nangoi criticised the move.  He reminded […]

by Jalees ANDRABI On Srinagar’s Dal Lake, intricately decorated houseboats usually packed with tourists lie empty as Kashmir’s tourism sector reels from a three-weeks-long lockdown imposed as India revoked the picturesque region’s autonomy. With its breathtaking scenery, snow-capped mountains and placid lakes, temperate Kashmir is a popular destination for hordes of domestic and international tourists […]