Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.

A comic book just grounded planes and decimated tourism in Japan – for real
It sounds like the plot of a comic itself. A manga artist has a dream, draws it, and decades later, the world responds not with admiration, but with cancelled holidays, empty flights, and spiralling tourism numbers. But that’s exactly what...

Hong Kong legislative council considers local registration for same-sex couples
By Jessie Pang HONG KONG (Reuters) -Hong Kong’s legislative council began discussion on Thursday of a government proposal to allow local registration for same-sex couples who have registered their marriage or relationship overseas, amid strong...

Hong Kong retailers under strain as changing trends drive store closures
HONG KONG: Hong Kong's retailers are battling against shifting consumer habits, as visitors spend less and locals head across the border to China for cheaper dining and shopping, leading to a wave of store closures. A 36-year-old Chinese seafood...

Tour de EnTeTe 2025 Officially Launched in East Nusa Tenggara
The Tour de EnTeTe 2025 will be the only international cycling event to span three major islands in East Nusa Tenggara, namely Timor, Sumba, and Flores. The Indonesian Minister of Youth and Sports, Dito Ariotedjo, together with the Governor of...

Hong Kong posts first retail sales rise since February 2024
Hong Kong’s retail sales by value rose 2.4 per cent in May from a year earlier, the first increase in more than a year, government data shows. Sales increased to HKD31.3 billion (US$3.99 billion), the first expansion since February 2024. In April,...

Hong Kong tourists undeterred by prediction that quake will hit Japan on July 5
Hong Kong travel agencies have not recorded widespread cancellations of Japan-bound tour groups for the coming weekend, despite a manga artist’s widely-discussed prediction that a mega-earthquake will hit the country on Saturday. But some business...

‘The Diary of a CEO’ host Steven Bartlett announces Asia speaking tour for September 2025
This one's for the aspiring entrepreneurs, business leaders, and curious minds. Steven Bartlett, the highly influential host of the popular podcast 'The Diary of a CEO', will be touring Asia for the first time ever. Steven is a guy you want to get...

A queer traveller`s guide to safe adventures in India
The considerations and issues for LGBTQIA+ individuals and couples vary drastically from cis-het people, regardless of where they are travelling to. Seasoned queer travellers provide practical tips on choosing queer-friendly destinations and...

Dorset artist's Royal tour painting goes on display at Buckingham Palace
In total 74 works of art, from Charles’ personal collection, from 43 artists, depict scenes from recent state visits and other foreign trips dating back 40 years, made when he was the Prince of Wales. One of those artists, Tom Hallifax, who has...

AsiaPay Partners with Tai Wo Management to Launch JOIE digital Payment Solution, Enhancing the Taxi Experience in Hong Kong
HONG KONG, July 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — AsiaPay, a prominent provider of digital payment solutions in the Asia-Pacific region, announced today a partnership with Tai Wo Management to implement an integrated electronic payment system within the JOIE...

Bonds in Macao: the impetus of modern finance
  To address challenges of its unbalanced industrial structure, Macao has highlighted the importance of economic diversification, and prioritised modern finance, especially the bond market, as a cornerstone of its strategic transformation....

Indonesian can leave Hong Kong pending decision to drop fallen tumbler case
A Hong Kong court has allowed an Indonesian tourist to return home while awaiting authorities’ decision on whether to continue with his prosecution over a fallen tumbler that hit another visitor at The Peak. Merchant Satnauli Bangun, 44, was not...

Cathay Pacific Dares You to Explore Hong Kong, 1 KM² at a Time
By The Malketeer What if the secret to rediscovering Hong Kong lies not in sweeping itineraries but in zooming into the tiniest of neighbourhoods? That’s exactly what Cathay Pacific’s bold new campaign, The Most Fun Per KM², aims to prove – that...
Hong Kong's retail sales value up 2.4 pct in May
HONG KONG, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The provisional estimate of total retail sales value in Hong Kong for May was 31.3 billion Hong Kong dollars (about 3.98 billion U.S. dollars), representing a 2.4 percent year-on-year increase and marking the end of a...

A decade of impact
The 10th anniversary of the Macau Golf Masters The 10th Anniversary of the Macau Golf Masters was far more than a celebration—it was a testament to how far inclusive sports have come, and how far they can go. Hosted across two venues—Macau...

Capella at Galaxy Macau public bookings available from late September
An official booking engine for the Capella at Galaxy Macau hotel is active and indicating it can accept bookings from the general public on September 23 at the earliest. The only type of room available via the booking engine as of Thursday’s...

G.E.M. adds fourth Hong Kong concert after tickets for first 3 shows sell out
Hong Kong singer Gloria Tang Tsz-kei, known as G.E.M, has announced an additional show at the Kai Tak Stadium in August, after tickets for her three performances from August 15 to 17 were sold out within an hour on Friday. A Post reporter who...

China Flexes Military Muscles with Aircraft Carrier Visit to Hong Kong
China’s aircraft carrier Shandong began a five-day visit to Hong Kong on Thursday, accompanied by two guided-missile destroyers and a missile frigate. The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) said it was gratified by the heavy turnout of onlookers...

Turbulent Research Landscape Imperils Us Brain Gain − And Ultimately Americ
Despite representing only 4% of the world's population, the United States accounts for over half of science Nobel Prizes awarded since 2000, hosts seven of The Times Higher Education Top 10 science universities, and incubates firms such as...

Meet Ayden Heaven and his agent mum, Lisa – 'I had a lot of setbacks, but it helped me as a person to this day'
Ayden Heaven and his mum, Lisa, are sitting around a table in the dining room of Shrigley Hall, a spa hotel in Cheshire, and giving themselves a moment to reflect on his sharp rise at Manchester United. They think back to his Premier League debut,...