Is AI making us less intelligent? The debate over declining cognitive skills in the age of ChatGPT and smartphones

Anecdotal evidence from educators paints a troubling picture. Teenagers across the world struggle to properly complete tasks in school, particularly those involving writing.

Sinkholes on the rise across Asia: a growing danger beneath the surface

The dramatic rescue of a motorist from a sinkhole on a busy Singapore road has cast new light on an alarming trend across Asia – the increasing frequency and severity of sinkholes swallowing roads, vehicles, and in some cases entire buildings.

The Asian take on recognition of a Palestinian State

Muslim-majority nations or those seeking to expand their influence in the Middle East will support or reaffirm recognition. Meanwhile, countries embedded in US frameworks or enjoying ties with Israel are are expected to remain cautious.

Papua New Guinea steps up renewable energy drive with global support

Currently, only around 13% of Papua New Guinea’s population has reliable access to electricity, with the majority of rural communities dependent on diesel generators or without power altogether.

The top three ‘megatrends’ set to transform the Asia Pacific region

The rapid development of technologies such as generative AI and the metaverse is already changing how people in Asia Pacific live, work, socialise and shop.

Samsung to build Tesla’s next-gen FSD chip in $16.5bn deal

Samsung Electronics has just secured a major win by signing a $16.5bn chip manufacturing deal with Tesla, a move that could revive Samsung’s foundry business after a challenging period.

Heat wave claims 11 lives in South Korea as temperatures surge

South Korea is in the grip of an unrelenting heat wave that has reportedly led to 11 suspected deaths, nearly triple the number seen during the same period last year.

Recent floods across Asia kill hundreds, leave devastation in their wake

From South and Southeast Asia to Central and East Asia, communities have been grappling with flash floods, landslides and glacial lake outbursts as warming temperatures and shifting monsoon dynamics fuel increasingly erratic weather.

Energy under siege: How conflict between Thailand and Cambodia threatens regional power security

Though the border clashes began as a political and territorial confrontation, their ripple effects could severely disrupt energy production, especially in areas near the conflict zone where solar installations lie exposed.

South Koreans face tighter homeownership rules as foreign buyers gain ground

Buying a home in South Korea is becoming increasingly impossible for many local residents, especially in the Seoul metropolitan area, as the government continues to tighten financial regulations aimed at cooling the housing market.

Japan objects to South Korean military exercises near disputed islets

Japan has formally expressed its disapproval of South Korea’s recent military activity near a group of contested islets in the Sea of Japan.

Japan’s Self-Defence Forces are much more capable than many think

During the past decade Japan has quietly but steadily modernised its defence apparatus. While Tokyo avoids the loud rhetoric of some of its neighbours, its actions speak volumes.

ASIA BLOG: The global fallout of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan

There have already been rumblings in Taiwan that self destruction of key infrastructure would be preferential to Chinese takeover.

Biofuel development in Southeast Asia: a region turning greener by the day

Racial profiling in Japan

A 2025 survey by the plaintiffs' legal team found that over 71% of obviously foreign nationals who had lived in Japan for more than five years had been questioned by police on the street.

South Korea records job gains in June despite declines in key industries

South Korea added 183,000 jobs in June compared to the previous year, marking the sixth month of continuous employment growth, according to Statistics Korea.

UNFPA survey reveals why millions can’t have the families they dream of

A growing global crisis in reproductive agency – not overpopulation or declining birth rates – is one of the most urgent demographic challenges of our time, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said.

Lavrov visits North Korea to reaffirm security pact

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned the United States, South Korea and Japan against forming a trilateral security alliance that explicitly targets North Korea, cautioning that such a move would inflame regional tensions.