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South Asia
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- 1Floods, haze and typhoons batter Asia as climate disasters mount●From floods across South and South-East Asia to toxic fire haze and typhoons battering East Asia, climate disasters are
Greenpeace reports that simultaneous climate disasters are hitting millions across Asia, with floods devastating South and South-East Asia, toxic fire haze blanketing parts of the region, and typhoons battering East Asia. The group says fossil fuels are supercharging the chaos, leaving homes destroyed, harvests lost, communities cut off and families without power amid widespread blackouts.
- 2Bangladesh measles outbreak kills 9 more as toll nears 1,100▼Bangladesh measles outbreak kills 9 more, toll nears 1,100
Health authorities in Bangladesh have reported nine additional deaths from measles, pushing the outbreak's death toll to nearly 1,100. The virus continues to spread widely across the country, straining health services and prompting calls for accelerated vaccination campaigns. Measles outbreaks have been rising in parts of South Asia, and Bangladesh's death count now ranks among the region's most severe in recent years.
- 3Developing Nations Push for Permanent UN Security Council Seats●UN Security Council Reform Push Intensifies As Developing Nations Demand Permanent Seats
Developing nations are intensifying their demands for permanent seats on the UN Security Council, arguing the body no longer reflects the realities of the modern world. The push for reform has gained renewed momentum, with countries from Africa, Asia and Latin America calling for a council that better represents the global south. The campaign challenges a structure largely unchanged since 1945.
- 4Philippines-China ties shift after Xi-Trump summit▼From Wolf Warrior To Panda Diplomacy: Philippines-China Relations After The Xi-Trump Summit - OpEd
An opinion analysis argues that relations between the Philippines and China may be entering a softer phase, moving away from Beijing's combative 'Wolf Warrior' diplomacy toward a friendlier 'panda diplomacy' approach following the summit between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump. The piece suggests the meeting could reshape how China engages Manila, with implications for South China Sea tensions and regional alignments.
- 5Environmental Threats Loom Large In The Himalayan Region▼Environmental Threats Loom Large In The Himalayan Region – Analysis
A new analysis warns that environmental threats across the Himalayan region are growing severe, affecting glaciers, water supplies and the communities that depend on them. The piece examines the pressures facing one of the world's most fragile mountain ecosystems and the risks this poses to downstream populations across South Asia.
- 6Pakistan's economic crisis cuts wedding feasts to a single dish●এক পদ দিয়ে বিয়ের খাবার, পাকিস্তানে দুরাবস্থা | Pakistan Economic Crisis | Ekattor TV
Pakistani families are reportedly serving only one dish at wedding celebrations as the country's economic crisis squeezes household budgets. Rising inflation and shortages have made traditional multi-course feasts unaffordable, and the story of weddings being scaled back has drawn wide attention across South Asia, with commentators pointing to it as a sign of the depth of Pakistan's financial troubles.
- 7Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga takes Asian Games javelin gold ahead of India●Asian Games 2026: Rumesh Tharanga spoils India’s javelin party by winning gold medal
Sri Lankan javelin thrower Rumesh Tharanga won the gold medal in the men's javelin at the Asian Games 2026, beating India's favoured throwers in an event India had been expected to dominate. The result ended India's hopes of a one-two finish in the javelin and marked a breakout moment for Tharanga on the continental stage, sparking reaction from athletics fans across South Asia.
- 8
South Korean retail giant Shinsegae is preparing to enter the United States beauty market with a dedicated retail platform focused on K-Beauty products. The move would bring Korean skincare and cosmetics brands to American shoppers through a Shinsegae-run channel, extending the group's retail reach beyond Asia and tapping into sustained global demand for Korean beauty products.
- 9Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage wins Asian Games javelin title●Rumesh Pathirage of Sri Lanka wins javelin at Asian Games. Javelin's a specialty in South Asia
Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage won the javelin throw at the Asian Games, adding to the region's strong record in the event. Javelin has become a standout discipline for South Asian athletics, and the victory gives Sri Lanka another medal moment to celebrate at the continental games.
- 10
Pakistan are playing Hong Kong in the men's cricket tournament at the Asian Games 2026 in Japan, with India taking on Afghanistan in the other fixture. The matches are being followed live by fans across South Asia and beyond, with the fixture trending in the United States, Britain, India, Australia and Canada as results come in.
- 11ASML says it sold nothing in Europe in 2026●ASML says it sold 'absolutely nothing' in Europe in 2026
ASML, the Dutch chip equipment maker, says it sold 'absolutely nothing' in Europe in 2026 and is calling on the EU to help create demand for its lithography machines. The comments highlight Europe's weak semiconductor manufacturing base, as ASML's sales remain concentrated in Asia, particularly Taiwan, South Korea and China.
- 12Paid to read: can cash incentives fix Southeast Asia's literacy crisis?●Paid to read: can cash and gamification fix Southeast Asia’s falling literacy?
A South China Morning Post report examines whether paying people to read and using gamification can reverse declining literacy rates across Southeast Asia. The piece explores incentive-based programmes that reward reading with cash, asking whether such schemes can meaningfully improve reading habits and comprehension in a region struggling with falling literacy levels.
- 13
Japan is making a concerted effort to develop cricket as a national sport, according to a Deccan Herald feature. The report details the country's plans to build infrastructure, train players and grow the game from a small base, drawing attention from cricket's traditional heartlands in South Asia and beyond.
- 14Seven in Ten Startup Employees Want Flexible 52-Hour Workweek●7 Out of 10 Startup Employees Say "52-Hour Workweek Should Be Made More Flexible"
Seven out of ten startup employees say South Korea's 52-hour workweek should be made more flexible, according to a report carried by Asia Economy. The finding points to growing pressure within the startup sector to loosen rigid weekly hour caps, with workers and employers arguing that fixed limits do not fit project-based schedules and irregular workloads common at young companies.
- 15
OxfordAQA, the exam board partnership between Oxford University Press and AQA, has trained more than 100 teachers in Bangladesh, according to the Daily Sun. The training supports teachers delivering OxfordAQA's international GCSE and A-level qualifications, which are used by schools in Bangladesh and worldwide, as the board expands its footprint in South Asia's growing international education market.