Focus on local concerns and issues across Asia, outside of international reporting.

News Flashes, Headlines and Breaking News; all-things-current condensed into 3-minute reads, if not less! Our News column aims to summarise and explain recent events in Asia in fun sizes, easy to understand and digest, perfect for those who are looking for that daily dose of current affairs on their morning commute. 

Latest Posts

Previous Posts

News Drop 5 - 24/01/25

News Drops - Regional Reporters
From a Constitutional Right to a Political Blunder: South Korea’s Short-Lived Martial Rule
Sena Lai-Fujiwara
South Korea, Democracy, Yoon, Public Policy, News Drop 4
From a Constitutional Right to a Political Blunder: South Korea’s Short-Lived Martial Rule
Sena Lai-Fujiwara
South Korea, Democracy, Yoon, Public Policy, News Drop 4
Sena Lai-Fujiwara
South Korea, Democracy, Yoon, Public Policy, News Drop 4
Indonesia’s Rice Self-Sufficiency: Is this too ambitious for Prabowo?
Amirah Hamita
Indonesia, Food Security, Economics, Public Policy, Development, News Drop 4
Indonesia’s Rice Self-Sufficiency: Is this too ambitious for Prabowo?
Amirah Hamita
Indonesia, Food Security, Economics, Public Policy, Development, News Drop 4
Amirah Hamita
Indonesia, Food Security, Economics, Public Policy, Development, News Drop 4
Islamabad Erupts: The Fight for Pakistan’s Democracy
Yathushan Vignarajan
Pakistan, Politcal Protest, Democracy, Social Tension, News Drop 4
Islamabad Erupts: The Fight for Pakistan’s Democracy
Yathushan Vignarajan
Pakistan, Politcal Protest, Democracy, Social Tension, News Drop 4
Yathushan Vignarajan
Pakistan, Politcal Protest, Democracy, Social Tension, News Drop 4
Hong Kong Northern Metropolis – Ngau Tam Mei Village’s Future
Angel Chan
Hong Kong, Public Policy, Public Opinion, Infrastructure, Development, News Drop 4
Hong Kong Northern Metropolis – Ngau Tam Mei Village’s Future
Angel Chan
Hong Kong, Public Policy, Public Opinion, Infrastructure, Development, News Drop 4
Angel Chan
Hong Kong, Public Policy, Public Opinion, Infrastructure, Development, News Drop 4
Rising Tensions and the Role of Misinformation: Analysing the Situation in Bangladesh
Sadia Mohammed
Bangladesh, India, Social Tension, Religon, Media, News Drop 4
Rising Tensions and the Role of Misinformation: Analysing the Situation in Bangladesh
Sadia Mohammed
Bangladesh, India, Social Tension, Religon, Media, News Drop 4
Sadia Mohammed
Bangladesh, India, Social Tension, Religon, Media, News Drop 4
Koryo-saram: Terra Incognita 
Meera Maniar
Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Migration, Post-Soviet, Culture, News Drop 4
Koryo-saram: Terra Incognita 
Meera Maniar
Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Migration, Post-Soviet, Culture, News Drop 4
Meera Maniar
Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Migration, Post-Soviet, Culture, News Drop 4

News Drop 4 - 07/12/24

News Drops - Regional Reporters
Chip Wars: TSMC’s Role in the Global Tech Race and Taiwan’s Geopolitical Gamble
Manping Yu
Taiwan, Technology, Industry, Micro-chips, U.S-China, News Drop 3
Chip Wars: TSMC’s Role in the Global Tech Race and Taiwan’s Geopolitical Gamble
Manping Yu
Taiwan, Technology, Industry, Micro-chips, U.S-China, News Drop 3
Manping Yu
Taiwan, Technology, Industry, Micro-chips, U.S-China, News Drop 3
The Japanese Christmas Cake – A Not-So-Pleasant Surprise
Sena Lai-Fujiwara
Japan, Culture, Feminism, Society, Women, News Drop 3
The Japanese Christmas Cake – A Not-So-Pleasant Surprise
Sena Lai-Fujiwara
Japan, Culture, Feminism, Society, Women, News Drop 3
Sena Lai-Fujiwara
Japan, Culture, Feminism, Society, Women, News Drop 3
Addicted to online shopping? Insights into Southeast Asia’s booming Digital Economy and Why Businesses want you to Keep Scrolling
Amirah Hamita
Digital Economy, South East Asia, Thailand, Technology, Development, News Drop 3
Addicted to online shopping? Insights into Southeast Asia’s booming Digital Economy and Why Businesses want you to Keep Scrolling
Amirah Hamita
Digital Economy, South East Asia, Thailand, Technology, Development, News Drop 3
Amirah Hamita
Digital Economy, South East Asia, Thailand, Technology, Development, News Drop 3
Bangladesh at a Crossroads: Navigating Post-Authoritarian Reform and Democratic Revival
Sadia Mohammed
Bangladesh, Democracy, Government, Public Opinion, News Drop 3
Bangladesh at a Crossroads: Navigating Post-Authoritarian Reform and Democratic Revival
Sadia Mohammed
Bangladesh, Democracy, Government, Public Opinion, News Drop 3
Sadia Mohammed
Bangladesh, Democracy, Government, Public Opinion, News Drop 3
Radiation in Kyrgyzstan: Ticking Time-Bombs
Meera Maniar
Central Asia, Nuclear, Kyrgyzstan, Climate Change, News Drop 3
Radiation in Kyrgyzstan: Ticking Time-Bombs
Meera Maniar
Central Asia, Nuclear, Kyrgyzstan, Climate Change, News Drop 3
Meera Maniar
Central Asia, Nuclear, Kyrgyzstan, Climate Change, News Drop 3
Agalega’s Dilemma: A Strategic Alliance or Another Diego Garcia?
Yathushan Vignarajan
Mauritius, India, Militarisation, Maratime, News Drop 3
Agalega’s Dilemma: A Strategic Alliance or Another Diego Garcia?
Yathushan Vignarajan
Mauritius, India, Militarisation, Maratime, News Drop 3
Yathushan Vignarajan
Mauritius, India, Militarisation, Maratime, News Drop 3
Hong Kong Light Public Housing Scheme Current Challenges in Public Housing
Angel Chan
Hong Kong, Policy, Housing, Public Services, Government, News Drop 3
Hong Kong Light Public Housing Scheme Current Challenges in Public Housing
Angel Chan
Hong Kong, Policy, Housing, Public Services, Government, News Drop 3
Angel Chan
Hong Kong, Policy, Housing, Public Services, Government, News Drop 3

News Drop 3 - 24/11/24

News Drop 2 - 11/11/24

News Drops - Regional Reporters
High Court Weighs In: Legislative Power Bill Raises Constitutional Concerns Over Taiwan’s Five-Power Framework
Manping Yu
Taiwan, Constitution, Judiciary, News Drop 2
High Court Weighs In: Legislative Power Bill Raises Constitutional Concerns Over Taiwan’s Five-Power Framework
Manping Yu
Taiwan, Constitution, Judiciary, News Drop 2
Manping Yu
Taiwan, Constitution, Judiciary, News Drop 2
The consequences of climate change are no longer a distant possibility, and they have not been for a while: Severe flooding in Bangladesh
Sadia Mohammed
Bangladesh, Climate Change, Flooding, News Drop 2
The consequences of climate change are no longer a distant possibility, and they have not been for a while: Severe flooding in Bangladesh
Sadia Mohammed
Bangladesh, Climate Change, Flooding, News Drop 2
Sadia Mohammed
Bangladesh, Climate Change, Flooding, News Drop 2
Ageing Population in Hong Kong
Angel Chan
Hong Kong, Population, Demographics, News Drop 2
Ageing Population in Hong Kong
Angel Chan
Hong Kong, Population, Demographics, News Drop 2
Angel Chan
Hong Kong, Population, Demographics, News Drop 2
The Impact of the US election for India
Yathushan Vignarajan
India, US Election, Trump, Modi, Diplomacy, News Drop 2
The Impact of the US election for India
Yathushan Vignarajan
India, US Election, Trump, Modi, Diplomacy, News Drop 2
Yathushan Vignarajan
India, US Election, Trump, Modi, Diplomacy, News Drop 2
Trump 2.0: East Asia Looks Ahead Tentatively
Sena Lai-Fujiwara
Japan, China, US Election, Trump, Diplomacy, News Drop 2
Trump 2.0: East Asia Looks Ahead Tentatively
Sena Lai-Fujiwara
Japan, China, US Election, Trump, Diplomacy, News Drop 2
Sena Lai-Fujiwara
Japan, China, US Election, Trump, Diplomacy, News Drop 2
What the West got Wrong: Reflections on China’s ‘Debt Trap’ Diplomacy in South East Asia
Amirah Hamita
ASEAN, China, FDI, Belt and Road Initiative, 一带一路, Diplomacy, News Drop 2
What the West got Wrong: Reflections on China’s ‘Debt Trap’ Diplomacy in South East Asia
Amirah Hamita
ASEAN, China, FDI, Belt and Road Initiative, 一带一路, Diplomacy, News Drop 2
Amirah Hamita
ASEAN, China, FDI, Belt and Road Initiative, 一带一路, Diplomacy, News Drop 2
News Drops - Regional Reporters
No more school on Sundays as Johor rejoices over new weekend schedule
Amirah Hamita
Malaysia, Education Policy, Religon, Reform, News Drop 1
No more school on Sundays as Johor rejoices over new weekend schedule
Amirah Hamita
Malaysia, Education Policy, Religon, Reform, News Drop 1
Amirah Hamita
Malaysia, Education Policy, Religon, Reform, News Drop 1
Judgement Day for the LDP? Ishiba’s desperate attempts to hold onto reign
Sena Lai-Fujiwara
Japan, Election, News Drop 1
Judgement Day for the LDP? Ishiba’s desperate attempts to hold onto reign
Sena Lai-Fujiwara
Japan, Election, News Drop 1
Sena Lai-Fujiwara
Japan, Election, News Drop 1
What does Mauritius’ acquisition of the Chagos Islands mean for the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees?
Yathushan Vignarajan
Mauritius, Tamil, Refugees, United Kingdom, News Drop 1
What does Mauritius’ acquisition of the Chagos Islands mean for the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees?
Yathushan Vignarajan
Mauritius, Tamil, Refugees, United Kingdom, News Drop 1
Yathushan Vignarajan
Mauritius, Tamil, Refugees, United Kingdom, News Drop 1
Struggle and Madness—A conflict between teachers and parents in the mainland of China
Shuchun Jia
China, Education Policy, News Drop 1
Struggle and Madness—A conflict between teachers and parents in the mainland of China
Shuchun Jia
China, Education Policy, News Drop 1
Shuchun Jia
China, Education Policy, News Drop 1
An insider-outsider to my own country: a reflection on the 22-day uprising of Bangladeshi Students. 
Sadia Mohammed
Bangladesh, Politcal Protest, Student Movement, News Drop 1
An insider-outsider to my own country: a reflection on the 22-day uprising of Bangladeshi Students. 
Sadia Mohammed
Bangladesh, Politcal Protest, Student Movement, News Drop 1
Sadia Mohammed
Bangladesh, Politcal Protest, Student Movement, News Drop 1
Rut or Renaissance? The aftermath of Kazakhstan’s most violent riots yet  
Meera Maniar
Kazakhstan, Politcal Protest, Qandy Qantar, News Drop 1
Rut or Renaissance? The aftermath of Kazakhstan’s most violent riots yet  
Meera Maniar
Kazakhstan, Politcal Protest, Qandy Qantar, News Drop 1
Meera Maniar
Kazakhstan, Politcal Protest, Qandy Qantar, News Drop 1
COP29 – A chance for peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan?
Kacper Rafał Regulski
Azerbaijan, COP29, Armenia, Caucasus, News Drop 1
COP29 – A chance for peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan?
Kacper Rafał Regulski
Azerbaijan, COP29, Armenia, Caucasus, News Drop 1
Kacper Rafał Regulski
Azerbaijan, COP29, Armenia, Caucasus, News Drop 1
Taiwan’s Future at a Crossroads: Seeking Stability and Security Amid U.S.-China Rivalry
Manping Yu
Taiwan, U.S-China, Security, News Drop 1
Taiwan’s Future at a Crossroads: Seeking Stability and Security Amid U.S.-China Rivalry
Manping Yu
Taiwan, U.S-China, Security, News Drop 1
Manping Yu
Taiwan, U.S-China, Security, News Drop 1

News Drop 1 - 25/10/24