South Asia

An ASML executive has said the Dutch chipmaking equipment giant currently sells no machines within Europe, despite being headquartered in the Netherlands. The company's lithography systems go overwhelmingly to customers in Asia, particularly Taiwan and South Korea. The remark highlights Europe's lack of advanced chip manufacturing and is fuelling debate about the continent's semiconductor strategy and reliance on Asian fabs.

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.

Highlights of the Under-19 Asia Cup cricket match between Pakistan and India are attracting massive attention, drawing millions of views and likes. The long-standing sporting rivalry between the two neighbours makes any youth-level encounter a major draw for cricket fans across South Asia and beyond, with audiences reliving key moments from the game.

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.

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.

Bangladesh defeated Malaysia in the fourth quarter-final of the men's cricket competition at the 2026 Asian Games, advancing in the tournament. The result has drawn attention from cricket fans in India and across South Asia, where live coverage of Asian Games cricket is generating strong search interest and discussion of the remaining fixtures and semi-final matchups.

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.

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.

The Association for Psychological Science argues that psychological research conducted outside the Global North is held to a different standard than work from wealthy Western institutions. The organization highlights how scientists in Africa, Latin America, Asia and other regions face greater scrutiny, fewer resources and biased assumptions about the quality of their research, calling for fairer treatment and greater recognition of scholarship from the Global South.

A widely shared post argues that people hoping things will change on their own are mistaken, saying nothing has ever really changed without active involvement. The author notes that bringing about change means becoming part of it, which carries personal risk. The post points to recent examples across South Asia — Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and India — as instances of change playing out in today's world.

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.

Australia are taking on Brazil, with the fixture drawing widespread search interest across Europe, Asia, South East Asia and the United States. Outlets including Sports Illustrated have published viewing guides detailing how fans can watch the match on TV and via live stream, indicating it is being broadcast internationally. The matchup is one of the most-searched sports topics in multiple countries.

The Australian national football team, the Socceroos, are preparing to face Brazil again in a rematch in Brisbane after holding the five-time world champions to a draw in Townsville. The Australian squad says it expects a strong Brazilian reaction as the South Americans look to make amends for dropping points. The fixture is drawing widespread international attention, trending across Europe, Asia and North America.

A matchup between South Sudan and Egypt is drawing widespread search interest across multiple countries, ranking among the top trending topics globally. The fixture pits the two African nations against each other, with fans searching for lineups, scores and viewing information. The surge in attention spans regions from Europe to Asia and North America, indicating broad international interest in the contest.

China has established a new military presence in a Southeast Asian neighbouring country, according to Reuters reporting. The development is likely to raise concern among regional governments and Washington, which have watched Beijing expand its security footprint in Southeast Asia through base access, joint exercises and security agreements with neighbouring states.

The 2026 Gwangju Biennale has opened with 43 participating artists, the smallest lineup since the Biennale was founded in 1995. The exhibition runs through November 15 in Gwangju, South Korea. Art watchers are weighing the reduced roster, with some seeing it as a deliberate curatorial choice toward intimacy and others questioning what a smaller edition signals for one of Asia's leading art events.

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.

The European Union and Uzbekistan have held talks focused on investment and reforms needed to strengthen the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, the trade route linking Central Asia to Europe via the Caspian Sea and the South Caucasus. The discussions underline the EU's growing interest in developing connectivity with Central Asia and in supporting regulatory and infrastructure reforms along the route, which has gained strategic importance as an alternative corridor between Europe and Asia.

India defeated South Korea in the women's hockey semi-final at the 2026 Asian Games, earning a place in the final against China. The win puts India one victory away from the Asian Games title, with China standing between them and gold. The final is set to be a major fixture for both sides.

Concert activism over Gaza is colliding with official red lines in Malaysia and Singapore. Performers and event organisers have used live shows in the region to voice solidarity with Palestinians, but authorities in both countries draw clear boundaries between expression and staging, with rules on what can be said or displayed on stage. The South China Morning Post reports on how artists and promoters are navigating the divide as Gaza-related activism grows across Southeast Asian entertainment venues.

Donald Trump is set to announce a major $54 billion investment linking South Korea to an Alaska liquefied natural gas project. The deal would deepen energy ties between Washington and Seoul and represents one of the largest US-South Korea economic initiatives under discussion. Analysts are weighing its implications for trade relations and Asia-Pacific energy supply.

Artists including Ed Sheeran and Massive Attack are facing backlash in Southeast Asia over rows connected to Gaza, according to the South China Morning Post. The report points to growing regional anger toward Western musicians over their positions or actions related to the conflict, triggering calls for boycotts and criticism of planned or past performances in the region.

The Asian Games cricket semi-final matchups are set, with Pakistan taking on Bangladesh while India face Sri Lanka. The line-up guarantees an all-Subcontinental medal round at the tournament in China, and fans across the region are weighing up which of cricket's biggest rivals will reach the final.