
Haze From Indonesia Forest Fires Caused Over 100,000 Deaths: US Study
A new study by researchers from Harvard and Columbia universities has found that last year’s catastrophic forest fires in Indonesia may have caused some 100,300 premature deaths.

Korean Plastic Surgery Clinic Gives Pikachu a Facelift, Creates Monster
In case you don't have enough nightmare fodder, a plastic surgery clinic in Seoul, South Korea decided to give famed Pokemon character Pikachu a makeover in order to showcase the range of services it ...

Kim Jong-Un Sulks, Bans Sarcasm in North Korea After Being Called 'Fool' by Citizens
In the latest example of Kim Jong-un’s supreme brilliance, the North Korean leader has banned sarcasm in the isolated nation.

Obama Vows to Lift Myanmar Sanctions Thanks to Government Reforms
On Wednesday, while hosting Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in the Oval Office, President of the United States Barack Obama revealed that the US is primed to lift sanctions on the Southeas...

This Notorious Suicide Spot in Japan Is Seeing Fewer Deaths Thanks to Pokemon GO
While Pokemon GO has made global headlines thanks to distracted drivers and pedestrians causing accidents, in one part of Japan the mobile phenomenon may actually be saving lives.

[Photos] Villages in China Are Sinking Due to Decades of Coal Mining
China, the world’s largest coal producer and consumer, has recently started to evacuate hundreds of thousands of residents from coal mining communities after announcing that no new mines will be appro...

Warming Seas Have Increased Asian Typhoon Intensity by 50%: Study
A new study has shown that the power of typhoons impacting East and Southeast Asia has intensified by 50% over the last four decades due to warming seas.

Obama Doubles Assistance for UXO Clearance During Laos Visit
At the start of his trip to Laos this week, President Barack Obama announced that he would double US assistance for clearing unexploded ordinance (UXO) in the small Southeast Asian nation.

Singapore Welcomes Ingenious New Book Vending Machines
In an effort to promote local reading culture, municipal authorities established a book street in Saigon earlier this year and plan to launch another in Hanoi this December. An independent bookstore i...

Durian-Flavored Condoms Are Now a Thing in Southeast Asia
It was bound to happen sooner or later: durian, one of the world’s most divisive fruits, is making an appearance in bedrooms throughout Southeast Asia.

There's Now a Netflix-Like Streaming Service in North Korea
North Korea is currently among a handful of countries and territories in the world, including Crimea, Syria and China, where Netflix is not available. However, the reclusive East Asian country ha...

Philippines Police Banned From Picking Nose, Taking Selfies While on Duty
If you just can’t live without picking your nose, it’s probably wise to avoid a career in law enforcement in the Philippines: the country just banned its police force from messing around with their na...

AirAsia Rewards Hoang Xuan Vinh, ASEAN Gold Medalists With Free Flights for Life
It’s a good year to be an Olympic medalist from Southeast Asia, as regional low-cost carrier AirAsia has announced that it will provide “free flights for life” to all local athletes who won a gold med...

[Video] Powerful Earthquake Damages at Least 185 Ancient Bagan Pagodas
On Wednesday, a powerful earthquake struck near Myanmar’s ancient capital of Bagan, killing at least three people and damaging nearly 200 Buddhist pagodas in the area, reports Wall Street Journal.

Thailand to Track Tourists' Phones Using Special SIM Cards
In the future, tourists who overstay their visa in Thailand will face trouble, as the Thai government just greenlit a plan to track foreign tourists’ phones via their SIM card.

Chinese Man Attempts to Board a Plane With Turtle Disguised as KFC Hamburger
Late last month, a Chinese national made a unique alteration to his KFC hamburger while attempting to board a flight from Guangzhou to Beijing.

Philippine President Duterte’s War on Crime Is Killing Hundreds, Crowding Prisons
While Vietnam plans to release 20,000 prisoners over the next two years, easing the congestion in its facilities and saving US$9 million in the process, inmates in the Philippines are feeling the crus...

Chinese Netizens Save Cats From Eviction at Local Museum
A museum in China was recently forced to reverse its decision to evict a litter of stray cats after netizens protested the move.

[Video] China Takes Its Straddling Bus for a Test Drive
In the world’s largest metropolises, road congestion has always been a tough nut to crack for local governments, which usually attempt to remedy the situation by either banning vehicles or m...

Singapore Hawker Stalls Become First Street Food Restaurants to Earn Michelin Star
Last week, two street stalls in Singapore made dining history as the first street vendors to be featured in prestigious Michelin restaurant guide.