The Latest Breaking News on Asia

Rescuers evacuate more than 200 from a ferry fire that left at least 1 dead near Bali

Rescuers saved 211 people from a ferry fire near Bali island. One passenger's body was recovered after the blaze erupted at sea. The Putri Yasmin ferry was carrying vehicles and motorcycles when the fire started. Rough seas and high waves complicated the extensive rescue operation efforts. Authorities are investigating the…

The Economic Times · Aug 12

How China’s big push to win back tourists is paying off

China's tourism sector is experiencing a significant resurgence after pandemic restrictions eased. Visa-free travel policies have attracted millions of foreign visitors, boosting the economy. Social media campaigns and influencer collaborations are drawing younger travelers to new destinations. This inbound tourism boom provides China with a much-needed soft power advantage globally.…

The Economic Times · Aug 12

Goa sees surge in monsoon travel searches as Indians embrace ‘micro-cations’

Goa sees a surge in monsoon travel and short "micro-cation" trends. Domestic searches for these trips have increased significantly year-on-year. Travelers now prefer spontaneous weekend getaways and short holidays. The state offers lush landscapes, local culture, and immersive experiences during the rainy season.

The Economic Times · Aug 12

Jasmine prices surge ahead of Mother’s Day

NAKHON RATCHASIMA - Jasmine flower prices for Mother’s Day garlands have surged more than 30% compared with a year ago, forcing vendors to raise garland prices while absorbing part of the higher costs to avoid driving away customers.

Bangkok Post · Aug 11

BMW driver arrested with illegal firearm in car

The driver of a BMW sedan was arrested after police found a pistol and 28 rounds of ammunition concealed under his seat at a checkpoint in Phuket’s Muang district on Monday night.

Bangkok Post · Aug 11

Dholavira Is Still Empty, and That Is the Only Reason You Should Go to This UNESCO Harappan Site Now

The city that outlasted everything except being knownDholavira has been standing, in one form or another, for five thousand years. It outlasted the civilisation that built it. It outlasted the river that fed it. It outlasted the scholarship that ignored it for decades while Mohenjo-daro and Harappa collected all the…

Times Life · Aug 11

Inside Koraput and Rayagada: The Tribal Villages of Southern Odisha That Time Has Not Erased

The road does not prepare youThe last stretch into Koraput comes through hills that fold into each other like something breathing. There are no billboards. The trees are sal and teak, and the light through them is the particular green that exists only in places where the canopy has not…

Times Life · Aug 11

Travel subsidy nears launch

The Tourism and Sports Ministry expects to finalise details of the proposed Thai Tiew Thai Plus domestic tourism subsidy scheme by next week as it seeks to launch the programme during the green (monsoon) season, Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said.

Bangkok Post · Aug 10

Call for more help for illegal Phuket hotels

Phuket tourism operators are urging the Interior Ministry to extend the tourism clinic programme, which offers consultations to help illegal accommodation operators comply with the law, as well as extend the expired ministerial regulation that allows other building types to register as hotels while awaiting the new Hotel Act.

Bangkok Post · Aug 10

In 1953, South Korea began a massive reforestation campaign after the Korean War. Decades later, the effort produced a stunning transformation, with more than 10 billion trees turning barren mountains into thriving forests

After the Korean War ended in 1953, South Korea faced severely degraded hills and mountains, with millions of hectares classified as “bare mountain.” Over the following decades, the country launched an ambitious reforestation campaign involving government agencies, local communities, new fuel strategies and billions of seedlings. More than 10 billion…

The Economic Times · Aug 10