BackStories » Asia

in Asia

[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...

in Asia

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.

in Asia

Pokemon GO Comes to Asia but Not Vietnam

Over two weeks after the game’s initial release in Europe and North America, Pokemon GO has arrived in Asia.

in Asia

[Video] Japan Held International Whistling Competition Because of Course They Did

If you’ve ever yearned to be on stage but lacked the pipes to launch a singing career, do we have news for you.

in Asia

Thailand Tries to Get Rid of Sex Tourism

In an effort to attract wealthier visitors, Thai officials are attempting to get rid of the country's reputation as a sex tourism destination.

in Asia

Over Half of Southeast Asian Workers Could Lose Jobs in 20 Years: ILO Study

Over half of Southeast Asian workers risk losing their jobs to automation in the next 20 years, according to a recent study by the International Labor Organization (ILO).

in Asia

Japan’s First VR Porn Festival Finishes Early Due to Overcrowding

It’s a sticky situation for Japanese smut lovers as the country’s first virtual reality (VR) porn festival was prematurely canceled due to overcrowding, reports the Next Web.

in Asia

[Video] China Built the World's Largest Telescope So It Could Look for Aliens

Our search for extraterrestrial neighbors is about to get easier now that China has unveiled the world’s largest radio telescope.

in Asia

Unruly Thai Students Could Get Drafted

After two young technical school students shot at their peers on a city bus, Thailand's military junta is considering automatic conscription for unruly students.

in Asia

Scientists Discover Venomous Swimming Centipede in Vietnam

It seems one of our worst nightmares has come true as scientists have confirmed the existence of a huge species of swimming centipede in Southeast Asia.

in Asia

Singaporean Church Unearths 173-Year-Old Time Capsule

In this age of constant space exploration and advanced aeronautics, it may come as a shock how much we don’t know about our own planet. But if we dig deep enough beneath our feet, interesting fin...

in Asia

New Report Claims China Uses Political Prisoners for Organ Harvesting

A disturbing new report compiled by journalist Ethan Gutmann, human rights lawyer David Matas and former Canadian politician David Kilgour suggests China is harvesting the organs of its political pris...

in Asia

Foreign Couples Are Keeping Japan's Wedding Industry Alive

As the Japanese government struggles to spur the country's marriage rate, even resorting to matchmaking in some cases, Japan's wedding industry is flourishing thanks to foreign couples.

in Asia

Despite Protests, China's Dog Meat Festival Goes Ahead as Scheduled

Amid pressure from animal rights activists, China’s southern city of Yulin commenced its 10-day dog meat festival on June 21.

in Asia

6 Vietnamese Arrested in Japan for Stealing Melons

Six Vietnamese men have been arrested in Japan for melon theft.

in Asia

Thailand Is Making Its Drunk Drivers Visit the Morgue

In 2015, some 9,000 people in Vietnam died in traffic accidents. Our Thai neighbors, however, faced even greater danger on the road last year with a traffic-related death toll of 24,000. As ...

in Asia

Facebook Apologizes for Philippines Flag Mistake

Last Sunday, Filipinos celebrated their country's independence. And, of course, anything that happens in the real world must also happen on Facebook.

in Asia

At Angkor Wat, Groundbreaking Research Upends Cambodian History

Today, all eyes in the archaeology world are on Cambodia, as new evidence suggests a lost city near Angkor Wat which upends many of historians' assumptions about Southeast Asian history.

in Asia

[Video] Reshuffle May Spell the End for China's Military Performers

China’s military cultural troupes traverse the globe, winning top awards for their odd, circus-like feats. But as Chinese president Xi Jinping reshuffles China’s military power structure the...

in Asia

Japanese Comedian to Represent Cambodia at Rio Olympics

For the first time ever, Cambodia will be represented in both the men's and women's marathons at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics.