ASEAN News

China is stepping up its game in Indonesia’s electric vehicle (EV) battery industry after a major exit by South Korea’s LG-led consortium. LG and its partners have pulled out of a massive US$7.7 billion project meant to build a full EV battery supply chain in Indonesia — giving China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt a clear path to take charge. LG Energy …

In an auspicious start to 2025, Hyundai Motor posted a 2% gain in its operating profit for the first quarter, amounting to 3.6 trillion won (approximately $2.5 billion). One significant reason for this bump was the weak South Korean currency, which improved earnings from overseas. But there are bumps in the road. U.S. tariff programs are indeed proving to be …

China has made its latest stride into space. On April 24, 2025, launched from the country’s northwestern Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, China launched its Shenzhou-20 mission. Carrying Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie to China’s Tiangong, the mission later successfully docked using a Long March-2F rocket, which lifted the spacecraft into space, with the space station later on in …

Trying to control rising prices and cool down angry consumers, Japan for the first time in 25 years has brought in rice from South Korea. The last occurrence was in 1999. But with Japanese rice now becoming too expensive for many, Japan is opting for cheaper foreign varieties. Reports say that last month, only two tons of South Korean rice …

On April 22, 2025 President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. proclaimed a Day of National Mourning in memory of late National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Nora Aunor who died on April 16 at the age of 71. Nora Aunor, born Nora Cabaltera Villamayor was a giant in Philippine cinema, television and music. Her career spanned over five decades and …

Indeed, Stewart has been wed to the love of her life, Dylan Meyer, with whom she has spent so many years in an absolutely splendid new beginning: their marriage together. The wedding was quiet, with only close friends and family invited; for the most part, they are keeping the personal lives ventilated from too much attention. But even the strength …

A phenomenon of sorts that was never seen before: numerous humanoid robots took their positions along with thousands of human runners during the half marathon held in Beijing last Saturday. Not out of a sci-fi flick, this was a digital manifestation of the muscular strength that China gains in its tech segment. The 21-km marathon featured over 21 humanoid robots …

Katy Perry is daring to go where few pop stars have gone before. Just days after a very public space trip, the 40 year old is ready to embark on her sci-fi themed Lifetimes Tour in Mexico City on April 23. It’s the most recent action in what’s already been a busy year for Perry which included the release of …

Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi has now officially become Japan’s third astronaut commander of the International Space Station (ISS). Onishi, a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut, took command on March 16, 2025, after launching on the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft with three other crew members. The mission is expected to run for approximately 6 months. The key was given to …

This global drift of K-pop has widened! The amazing audition project, ‘Click the Star, has officially launched from Korea into Indonesia and South America-all at once. This program is not only about forming K-pop girl groups but wider cultural connections with each country. What’s About Click the Star? Click the star is a unique k-pop audition that will cover 32 …