Asia Specific

Indonesia is considering allowing dual citizenship for a limited group of highly skilled Indonesians living abroad, including scientists, engineers, doctors and AI researchers. The proposal is aimed at encouraging Indonesians who have built careers overseas to maintain a connection with the country and eventually contribute to its economy and development.

But dual citizenship remains relatively uncommon in Asia. So why do countries ...

They were taught to obey. But they learnt to resist, turning detective.

Students from a network of Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia hear about allegations of a dark secret at the heart of the powerful institution that shaped their lives. They set out to seek the truth - not knowing what it will cost them.

BBC Journalist Rebecca Henschke joins Asia Specific host Mariko Oi to detail a new investigation in Indonesia for the World...

China’s young people are turning to temples, fortune-telling, tarot, and spiritual products, not necessarily because they’ve found religion, but because they’re looking for something to hold onto in uncertain times.

They’re worried about jobs, incomes, and the future, and many are seeking luck, reassurance, and a sense of control. For some, that means burning incense at a temple or asking for their fortune. F...

There’s been a litany of warnings about AI and its potential dangers. A top safety researcher at Anthropic, one of the biggest AI companies in the US, warned the technology is advancing at a pace so fast that there’s a 10% chance it “could kill all humans” within the next decade.

Such concerns have led to calls for a coordinated action in the US to slow down the development of the technology. But there are a...

Top Australian Hyrox athlete Joanna Wietrzyk has apologised after soiling herself during a race in Beijing, saying she would withdraw from the event and forfeit the points she earned.

The company behind the fitness phenomenon has also apologised for allowing her to continue and win, amid criticism over hygiene and athlete welfare.

The incident has shone a spotlight on the rapidly growing fitness trend, which combines running with fu...

Australia was the first country in the world to ban social media for under-16s. Now, it's taking aim at something even bigger: the algorithms that keep everyone hooked.

Under a new "My Feed, My Way" proposal, tech companies could be forced to let users switch off the personalised recommendation systems that decide what they see on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

Supporters say it could reduce exposure to addictive, divisive content....

Australia is home to some of the world's most distinctive wildlife — nearly 90% of its mammals exist nowhere else on Earth. But Australia is also where a mammal extinction is happening at an alarming pace.

Species are disappearing at a rate of roughly four every decade, driven by feral predators, habitat destruction, and a changing climate. Feral cats alone kill an estimated three billion native animals and insects every year...

Haze wafting across borders in South East Asia is an annual problem, so why can’t the countries responsible stop it happening?

The haze is primarily caused by farmers and landowners slashing and burning plots of land - a relatively cheap and fast way of preparing a field for crops.

This year, Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto is talking tough towards those responsible for the fires, pledging to revoke permits for fir...

From Jackie Chan and Wong Kar-wai to the city’s gritty crime thrillers and romantic dramas, there was a time when Hong Kong cinema was everywhere.

The city was once one of Asia’s great filmmaking capitals, producing movies and stars that became cultural icons around the world. But today, that creative energy is looking increasingly hard to find.

The national security law, tighter censorship and the growing influence of m...

The AI boom means data centres are being built at an unprecedented pace around the world and in South East Asia, Malaysia has emerged as one of the biggest hubs for this expansion. But the rapid construction growth for data centres is also prompting a backlash. Data centres can consume enormous amounts of electricity and water, while critics question how many long-term jobs they actually create for local communities.

In Malaysia, ...

Across Asia, a growing number of young people are becoming hikikomori, a term used to describe people who suffer from a severe social withdrawal. They shut themselves in their homes, retreating from work, school, or their families for months, sometimes years.

That condition was first observed in Japan but other countries like South Korea, China and Singapore have since reported a rising number of youths choosing to shut themselves ...

Frantic search efforts are underway in Nepal and the Tibetan side of the Chinese border after a devastating flash flood and landslide swept through a valley.

Thousands of rescue personnel have been deployed as crews search through thick mud and debris for survivors, with hundreds of people unaccounted for at the time of recording - August 27th, 2026.

Host Mariko Oi speaks to a journalist from the BBC Nepali service in Kathmandu, San...

Seen as pests in some parts of Asia, long-tailed macaques are highly sought-after in the world of biopharmaceutical research for drug development. But now a worldwide shortage means one monkey can sell for tens of thousands of dollars, so what’s driving up the cost?

China’s fast-developing biopharmaceutical industry has created more demand for macaques, and South East Asia is jumping on the opportunity to deliver.

Indo...

The Grammys created a new category for Asian pop music, but BTS have decided to withdraw from the awards in 2027. The group says music should be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language.

The Recording Academy, organisers of the Grammy Awards, said the creation of several new categories, including Asian pop, is meant to make the ceremony more inclusive.

So, is the new category a long-overdue re...

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is tightening visa and residency rules for foreigners amid growing concerns about the pace of immigration in recent years.

But Japan’s overall population continues to shrink alongside neighbouring China and South Korea, raising a question: Why don’t these countries embrace larger-scale immigration as a way to offset the decline?

Takaichi’s changes to permanent residency r...

China has a growing “manosphere”. But it isn't a copy of the one in the West. So what's fuelling the anger among many young Chinese men?

There are no Andrew Tate-style influencers leading a movement. Instead, frustration is spread across online communities where some young men vent about dating and the cost of building a family.

The soaring cost of marriage and the long shadow of the one-child policy have turned up econom...

Myanmar’s military-backed government is seeking legitimacy from its neighbours, more than five years after troops overthrew a democratically-elected government and triggered a bloody civil war.

So does this mean the imprisoned former leader and democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi will be released?

Myanmar’s President Min Aung Hlaing pulled off a huge diplomatic victory with a red carpet welcome from influential neighbour Tha...

If you’ve ever booked a flight across Asia for less than US$100, you might have asked the question many travellers are now wondering: was that a temporary golden age, or can cheap travel make a comeback?

Asia used to be the home of ultra-cheap flights, but many travellers say those days are fading fast. Rising fuel prices, aircraft shortages and heavy post-pandemic debt are putting pressure on budget airlines across the region...

In a highly unusual move, the US has stepped in to back Japan's currency, the yen. Donald Trump calls it a "signal of friendship" but what is Washington hoping to achieve? And what does the move reveal about Japan's economy, after years of deflation and ultra-low interest rates? In this special bonus episode, Asia Specific podcast host Mariko Oi joins as guest of the BBC Business Daily podcast hosts Rahul Tandon and Will Bain to as...