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· Carl Samson
Japan eyes tripling departure tax to combat overtourism
Japan is weighing a plan to triple its departure tax from 1,000 yen ($6.40) to 3,000 yen ($19.20) per person as record visitor numbers fuel growing concerns about overtourism’s toll on local communities and ecosystems. About the plan: The ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s…
· Carl Samson
Hawaii becomes 1st state to tax tourists for climate change
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green enacted legislation on May 27 establishing the country’s first tourist tax designed to fund climate resilience efforts, adding a 0.75 percentage point increase to lodging fees beginning Jan. 1, 2026. About the law
· Carl Samson
US rice found to have high levels of arsenic, cadmium
New testing reveals that virtually all rice sold in the U.S. contains arsenic and cadmium, with one-fourth of samples exceeding federal safety limits established for infant rice cereal. Key findings: Tests of 145 rice samples from retailers nationwide detected arsenic — a highly…
· Carl Samson
Texas House passes bill barring Chinese citizens from owning property
The Texas House of Representatives voted 86-59 on Friday to advance legislation that would bar citizens from China and other nations from purchasing property in the state. Catch up
· Michelle De Pacina
Tropical storm Trami hits Vietnam after killing over 100 in the Philippines
Tropical Storm Trami made landfall in Vietnam on Sunday, after causing severe flooding in the Philippines. The storm, described as the deadliest storm to hit the Southeast Asian country so far this year, left at least 110 dead in the Philippines. According to the Philippine…
· Michelle De Pacina
‘The Last of the Sea Women’: Meet South Korea’s senior ‘mermaids’ fighting to protect the ocean
Korean American filmmaker Sue Kim was only 8 when she first encountered Jeju Island’s centuries-old legends — Korea’s first female breadwinners who dive to great depths without oxygen tanks. These women divers, or “haenyeo,” are known for their remarkable strength, autonomy and…
· Michelle De Pacina
Super Typhoon Yagi continues deadly path across Asia as it hits Thailand
Thailand deployed military special forces to Chiang Rai province after severe flooding, caused by Typhoon Yagi, left thousands stranded. The storm has killed at least nine people in the past week, bringing fatalities from rain-related incidents including landslides across the…
· Michelle De Pacina
Over a million evacuated as Super Typhoon Yagi hits China
Super Typhoon Yagi has made landfall on China’s Hainan Island on Friday, bringing heavy rain and winds up to 245 kilometers per hour which make it 2024’s second-strongest tropical cyclone globally. Over 400,000 people in Hainan and 670,000 in Guangdong province have been…
· Carl Samson
Climate change poses grave threat to South Korea’s kimchi
Kimchi, South Korea’s national dish, is facing serious shortage challenges as rising temperatures threaten the production of key ingredient napa cabbage. The shrinking supply of the vegetable has already led to soaring prices, putting both farmers and the kimchi industry under…
· Carl Samson
‘Twisters’ director explains lack of climate change message
“Twisters,” which premiered on July 19, highlights the devastating impact of tornadoes, along with elements such as scientific challenges and disaster capitalists. Interestingly, it omits direct references to climate change, despite evidence suggesting the phenomena’s influence…
· Carl Samson
China takes urgent climate action amid deadly rains, flooding
China is prioritizing its climate change policy as severe torrential rains and flooding continue to affect several parts of the country. Extensive emergency responses have been put in place to mitigate the impact of the extreme weather. What’s happening: Relentless rains since…
· Ryan General
Schools across South and Southeast Asia close due to record-breaking temps
Extreme heat has forced school closures across South Asia and Southeast Asia, impacting millions of students in both regions. Key points:
· Carl Samson
Scientists create material that catches greenhouse gases faster than trees
Researchers from the U.K. and China have developed a material capable of storing greenhouse gases, offering a new and innovative tool against global warming. Key points:
· Ryan General
South Korean kids take government to court over climate change
Young activists in South Korea have filed a case accusing their government of violating their human rights by not doing enough to address climate change. Key points:
· Ryan General
AAPI more likely to believe in climate change: poll
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) are more likely than the general U.S. population to believe in climate change and its human causes, according to a new poll. Key points:
· Ryan General
Japan’s most famous cherry blossom trees could disappear due to climate change
Climate change could cause Japan’s famous Somei-Yoshino cherry trees to become extinct in some areas by 2100, a new report suggests. Key points:
· Ryan General
Climate change is causing fish to shrink: Japanese study
A new study reveals that fish in the western North Pacific Ocean are getting smaller due to climate change-driven shifts in their food supply. What the scientists found: A University of Tokyo study published in the journal Fish and Fisheries analyzed medium-term data on the…
· Michelle De Pacina
AAPI communities are most concerned about inflation, immigration: poll
A new AAPI Data/AP-NORC Poll revealed that economic and foreign policy concerns are the top priorities for Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities in 2024. The results: According to the data, about three in 10 cited inflation (31%) and immigration…
· Bryan Ke
Watch: This Japanese rocket is powered by cow dung
A Japanese space startup has successfully tested its new rocket that uses cow dung as a fuel source, marking it a step toward its goal of creating affordable rockets that also help mitigate climate change. How it works: Developed by Interstellar Technologies Inc. and tested at…
· Michelle De Pacina
7 in 10 AAPIs believe US is headed in the wrong direction: poll
A new poll reveals that approximately seven in 10 Asian American and Pacific Islanders in the United States believe the country is headed in the wrong direction. Democrats vs. Republicans: In the poll conducted by AAPI Data and the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs…