Field Notes

Field Notes from Sydney

‘It’s not going to be me’: Despite risks of shark attacks, Sydney beachgoers still catch the waves

Mr Greg Littrich, 58, from the Sydney beach-side suburb of Coogee, said he has been upset by the spate of shark attacks in January 2026 but this had not prevented him from swimming. PHOTO: JONATHAN PEARLMAN

Field Notes from Pahang

In Malaysia’s ‘jungle railway’, a colonial-era train signalling ritual still survives

Kuala Krau station master Mohd Akmal Jamal (left), 31, hands a key token to the driver of an incoming train.

Field Notes from New Delhi

‘Not a Hindu, not a Muslim... I am a human being’: Gym instructor stands up for a Muslim in India

Gym instructor Deepak Kumar has become a hero in India after standing up for a bullied Muslim shopkeeper.

Field Notes from Seoul

Oh crumbs! South Korea weighs new sugar tax amid craze over Dubai chewy cookie

The price of a Dubai chewy cookie in South Korea ranges from 5,000 won (S$4.40) to 10,000 won a piece.

In China’s richest province, not every city is in the fast lane

Shuttered storefronts at a wholesale market for building materials in Foshan's Shagang village.

Field Notes from New Delhi

India sails an ancient ship to bolster its ambitions at sea

INSV Kaundinya is a historic Indian Navy ship inspired from a fifth century cave painting in western India.

Field Notes from Taipei

Taiwan gains global visibility with Alex Honnold’s Taipei 101 climb, but were the risks justified?

American climber Alex Honnold waving from the top of Taipei 101 on Jan 25.

Field Notes from Beijing

‘Are You Dead?’: Viral safety app reflects quiet anxiety of living alone in China

China’s one-person households have been growing steadily, with more than 125 million recorded in the 2020 national population census.

Field Notes from Tokyo

Beware of bears: Japan’s 2025 kanji character reflects worries over attacks on humans

Visitors take photos next to a bear warning sign at Shirakawa-go, a popular tourist spot and one of Japan's UNESCO World Heritage sites, on November 15.

Field Notes from Beijing

Custodians or thieves? When China’s treasures are lost from within

A Ming Dynasty painting, donated to Nanjing Museum that turned up for auction, sparked an investigation into the museum's handling of its artefacts.

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MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2026 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.