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The living care for ancestors and wandering spirits at Malaysia’s Hungry Ghost Festival

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From robot dogs to helpers, robotics ambitions put on display

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A Tibetan cooperative keeps a centuries-old weaving tradition alive

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From The Asian Reporter, V36, #9 (September 7, 2026), page 2.

Rescuers find no trace of 22 missing ship crew

NEW DELHI (AP) — Rescuers searching for 22 missing sailors found no trace of their Panama-flagged cargo ship after the vessel sank in the Bay of Bengal, according to the Indian Coast Guard. Search aircraft and ships scoured the area where the cargo ship MV Ocean Winner reportedly sunk about 276 miles from the Paradip coast of India’s eastern Odisha state. The joint search by the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy was complicated by the area’s exceptionally deep waters and found only an oil slick and two life rafts near the vessel’s last known position, officials said. The lack of wreckage has hampered efforts to determine the cause of the sinking and where to focus search operations, authorities said. The vessel transporting iron ore to China was carrying 24 crew members, including 20 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar nationals, and one Bangladeshi, according to the coast guard. Two Chinese crew members were rescued following a distress call from the ship, the coast guard said.

Fijian rugby player dies after suspected heatstroke

FUKUOKA, Japan (AP) — Fijian rugby player Saimoni Vunilagi died of suspected heatstroke after a training session in Japan. He was 26 years old. His death was announced by his team, Kyushu Electric Power Kyuden Voltex — known as Kyushu KV. The Japanese second-division club said Vunilagi died after falling ill and being hospitalized. "After team practice on Monday ... Saimoni displayed symptoms consistent with severe heatstroke," the team said in a statement. "He was transported to a medical facility for treatment, but despite the best efforts of the medical team, he sadly passed away. Kyushu KV is based in Fukuoka, a city in southwestern Japan. Temperatures there reportedly reached around 95º Fahrenheit. "The players, staff, and all team associates are devastated by this sudden news," the team said. Back rower Vunilagi joined Kyushu KV in July, having previously played in the Japanese top flight with Tokyo Sungoliath. "Although Saimoni had only recently joined Kyushu KV, his generous spirit and powerful style of play had raised high hopes for his contributions in the upcoming season," Kyushu KV added. "We humbly pray for the repose of his soul and extend our heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family." The club supplied no other details surrounding the death. News reports said he was from Fiji.

Police raid Starbucks SK HQ over ad campaign

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean police raided the headquarters of Starbucks’ local operation as part of an investigation into a controversial marketing campaign that was perceived as defaming 1980s pro-democracy movements. Investigators searched the Starbucks headquarters in southern Seoul, according to police. Police gave no further details, but South Korean media reported investigators also were sent to the residences of Starbucks executives. The coffee chain triggered a public uproar when it attempted to promote a series of stainless-steel tumblers it called "SS Tank" by declaring May 18 to be "Tank Day." The date marks the anniversary of a 1980 pro-democracy uprising in the southern city of Gwangju that was brutally oppressed by South Korea’s then military-backed rulers. The campaign also used the slogan "Thwack it on the table!" which many read as a reference to a notorious 1987 police statement that attempted to cover up the torture death of student activist Park Jong-chol. Authorities had falsely said Park died after investigators "hit the desk with a thwack." The public outrage prompted Shinsegae Group, which owns a 67.5% stake in Starbucks Korea, to cancel the campaign within hours. It also fired the chief executive of Starbucks Korea. Shinsegae chairman Chung Yong-jin later issued a televised apology. Starbucks Korea closed all of its stores nationwide early on June 22 for mandatory history and social sensitivity training. The police investigation was launched following complaints from relatives of the victims of the Gwangju crackdown, which official records say left about 200 people dead. South Korea achieved a genuine democracy in 1987 when then authoritarian President Chun Doo-hwan, who led the Gwangju crackdown, was forced to accept a constitutional revision introducing direct presidential elections in the face of massive pro-democracy demonstrations.

SK police seek indictment of K-pop mogul behind BTS

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean police are pushing for an indictment of music tycoon Bang Si-Hyuk, the chairperson of the agency behind K-pop supergroup BTS, over alleged investor fraud. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency referred Bang to the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office, asking him to be indicted on a charge of violating the capital markets act, according to the police agency and the prosecutor’s office. Police have been investigating Bang, the billionaire founder and chairperson of Hybe, over allegations that he misled investors in 2019 by indicating that Hybe had no immediate plans to go public, prompting them to sell their shares to a private equity fund shortly before the company proceeded with an initial public offering. Police earlier said that the fund may have paid Bang somewhere around 200 billion won ($147 million) in a side deal that promised him 30% of post-IPO stock sale profits. South Korean media reported that police referred four other people, including Hybe executives and private equity fund officials, to prosecutors as well, asking for their indictment. Hybe officials have said Bang denies any wrongdoing. News of Bang’s legal troubles flared after BTS returned and launched a much-awaited world tour earlier this year after a nearly four-year musical hiatus due to the band members’ mandatory military service in South Korea.

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