Crystal Wu

1 month ago | scmp.com | Crystal Wu

At a university laboratory in Tokyo, a life-size robot leans over a man lying on his back. The machine gently puts one hand on the man’s knee and the other on his shoulder and rolls him slowly onto his side. The AI-driven Robot for Embrace and Care (AIREC) was designed by a team of researchers at Waseda University to carry out tasks such as changing diapers or performing movements to prevent sores among bedridden elderly people or patients in critical care.

1 month ago | scmp.com | Caroline Wang |Crystal Wu

The Tokyo government is set to introduce a four-day work week for its employees starting in April 2025, following a similar move made by Singapore in December. Governments and companies in Asia have generally been slower than their Western counterparts in taking steps to adopt a healthy work-life balance. For decades, Japan’s work culture has been synonymous with gruelling hours and self-sacrifice.

1 month ago | skynews.com.au | Crystal Wu

Chinese-Australian voters are set to play a pivotal role in determining the outcome of one of Sydney's most marginal seats in this year's Federal Election. Labor's Sally Sitou, who won Reid by a narrow margin of 5.2 per cent, is expected to be closely contested, with both candidates highlighting their diverse backgrounds as an asset in empathising with voters. Reid covers areas in Sydney's inner-west, including suburbs such as Burwood, Strathfield, Sydney Olympic Park, Five Dock and Drummoyne.

1 month ago | scmp.com | Crystal Wu

Argentina and Japan may be separated by thousands of kilometres of land and ocean, but Hiyori Kon is helping bring the two countries closer through the traditional Japanese sport of sumo. As a decorated female sumo wrestler, Hiyori moved to Argentina in 2023 after finding opportunities for female sumo wrestlers in Japan were scarce. Since then, she has trained dozens of sumo students and battled for gender equality in the male-centric sport.

2 months ago | scmp.com | Crystal Wu

Growing up in the rugged northern reaches of Pakistan, Anita Karim honed her combat skills fighting with three older brothers who pulled no punches. The bruising experience prepared her for a career in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) – blending Thai kickboxing, Japanese judo and wrestling – and has led her to becoming the nation’s pre-eminent woman fighter. Eight years ago, she won the right to enter the ring, swiftly becoming Pakistan’s first internationally competing woman MMA fighter.