Here are a few stories from around Asia you may have missed this week.

Nepal gets its first female prime minister

Sushila Karki was sworn in on September 12 as Nepal's first female prime minister. Her interim appointment came days after protests against corruption turned violent, resulting in at least 72 deaths and forcing Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to resign. Parliament was later dissolved, and elections are now scheduled for March 5, 2026. 

Karki, known for her independence, was appointed following negotiations involving army chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel, President Ram Chandra Poudel and protest representatives. She has pledged to work toward Nepal's development. "We will try to establish a new beginning for the country," Karki told the press. A fifth of people aged 15-24 in Nepal are unemployed, according to the World Bank.

China launches experimental satellite for internet technology

China on Tuesday launched an experimental satellite for satellite internet technology from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. Carried by a Long March-2C carrier rocket with the Yuanzheng-1S upper stage, the satellite successfully entered its designated orbit. 

The satellite, part of a larger batch, was developed by China's commercial satellite company Galaxy Space. To date, the company has launched 35 satellites into orbit, including China's first batch of low-Earth orbit broadband communication satellites.

Okinawa to levy accommodation tax

Okinawa Prefecture, one of Japan's top tourist destinations, approved an ordinance on Thursday to introduce a 2-percent accommodation tax to boost the local tourism industry. The flat-rate lodging tax for hotel and inn stays will be the first of its kind enacted by a prefectural government, according to Okinawa officials. 

The tax for hotel and inn stays will be capped at a maximum of 2,000 yen (around $13.5) per night. The tax is expected to generate about 7.8 billion yen ($52.7 million) annually, which will be used to preserve the scenic landscape, support tourism workers and improve safety measures for recreation. The move comes amid growing local hopes for more visitors, especially after the opening of the Okinawa theme park.

Indonesia unveils stimulus package worth $1 billion

Indonesia announced a new economic stimulus package worth 16.23 trillion rupiah ($989 million) on Monday, which includes food assistance and an infrastructure development program that could create temporary jobs for over 600,000 people. The stimulus measures will be implemented in the fourth quarter of 2025, Indonesia's chief economic minister, Airlangga Hartarto, told reporters, adding that some measures will be extended into 2026. 

Southeast Asia's largest economy grew by 5.12 percent annually in the second quarter, its strongest growth rate in two years. "With this stimulus package, we hope to reach the 5.2 percent economic growth target still this year," the minister added.

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan sign defense pact

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a mutual defense agreement on Wednesday, significantly strengthening a decades-long security partnership amid rising regional tensions. The closer defense ties come as Gulf Arab states grow increasingly wary of the United States, their traditional security provider. Israel's attack on Qatar last week heightened these concerns further. 

"This agreement is a culmination of years of discussions. This is not a response to specific countries or specific events but an institutionalization of longstanding and deep cooperation between our two countries," a senior Saudi official told Reuters when asked about its timing. Pakistani state television showed Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman embracing after signing the agreement.

(Cover: Nepal's interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki arrives at her office inside the premises of Singha Durbar palace in Kathmandu, Nepal, September 14, 2025. /CFP)