2026 Facts & Figures: ASIA & OCEANIA

Nima Rinji Sherpa, 19, of NEPAL has become the youngest person to climb all 14 of the world’s highest mountains—those more than 26,247 feet above sea level. He completed the challenge in October 2024 by summiting Mount Shishapangma in TIBET. He joins only a few dozen climbers who have conquered them all. Nima (above), from Nepal’s Sherpa community, hopes his achievement shines a light on the crucial role Sherpas play as guides for high-altitude climbs.

^{Source: The New York Times}

Researchers in JAPAN have developed an innovative plastic that’s biodegradable and dissolves in seawater. Designed to combat microplastic pollution in marine environments (above), this material breaks down in the ocean and is safely metabolized by marine bacteria. Millions of tons of plastics enter the ocean each year, and scientists say that fish and marine life ingest microplastics, which enter the food chain and can eventually reach humans.

^{Source: Technology Networks}

When you search for places like Warrane (Sydney Cove) or Meanjin (Brisbane) on your phone, you might now see both their English and Indigenous names. Apple has teamed up with Indigenous groups to add more than 250 traditional place names across AUSTRALIA to its Maps app, with more on the way. The update also shows land borders for Indigenous protected areas and reserves. Apple made similar updates for U.S. and Canada maps in 2023. The changes are part of an effort to recognize Indigenous rights.

^{Source: The Guardian}

Despite its vast size, CHINA, which spans five time zones, officially uses just one: Beijing time. Before 1949, China observed multiple time zones, but after the Chinese Communist Party came to power, it unified the entire nation under a single time zone. Many people in western regions still follow an unofficial “local time” to better align their daily routines with daylight, but all official schedules remain on Beijing time. 

^{Source: Famworld}