South Korean ex-president sentenced, Buddha’s early life: 7 Asia highlights

SCMP's latest Asia highlights compilation for the week of February 24, 2026, surfaces seven stories that resonated deeply with readers, offering a snapshot of the continent's most pressing political and historical developments. The lead story details a landmark judicial ruling in South Korea, where former President Yoon Suk-yeol was found guilty of insurrection and sentenced to life in prison. The conviction stems from his short-lived martial law decree, an act the court determined plunged the nation into its most severe constitutional crisis in decades, marking a significant moment in the country's democratic history.

In a major archaeological revelation, researchers in Nepal have unearthed a temple at the fortified ruins of Tilaurakot, believed to be the ancient capital where Siddhartha Gautama spent his youth before becoming the Buddha. This discovery at the site, which receives far fewer visitors than his birthplace in Lumbini, provides new, tangible evidence about the Buddha's formative princely years, potentially reshaping scholarly understanding of his early life and the historical context of his teachings.

The digest also covers a political shift in Okinawa, Japan, where the longstanding anti-U.S. military base alliance suffered a significant election defeat, signaling a potential change in local sentiment toward the American presence. For professionals monitoring APAC affairs, this curated list from SCMP's reporting serves as an efficient primer on cross-regional issues, from high-stakes political accountability and evolving geopolitical dynamics to groundbreaking historical research that connects the continent's deep past with its present.