Category: Asia

China

China Walks Out of South Korea’s Major Art Festival Over “Taiwan Pavilion” — And Seoul Is Now Caught in the Middle

A dispute over the name of a Taiwanese exhibition has turned into a major diplomatic and cultural controversy in South Korea, with Chinese curators and artists withdrawing from the 16th Gwangju Biennale after organizers approved the use of the name “Taiwan Pavilion.” The controversy intensified just as the biennale opened to the public on September 5, putting one of Asia's major contemporary art events in the uncomfortable position of having a cultural exhibition overshadowed by the long-runnin

September 5, 2026

Singapore

Simon Lane House Fire Sends One to Hospital, Forces 30 to Flee—Then Flames Appeared Again

SINGAPORE — A fire that broke out at a two-storey house along Simon Lane in Kovan on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, sent one person to hospital for smoke inhalation and forced about 30 people from neighbouring homes to evacuate as firefighters battled the blaze. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was alerted to the fire at around 3 p.m. When firefighters arrived, the two-storey property was already ablaze. SCDF deployed three water jets to surround, contain and extinguish the fire. A person fr

September 5, 2026

China

Zavier Lucero Ready for Gilas’ Biggest Defensive Test—But Can He Help Stop China in the Asian Games?

MANILA, Philippines — Zavier Lucero is ready to embrace a bigger role as Gilas Pilipinas prepares for a difficult Asian Games title defense, with the Magnolia forward expected to bring his physical defense, rebounding and versatility to a revamped Philippine lineup. Lucero is among the 12 players selected for Gilas Pilipinas’ men’s basketball team for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, putting the Magnolia Hotshots forward in line for his first major appearance with the national team. The 6-fo

September 5, 2026

Philippines

Marcos Signs New Free College Law—But the Biggest Change Could Be Who Gets Priority

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed a new law expanding government assistance for financially disadvantaged Filipinos pursuing college and technical-vocational education, with qualified students from poor households set to receive stronger priority for education subsidies. Republic Act No. 12325, or the Act Enhancing the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, was signed by Marcos at Malacañang on September 4. The measure amends Republic Act No. 10931, th

September 5, 2026

Philippines

9-Year-Old Boy Found Dead in Abra Mountains—But His Younger Brother Is Still Missing

TINEG, Abra — A three-day search for two young brothers in the mountainous areas of Tineg, Abra, has ended in tragedy after rescuers found the body of 9-year-old Octavious—while the search for his younger brother, Markcliff, continues. Octavious was found at around 11 a.m. in the Mt. Mabitog area of Sitio Asilip, Barangay Caganayan, during an ongoing search-and-rescue operation involving local responders, authorities, relatives and community volunteers. His remains were subsequently brought to

September 5, 2026

Business

Singapore’s Air India Fight Takes a Sharper Turn — Kenneth Tiong Responds After Shanmugam’s Racism Warning

A political and commercial dispute surrounding Singapore Airlines’ investment in Air India has taken a sharper turn after Workers’ Party MP Kenneth Tiong said his concerns about the investment were purely commercial and condemned racist and xenophobic comments that have surfaced online. Tiong’s response came after Senior Minister K. Shanmugam warned on Sept. 5 that authorities were looking into “shameful” racist and xenophobic comments connected to both the Nepal-Tibet disaster and the controve

September 5, 2026

Entertainment

Kamila Valieva Was Just Given a Path Back to International Skating — Then the ISU Reversed Course

Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva has had her Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) status revoked by the International Skating Union (ISU), according to a source familiar with the matter, in the latest twist surrounding the former Olympic champion's controversial return to international competition. The 20-year-old skater was only recently cleared to compete internationally under neutral status after completing a four-year ban stemming from an anti-doping violation. Now, a decision that appeared

September 5, 2026

Entertainment

National Artist Resil Mojares Dies at 83—His Final Day Was Marked by a Poignant Family Celebration

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has lost one of its most respected literary scholars and historians. National Artist for Literature Resil B. Mojares died in the early hours of Saturday, September 5, 2026, at the age of 83, just one day after celebrating his birthday, according to his family. His passing was also reported by several major Philippine news organizations. His daughter, Anna Leigh Go Mojares, announced the family's loss in a statement shared on social media, saying the family

September 5, 2026

Philippines

Sara Duterte Chooses Bail Over Detention: ‘I Don’t Feel Safe’ — What Happens Next?

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte posted P360,000 bail on Saturday, September 5, a day after a Quezon City court issued a warrant for her arrest over three counts of grave threats involving President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. Duterte said her lawyers advised her that posting bail would be safer than remaining in police custody. “My lawyers spoke with me and advised me to post bail, instead of remaining in a

September 5, 2026

Japan

Japan’s Beloved Izakayas Are Disappearing at a Record Pace — And the Real Reason Goes Beyond Rising Prices

Japan’s beloved izakaya pubs are facing one of their toughest periods in decades, with a record number of businesses collapsing as higher costs, weaker domestic drinking habits and changing consumer behavior squeeze small operators. The latest figures paint a troubling picture: 118 izakaya businesses went bankrupt during the first half of 2026, according to Tokyo Shoko Research (TSR). That was the highest first-half total since comparable records began in 1989 and the first time the figure surp

September 5, 2026