Category: Asia

Business

China Walks Out of Major Asian Art Festival — One Taiwan Pavilion Name Sparks a Diplomatic Storm

A major Asian art festival has been pulled into a growing China-Taiwan diplomatic dispute after Chinese artists withdrew from South Korea’s Gwangju Biennale, objecting to organizers’ decision to allow a Taiwanese exhibition to use the name “Taiwan Pavilion.” The withdrawal came just as the 16th Gwangju Biennale was preparing to open in Gwangju, South Korea. The biennale is regarded as one of Asia’s leading contemporary art events and this year’s programme includes a separate Pavilion Project fe

September 5, 2026

Business

Glorietta and Greenbelt Are Getting Busier—But Ayala Land’s Bigger Bet Is Only Beginning

MANILA, Philippines — Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) is beginning to see the payoff from its multibillion-peso makeover of some of the country’s most established malls, with higher shopper traffic, stronger same-mall revenues and improved occupancy giving fresh momentum to its leasing business. The company’s shopping-center portfolio reached a 90% lease-out rate in the first half of 2026, up from 87% a year earlier. At the same time, same-mall revenues increased 7% while visitor footfall climbed 5%, sig

September 5, 2026

Asia

Sydney Swelters at 33°C as ‘Extreme’ Bushfire Risk Triggers Total Fire Ban

Sydney is facing an unusually dangerous start to spring, with temperatures forecast to reach 33°C on Saturday, September 5, nearly 13°C above the September average, as hot, dry conditions and strong winds sharply raise the threat of bushfires. Authorities have responded with a Total Fire Ban across the Greater Sydney Region, where the official fire-danger rating has reached Extreme—the second-highest level under Australia's fire danger system. Why Sydney is suddenly at high risk The heat is

September 5, 2026

Business

Doctor Gave Him 30 Days to Live — 8 Years Later, This Cancer Survivor Is Serving Ban Mian in Yishun

SINGAPORE — September 5, 2026 — Eight years ago, Tan Yong Cheng was preparing himself for the possibility that he might not have much time left. Today, the 48-year-old is behind the counter of Xiao Wen Ban Mian in Yishun, serving bowls of noodles to customers after surviving a devastating battle with late-stage nasopharyngeal cancer. His story began in 2018, when the former technician noticed that he was losing weight. His trousers were becoming increasingly loose, prompting him to seek medica

September 5, 2026

Asia

US Midterms Begin With Ballots Already Going Out—Then a Court Fight Throws Mail Voting Into Uncertainty

WASHINGTON — The 2026 U.S. midterm elections have officially entered a critical phase, but voters and election officials are facing an unusual problem: the rules governing millions of mail-in ballots remain caught in a legal battle as ballots are already being sent out. North Carolina became the first state to begin sending mail-in ballots on Friday, Sept. 4, formally opening the voting period ahead of the Nov. 3 congressional elections, which will determine control of the U.S. House and Senate

September 5, 2026

Sport

Aryna Sabalenka Stops US Open Match Over Strong Weed Smell — Then Reveals What Really Distracted Her

NEW YORK — Aryna Sabalenka has dealt with pressure, powerful opponents and the expectations that come with being the world No. 1. But during her third-round match at the 2026 US Open, it was something far more unexpected that briefly stopped the two-time defending champion: a strong smell of cannabis. Sabalenka interrupted play during her match against Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova at Louis Armstrong Stadium on Friday after the odor became difficult for her to ignore. While serving early in t

September 5, 2026

Politics

Trump Signs Sweeping Beef Orders—But His Wolf Move Could Trigger a Bigger Battle

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a pair of executive orders aimed at reshaping the American beef industry, giving ranchers greater support against livestock predators, expanding access to meat processing and putting mandatory country-of-origin labeling back on the policy agenda. The actions, signed on September 4, come as U.S. beef prices remain at record levels and the national cattle herd sits at a 75-year low. The administration is under pressure to bring grocery costs dow

September 5, 2026

Philippines

Teen Mom Clinics Could Soon Rise Nationwide—But the Bigger Question Is What Happens Inside DSWD Shelters

MANILA, Philippines — A new legislative push seeks to give pregnant teenagers and young mothers more specialized medical care, social protection and support, with a proposal calling for dedicated “Teen Mom Clinics” in public hospitals and stronger facilities under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The measure was filed by Quezon City 5th District Rep. Patrick Michael D. Vargas as House Bill No. 3988, formally titled the “Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Act.” The House of

September 5, 2026

Malaysia

Australia Sends Strong Message Ahead of Historic BARMM Vote—But the Real Test Comes on Election Day

MANILA, Philippines — Australia has reaffirmed its support for a peaceful, inclusive and credible election in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), just days before the region holds its first regular parliamentary elections. The Australian Embassy in Manila said a senior embassy team visited Cotabato City from September 1 to 3 to assess preparations and meet election and security officials, civil society organizations and election-monitoring groups ahead of the September

September 5, 2026

Sport

US OPEN INFLUENCER CONTROVERSY ERUPTS: Players Say Tennis Etiquette Is Being Pushed Too Far

NEW YORK — The 2026 US Open has found itself at the center of an unexpected controversy, and this time the debate isn't about a shocking upset or a championship favorite. It is about influencers, smartphones, ring lights and whether the pursuit of viral content is beginning to clash with the traditions of professional tennis. The issue erupted after spectators filming and posing during Naomi Osaka's first-round match against Anastasia Zakharova created enough noise and distraction for the chai

September 5, 2026