Category: Asia

Business

SIA Keeps Betting on Loss-Making Air India — But a US$1.5 Billion Funding Request Could Test How Long the ‘Long Game’ Can Last

SINGAPORE — Singapore Airlines’ investment in Air India is entering perhaps its toughest test yet: the Indian carrier is burning through billions during a massive overhaul, its owners have been approached for another US$1.5 billion in fresh equity, and Tata Sons has warned that a full turnaround could take as long as a decade. Yet SIA is showing no sign that it is ready to abandon the bet. The Singapore carrier holds a 25.1% stake in Air India, with Tata Sons controlling the rest. SIA obtained

September 2, 2026

Entertainment

GEORGE CLOONEY SOUNDS THE ALARM: AI Could Make Truth Impossible to Prove—And Hollywood May Pay the Price

VENICE, Italy — George Clooney used the spotlight of the 2026 Venice Film Festival to deliver a warning that reaches far beyond Hollywood: as artificial intelligence becomes more powerful, society could face a future where people can no longer confidently tell what is real from what has been manufactured. The Oscar-winning actor, filmmaker and political activist made the remarks on Wednesday while in Venice to receive the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 83rd Venice International Fil

September 2, 2026

Entertainment

Tatler Philippines Turns 25: How a Magazine Helped Redefine Power, Culture and Influence in the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Twenty-five years after its Philippine edition first appeared, Tatler Philippines is looking back on a quarter-century of personalities, cultural shifts and changing definitions of influence — from traditional high society to a much broader generation of entrepreneurs, artists, athletes, innovators and social changemakers. The magazine launched its Philippine edition in September 2001, entering a country at the beginning of a new millennium when social status and influence

September 2, 2026

Entertainment

Frank Rivera’s Ambon, Ulan, Baha Returns to the Metropolitan Theater — and Its 50-Year-Old Warning Feels Uncomfortably Current

MANILA, Philippines — Nearly five decades after Frank G. Rivera first created Ambon, Ulan, Baha, the award-winning Filipino ethno-pop-rock modern zarzuela is returning to the Metropolitan Theater with a message that feels strikingly relevant to a country repeatedly confronting floods, landslides, deforestation and climate-related disasters. The production will run September 26 and 27, 2026, marking a remarkable return to the same historic venue where the musical was staged in 1992 as the final

September 2, 2026

Politics

Singapore, Thailand Revive Leaders’ Retreat After 11 Years as Wong and Anutin Push AI, Energy and ASEAN Cooperation

BANGKOK — Singapore and Thailand are moving to turn six decades of close relations into a more ambitious strategic partnership, with Prime Ministers Lawrence Wong and Anutin Charnvirakul reviving their countries’ Leaders’ Retreat after an 11-year break and setting their sights on artificial intelligence, energy security, food supplies and ASEAN’s next chapter. The leaders met in Bangkok on Wednesday, September 2, for the fifth Singapore-Thailand Leaders’ Retreat — the first since 2015 and the f

September 2, 2026

Philippines

Black Hawks Rush 1,000 Relief Packs Into Flood-Hit Zambales — But Getting Food In Is Only Half the Battle

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Air Force Black Hawk helicopters have airlifted 1,000 family food packs to flood-stricken communities in Zambales, underscoring the growing logistical challenge facing authorities as weeks of heavy monsoon rains leave roads damaged, bridges impassable and thousands of residents displaced. The Philippine Air Force said its S-70i Black Hawk helicopters transported the Department of Social Welfare and Development relief supplies from Clark Air Base in Pampanga on S

September 2, 2026

Business

FairPrice Doubles CHAS Discounts to 6% Until Jan 1 — But One Shopping-Day Rule Could Decide How Much You Save

SINGAPORE — FairPrice is doubling grocery discounts for eligible CHAS Blue and Orange cardholders from 3% to 6%, giving households another way to stretch their budgets as everyday expenses remain firmly in focus. The enhanced discount begins on September 3, 2026 and runs through January 1, 2027, but there is an important condition: CHAS Blue cardholders receive the 6% discount on Thursdays, while CHAS Orange cardholders get it on Fridays. The offer is available across FairPrice supermarkets, F

September 2, 2026

Business

RAZON’S ICTSI BREAKS THE P2-TRILLION BARRIER — NOW THE PSE IS ASKING: HOW MUCH HIGHER CAN IT GO?

MANILA, Philippines — Tycoon Enrique Razon Jr.’s International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) has officially cemented its place in Philippine stock-market history after becoming the first domestic listed company to reach a ₱2-trillion market capitalization, prompting the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) to hold a special recognition ceremony for the port operator. The PSE celebrated ICTSI’s milestone on September 1, highlighting what exchange officials described as an extraordinary acc

September 2, 2026

Singapore

SINGAPORE’S “HIDDEN ADULTS” ARE GROWING: Social Workers Are Going Online to Reach People Who Have Disappeared From Everyday Life — But Why Are So Many Pulling Away?

SINGAPORE — A growing number of adults in Singapore are retreating from work, relationships and everyday social life, with some remaining largely confined to their homes or bedrooms for months — and in some cases, years. Social service agencies say they are encountering more people who have become increasingly disconnected from society, prompting social workers to change the way they reach out. Instead of waiting for isolated adults to walk into a service centre, some social workers are now en

September 2, 2026

Philippines

Two Filipino Seafarers Killed in Saudi Tanker Attack as Strait of Hormuz Becomes Deadlier Flashpoint

MANILA — Two Filipino seafarers have been killed aboard a Saudi oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, turning another attack on commercial shipping into a deadly reminder of how rapidly one of the world's most important energy corridors is becoming a frontline in the widening Middle East conflict. Saudi Arabia's national shipping company Bahri confirmed Wednesday, September 2, that its Saudi-flagged tanker SIDR was involved in a security incident while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on the night

September 2, 2026