Category: Asia

Business

Telstra’s July Outage Was Triggered by One Wrong Date — But the External Review Found a Much Bigger Failure

SYDNEY — A routine maintenance job, an incorrect date and a network system that Telstra admits was not treated as critical enough have emerged as the key ingredients behind one of Australia’s most disruptive telecommunications failures of the year. An external investigation into Telstra’s massive July 8 mobile outage has confirmed that the incident was triggered when incorrect date information spread through parts of the company’s mobile network following planned maintenance on its network timi

September 2, 2026

Business

Dollar Holds Firm as Middle East Fighting Sends Oil Above $95 — But the Bigger Shock Could Come From the Fed

The U.S. dollar stayed firmly supported on Wednesday as renewed fighting between the United States and Iran sent oil prices higher, rattled global bond markets and revived fears that another inflation shock could force central banks to keep interest rates higher for longer. The market reaction is no longer just about geopolitics. Investors are increasingly confronting a much larger question: Could another surge in energy prices push the Federal Reserve into raising interest rates again just as

September 2, 2026

Asia

He Told a Neighbour’s Son “You’ll Achieve Good Things” — Hours Later, the 68-Year-Old Was Dead in a Flat Fire

SINGAPORE — A simple exchange between neighbours on Tuesday morning has become a heartbreaking final memory after a 68-year-old man died in a fire at his Lorong Lew Lian flat just hours later. On the morning of Sept. 1, the elderly man stopped to speak to his neighbour's son. His message was simple. “Don’t worry, you be a good boy, and you will achieve good things in your life.” Those words, recalled by 46-year-old Siti Aisyah Abdul Rahman, would become the last words she remembers hearing f

September 2, 2026

Business

Singapore Food Court Bleeds S$250,000 in 7 Months as 29-Year-Old Owner Fights to Keep It Alive

SINGAPORE — A family-run food court in Chai Chee has lost about S$250,000 in just seven months, with its young second-generation owner saying persistently weak weekday foot traffic has made it increasingly difficult to attract tenants and keep the business afloat. At the centre of the struggle is Bai Nian Food Court, located at ESR BizPark @ Chai Chee. Its 29-year-old owner, Tommy Pang, recently opened up about the business crisis in an Instagram video, saying the family had lost around S$250,

September 2, 2026

Entertainment

Ariana Grande Says Goodbye to the Stage After Emotional Final Concert—But Her Next Move Could Change Everything

LONDON — Ariana Grande has officially closed the curtain on her “Eternal Sunshine Tour,” ending a 41-date comeback run with an emotional final performance at London’s O2 Arena on September 1. But the bigger story may be what happens after she leaves the stage. The pop superstar used her final concert to thank fans for standing by her throughout the tour, describing the experience as one of the most beautiful and extraordinary chapters of her life. “I’ll cherish this experience always,” Grande

September 2, 2026

Asia

Maid Replaced Employer’s Gold Jewellery With Fakes, Stole S$6,300 in Three-Month Scheme

SINGAPORE — A domestic helper in Singapore has been jailed after secretly replacing her employer’s gold jewellery with counterfeit pieces while taking the genuine items for herself. Indonesian national Rustini, 46, was sentenced to four months and two weeks in jail on Aug. 31, 2026, after admitting to stealing her employer’s gold bracelet and chain, worth at least S$6,300, over several months. The case, reported by AsiaOne and corroborated by Singapore Chinese-language outlet Lianhe Zaobao, un

September 2, 2026

Business

Malaysia Will Send 1,476 Myanmar Nationals Home on Sept. 29—But the UN Says Myanmar May Still Be Too Dangerous

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia is moving ahead with the first phase of its planned voluntary repatriation of Myanmar nationals, but the United Nations refugee agency says it is not involved in the operation and warns that conditions in Myanmar remain too dangerous for a safe and dignified return. Malaysia is scheduled to send 1,476 Myanmar nationals back to Myanmar on September 29, 2026, marking the first phase of a broader programme involving up to 5,000 people, according to Malaysia’s Home Ministry.

September 2, 2026

Business

Oil Surges Toward $96 as US-Iran Strikes Escalate — What Happens If the Strait of Hormuz Stays Shut?

Oil prices climbed nearly 1% in early Asian trading on Wednesday as renewed US-Iran military strikes intensified concerns about disruptions to crude supplies and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures rose 87 cents, or 0.92%, to $95.52 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 80 cents, or 0.89%, to $91.02, according to Reuters data cited by Channel NewsAsia. The latest gains came after both benchmarks surged by more than $4 a barrel on Tuesday, with Bre

September 2, 2026

Entertainment

Newcastle Just Made Their Final Big Move — But This £51M Signing Could Change Everything at St. James’ Park

Newcastle United have completed the signing of Belgium international Matias Fernandez-Pardo from Lille, adding one of Europe’s most promising young attacking players to their squad in a major deadline-day move. The 21-year-old forward has signed a long-term contract with Newcastle and will wear the No. 20 shirt at St. James’ Park, becoming the club’s eighth first-team arrival of the summer transfer window. Newcastle officially confirmed the transfer on September 1, although the club did not dis

September 2, 2026

Entertainment

Moussa Diaby Returns to Bayer Leverkusen Until 2031 — But His Homecoming Could Be About Much More Than Nostalgia

LEVERKUSEN, Germany — Moussa Diaby is officially back at Bayer Leverkusen, three years after leaving the Bundesliga — and his return could prove to be one of the most intriguing moves of the transfer window. The 27-year-old France international has completed a transfer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad and signed a contract with Leverkusen running until June 30, 2031, the German club confirmed on September 1. Diaby will also reclaim the No. 19 shirt he wore during his first spell at the Bay

September 2, 2026