Category: Asia

Indonesia

A Farmer Found an Orangutan Collapsing in Borneo’s Fire Zone — But Sampurna May Be Only the Beginning

KETAPANG, Indonesia — A farmer heading to his land in Indonesia’s West Kalimantan province came across a distressing sight on Sunday: an orangutan lying weak and struggling on the ground near an area engulfed by forest and peatland fires. The orangutan, later named Sampurna, had apparently been overwhelmed not by severe burns but by something rescuers say can be just as dangerous — the thick smoke blanketing parts of Indonesian Borneo. Farmer Jais found the animal on an oil-palm plantation in

August 31, 2026

Singapore

Orchard ERP Is Back After Six Years — But the Bigger Surprise Could Come on Saturdays

SINGAPORE — Drivers heading into the Orchard Road shopping belt will soon have to watch the ERP gantries again. Electronic Road Pricing charges will return to the Orchard area on weekdays from September 7, 2026, ending more than six years in which the Orchard cordon remained unpriced following the COVID-19 circuit breaker. The Land Transport Authority said on Monday, August 31, that a S$1 weekday ERP charge will resume across 11 locations forming the Orchard cordon after congestion persisted a

August 31, 2026

Philippines

Archival Admits Owning Monterrazas Property—But Says That’s Not Why He Won’t Halt the Project

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival Sr. has acknowledged owning property inside the controversial Monterrazas de Cebu development, adding a new layer of scrutiny to the long-running debate over whether the hillside project should be ordered to stop operations. But Archival has defended his position, maintaining that his refusal to issue a cease-and-desist order (CDO) is based on government findings, due process and the broader circumstances surrounding the project—not his p

August 31, 2026

Asia

Global Finance Watchdog Says Frontier AI Could Supercharge Cyberattacks — But the Bigger Risk May Be What Happens After One Breach

LONDON, Aug. 31, 2026 — The world’s most advanced artificial intelligence systems are no longer being viewed simply as a technology challenge for banks. One of the world’s most influential financial watchdogs is warning they could become a threat to the stability of the financial system itself. Financial Stability Board Chair Andrew Bailey has identified the effect of frontier AI on cyber risk as the financial system’s “most immediate concern” arising from the rapidly advancing technology. In

August 31, 2026

Entertainment

Dolly Parton International? Governor Backs Major Nashville Airport Name Change—But One Rule Stands in the Way

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — The campaign to rename Nashville International Airport in honor of Dolly Parton is gaining powerful support, with Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee publicly backing the idea just days after the beloved music icon's death. What began as a fan-driven petition in 2025 has now turned into a serious conversation involving some of Tennessee's top leaders. The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority is expected to take up the proposal at its September 17 meeting, potentially setting the

August 31, 2026

Sport

LIV Golf Could File for Bankruptcy in September — But the Biggest Battle Is Over What Happens to Its Superstar Players

LIV Golf, one of the most disruptive forces professional golf has seen in decades, may be approaching its biggest test yet — and this time, it is happening away from the course. The Financial Times reported on August 31 that LIV Golf is preparing for a possible bankruptcy filing as early as the week beginning September 7, 2026, citing people briefed on negotiations surrounding the league's financial restructuring. Reuters, whose report was carried by Channel NewsAsia, said it was unable to ind

August 31, 2026

Asia

Five Pacific Leaders Skip Crucial Summit—Is Regional Unity Starting to Crack?

KOROR, Palau — A major gathering of Pacific leaders opened in Palau with at least five key leaders absent, casting a shadow over a summit intended to demonstrate regional solidarity at a time of growing geopolitical pressure, climate threats and economic uncertainty. The 55th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting, being held from August 30 to September 4, has brought together representatives from across the region under the theme “Building Economies: Life. Action. Unity.” But the absence

August 31, 2026

Asia

OpenAI Got SB Energy Warrants Valued at $5.5 Billion — But the Bigger Story Is Who Is Financing the AI Boom

OpenAI was issued warrants in power and data-center infrastructure developer SB Energy that were estimated to be worth about US$5.5 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal, which cited draft documents prepared for SB Energy's planned initial public offering. The reported arrangement is significant—but the headline number requires an important qualification. Warrants are not the same as cash. They generally give their holder the right to acquire shares under predetermined conditions. Thei

August 31, 2026

Philippines

Kennon Road Closed Again After Falling Rocks — What Motorists Need to Know Before Heading to Baguio

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Motorists heading to Baguio were urged to stay alert after a section of the historic Kennon Road was temporarily closed Sunday, August 30, following falling rocks and continuing erosion triggered by persistent rains. The affected area was located near Camp 5, where authorities initially closed the road at around 5 p.m. as rocks continued to fall from the surrounding slopes. By 7 a.m. on August 31, one lane had become passable, but access remained restricted to residen

August 31, 2026

Asia

Nepal-Tibet Flood Death Toll Surges Past 900 With 4,700 Missing — But Rescuers Are Now Racing Against What’s Buried Underground

KATHMANDU, Nepal — Aug. 31, 2026: The scale of the Nepal-Tibet flood disaster has grown dramatically, with the latest figures indicating that more than 900 people have died and more than 4,700 remain missing after a massive high-altitude slope failure involving a glacier unleashed a devastating torrent through the Himalayas. Associated Press reported later on Monday that Nepal's disaster agency had counted 903 deaths and 4,247 missing people in Nepal alone, including 592 foreigners. Chinese aut

August 31, 2026