Category: Asia

Business

Stripe and Advent Walk Away From $53 Billion PayPal Deal — But the Real Shock May Be What Happens Next

The blockbuster attempt to acquire PayPal has reportedly collapsed. A consortium involving payments giant Stripe and private-equity firm Advent International has decided to abandon its pursuit of PayPal, Bloomberg News reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Reuters subsequently reported the development but cautioned that it could not independently verify Bloomberg's report at the time. Axios later reported that Stripe and Advent had ended their $53 billion pursuit, adding another la

August 28, 2026

Asia

A Himalayan Glacier Collapsed—Then an Entire Region Was Swept Away

KATHMANDU, Nepal — What began with a devastating collapse high in the Himalayas has turned into one of the region's worst recent disasters, with hundreds of people confirmed dead and more than 1,500 still missing after catastrophic floods tore through communities along the Nepal-China border. Rescue crews are racing against time through mountains buried in mud and debris after a massive collapse involving ice, rock and sediment unleashed a destructive torrent down Himalayan river valleys on Aug

August 28, 2026

Politics

Dollar Holds Near One-Week High—But Warsh’s Jackson Hole Debut Could Change Everything

HONG KONG — The U.S. dollar held close to a one-week high on Friday as investors paused major bets ahead of Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh’s closely watched debut at the annual Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium. The greenback’s calm appearance masks a much bigger question confronting global markets: Will Warsh give investors a clearer signal on where U.S. interest rates are heading—or leave markets guessing? The dollar index was around 99.13, up roughly 0.3% for the week, although it r

August 28, 2026

Philippines

They Were Going Home After Getting Food and Medicine—Then Their Boat Vanished Into the Waters of Mapanuepe Lake

SAN MARCELINO, ZAMBALES — A routine journey home turned into a devastating tragedy for members of an Aeta community after a motorized boat capsized in Lake Mapanuepe, leaving six people dead, including three children, while three others remained missing. Four passengers survived. The tragedy happened on Thursday, August 27, in Lake Mapanuepe near Barangay Buhawen in San Marcelino, Zambales. According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), 13 members of the Aeta Indigenous Peoples community were

August 28, 2026

Philippines

He Had Just Finished Saving Lives—Then a Waiting Shed Collapsed on Him in Samar

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar — A 35-year-old nurse who had just completed a public health mission was killed after a waiting shed suddenly collapsed on him while he was waiting for a boat ride home in Catbalogan City, Samar. The victim, Kelvin Castro, was a Department of Health nurse assigned to the Catbalogan City Health Office, according to police information reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Castro and a fellow nurse had reportedly just completed a measles-rubella supplemental immunizati

August 28, 2026

Asia

‘Sephora Kids’ Are Getting Younger — And Doctors Are Warning About What Comes Next

What starts as a seemingly harmless interest in lip gloss, face masks or a morning skincare routine is becoming a much bigger conversation about childhood, social media and the pressure to look perfect. Young girls are increasingly being exposed to elaborate skincare and makeup routines through TikTok, Instagram and influencer content. Some are learning the language of serums, retinol, exfoliating acids and “glass skin” long before they actually need products designed to address adult skin conc

August 28, 2026

Entertainment

Winston Duke Breaks His Silence on ‘Avengers: Doomsday’—Then Hints at “Crazy Surprises” Marvel Fans Won’t See Coming

The actor behind M’Baku has offered one of the clearest hints yet that Marvel’s next major Avengers movie could contain surprises that audiences are not prepared for. During an interview with CNA Lifestyle while visiting Japan for the 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, Duke confirmed that work on Avengers: Doomsday has continued, including additional photography. But when pressed for details about the highly anticipated Marvel film, the actor immediately went into spoiler-protection mode. His mess

August 28, 2026

Philippines

Jinggoy Estrada’s Hospital Visit Sparks ‘Special Treatment’ Outcry—But BJMP Reveals What the Court Ordered

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) has pushed back against accusations that detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada received special treatment when he was brought to a private hospital for a knee examination, stressing that the medical visit was authorized by the Sandiganbayan. BJMP spokesperson Jayrex Bustinera said the agency was simply carrying out a lawful directive issued by the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division—not granting the senator privileges unavailable under th

August 28, 2026

Asia

Two Dead After Oil Tanker Bursts Into Flames Off South Korea—Then Rescuers Discovered Where the Fire Started

SEOUL — Two crew members were killed after a fire erupted aboard a large oil products tanker in waters off Incheon, South Korea, late Thursday night, triggering a major Coast Guard rescue and firefighting operation. The blaze broke out at around 10:38 p.m. on Aug. 27 aboard a 7,333-ton oil products carrier operating approximately 7.4 kilometers north of Jawoldo Island in Ongjin County, Incheon, according to South Korean authorities and Yonhap News Agency. There were 18 crew members aboard the

August 28, 2026

Asia

Scientists Found Bacteria in a Polluted River That Can Capture ‘Forever Chemicals’—But There’s a Catch

TOKYO, Japan — A discovery beneath the surface of a polluted Japanese river is offering fresh hope in the global fight against toxic “forever chemicals”—but scientists say the road from a promising laboratory finding to a real-world cleanup solution is still a long one. Researchers led by Kobe University have identified naturally occurring bacteria in contaminated river sediments that can reduce levels of certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of highly persistent chemicals

August 28, 2026