Category: Asia

Politics

China Wants to Host the World’s Biggest Climate Summit—But There’s a Catch

BEIJING/WASHINGTON — China is considering whether to bid to host the 2028 United Nations climate summit, known as COP33, a move that could significantly raise Beijing's profile in global climate diplomacy while also exposing the country's enormous greenhouse-gas footprint to intensified international scrutiny. Two people familiar with the matter told AFP that Chinese authorities are weighing a possible bid, but no final decision has been made and there is no confirmed timetable for a decision.

August 23, 2026

Singapore

Singapore Grandma Catches Nearly 20 Rats in 3 Weeks at Chinatown HDB Block — Then Residents Reveal What’s Happening Upstairs

A 76-year-old woman living at Block 32, New Market Road in Chinatown has reportedly caught more than 10 rats in just three weeks as residents continue to deal with a rodent problem that has persisted for months. The elderly cleaner, identified by her surname Xie, told Shin Min Daily News, as reported by AsiaOne, that she began taking matters into her own hands after repeatedly seeing rats outside her fifth-floor flat. Her homemade bait? Fried anchovies, duck bones and oyster sauce. According

August 23, 2026

Entertainment

Meta Faces Its Biggest Reckoning Yet: Could Instagram and Facebook Be Forced to Change Forever?

OAKLAND, California — Meta is facing one of the most consequential legal challenges in its history as a coalition of U.S. states takes the tech giant to court over allegations that Facebook and Instagram were deliberately designed to keep young users hooked. The landmark trial, now underway in federal court in Oakland, California, centers on explosive claims that Meta prioritized engagement and profits over the safety of children and teenagers. The company, however, has firmly rejected the accu

August 23, 2026

Asia

Malaysian Man, 23, Disappears After Lunch—What His Mother Learned Next Left Her Heartbroken

A 23-year-old Malaysian man who was reported missing after leaving work for lunch in Johor Bahru was later found dead, leaving his family searching for answers over what happened in the final hours of his life. The case came to public attention after his mother, Qiqi Tan, appealed for help on Facebook when her son, identified as Junying, failed to return after going out for lunch on Aug. 20. According to Mothership, Tan said her son left his workplace in Johor Bahru at around 1 p.m. for lunch

August 23, 2026

Politics

Trump’s 50% Tariffs Hit Canada — Carney Fires Back, But the Next Move Could Change North American Trade

The latest escalation in the U.S.-Canada trade dispute has pushed the two longtime economic partners into a deeper confrontation, after President Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs on a range of Canadian goods took effect on August 22. The new duties cover roughly US$20 billion worth of Canadian exports, equivalent to only about 5% of Canada’s annual exports to the United States, but the political and economic impact could be considerably larger because some of the affected products had previously bene

August 23, 2026

Asia

Tainan Erupts in Massive Blast: 15 Injured, 68 Homes Damaged — But What Was Hidden in the Waste?

TAINAN, Taiwan — A late-night fire at a vacant lot in Tainan’s Annan District erupted into a series of powerful explosions early Saturday, injuring 15 people and damaging 68 homes, while authorities launched an investigation into the suspected illegal dumping of industrial waste at the site. The incident began at about 1:12 a.m. on August 22 along Haidian Road, when firefighters were called to a fire involving a pile of waste on an open lot. Authorities deployed 144 firefighters and 53 fire tru

August 23, 2026

Singapore

Singapore Cyclist Accidents Surge Nearly 25% to 772 in 2025 — The Road-Safety Warning Behind the Numbers

SINGAPORE — Singapore’s roads recorded a sharp rise in accidents involving cyclists in 2025, with 772 cases reported — nearly 25 per cent more than the 620 cases recorded in 2024 and the highest level in four years. The latest figures, provided by the Singapore Police Force to The Straits Times, show that cyclist-related traffic accidents have increased significantly from 581 cases in 2023 to 620 in 2024 and 772 in 2025. The increase has raised fresh concerns over road safety, particularly as

August 23, 2026

Business

LiveRamp Shareholders Approve $2.2B Publicis Deal—But Their Next Vote Sent a Very Different Message

LiveRamp shareholders have approved Publicis Groupe's proposed acquisition of the U.S.-based data collaboration platform, clearing one of the biggest remaining shareholder hurdles for a deal that could reshape the advertising and marketing technology landscape. At a special meeting on August 17, shareholders voted 51.58 million shares in favour of the merger agreement, compared with just 60,073 shares against it, according to LiveRamp's regulatory filing. The vote gives overwhelming shareholder

August 23, 2026

Thailand

NIGHT OF FIRE IN THAILAND: 51 Incidents Rock Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani — What Security Forces Fear Could Come Next

NARATHIWAT, Thailand — Thailand’s southern border region was hit by a sweeping wave of violence Saturday night, with authorities reporting 51 separate incidents involving explosions, arson and other acts of sabotage across Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani. The incidents began at around 8 p.m. on August 22, according to Thailand’s Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 (ISOC 4). By midnight, authorities had recorded 22 incidents in Narathiwat, 18 in Yala and 11 in Pattani. The attacks includ

August 23, 2026

Singapore

Singapore Just Opened the Door to 200MW of New Data Centres — STT GDC Gets 50MW, But There’s a Bigger AI Push Behind It

SINGAPORE — Singapore is making another major move to expand its artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure capabilities, with ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) provisionally allocated 50 megawatts (MW) of new data-centre capacity under the government’s second Data Centre Call for Application (DC-CFA2). The award is part of a broader 200MW allocation announced by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) on Aug. 21. STT GDC,

August 23, 2026