Category: Asia

Philippines

3 Children Drown During Family Birthday Celebration in Calapan—What Happened in the Water?

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — What was supposed to be a family celebration ended in tragedy after three children drowned while swimming in the coastal waters of Sitio Proper, Barangay Navotas, Calapan City, on Thursday afternoon, August 20. The victims were two 6-year-olds and an 8-year-old, according to the Calapan City Police Station. They had been swimming with their parents and relatives during an advance birthday celebration when the incident occurred. Authorities said that at around 5

August 21, 2026

Sport

Pogačar Has Conquered the Giro and Tour. One Grand Tour Is Still Missing — And It Starts Tomorrow

Tadej Pogačar is one race away from completing one of cycling’s most prestigious achievements. The five-time Tour de France champion returns to the Vuelta a España this weekend with the only Grand Tour title missing from his palmarès firmly in his sights. Pogačar has already conquered the Giro d’Italia, winning Italy’s biggest stage race in 2024, and has now equalled the record for five Tour de France victories. A Vuelta triumph would make him just the ninth rider in history to win all three G

August 21, 2026

Philippines

Taal Volcano jolts with 46 volcanic earthquakes—then PHIVOLCS reveals what’s happening beneath the crater

BATANGAS, Philippines — Taal Volcano has shown a sharp uptick in seismic activity, recording 46 volcanic earthquakes in a 24-hour period, more than triple the 14 events logged during the previous monitoring period. The latest activity was reported by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) in its Friday, August 21 bulletin. Two episodes of volcanic tremor were also detected, lasting between two and 245 minutes. The sudden increase comes after a relatively quieter stre

August 21, 2026

Asia

Samsung Could Hand Shareholders Up to $79 Billion — But There’s One Big Question

SEOUL — Samsung Electronics is preparing to make a major decision that could reshape its relationship with investors, with the company’s board reportedly set to discuss a new shareholder-return package potentially worth more than $70 billion. A person familiar with the matter told Reuters that Samsung Electronics plans to convene its board on Friday afternoon to discuss a new shareholder-return plan. The meeting is expected to take place after the South Korean stock market closes, although Sams

August 21, 2026

Philippines

“Ninoy’s Fight Is Not Over”: Kiko Pangilinan, Bam Aquino Sound Alarm on What Filipinos Must Still Defend

Ninoy Aquino was assassinated on August 21, 1983, shortly after returning to the Philippines following years of exile in the United States. His killing triggered widespread outrage and intensified opposition to the Marcos dictatorship. The growing protest movement eventually culminated in the February 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, which ended the rule of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. The date of Ninoy’s assassination has since become an important national commemoration. In 2026, Ninoy Aquino Day

August 21, 2026

Asia

Panama Canal Sounds the Alarm: El Niño Is About to Put a New Squeeze on Global Shipping

PANAMA CITY — The Panama Canal is preparing for another potential shipping crunch as authorities move to restrict the number of vessels crossing the crucial waterway, warning that a prolonged and severe El Niño could drive water levels lower and threaten the canal’s ability to handle growing global demand. Beginning September 4, 2026, the Panama Canal Authority will cap daily vessel transits at 34 ships, before reducing the limit further to 32 ships per day from September 15. The move marks a

August 21, 2026

Philippines

Marcos invokes Ninoy’s legacy on 43rd death anniversary—but his warning to Filipinos goes beyond history

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday called on Filipinos to draw courage, conviction and a stronger sense of civic responsibility from the legacy of the late senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., as the country commemorated the 43rd anniversary of his assassination. In his Ninoy Aquino Day message, Marcos said Aquino’s life and death remain reminders of the courage required to stand by one’s principles and participate actively in the country’s democratic journ

August 21, 2026

Singapore

Nearly Half of Singapore’s GRIT Trainees Found Jobs — But What Happened to the Rest?

Nearly half of Singapore fresh graduates who have completed the government-backed Graduate Industry Traineeships (GRIT) programme have since found employment — a sign that work experience is becoming increasingly important in a more cautious entry-level job market. SINGAPORE — For many fresh graduates, earning a university degree is no longer enough to guarantee a smooth transition into the workforce. That reality is becoming increasingly visible in Singapore, where the government’s Graduate I

August 21, 2026

Singapore

She Started With an Old Bass Guitar. Now Julia Becker’s Cat-Shaped Pickguards Are Winning Over Musicians Worldwide

Singaporean engineer, bassist and maker Julia Becker has built a growing following with ThreeStools, a business specializing in custom 3D-printed guitar and bass pickguards, many of them designed around playful animal shapes and, most famously, cats. According to Channel NewsAsia, Becker's journey began with an old bass guitar she bought on Carousell. Wanting to make the instrument more personal, she started by modifying its pickguard. That small experiment eventually evolved into a business th

August 21, 2026

Singapore

Cancer Survivor Asked for One Small Workplace Adjustment—What Her Singapore Employer Did Next Cost It S$20,000

SINGAPORE — A Singapore employment tribunal has delivered a strong warning to employers: a worker’s return to the job after a serious illness does not mean her medical needs can simply be ignored. An administrative assistant who spent 17 years working at an international school has been awarded S$20,000 after the Employment Claims Tribunal found that she was effectively forced to resign following a dispute over workplace accommodations after treatment for Stage 3 nasopharyngeal cancer. The rul

August 21, 2026